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. . . . . some things rarely change . . . . .

Looks good - at that stage of build I guess there's no real reason not to put a bulkhead in there. I see it's just been tacked so use a good PU sealant - Sikaflex or Marineflex and don't forget the holes in the corners where the bearers meet if they haven't been welded up.. Looks like you've got some storage space down there - just keep anything away from the motor. Where is your watertank? Really? Well it didn't look like your comments were appreciated by the OP.

having lived around some of the areas mentioned, i think I was perhaps the dodgiest person in the area most of the time. the article has focussed on a lot of the negatives and as anyone around here knows, I'm not entirely shouting my love of the canals from the rooftops. just because someone sits under a bridge, it doesnt make them a druggie. just because someone walks around with their hood up, doesnt make them a hoodie. i have sat under a bridge, with my hood up, with a clanky looking bike and some very bad fashion going on. someone could easily mistake me for a dodgy person at first glance. but generally the only bad stuff i encountered was on rare occasions, often near a pub, or near to building sites by the canal side. and the odd bridge with kids chucking things. they soon stop if you aim a catapult at them. tit for tat and all that. some people of terrified of passing through camden for example, but its all a state of mind. if you go into the canl boating thing expecting bad things to happen, you will make them happen by generally being frosty/grumpy/aggressive. in the wise words of yoda: “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” the article shows me that the author was clearly afraid of the society around him or her that was unknown, with unfounded and unjustified nay saying of certain people they might have seen or crossed paths with along the way. ------------- Honey Ryder ------------- Push the Boat Out ------------- canvas repairs

Thanks for the output. Its nice to know it got sorted. its very frustrating when you spend a lot of time helping people with advice and they never come back on (I know this didn't take much in the way of input but some topics do)..

Thanks for all input. I have had welded in a 3mm plate to act as a bulkhead, just needs finishing off with mastic all round Charles

To be honest, the new proposals wont be effecting me that much, and I am not really that bothered in what happens after the public meetings (which I thought was what this thread was about)as if I have to pay. I will pay and if not I wont. I wasnt expecting to have to validate my existance as a boater/continuous cruiser/or person without mooring, if I am allowed refer to myself as anything at all. I wanted to help other boaters who needed help, obviously all of you are far too interested in correcting each other, winding each other up and generally bickering amonst yourselves to actually get your heads together and acheive anything positive for anyone other than yourselves. I apoligise, I thought something constructive would come from this thread, my mistake. Feel free to correct my spelling for me. As I have said before, I wont have to. As long as I follow the rules. I have read them and I have spoken to BW to check, as long as I spend 61 days in each neighborhood I am within the rules and will be able to get a licence to do the same the following year.

Well, I just read most of that article and I think its fundamentally correct. It seems your referring to being realistic as being negative. Alot of the locks are stiff and heavy. There is some grot. Blah blah. We've done most of the GU in the last few years, and last year did the bit down to Brentford. Dont get me wrong, me and the missus enjoyed it, neigh, loved all of it..!! There was only the two of us and we did way over 20 locks a day down to Brentford, we've done leicester a couple of times and loved it both times, and we've done Birmingham, yes its depressing...!!! I love looking at the brickwork of the buildings, seeing the dereliction, and imagining what it must of been like at the time. However, can you imagine what some of the more shall we say sensitive holiday maker folk think of all that black lifeless water, used shringes and nodders on the bank, bin bags under bridges. One women we met last year (with her completely useless husband) in a hire boat, and others we met on their first hire boat trip would have found that article a useful and enlightening read. Admittedly there's some scare mongering going on about certain areas but some of the idealistic softies that hire these boats need a bit of that IMO.

When you have to pass another boat going in the other direction

In that case Peter I'd suggest that you - unlike me (albeit a long time ago and no longer licenced) have had no crane driving training. Edited because my reply was a bit curt. Peter - cranes, such as the ones used in these pictures - have (for lightness) sectional jibs - the longer the jib - either for height or reach - the more sections you have(obviously with limits) these sections are held together by a pin in each corner - the pins then have washer and R clips to hold them in place. A hard hat doesn't protect you from a boat - but it helps when a pin/washer/R clip or podger has been inadvertantly left on the steelwork - I've even seen a greasegun come heading south. Apart from that - should an accident happen - the lack of a hat would give an insurance company wriggle room.

Judi tried 1000 year old eggs in Hong Kong, in the early 80's. I asked her how they tasted. She said like they were 1000 years old. This is apparently a delicacy there. She said they were not really 1000yrs old.

Not even a splinter?

First and last time I’ll be reading that drivel, WTF do they mean by this? 'There is also the problem that it is the residents of a certain creed living above the locks that demand when eating a certain food, its remains must be thrown into water—usually the canal, and complete with wrappings.' I know I get accused of being in the PC brigade and all that but really?

Personally I go boating to enjoy it not get annoyed at what others may be doing.

He may well do. However, I wouldn't foam at the mouth. I am fairly convinced that a fair proportion of CMers do so for financial expedience. They have no wish to cruise, and simply want to stay put without paying. If there was an option to pay to do just that, at a rate comprable with towpath LTMs then I suspect that the rug would be pulled out from under them, and they would take up proper LTMs

I have no experience of procast however they look to be expensive from their web site. I dont know what size you need but try this one http://www.trinity-portholes.com/products/34/88/reclaimed_aluminium_ships_fixed_porthole__35cm/ Charles