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I suspect the op does most things alone.

Once upon a time, there was an internet forum. On that forum, people who were interested in canals got together. They chatted, they joked, they played, they fought, they fell out, they made up, they did lots of things. Many of these people, not all, would respond positively to certain kinds of posts, like help with broken down boats There was one exception. If someone should report that a boat had been stolen, everyone would respond positively and quickly. They would gather information, they would search photograph collections, they would contribute local knowledge, they would pass on anything they knew, local souls would walk the towpath looking for the boat, they would be concerned for the owners, they would worry about the lost boat. In short, they would do anything they could to try and find a stolen boat, often with success I liked that forum Richard

Must say I find this thought most appealing. In all the threads on here about some Liveaboards (inc. Continuous Cruisers, Continuous Moorers and Bridge Hoppers) some strong opinions, and drastic actions are often aired. Although there are a few who will always take advantage of the system, I do worry that Draconian solutions do not take account of those who are in genuine difficulty. And I suspect it may be more than we think. These are people who need to be protected and helped, not hounded from pillar to post by drastic legislation and new rules. There will be people who take to the water for a myriad of reasons sometimes forced upon them by a radical change in circumstances. Life can be incredibly cruel sometimes - illness, poverty, divorce, tradgedy, abuse, addiction, mental health and so on, can strike anyone, however noble and upstanding they once were. And I have no doubt that most would dearly love to find a way out from their situation - much more than the authorities might want to just rid the waterways of their (perceived) embarrassing presence. These people are important and deserve help. That is why I find this suggestion attractive. A Benevolent Charity specifically to assist liveaboard boaters in difficulty (NOT leisure cruisers, hirers etc) could go a long way to resolving some of the "problems" CRT are trying hard to deal with, but a new mindset is required. It could be in CRTs own interests to fund the start up of such an organisation, but independent from them. So when an individual is considered to be a "problem" and apparently not complying with the rules, they could initially be referred to such a Benevolent Society. This could identify then those who were truly just taking the p**s, who could then be dealt with most severely (and little sympathy from the boating community), and those in genuine difficulty helped in whatever ways necessary, to alleviate their difficulty and become compliant. I would gladly support such a more humane and civilised approach towards our liveaboard boating community ( although I am not one myself).

Being quite new to boat ownership etc, as like many others i search for info, and often just ask for advice rather than search and advice is allways forthcoming and gratefully received. But not being a mbr of IWA or infact any other organisation related to the waterways, is there a charity set up other than the rnli, that helps people from the boating fraterenity ? I ask as i am not aware of one ? I as mechanic often support BEN, it tiny charity for people assoscited to the motor trade, and would like to know if theres a canal river equivant? If not my next thought is there could be, ought to be? so many of us on here all (mostly) here to help, one of the first boat peeps i met ten yrs ago is still going now but he is very very old has no family and lives happily on his spriger. he is a real character, but if and when he needs real assistance who does he turn to? im sure the marina will help some but only to a degree. I would be pleased to know if theres a sort of boaters benevolent fund or something? im not versed to put things across correctly or to proper grammer so forgive this post in my ignorance. regards Martin

Who out there thinks single handed boating should be banned.Is it not a health and safety issue?

Oh dear, how ruddy miserable. I saw no rose tinted specs at all, just someone who's experienced the kind of generosity on the canals that I have.

While I agree that one meets all types on and around the waterways I just wanted to say thank you to someone who deserved it. I've also met some not so nice folk on the canals but I just think how sad their petty little lives must be and smile as I cruise on. Shit happens but so does sugar so why not celebrate the sugar. I'm certainly much sweeter for a shower

You may find that it is your insurance company that dictates the times you cruise, even if it is not in the small print I'd check with them first.

