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Could be worse... 😉

About five years ago, pre covid, met an older chap on the Macc who had this kind of arrangement. He had to go up and down between Bosley and Whaley (about 20 miles) and play by the mooring rules but wasn't expected to go down the locks to get in the distance. Lovely guy and stuck to CaRT's requests.

Tickets are not cheap! Then you have to pay for actually camping. I went year before last which was the first time since MoR in 1996, up until then I was pretty regular. It'll be a laugh

Please be aware that my comment was addressed to what PineappleGuy posted because he seems to have suggested a stop solenoid does not need connection(s) to the control panel. If that is what he meant, he was wrong, so I wanted to shut that thought down ASAP. There won't be a stop button or switch in the control panel if the stop solenoid requires electricity to allow the engine to run, and it gets it from the ignition switch. This type of setup usually just needs the ignition to be turned off to stop the engine, like a car. I am waiting to hear what the final outcome is, so unless someone else posts what I think is misleading information, I can't and won't comment any more that I have.

That's it, really. For us leisure boaters, all our fixed costs at home have gone up hugely, so there is less money to spare for playing with toys - especially as the fixed costs for them have whacked up too. Most of us of a certain age have much less spare cash. A boat holiday used to be cheaper than staying at home, now it's a lot more expensive. For narina moorers, they may well just go for a week at the mooring rather than cruising - I know a few who just enjoy the social life at the marina club, treating the boat like a country cottage.

I'm pretty sure we've stopped for lunch there (just above lock 5) a time or two and had something to tie up to though it might have been bollards for the lock landing. There's not much boat traffic along here just now , what with Marple shut and the variable HNC, so you won't be shouted at for improper mooring. I think I would be more concerned as to if the event you are attending was actually going to happen this side of 2025! I've messaged the volly lock keeper (50 years experience in and on this canal) for a definite answer. Answer has come back: positive there are rings.

Looks like a couple of rings on Google maps

This is all totally over my head. Repair not yet done. I will need to sit on it a few more weeks. I must admit I have ignored the issue for a few days,busy doing other things to the boat. I am learning lots from tapping in to your discussions though. I shall keep you all posted. I am determined to conquer my lack of knowledge with the electrics,in some part,at least.

Take an SDS drill with you. DIY bank anchors.

Friend of mine used to carry a penny whistle, he'd occasionally get it out of his pocket to play, we'd then throw things at him until he stopped

The gates of Midland Tar Distillery in Banbury are still there.

Thats a big boat so a mooring would make life a lot easier. Engine hours no problem but a much bigger water tank would have been nice. Don't be taken in by the "top end fit out by master craftsmen", this is pretty standard speak in most widebeam adverts. Price looks quite good, but such a big boat could be a liability which might make it harder to sell. The big issue is that buying the boat is the easy bit, finding a mooring might be much harder than just popping down to Brentford and finding one, you might get lucky, or might end up spending years on a waiting list. There are loads of people doing the same as you and only a finite supply of moorings.

No it is not, not in terms of diesels that actually work, maybe it is for one that spent a lot of that time running not far off idle for battery charging. Vetus engines tend to be Mitsubishi based and there is not much wrong with them, Any problems seem to be with the odd thing with the mairnisation and, more importantly, the idea Vetus seems to hold about what is value for money spares wise, but many spares do not have to be sourced from Vetus.

On this day in 2013 Cooper Bridge C+H/Huddersfield Broad Lock1 - work on the weir Compare 7Apr1979/7Apr2010 8Apr1979 24Aug2002 22Dec2012 27Mar2013 29Jul2013 18Apr2014 (#2) 7Jul2014 5June2021 22Apr2023 26Aug2023 20Apr2024

I'd never heard of this, but an internet search reveals one or two references The use of water supply canals as transport may have been more common that we now think not least because there would be little recorded - if the watercourse was unmodified and the use private there would be no tolls and no record of navigation works being built. The Compstall Navigation near Marple (or near Romiley depending on which of those towns you live in!) would be another example - it isn't obviously a navigation canal but records indicate it was used as such - without the records it would just be thought of as a big mill leat.

I've contacted the Coop Live venue, but they appear to be rather distracted at the moment(!) so if anyone is cruising by or planning to, or walking the towpath there, would you be kind enough to check whether it's feasible to moor by the venue? It looks a possiblity, but if it's concrete with no rings or bollards it's clearly out. I have other options in mind (thanks everyone) but want to check if this is a viable option to add. Thanks.

We do still browse the boat brokers websites and there has definitely been an increase in the number of boats for sale with some hefty reductions on some. Hadn't really noticed with the vans because we have not been looking with no plans to sell ours, but yes it does seem that numbers for sale have ticked up. Autotrader has been since we bought ours in 2021 ticking along with around 150 vans across the Benimar range for sale at any one time. Just checked now and it's closer to 260.

I half remember reading somewhere that CRT have said that the Lancaster is not suitable for CC'ing ????? The OP really should not factor in the Ribble link as a means of increasing a limited cruising range. Its a tidal crossing suitable for experienced boaters in good boats with good bigger engines. It has limited passages that have to be booked well in advance and might be cancelled at short notice due to bad weather. If things go wrong it might be months before the OP could return to the Lancaster. CRT are actually pretty good at granting a limited cruising range in response to genuine medical needs but I suspect will then require the boater to play their part and stick to those relaxed rule, and they can be quite harsh with those who continue to break the rules. Having a chat with those nice CRT people on the towpath is a thing of the past, rule enforcement is now ultimately controlled by people in the office who are obliged to apply the rules fairly and equally.