cheshire~rose

What about the builder? Heywood?

Interesting. Thank you What engine do you think it might be?

Can anyone throw any light on this boat? Interesting but unable to find anything about it online. Said to be a "heywood" build, does it look like that? It seems very simple around the cants etc. Currently called Titus , index looks like 527243, I've been unable to find any history. Looks like a lister FR2 in it. I wonder if anyone has previous knowledge of it as the advert gives little detail Thanks https://www.facebook.com/share/1E6pVGddeg/

Yes! Our anniversary today! He turned out to be a keeper!

That was a brilliant banter even if I say so myself! We only managed to get 16 boats come to our wedding banter! Postcode and I met at a Banter at Wheaton Aston on The Shroppie, we all met some other forum members for the first time that day too. I was a lone female (non boater) and it took some courage to turn up to that pub on my own when I had no clue what any of the people I might be meeting looked like! Another memorable banter was the wedding banter in Birmingham where we gridlocked the canal in the centre by rafting up boats right across to get wedding photos from the bridge. Banter breakfast was a thing too (not that you saw many 🤣) with a tradition of Ostrich Egg. The engineers really went to town on working out how to break into one of those! 😆 I think it was covid that finally saw the end of the group of banterers that you and I were part of Ange. Quite a few no longer have boats for various reasons. Sadly a few from those early years are no longer with us. Loughborough was, for many years, the place for forum members to banter twixt Christmas and New Year and, depending when the holiday dates fell, many would stay 2 or 3 nights in the Travelodge with a decent group seeing New Year in together. The largest number of that group have long since friended each other via Facebook or WhatsApp and like myself, many rarely visit or post on here any longer. We stay in touch and will occasionally meet up if the geography and timelines come together. I know that sadly you can't make it but there are actually 15 of the folks who regularly used to attend those banters and have stayed in touch are meeting up in May. Sadly I can't simply throw an open invitation as I have in the past and was the usual thing at a canal side pub. It's a private room I am paying for with a limit of 60 people. Interestingly there are 22 people I met through this forum who Sadly can't make it. After all these years to still count 37 folks met through this forum as great friends says a lot I think ❤️ There are of course others that I have not got contact details for, but I am sure if I bumped into them tomorrow we would carry on as if we last saw each other a week ago.

The diesel sales at West Stockwith stopped a couple of years ago. I don't think many narrowboats have VHF and even those who do not many have taken the exam and tend to just use it for listening. It is only when you get down as far as Keadby when you might find any commercial traffic these days and so that is where it can come in useful. Sadly you will find that by offering cash to someone to pilot your narrowboat it will create all sorts of insurance implications unless that person is a qualified pilot. What many folks do is invite someone along and promise them a beer/dinner in the pub afterwards. Cromwell to Torksey is an easy enough stretch and although I have not checked the tides I think at this time of year there is usually plenty of water so if you follow the charts then the chances of going aground are remote. I can see someone called Corey has been asking in the Try the Trent group for advice. saying he is travelling today with his father and is a new boater so either this is your boat or there is another newbie boater due to leave Cromwell for The Chesterfield today. When you get to Torksey be sure to visit the pub there and have their meat and potato pie. Unless your name is Desperate Dan then you will only need the smaller size! When you get to West Stockwith have trust in the lock keeper to guide you in. depending on the time within the tide when you make your approach you are likely to pass the lock and turn back to enter. Please ensure you have told the lock keeper this is your first time and he will advise you which way to enter. the following only applies if you are told to turn around and enter from downstream: If you need to turn start turning as you are adjacent to the lock. Be prepared for the current to start sweeping you downstream faster when your boat is broadside to the flow, this is normal and you will be fine it just feels a bit unnerving the first time you do it. this is why you are better to start turning fairly soon as you will need to make your way back upstream against what might be a strong flow of water against you. keep well in to the right hand side where the current is not flowing as strongly (its deep there so you will be fine) the lock keeper will stand on the lock side guiding you on. He will keep motioning you to come forward towards him for much longer than feels quite right when you are a newbie. Keep aiming at him and watching him, he will tell you when to turn, when he signals to turn up the revs and turn hard right to make a fast turn. Have confidence in what the lock keeper is telling you to do and follow the instructions. A boater I was travelling with didn't do this once saying that the last time he had done it he nearly hit the side of the lock going in. = by not following instructions he clouted the side quite hard, I mentioned this to the lock keeper and he said that to enter the lock correctly you do nearly hit the side! but, only nearly and if you get it wrong you might brush the side. Enjoy your trip. The White Hart at West Stockwith is a great pub with a microbrewery (The Pup is a good traditional bitter and the food there is great. Stop at Misterton for a well stocked Coop really close to the canal to get supplies. the butcher there sells great produce too. Time your arrival at Clayworth for a Friday or Saturday and be assured of a warm welcome and great value drinks in the bar. If you would like a mooring with an electric hook up there call the warden and they should be able to fix you up with one. A visit to the village church is always interesting too as they have beautiful murals in there. The Blacksmiths Pub does a huge plate full of good grub at a very reasonable price too. Treat yourself to a Chesterfield Canal Guide (cash payments only I am afraid) at the boat club or ask me for other tips on the canal. some info here:https://chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/on-the-water/navigating-the-tidal-river-trent/ as you start your approach coming

