CANAL & RIVER TRUST INCREASES ANNUAL BOAT LICENCE FEE BY 2.5% WITH WIDEBEAMS SET TO PAY MORE
The annual increase in boat licence fees for 2020 has been set by the Canal & River Trust at 2.5 percent, but other changes implemented at the same time will include the first stage of a phased introduction of higher charges for wider craft.
The increase, based on a standard inflation index, will see the cost of an annual canals and rivers licence for a typical ‘go anywhere’ 57ft narrowboat rise on 1 April 2020 from £985.79 to £1,010.43. But at the same time, the first of a series of extra increases for widebeam craft (announced following the 2017 licensing review) means owners of craft more than 2.16m (7ft 1in) wide face an additional increase of 5%, bringing the price for a 57ft widebeam up to £1,060.96.
A further increase in 2021 will raise the widebeam surcharge to 10%, and for vessels over 3.24m (10ft 7¾in) wide it will be followed by two further increases, creating a 20% price differential from 2023 onwards. The prices are eligible for a prompt payment discount, currently set at 5%. This is to be halved to 2.5%, but at the same time a new discount of 2.5% for online or direct debit payment will be introduced, so for many boaters the increase will make no overall difference.
WINNERS OF THE 2020 MOTORBOAT AWARDS ANNOUNCED
The winners of Motor Boat and Yachting 2020 Motor Boat Awards were announced at boot Düsseldorf in January 2020. With 11 categories, and plenty of nominations for each, the judges’ winners were announced at a sparkling dinner.
The winners are:
Sportsboats and RIBs The Brig Eagle 8 shows how RIBs “have been transformed from tough workhorses to desirable and very practical leisure boats”.
Superboats The Fairline F//Line 33 is “even more thrilling to drive than the bare statistics had promised”.
Sportscruiser up to 40ft The Galeon 335 HTS is “peppered with practical touches like an abundance of deck storage and an engine room with excellent access for daily checks”.
Sportscruiser over 40ft The Palm Beach GT50 has “impeccable natural balance, impressive speed and fuel economy and a ride quality that is nothing short of sublime”.
Wheelhouse & Cockpit Cruisers The Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Marlin is “safe and predictable with a decent turn of pace from twin outboards”.
Adventure yachts The Dale 40’s “resilience and robustness when faced with huge swells and snarling chop was nothing short of miraculous”.
Flybridges up to 60ft Winner Ferretti 450’s “quality, attention to detail and fit are worthy of a model twice the size”.
Flybridges over 60ft Sunseeker 76 Yacht’s “foredeck appears to have been plucked from a 100-footer”.
Custom Yachts
Bluegame BGX70 has a “design so radical it alters the fabric of what we believe is achievable”.
Customer Service Award Bates Wharf Marine Sales makes “everyone feel welcome whatever their budget or level of experience”.
The Report • March 2020 • Issue 91 | 13
Marine News
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