Leaderboard

Trouble is Alan, nobody's interested beyond paying lip service, I know from experience that finding anyone with the enthusiasm, the time, the money and the skills just ain't going to happen and then what do you have? Another boat in a canal awash with boats. There's a fair few boats not as challenging as Umbriel struggling for restoration. It wouldn't be beyond the wit of BW to deal with it in a way that left the options open, after all they have the resources and plenty of places it could be left until someone does come along. Unfortunately, being a corrupt organisation run by fuckwits who don't give a toss about the heritage beyond the photo opportunities for their latest self-serving scheme, it ain't going to happen.

"I could abide by the law of the land that is there for a good reason, but it's easier and more convenient for me to strongarm those in a position of weakness who are unlikely to be able or willing to fight back..." Wow. Wow. Frankly, there's more to life than money and it's a sad thing to hear of a person who thinks that happiness can be bought at the cost of behaviour like that. As a woman who only last month stood up in the witness box of Kingston Crown Court giving evidence against my prior landlord and his adult son who (totally unprovoked, I might add) used a machete to threaten me on the doorstep of my own home to leave that night (for his personal reasons and not down to anything I had done as a tenant- as if there is anything that would justify behaviout like that anyway) I think that you are morally reprehensible. Enjoy the rewards of your behaviour while it lasts, because nobody gets away with living their life like that forever. You can't put a price on having a clear conscience, personally I wouldn't sleep at night if I conducted myself as you seem to, obviously you are happy with yourself, but one thing to remember- Karma is a malicious bitch with a long memory... And also think on that today's poor students living with few choices who are a soft target for slum landlords and bullies, often use their education to become powerful, well connected professionals with friends in high places and fingers in many pies!

I would like to add that "reversal of rulings" ie the 2005 guidelines, was brought about by the boat owners associations insistence. The earlier guide remains in force for non private boats for which all the "recommendations" now are mandatory. Hardly "Jobs for the boys" there only a handful of people in the BSS office. I do not think many BSS examiners make a lot of money out of the scheme. Most do it as part of another business, ie surveying or boat maintenance or like myself a retired Marine Engineer keeping out from "under the wife's feet" and earning a little beer money. I am interested in boats and enjoy meeting interesting people, as most boat owners are. I am there to help their boat pass a simple basic safety inspection, NOT to fail it. There is not a lot of money in it, my profit last year was £840, this year (since April) I am still £340 in the red. Cost include premiums for Indemnity and liability insurance of £5,000,000 each, registration and blank certificates (that is where the BSS Office makes its money) and training courses. and of course fuel for the car. As for "If you have any wood behind or under a solid fuel stove your too dumb to live in unsupervised accomodation" By my observations there are a hell of a lot of boaters out there should therefore live in sheltered accommodation! I see it frequently and I certainly do not think any the less of the owners. Also as for "I hate it" What is to hate it for, Parting with about £35 a year? Or perhaps failing the examination, tch tch! There should be no extra effort from you, as after all your boat is at all times in a tip-top condition! Edited to add: - Oh I forgot to take my Income Tax off that £840!,

As I mentioned in a previous thread, we took our boat through recently with me virtually standing up at the helm. We've just come through harecastle tunnel and I reckon the clearance in the low bits wasn't much different to froghall. Why the BW profile guages are so pessimistic I don't know but we have spoken to a few people who haven't even been near the tunnel because of the reputation it has gained. I recall seeing a picture of a boat going through many years ago where the steerer was on his knees - I guess this was before the water level was lowered. As for the 1 in 5 remark, personally I would have thought at least half the boats on the system would make it, but so many boats these days have allsorts of paraphernalia on the roof and I guess it's too much of a hassle to strip everything down just to go through 70 yards of tunnel. I like a bit of adventure occasionally. Little challenges like froghall tunnel should be preserved in my opinion.