Having recently moved onto a long term mooring and in doing so, relinquished the comfort of a shoreline supply at the marina, we decided to recruit the use of a frame generator that I'd had from my contracting days. Although adequate in its capability to power the Victron inverter charger, I did have reservations about the long term effect it would have on the electronic components within this expensive piece of kit. So, I decided to trawl the Internet in search of an alternative generator with a 'filtered' output in order to preserve the Victron. It was also noticeable, that when the generator had fluctuations in rpm, the changeover relay in both the Victron and our Mastervolt changeover device would reverberate in a manner somewhat akin to a bloody Woodpecker pecking on a nearby tree. In searching, I came across a chap down South who specialises in Honda generators and discovered that his web site has great tips on what is most suitable for your needs. If you can't find a specific genny that's listed, you can email him and he's more than happy to guide you through the complexities of available units. This guy is well versed in both mechanical and electrical matters relating to generators and is well worth a call if you have any issues in this department. He's user friendly too! My link Mike

You should get a pump out, they're ideal for liveaboards.

We had a 540 litre tank and had an extra 350 fitted (decided to replace the bow locker that was full of flower pots and junk with an extra water tank - much more useful!) This keeps us going for about 2 weeks with the 4 of us (including 2 small children) and a washing machine.

Why, I am over 50 and was born in the back cabin on Achernar , which i lived on for the fiirst three years, and have boated ever since on various craft all over the world, including 20 of the last 27 on a narrowboat, which i have single handed all over the system. Next I am building a short pair to occassionally single hand before I get to decrepit to enjoy it. Unfortunately in the eighties I was one of the volunteers at a tragic accident site who found a drowned 4yr old in Skipton, off a boat with 6 adults onboard that were taking their first and probably last ever canal holiday, and I will freely admit to crying that day. It was bloody awful. So are you going to ban first time boaters as well for lack of experience being dangerous ? Its a case of being sensible and keeping alert and being taught how to do things carefully and using a but of common sense.......Nothing else in my opinion.

I believe the latter, designated HLW, the "H" being horizontal I guess.

Well I've given him a greenie because these threads bring out some of the best humour.

Since it's cold outside and I can't be bothered to go far from the fire I'll share an anecdote. A few years ago I was moored near Bradford-on-Avon lock at Easter. I went early in the morning to get water above the lock winded and went down again. A few hours later I went walking near the lock and it was chaos, over a dozen boats waiting to go up, visitor moorings full - and when you can see the lock you're already past them so nowhere to go, except breast up. Trouble is all these boats going up were private boats who don't like breasting up, even for waiting for a lock, tempers were frayed, people moaning everywhere. The cafe was full, lots of spectators. There was no lock keeper, BW got rid a few years ago, there's two big hire bases within a couple of miles (3 now) and most hirers head downstream towards Bath so complete chaos, first timers meet grumpy leisure boaters. Now there were no, that's none, liveaboard boaters involved because they know what to expect, except for one guy I know, no boat but who took it upon himself to help the hire boaters through. I mucked in and helped, despite loads of abuse from the queuers. Though, naturally, gratitude from the hire boaters. Now I hear a lot of moaning about congestion at Bradford lock and whinging about the visitor moorings ( where overstaying is rare because of the substantial wash from the lock). A lot of that whinging makes its way to the Internet and the chattering classes, which gets mixed in with a comment or two about scruffy boats (easy target) but I know, for a fact; If you want to go through Bradford lock with no queuing choose the right time If you go through over Easter expect delay And most of the problem was caused by BW removing the lockkeeper.

In my 25 years on the canal I've only collected 2 of your 7 moans. What am I doing wrong?

Well....yes...and there again...as in all walks of life...no... There are: people that moor on water points...and object if you try and use it.. People who will happily siphon your tank empty of diesel unless you have a good lock... People who will not wait for you to share their double lock..and close the gates in your face.. People who will yell at you even if you are going past on tick over... People who will moor in front of you and run their generator until midnight.. Kids who will chuck stone and bricks off bridges onto you... People who will think it funny to untie your boat at night...or run along the gunwhale.. If you want more examples of 'people who'..look through the forums. Its like when you go to Cornwall..and everyone is friendly...so you buy yourself a little pad there...and when the locals realise...they don't speak to you again.. All of this..is true from my OWN life.. Do not let rose coloured spes-tack-alls...cloud your judgement. From Bob. The miserable cynic

