Peter's Waterways Blog Afloat Without Buying A Cruising Licence This was first published in IWA West Riding's Milepost in December 2015 as the sixth of a series of descriptions of cruising options where the navigator does not have to buy themselves a cruising licence.

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Viewed from the London Eye

The headline reminds boatowners who need a cruising licence, that it is possible to be afloat without one: a good plan is to lockwheel for someone else who has paid their licence, or hire a boat for an hour, or a day or a week or a month or for all summer. There are also lots of trips available to paying passengers, with an additional interest of watching-the-world-go-by on waterways that are inaccessible or difficult-to-reach on your own boat.

A less-surprising trip, but much f-a-s-t-e-r and turn-up-and-go all the year, are the Thames' catamarans: the Clippers operating variously for the sixteen miles of the Tidal Thames between Putney and Woolwich. For the full extent of the trips you need to peruse the timetables and join the commuters at the beginning and end of the working day.

The Clippers accelerate once below Tower Bridge

Turning under the London Eye

With an Oyster card £21 each should see you back to where you started. Clippers don't have a direct phone number but 0343 222 1234 is the Transport for London enquiry number or see here. Peter Scott @peterjohnscott

River Services in London