I know the legal requirements. I also know that it is quite usual for boaters travelling downstream to West Stockwith NOT to have VHF I think most cabin cruisers tend to be fitted with VHF as standard although how many of those using them have actually qualified to use them is another matter altogether. I am not aware of any enforcement action on that rule over the last decade. Of course that could be different if the MIAB ever needed to be involved. I am aware of an increasing frustration being voiced by those using them that they are so often proved totally useless when trying to contact a lockie I never suggested it was optional. I wrote what is actually happening out there on the river. It could take the OP quite a while to take his VHF exam before travelling while there could be a lot of other boaters pass him by who regularly navigate the river without one I am also aware of an incre

Although VHF is stated as being required in the rules a lot of boaters don't use one as far downstream as West Stockwith. Many of those who do are reporting in recent years that it is easier to get hold of the lock keepers by phone than by VHF. Obviously VHF is useful to communicate with other boating traffic but as so many are not using it it is becoming less reliable as a tool for knowing who is out on the river with you

If you use Facebook then I thoroughly recommend joining the Try The Trent group who have a wealth of knowledge and will give advice. They also try to link up people doing the same route so you have a boating buddy out on the river with you. There is a website too but I find the group on FB invaluable as have many others. We have buddied up with folks on the river through that group on a number of occasions. First of all do not be scared of the river. yes, respect it but it is a beautiful river which is rarely the same twice so once you have done all your research relax and enjoy. Buy the charts from Cromwell Lock and FOLLOW THEM! This book was our bible for The Trent when we first started out, it is full of all the information you need in a manner that is easy to understand. It can be purchased mail order by this link: https://chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/shop/narrowboat-on-the-trent/ With regard continuously cruising on The Chesterfield Canal: Yes it can be done but it is not easy to comply by the rules. The Chesterfield Canal isn't somewhere you can just moor up anywhere as there isn't the depth at the bankside at most places apart from at official visitor moorings. These are all signed as 48 hours and so unless you are happy to move on every two days then the options are a bit more restricted. Much of the canal is very rural and does not have easy road access, let alone public transport. There is no supplier of diesel on the canal so you need to ensure you tank is full before you leave Nottingham area really. Once on the canal you will need to fill jerry cans from a local garage to refuel the tank. Because there are so few boats that visit The Chesterfield Canal those who moor there tend to know the other boats and recognise a visting boat when they see it and so people (including CRT) tend to spot anyone who might overstay quite quickly. There are only 31 miles of navigable canal to continuosly cruise which can be navigated in just 20 hours from one end to the other so there really is nowhere to hide. for those who are not prepared to follow the rules but having said that there are people who do this and manage to comply by the rules and they are the part of the lifeblood of the canal. There are residential moorings available at West Stockwith, Forest Middle Top Lock and Shireoaks Marina if you do not feel continuous cruising is for you. If you want to chat to other boaters who regularly navigate The Trent then feel free to visit Retford and Worksop Boat Club on a Friday or Saturday night from 7:30pm. You will receive a warm welcome and plenty of advice. (The Trent Book is also available there but payment is required in cash)

**Cromwell Lock**

I will agree that there is a lot of problem with overhanging vegetation along The Leek Branch (much of it slow growing species so it has been a long time growing without a trim to get that bad) but I have to say that we did not have any problem with the depth along there (we are 2'10" draught) and had no problem getting along there without a bow thruster. We also managed to get through Froghall Tunnel which was exciting but I would not want to try it with a boat longer than our 60' because of the turn at either end of the tunnel We seem to be ticking off "ends" this year - Langley Mill, Coventry Basin, The Ashby Canal, the end of The Leek arm and Uttoxeter Canal too.

It's a beautiful boat and I know the owners will have kept it really well maintained as well. In another life I would love to own it. Our boat has the original engine from this boat, a JP2m

Sorry folks Dave has tested positive for covid so we have to cancel. Chris and Lise have also cancelled On updating other guests by messenger my words were misinterpreted and BSP cancelled their room thinking I had cancelled the banter. Let's try and reschedule shall we?

The table is booked for 5pm with a view to a leisurely meal before moseying over to The Swan afterwards. I suspect we might all be lightweights when it comes to extended drinking hours these days but there is always a banter breakfast to look forward to That's a shame but enjoy your concert

Hiya Rob Sorry it took a while to respond. We were away for New Year and I wasn't doing a great deal with regard to admin stuff! Chris, Lise, Dave and I are going to have a pre-banter meal in The Basin - let me know if you want to join us. If anyone else is attending and wishes to join us they are welcome too