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Hi all I'm a grumpy old traditionalist, as I've said before, but I'm saddened by the mindset that prompted the OP. There seems to be a paranoia abroad about bad places and problems that I find disturbing. Maybe I've simply been lucky, but in half a century around boats I've only experienced a handful of aggressive incidents by yoof. A recent example. I took Resolute south on the Staffs & Worcs a few weeks ago, hoping to get on the river. Water levels said "No" so I overnighted at Stourport above York St Lock. I dropped down to the basin to water up and empty the loo early the following day, then winded and proceeded northward. The boater I'd been tied next to expressed surprise at the brevity of my visit, along with the fact that I'd be passing Kidderminster in the morning. " I'd only go through there in the early morning" quoth he....when I asked why, he'd seen blatant drug dealing around the town lock. Sorry...but so what? If we allow this mindset to continue, then I think we are aiding the problem instead of addressing it. Boats have always been a target for kids and it's part of the boating experience in my opinion...scrotes doubtless, but I'm damned if I'll kowtow to their tendencies! Mudweights for narrowboats.....no thanks!!!! Cheers Dave

If you want Alt controller....fit an Adverc....no flashing lights...just good build quality and a design that works.....however if you like somebodys GCSE project then other makes are available....... (No Link to Adverc other than a very satisfied customer and user) Cheers Gareth

Pretty damn sure its mink. Not seen a stoat or a weasel in many many years now.

If I could adopt a lock and was given a paint brush, paint and gardening tools as well as a windlass, I'd happily volunteer if it freed up the maintenance staff to do more structural rather than decorative jobs.

For most people, flatting the paintwork is enough. There's a degree of risk, if you don't know the history of the paintwork. Going down to the steel is not what most would want to do, but it provides a degree of certainty. Some DIY overpainting, from experience, suffers from lack of prepwork and keying up. It's the tedious side of boat painting, but important. When rubbing down paintwork, you'll generally go through a few layers, on the way to prepping and flatting. Each layer should feather, with a smooth transition between layers. If sections will not feather, the likely cause is bad prepwork and the layer is suspect - you should go below this layer. In rubbing down, you need a good orbital sander, start with 80 grit, go on to 240, and 320 to 400 to finish. Keep the brush strokes in the same direction throughout whole job, on each area. Apply with foam gloss rollers (4"and 7") and lay off with something like a 3" brush. Get paint on, lay off, leave it - don't go back and fiddle. Keep surfaces clean. A vacuum is useful, attached to the sander and also with a soft brush to clean off dust from surfaces, prior to tak rag, and helps get dust out of crevices. Don't put paint from your roller tray back into the tin that contains unused fresh paint. Any left-over paint should be tipped into a jar, or other, and can be used later. But, I think it's best to do your final coat with fresh paint. Contaminants, dust etc, are being picked up while you're painting. No point putting used paint back in with fresh. Be sure to get rid of and clean the surfaces of silicone; around window frames, usually. It will be picked up on your painting equipment and get mixed in with your paint, spoiling the job. You will have to throw the paint away.

I have to say I think people are being a bit harsh on Dave. Would the responses be the same if someone else had posted the exact same post? I suspect not. One of the volunteers clearly was in the wrong in this case, albeit in a minor way, by winding the paddle without checking with the steerer, and then compounded it by swearing at/about them. What would we be saying if it had happened to, say, Starcoaster? Most people are quick enough to complain when a random member of the public operates 'their' lock without asking. Surely we should be able to expect higher standards from official trained volunteers. PS. I would pick an argument with a vicar. PPS. I know it shouldn't but it makes me feel a bit sad that a fellow big Woolwich owner should post something as vitriolic as that.

When anyone here's Swedish is as good as your English they may be in a position to comment negatively. The vast majority of Brits should feel humbled at many foreigners' excellent command of what is a pretty complicated language. I lived in France for many years and speak French fluently but I wouldn't feel confident going on a French forum and joining in a written conversation like you do. You and all our foreign contributors have my admiration. and, likewise, all our contributors (and site owner) who are dyslexic yet communicate so well.

I can honestly say that all of the boats I have cruised, walked or cycled past, I have never looked to see if they are licensed or not. I do however appreciate a nice hull shape or paint job.

Set them adrift? Certainly not. Sink them, I say! ....let's start with Mr. Poncing's, just to show the others how it's done.

Got a board here with lots of features for what? Nothing! Don't use the features of this board just go default all the way. Conform to your personal wishes. You tell me what you want me to do and I'll just roll over and do it?! I wish my life was so boring that all I could do was grumble about someones use of non default font on a message board Can you smell that?