Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 18/05/16 in all areas

  1. Once again the C&RT are dammed if they do and dammed if they don,nt. Perhaps instead of all the usual negativity you could all try and help them get it right. 14skipper
    4 points
  2. Why some negativity? Seems to me that CRT are making an effort to do what everyone has been asking for - getting proper information and seeing what can be done about it. I will contribute what I can by using the links.
    3 points
  3. If you are going to be CCing why not buy a boat in the North (and avoid the London surcharge) and then spend a year of two cruising around the North of the country, then slowly head South, get to London, and sell it for £10k more than you paid for it.
    2 points
  4. The curve of normal distribution will show that some of the target audience will have mental age of seven. Although I do not know if boaters fit a normal demographic, or whether there is a greater or fewer number who have cognitive difficulties, there is no reason at all to try and snipe at CRT if they are trying to be inclusive and make sure they communicate with all their stakeholders. Actually it would be better if you were critical of them because they do not make their written material accessible. As matter of fact, readability is key factor in good communication, the Sun newspaper has a reading age of 8-9 years and the Guardian 13-14. The piece you mention has a reading age of 16-17. I suggest that if the letter were written personally to you, then you would be justified in feeling patronised, but to suggest that CRT should only address those of average to above average cognitive ability when they publish open letters, is discriminatory. The Campaign for Plain English would prefer that shorter words and shorter sentences were used in all official documents. However - good communication is best served when there is nothing that gets in the way - and incorrect spelling does get in the way. With word processing there is no excuse for that.
    2 points
  5. I think it was pretty obvious which particular post Biggles was mainly referring to. Unfortunately some "boaters" (and I use that term advisedly), illustrate by their ignorance and bad behaviour, that they actually know very little about boats and boating ettiquete, because the first thing one should learn about boats is that you don't insult an owner by insulting his or her boat. Some people on this forum don't particularly favour narrowboats, but most have the good sense to realise that narrowboats (like all boats), contribute towards the rich variety of boat types seen on the waterways.
    2 points
  6. I knew Leslie Morton back in the mid 1960's, and as far as I know he had no connection with FMC. His notable connection with canals and canal carrying was when he was appointed General Manager of the newly created GUCC, and commissioned the building of a new fleet of Narrowboats for carrying,. I can well remember sitting in his office one day, when he commented "I had to buy my own bloody boats back" referring to the nationalisation of the GUCC fleet and the subsequent formation of Willow Wren who had a significant number of ex GUCC boats in their fleet. Late edit:- to correct some awful typos
    1 point
  7. Welcome. Yes, quite an epic - and you are lucky to be in possession of a full set of face, that windlass could have gone in any direction.
    1 point
  8. It sounds like you have set your heart on the first boat you've seen. For goodness sake take a look at as many boats as you can to give yourself some perspective. That one looks as if it's been freshly painted in order to sell. There are lots of fantastic used boats around for that money and when you find one get your own survey done.
    1 point
  9. Excellent advice. With one of those inverters there are no unknowns with regards to earthing arrangements, no tests required and, as long as the options are correctly set (Neutral-Earth bond), they can be treated just the same as a shore supply. Sterling stuff is fine. It's all made in the far east but so what, what isn't? Tony
    1 point
  10. Athy has touched on a point that is the basis of my approach to CRT about navigation rights for boaters using winding holes. As general principle a cruising license, where subject to safety and due care, we are entitled to use all the water and CRT facilities for our enjoyment. The object of identifying all the winding holes to enter them on a map and list is admirable and will serve a useful purpose when complete, and who best to ask than boaters themselves, made easier now by an 'official' form that can be up-dated as required. However, there is a basic problem looming, because although we call them winding holes (is this Wind - as in breeze or gales, or Wine -ding?) most boaters simply want to know if the canal is wide enough to turn regardless of what it is called. Here's the problem, a number of places wide enough to turn have had notices put up to say NO TURNING. And whilst there might be I good reasons for this (in the eyes of the person putting up the sign) I would argue that they have no authority whatsoever to say no turning. I have no objection to signs saying no landing, or no entry, or private, or whatever, but no turning has no authority at all - and can be ignored. In fact CRT advised me on this point some time ago when I first raised it with them, that for signs to be 'official' they will be identified as such by appropriate wording - and the CRT logo. CRT therefore need to clarify their position on this because many of the winding holes likely to be identified on the new map are likely to be unofficial (the official ones they know about) (and with clever legal argument forced to be excluded from the map) - which defeats the whole point of having a map. Either way, boaters will need to be advised what to do if they want to turn their boat at no turning winding holes.
    1 point
  11. Odd name for a cow
    1 point
  12. You had a house ? - LUXURY We used to live in't cardboard box in't middle O'road.
    1 point
  13. An excuse often used by Welshmen
    1 point
  14. Spot on. One final thing for all to consider. Always align the pin so the hoop is at the back and the rope is pulling against the pin itself. The welding on some of those hoops leaves a lot to be desired and one simply fell off one of my pins while being hammered into the ground. George ex nb Alton retired
    1 point
  15. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  16. The reason that 'affordable' is used instead of 'cheap' is because cheap equates to crap, whereas affordable does allow the prospect of the place being reasonably pleasant. I see no reason why, when looking for somewhere to live, people should be expected to live in a hovel just to 'get themselves on the ladder'. I didn't, and wouldn't have done so, I don't expect anyone else to. You are also taking the narrow view of actually buying somewhere to live whereas in London, for a sizeable percentage, that option is no longer on the cards and all that they can expect to for their working lives is to rent somewhere. Since the cost of maintaining a property isn't directly related to it's cost, there is no reason that more affordable rents could not be imposed if there was a will to do so. That will is unfortunately lacking (from whatever political party you care to name).
    1 point
  17. The most important part of boating for me (especially on the canal) is that I never have a schedule to keep to, can trundle along as slowly as I like (without causing an obstruction to those who have to hurry) and can, as I always do, slow down when passing any moored boats, occupied or otherwise. I maintain steerage way at all times, I am, after all, supposed to be fully in control of the boat (though even steerage way does not always guarantee that ) so I will be moving faster should the weather conditions dictate. Others may not have the same attitude - that is their choice and I only object if they spill my coffee (or, far worse, my alcohol) The former may cause me to lower a condemnatory eyebrow but the latter can and does cause me to raise my voice. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry
    1 point
  18. Well, they could always try to collect the bridge as scrap steel.
    1 point
  19. The number of boats I see with a padlock on the outside or the rear or well deck piled with stuff so you cant open a door and still people inside, I think some of them may be after a Darwin Award locking escape routes.
    1 point
  20. I must admit I don't slow much for CRT mud-hoppers I can see are padlocked to the piling with lengths if chain. They can make a very satisfying noise, particularly if moored closely in multiple, end to end, and you get a kind of "Newton's cradle" effect. However I once made the same mistake for a CRT work flat, similarly secured, and which I felt sure was unoccupied, being long after they usually pack up and go home - I spilled their tea apparently, and they were not happy. Worse, one of the workmen involved was a family friend!
    1 point
  21. 1 point
  22. Wouldn't want to get too close to the H of C anyway. You might catch comething nasty...
    1 point
  23. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  24. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  25. I did get a lot of grief from folk about flying a skull and crossbones, I was informed by several people that I could be hung for flying it. The first one I ran through with a short cutlass and the others are now marooned on a small island on the river nene praying for death. No gold to speak of from any of them..... yoho,avast etc...
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.