Terms & Conditions
Revised 2011
Description
The owner has tried to ensure that all published details are as accurate as possible but cannot accept liability for inaccuracies or variations. Plans are not necessarily to scale.
Hire periods
Normal weekly hire begins at 4pm on the start day and ends at 9.30am on the final day. Other periods and times may be arranged by agreement.
Suitable hirers
The hirer must be aged 22 or over. There must be a minimum of two able-bodied adults in your party, at least one of whom must either have previous canal-boating experience or be willing to attend a period of tuition on a mutually convenient day ahead of the hire period.
Booking and payment
You will not have booked the boat until we have received a completed booking form and your deposit of 20% of the basic hire charge. We will confirm your booking in writing (this may be by email) and you are then liable to pay the balance of the hire charge not less than four weeks before the start of the hire period. For bookings at less than four weeks’ notice the full charge is payable at the time of booking.
Damage waiver
A non-refundable Damage Waiver of £45 is payable with your balance of hire. This covers you against any accidental losses, breakages or damage reasonably incurred during your hire period. It does not cover:
Cancellation
You should make your own arrangements to ensure you are covered against holiday cancellation. If you need to cancel we will do our best to secure another booking and if we are successful, we will refund whatever money you have already paid, less an administration fee of £100, otherwise you remain liable for the full amount of the hire charge.
Availability
We will make every effort to ensure the boat is ready for you, but we cannot accept any liability if the boat is not available at the start of your hire period for whatever reason. If we are unable to supply you with the boat, or to agree an acceptable alternative arrangement, we will refund all the money you have paid to us and all liability on the owner will cease.
On your first day
Arrival at the marina
You may arrive up to 1½ hours before the start of your hire period (eg, 2.30pm for 4pm departures) and begin boarding when the boat is ready. Later departures may be arranged, but do not affect the time by which the boat must be returned.
Handover
We will explain the boat, ask you to check the equipment and inventory and provide tuition appropriate to your previous experience. The boat will be released to you when you are confident to take command and we are satisfied you are competent to do so. You will be asked to sign a Handover Certificate confirming that you are satisfied with the boat and the information provided and that you understand and accept your responsibilities.
Restrictions
We reserve the right not to hand the boat over to anyone who fails to meet the criteria for suitable hirers, who is suspected of being under the influence of drink or drugs or who, after adequate tuition, is not considered sufficiently competent to take charge of the boat. In this event we will refund all money paid and all liability on the owner will cease.
Wigrams Turn Marina
Wigrams Turn Marina has no part in the owner’s hire business and must only be contacted on marina-related matters. We also ask that you respect the marina’s property and staff and the rights and property of other moorers, navigate carefully and responsibly within the marina and moor the boat only on its designated ‘home’ mooring, 4D West.
Returning the boat
You are responsible for planning your trip so the boat is at its home mooring and vacated by the time shown on your booking form (normally 9.30am). We reserve the right to charge £30 for every hour or part of an hour after this time, and up to £150 per day, until the boat is returned and vacated.
Vacating the boat
We ask that you leave the boat in a clean and tidy condition with all rubbish and personal belongings removed. In the event the boat is left in a condition that requires exceptional cleaning, we reserve the right to make a charge for the work involved. I f you choose to vacate the boat at a time when the owner cannot reasonably be present, we also ask that you leave the boat in a safe and secure condition in accordance with the speci al instructions on board.
Failure to return the boat
Unless force majeure reasonably applies, leaving the boat anywhere but its home mooring, with or without the owner’s consent, may make you liable for the cost of recovery in addition to any other charges.
Hirer’s responsibilities
Above all else, you are responsible for:
The care and safety of the boat, particularly in locks while the water level is rising or falling.
Navigating safely, considerately and in accordance with BW’s or other navigation authorities’ bye-laws, with particular emphasis on speed limits.
Mooring responsibly with regard for other canal users and the safety and security of the boat.
You are also responsible for:
Making the daily checks as explained at handover.
Keeping the toilet pumped out as necessary.*
Not allowing the boat to run out of diesel.*
*You will be reimbursed for pump-out and diesel expenses on presentation of valid receipts.
Ensuring mattresses, duvets, pillows and all protectors are covered by the bedlinen provided.
