Steve Vaughan, Considerate Boater

Steve says:

"My wife and I have been boating only for about 15 years. Like many, we started by hiring narrowboats which we did for some five years before we decided that we wanted our own boat and bought a new sailaway. Coincidentally, my wife gave birth at the same time so the deal was, I got a boat, my wife got a baby. I still think I had the best deal but our son is great.

"Since then, we have had two to three holidays a year plus many weekends on board and have enjoyed almost every minute. The only downside is our experience of the occasional frustrating example of inconsiderate boating.

"We all know the kind of thing: people mooring their boats on the only water point for miles and going off to the shops thereby rendering it unavailable for others. Others are in such a hurry to get through the locks that they constantly leave paddles up making it the job of other boaters to reset them. Not only is the latter inconsiderate but it can catch out the novice boater and result in a drained pound.

"The novice boater, (often a hirer), gets a lot of bad press as private boat owners see their seemingly inconsiderate actions as examples of their 'couldn’t care less' attitude. In reality though, it might often be due to a lack of knowledge rather than poor attitude.

"So the idea of a website that tries to bridge this knowledge gap was born."

• Which 5 words best describe you?
Determined, pragmatic, accurate (ish), light-hearted and of course, considerate. My wife may have some other words but children may be reading.

• What one thing would you take with you to a desert island?
A Boat!

• What’s the best thing about working on the Considerate Boater site?
Receiving lots of very supportive and complimentary comments from people about the Considerate Boater principles. There are clearly a lot of people out there who feel the same way as we do.

• Is there any part of it that you don’t enjoy?
Not getting replies from some of the bigger organisations. Thankfully, British Waterways and Waterscape replied and with great enthusiasm.

• What did you want to be when you 'grew up'?
I wanted to be a pilot but joined the RAF as a technician instead. It was easier to get in the RAF as a technician and coming from Manchester, I didn’t talk posh enough to be a pilot. I was in my late thirties before I eventually could afford the time and money to get my pilot’s licence. I still don’t talk with a posh accent!

• What is the last book you read/film you saw?
I am really being honest when I say that the last book I read was the BW Boaters’ Handbook and the last film was the RYA 'Marine Diesel Engines Made Easy' DVD. You are going to think I am sad but I am working toward the RYA Helmsman’s Instructor course in April and a Boatmasters course in May and I believe in being thorough.

If you want my favourite film it has to be 'The Bargee'. My six year old son and I watch it on almost every holiday on our narrowboat and it is still so funny. (My wife doesn’t agree).

• What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
It came from my first boss in the aerospace industry after leaving the RAF. He said, "If something is bothering you then either keep quiet and put up with it or get up off your rear and do something about it." Like many boaters, I think standards of boating etiquette have fallen and the Considerate Boater initiative is my way of trying to do something about it.

• What makes you smile?
Just cruising along at less than 4 mph on the canal, watching and listening to nature on a warm sunny day. Actually, I don’t even mind if it is raining as long as I have my Gore-Tex kit and wide brimmed hat on.

• Where would you most like to be right now?
I would like to be sitting watching boats go past our oak framed house that we haven’t built yet, on the land by the canal we haven’t found yet. Tall order I know.

• Tell us a joke
I confess I got this from an American yachting website but it did make me laugh:
The following is a conversation between the USS Lincoln and a Canadian "vessel"....

Canadian: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the captain of a US navy ship. I say again, divert your course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert your course.

Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north, I say again, that's one five degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.

Visit www.considerateboater.com

Last updated: 16/04/2009