Leaderboard

If you are happy to do the rest:- Size the cables, decide on switchgear, run them in conduit (whatever), label them, connect them to the second above, Then you've done the Lion's share of the work yourself - UNAIDED Connecting the alternator to the batteries is also straightforward - OK thicker cable, running cable (via an isolation switch) to the switchgear is similar to what you have proposed to do yourself is also without complication. I suspect what has got you in a state (or should be) are the matters of:- battery monitoring battery charging alternator control and the like. I am sure there are loads of folks on here who would LOVE to point out the pros and cons of each of the immediate subjects above, leaving you to do the physical work Rephrase your needs and prepare for a volume of advice.

And if you are going to do flights like the Ashton, I would recommend a rechargeable electric screwdriver with a modified 1/4" drive socket so you can do things a bit easier. George ex nb Alton retired

And you forgot to allow for blacking every 2 or 3 years!

I would have bet on Aspatria but I have no idea why bar an old memory I'm not a Cumbrian though

Some of these latest proposals introduce 2 day moorings that it is not proposed are relaxed over winter. There appears to be little evidence that supports this based on actual boat numbers, and it seems to be driven at least to some extent by a local council based group campaigning that no boat should stay longer than a couple of days. If part of the basis for that campaign is, as it appears to be, claimed anti-social behaviour, then that anti-social behaviour should be addressed by the correct means. I do not believe the correct means are to artificially introduce otherwise unnecessary restrictions that affect the vast majority that cause no problems, just to address a tiny minority who may have done.

I don't know your level of fitness but if you can DO Oxford in three days you have missed so much even if you are a young fit 21 year old. Heck a visit to the Bodleian could even take the best part of a day to fully appreciate it. However if you are of mature years with arthritis setting in things take longer and hence you need to stay longer. Of course if you are disabled even longer

I'm not quite sure if you are saying you are against any mooring restrictions short of 14 days, or not? If you are, I'd say that what takes away folks little enjoyment (whether older or not) is an inability to make a spontaneous stop at an interesting village / pub or whatever, due to all the nearby moorings being taken up by 14 dayers. This is why mooring restrictions at popular sights are a good thing. Of course this is much less of an issue in winter and that's why I think CRT have got it right by relaxing many of the restrictions over the winter.

We've only been south of Blisworth a couple of times, neither recent, so can't comment on the current experience but from an outsiders point of view the mix of different durations seems reasonable to me. At Braunston it is mostly 48hr but that is a good thing because it does get very busy there. Plenty of towpath just outside Braunston for those folk wanting to stay 2 weeks. Alan, do you feel strongly that there is something fundamentally wrong with the proposals? As to the £25 its legality is perhaps questionable but on the other hand, what is the point in having short term mooring restrictions if there is no way to enforce them? As usual it is the small minority of overstaying pisstakers that force CRT's hand. Of course if one complies with the time limits, the aim of which is to ensure the facility can be shared by all, then the question of £25 doesn't arise. Those who are moaning on about it presumably are accustomed to being able to treat the short term restrictions with impunity without regard for "playing and sharing nicely". Bring it on, I say.

Aren't they normally referred to by working boaters and old boating families as "the?" As in, "the Reginald," "The Sickle?" I think metal boats are boys. Wooden boats are girls. Tenders can be either gender (otherwise how would boats reproduce?) Tupperware is gender-neutral, as you can't tell.

I once spent an interesting evening with a new Bolinder owner (he was new to it, not the engine that was new) he described locking through on The GU thus: - "Having just passed a boat in the other direction you pray nobody has started turning the lock round. Coming round the corner you can see it's empty and the gates open, phew! Easing the engine down as much as you dare without it cooling and going out, you gather up every piece of rope to hand, I don't know why, rope just seems to comfort you. Next you wave to the two old dears in the bungalow as you straighten up for the lock entrance knowing the by weir will do it's best to throw the front end over. As you enter the chamber you advance the timing to try and get the right moment to reverse the engine and not stall it ... advance ....Advance...ADVance ... BLOODY ADVANCE! ......... Got it! A quick burst stops further rounding of the stem post due to ramming the cill. Now to regain Ahead in order to keep it up against the cill, retard ....REtard ... RETARD! ..... watch the by weir doesn't chuck you across onto the side ..... RETARD!!! ..... wave to the two old dears in the bungalow ...... throw the ropes around while muttering about how wonderful the silence is now it's stalled. Put the kettle on." He described what tackling a GU lock that's against you is like when you live with a Bolinder. "Your heart sinks when you realise the closed gates you can see are not the far end ones. Shutting down to tick over fools the fisherman on the bank into thinking you were doing it for his benefit. Truth is you can't be doing with any more of this Advance and Retard shenanigans than you have to. Having seen an old wooden bollard you're hoping you can strap onto it with your centre rope without ripping out any more history. Leaping for your life and praying you don't fall or slip you run like you're in a forest fire hoping the rope is long enough to take a couple of turns and you don't get your fingers in the way ..... again! Pretending that it's perfectly normal to see your boat heel over to 75 degrees accompanied by a loud graunching noise and a gentle smashing of lace plates you're secretly delighted to observe through the engine 'ole doors that The Thunderbox is still upright. Everything calms down and the boat just gently nudges aginst the rope every time she fires. Whistling confidently you walk down and close one bottom gate, walk back up, cross over and go close the other side. Walk back and lift one set of paddles, whilst pondering why there's never a second boat to lock through with when you need one? Cross over lift those paddles, then open a gate. Walking back to the boat you're surprised yet happy to hear she's still chugging every few seconds and that you remembered to tie one of those clever knots that holds the boat without getting so tight with each tug of the engine that it's impossible to untie. Just as you about to climb onto the counter you realise the fisherman has ambled up to you ..... Oi Mate, your boat don't like me .... as soon as your back was turned it came back up to me, ate my keepnet .... farted in my face and then went back to where you left it!" Still I reckon I'd have one!