Supervising any steerers who are inexperienced or under the age of 16.
Ensuring that all members of your party wear soft-soled, non-slip footwear while on the boat.
Deciding whether or not you and members of your party wear the lifejackets provided.
You may not:
Navigate the boat between sunset and sunrise.
Take the boat on to any tidal waters without the owner’s consent.
Tow another craft, or permit the boat to be towed, except in an extreme emergency or under the direction of an authorised professional.
Restrictions to navigation
The owner cannot be held responsible for any restriction to navigation due to drought, flood, engineering works or any other cause beyond our control. If you encounter an unforeseen restriction that may affect your ability to return the boat on time you must notify the owner immediately, otherwise you remain responsible for returning the boat by the appointed time on the final day of your hire period.
Licence
The boat is licensed for use on all canals and rivers under the authority of British Waterways. If you want to take the boat on to the waterways of other navigation authorities, eg, River Thames, you must display an appropriate licence for the period you are using that waterway and are liable for any charges arising from your failure to do so. With sufficient notice we can arrange licences for you, subject to an administration charge of 10% of the licence fee.
Insurance
The boat is comprehensively insured including public liability cover of £3 million.
Accident
In the event of an accident causing damage to the boat or a third party’s property, you must inform the owner by telephone immediately. You must record details of the circumstances and of any other boat(s) involved, plus the names and addresses of people involved and of any witnesses. On no account should you or any member of your party admit liability.
Security
You must consider the security of the boat and its contents at all times particularly, but not exclusively, when in close contact with members of the public, eg, at popular lock sites and busy urban moorings.
Leaving the boat unattended
All hatches and doors must be bolted or locked with all items on the Interior Inventory inside the boat. The hose reel must be stowed correctly and, in urban areas, the headlight should be taken inside the cabin.
Overnight mooring
Inventory items must be dealt with as above and you are advised to secure doors and hatches. In urban areas you must moor on British Waterways’ Visitor Moorings or on private overnight moorings if either is available. You may not leave the boat unattended overnight without consulting the owner.
Theft, break-in or vandalism
In the event of theft, break-in or vandalism you must notify the police and the owner immediately.
Damage Waiver limitation
The Damage Waiver does not apply if you neglect any of the security conditions, in which case you will be liable for any resulting loss or damage.
Personal safety and security
You are responsible for the safety of all members of your party and anyone you allow or invite on to the boat while it is in your charge and for the security of your own property. The owner is not liable for any injury sustained by anyone on the boat, for whatever reason, nor for any loss of, or damage to your property, including vehicles parked at the marina.
Breakdown
Breakdown cover is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by River Canal Rescue (RCR). If a breakdown occurs, you must notify the owner and we will arrange for an engineer to attend as quickly as possible. You must not contact RCR directly nor allow repairs to be carried out by anyone other than RCR without the owner’s permission. We reserve the right to charge you for an unnecessary call-out or for repairs due to negligence or misuse. The owner is not liable for any resulting delay and you must make all reasonable efforts to return the boat by the due time.
Running aground and rubbish round the propeller
These are normal boating situations. Dealing with them will be explained at handover and thereafter are your responsibility. They should only be regarded as breakdowns when all reasonable efforts to free the boat or clear the propeller have failed.
Dogs
You may bring up to two dogs for a flat charge of £25. Out of respect for subsequent hirers, you should bring dog beds, blankets etc, must never allow dogs on to beds and seating and must prevent them damaging furniture, floor coverings, woodwork or paintwork. Dogs must never be left alone in the boat.
Electrical appliances
You may use 12v battery chargers or mains chargers and power supplies (for laptops etc) via the portable inverter. You must not attempt to use any 240v appliances that draw more than 180W, eg, hairdryers.
TV, radio and mobile phone reception
The owner is not responsible for reception quality nor liable for any inconvenience due to poor reception.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed inside the boat cabin.
Bicycles and canoes
Owing to lack of space we regret that you cannot bring bicycles or canoes on to the boat.
Fishing
You may bring fishing tackle, but you must arrange an Environment Agency rod licence and possess, or be prepared to purchase, a valid permit from the controlling angling club or riparian owner.
Live bait
Live bait must never be brought on to the boat.
Forbidden items
The following items are also strictly forbidden: