Representing
everyone who lives aboard a boat
on the inland & coastal waters of the British Isles
Help Us Represent You Accurately
It's been 10 years since we last surveyed our members, and a lot has changed in that time. We know the world, and our community, has evolved, and the data we currently hold may no longer reflect who you are or what you need. We're now asking all members to take a few moments to update their information by completing the questionnaires linked below. Your responses will help ensure we accurately represent your views, priorities, and experiences moving forward.
Please take a moment to complete the three short forms below.
Your voice matters; help us reflect it.
Who are the Residential Boat Owners' Association?
We are a not-for-profit organisation run by unpaid, elected officials and many volunteers amongst the ordinary membership and their friends and families. We represent anyone who lives on a boat on the inland and coastal waters of the British Isles. Our income is derived entirely from members’ subscriptions, sale of publications and donations.
We were established in 1963 and are the only national body focused on representing residential boaters who continuously cruise as well as those with permanent moorings.
Our Objectives
- To safeguard existing moorings, especially residential moorings and to increase the number of residential moorings throughout the country.
- To maintain the variety of liveaboard lifestyles.
- To encourage high standards of boat ownership and residence to at least the standards laid down by the relevant navigation authority.
- To promote good relations between members and their landlords.
- To negotiate with national, local and other authorities whenever necessary in the interests of the Association and its members.
What have we achieved?
Much of what we achieve is, inevitably, unseen as it involves negotiating on behalf of individual boaters with local authorities, marina operators or navigation authorities.
Our biggest achievement, still enjoyed by all boaters in the UK, was in 2006 when the UK was losing the derogation for use of rebated red diesel in pleasure craft. In a meeting with the Treasury, with the support of the Dutch Barge Association (DBA) the RBOA, in defiance of all the other boating organisations and the British Marine Federation, argued that the proposed fixed 60:40 split between fuel used for domestic purposes and for propulsion was grossly unfair for residential boaters. As a result of our intervention the RBOA and DBA had a series of meetings with the Treasury which resulted in the self-deceleration regime which accurately reflects the proportion of fuel used for heat, light and propulsion which is still being used today.
We have also, in the last few months, taken part in a Planning Enquiry as a result of which the Planning Inspector reversed the Local Authorities stated intention and issued an instruction to them that they will provide ten residential moorings.
On a similar theme we have just made two submissions to the governments consultation on their proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in which we have made very strong arguments that the NPPF should require Local Authorities to make provision for long stay residential moorings.
