Ashford Boat Owner Fined for Dodging Thames Cruiser Registration
A boat-owner from Ashford, Middlesex, has been nailed for failing to register his cruiser for use on the River Thames — despite multiple warnings. Leighton Lewis’s 18-foot boat, The One That Got Away, was found unregistered during a routine Environment Agency check at Walton-on-Thames last summer.
Ignored Warnings Cost Him Dearly
In July 2019, navigation officers slapped a warning notice on Lewis’s boat, demanding he register it within 14 days. It’s a criminal offence to use or rent out an unregistered vessel on UK waterways. Yet Lewis skipped the £186.39 annual fee set by the boat’s size.
A month later, officers spotted the still-unregistered cruiser moored in the same spot. The Environment Agency issued a second stern letter, giving Lewis just seven days to comply or face court action. He ignored that too.
Why Register? It’s Not Just a Paperwork Pile-Up
Like road tax for cars, boat registration fees fund maintenance and safety for over 600 miles of inland waterways across England. Nick McKie-Smith, Environment Agency’s waterways enforcement chief, said:
“You can’t avoid vehicle duty on the road, so why on the river? Boat fees keep our waterways open and safe, helping river-lovers and boating businesses alike.”
Trial and Punishment
Lewis was tried in his absence at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on 9 March 2020. He was found guilty of breaking the Environment Agency (Inland Waterways) Order 2010. The court hit him with a £400 fine, £85 in costs, plus the unpaid registration fee for 2019.
Boat owners, take note: skipping registration isn’t worth the risk. The River Thames rules apply, and the fines are no joke.