I've often tried to understand exactly what it is about this boat lifestype which brings (to me) such a large amount of happiness with it. It just doesnt make sense in many ways, but it's somehow true. I think that there's something within me, which enjoys being "hands on"....enjoys having to take out the elsan casette in the eye-watering snow blizzard, ....carry it to the emptying point, use a stick to break the thick ice to be able to discharge it down the elsan plumbing......or unrolling the frosted hosepipe, connect it to the tap, and then once done, having to roll the hosepipe on the ground...attach the one end to something high, and then walk the length of the hosepipe lifting it, so any excess water drains out, so it doesnt freeze in the hosepipe during the night........or counting backwards the number of coal bags we have left...wondering if we'll make it before the next coal run....and as the bags grow less and less....start looking around for off logs lying around that I can chop up.......or having to carry the coal stove ash out...and dispose of it...else the wind will blow it all over the back of the boat.....or having to throw out things that you thought you'd want to keep...and after a while you realise they're just taking up space...leaving you with nothing but the essentials of living.....clothes.....toiletries.....coal...wood...food....blankets.....laptops.... I now regard the watery area as where I live, and the non watery area, where other people live...I had a car...but you cant drive them on the watery bit, so got rid of it....and the best best best part of it...is the other people who live on the watery part...they're great...much better than the ones who live on the non watery bit.

I would caution you against taking too much of the crap you read on here as a true picture of life on the canal when you do get a boat. Boaters don't easily sort themselves out into abbreviations.

That they are a senior member of the IWA?

' The 'Big Freeze' of 1962/3 has often been blamed or quoted as the reason for the 'end of canal carrying' - rather a sweeping statement when you think of the millions of tonnes carried afterwards on the system as a whole on canals and canalised rivers but many people only think in terms of narrow boats when talking about canal carrying. (As in 'the end of the Jam 'Ole traffic marked the end of canal carrying'). In conversation with some of those involved with narrow boats at the time no-one can think of a traffic of any consequence that was lost solely because of the freeze. Some traffics did finish just afterwards but there always seems to be another reason (Whitebirk Power station is one, I know it's not narrow boats, but even here I am told the main reason was the switch away from using coal from Bank Hall pit). It is true that British Waterways decided to give up most (though not all) of its Grand Union narrow boat activities in 1963, but this was mainly because of mounting losses, no doubt exacerbated by the freeze, and I am sure this had already been planned. But as far as I am aware those (narrow boat)traffics not retained by BW were handed to Willow Wren, and they then gradually ceased for one reason or another, with customers closing down, or switching to oil, closure of Regents Canal Dock (apart from the scrap trade), switch of imported grain to Tilbury, containerisation, and maybe some competition from the opening of the M1 - not sure how much that was to blame though. On the other hand British Waterways carried on with the north west division southern (narrow boat) fleet for another year. I was told by a transport professional that while the canals did suffer, it was exceptionally difficult for the railways as well during this period, and on the roads too, so maybe we shouldn't read too much into this connection no matter how rational it might appear. Any comments? regards David L

And it doesn't have to be served cold - A winner :-))

Sorry but dislike both barbys and beer. I'm a red wine woman

Thanks no I am not going to spit my dummy out about people picking on others who can't spell, Its happened to me for over 50 years now and doesn't hurt any more. I just wish someone would invent a spell checker that knows what word I wanted to use.

Or large plastic work box? Dear pot, thank you for your letter.

I imagine all the coal boat customers will expect their fuel to still be delivered. The fundamental point here and in lots of other threads is that the canal is a linear transport system originally designed to facilitate the movement of boats carrying goods, or more recently the movement of boats who's owners do it as a leisure pursuit and are entitled to cruise all year round. It is the proliferation of static vessels moored along the side of that transport route that is the exception, and the owners of those boats should equip them to cope with the mobile ones. That includes picking a mooring with adequate depth, provision and proper use of adequate mooring ropes and pins, and in this case ice boards.

I can confirm that George's shop at Audlem bottom lock was inspected and approved by the local Environmental Health people. There is no handling of unpacked meat there - it arrives pre-packed from an approved butchery at their farm.