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Taking the OP at his request: One of the difficulties in analysing long term trends on costs (spend) is where the underlying unit costs change. Most users (of almost anything) are not concerned with the actual costs but the effectiveness of that spend. However, this is not so easily measured or digested down to a few numbers. What is clear (at least to me) is that CaRT have been quite seriously trying to develop more cost effective ways of working - not always to the approval of traditionalists who perhaps seem to assume that below-minimum-wage operatives and ignoring H&S expectations are a good basis for business today. Being more costs effective may well require the breaking of the mould! If an organisation does succeed in find a way of doing a key task at less cost then, if the overall service level is maintained, the actual total spend will decrease without impacting the users. This, surely, is a 'good thing'. Whilst 'just in time' maintenance is oft derided (wait until it breaks before fixing it) it is not always obvious that the 'stitch in time' principle applies, especially where rapid deployment techniques are used. After all, this is what has driven down retail prices in places such as supermarkets. In this example, stock is not held on shelves in great quantities just because there is a monthly delivery schedule but re-filled on a few hours notice. It could well be the case that with canals, having rapid deployment and good on-site assessment can result in a lower costs with no, or limited, impact on service levels. after all, canals have always broken down from time to time! Assets with a long life can either be replaced on a schedule (like light bulbs used to be) or left until failure. In the former case it is quite possible that there is considerable 'wastage' whilst just-in-time might mean a rise in service interruptions (although that is not guaranteed). In today's society, perceived wastage is a growing target for adverse comment. (The reason that supermarkets have got into the habit of disposing of short dated food is almost certainly that they calculated it to be the cheapest way of meeting demanded service level but they are now discovering new markets for stuff once unused - I do tend to look for good deals on wonk foods!) I have certainly noticed this year a significant increase in the number of times that stoppage notices refer to reviews that mean that things are done differently, or deferred, or brought forward, in the light of on-site assessment rather than blindly going ahead with a stoppage that was planned two years ago. To me this is, at least prima facie, a good sign as it shows that CaRT are trying hard to use modern techniques in maintaining a ancient asset! Just one example can be found on a recent thread regarding soil injection technology. The use of radar to plan dredging schemes is another that was not available in the past. Whilst it is important that folk such as the OP continue to hold CaRT to task over their spending plans, I do hope that it can be done intelligently so that they are not deterred from trying new ways (some of which will inevitably fail if they are being adventurous enough) just because the 'public' don't like it.

All good points and sensible advice, but having myself had a Shoreline larder fridge, I have chosen the opposite route and wish I had done so in the first place. I found the Shoreline to be of okay quality but by no means excellent and after just two years of use it finally packed up after many months of ever increasing 'on' time from the compressor, until at the end it just didn't turn off at all. Shoreline advised that I should buy from them a £40 replacement thermostat which I questioned but did, but that made no difference and they weren't interested in taking the part that they advised me to buy, back for a refund. So much for a fridge that cost the best part of £600. They then said it needed re-gassing, but couldn't help with that and advised me that the new gas would probably leak away like the original had. Being distinctly unimpressed with Shoreline and their fridges, I bought a Beko mains fridge which was just £120 delivered and to my mind of superior quality and better insulated, demonstrated by the fact that the compressor is 'on' for less time each hour than the Shoreline was, even when it was new. I was concerned about compressor inrush current and what would be the minimum inverter size that I would need to operate a mains fridge, so following much experimentation with several inverters, I can report that the Victron 12v 350w pure sinewave inverter will definitely NOT start the fridge's compressor, despite the compressor being rated at just 85w and the Victron having a published 'peak power' of 700w. I have tried the fridge with a Victron 12v 800w inverter with a 'peak power' of 1600w and that will start and run the compressor perfectly. The received wisdom is that compressor motors aren't keen on the output of modified sinewave inverters, so I tried mine with a Sterling 12v 800w unit and there have been no changes whatever in noise, vibration or other detectable characteristics after three months with the modified sinewave unit. The fridge worked perfectly and since the Victron unit was 2 1/2 times the price of the Sterling and 2 1/2 times the price of the fridge as well, I would be very happy to take the risk and stick with the Sterling modified unit. My conclusion is, that mains fridges need a minimum of an 800w inverter and if money is of no object then buy a pure sinewave inverter, but if not, then a modified sinewave unit will work and given the saving, is probably worth the risk. The Sterling will also run the TV, the PVR, the PC and various chargers; in my experience, everything in fact up to its limit of 800w. If you fit an inverter solely to run a mains fridge, then you might consider fitting a remote 12v thermostat to the fridge that powers up the inverter only when the fridge needs cooling. This is very cheap and easy to do and is what I have done on my other boat to avoid the 'no load' power drain from a powered up inverter. Efficiency is critical for us, as we live aboard, have no access to shore power, are 100% 'off grid' and generate all of our electricity using solar panels and wind turbines.

Looking at the URL, there is nothing worth discussing. A hysterical, illogical anti-CRT rant will lie behind it.

The problem as I see it, all over is that outsourcing repairs and maintenance may cut costs, but it is leading to more work needing to be done. For example, a CRT survey is done of bricks in a lock that need rebricking and grouting. The survey shows a critical area of 100 bricks. The job sheet is outsourced. By the time the actual works take place, 127 bricks are needing repair. The contractor does the specified 100 bricks, the other 27 are left for the next survey.......even though BW , and CRT would have done the whole lot in years gone by.

He could put the energy expended in smartgauge bashing into his batteries instead then they would never be discharged

I rarely block anyone anywhere but the way the chap who posts “the floater” spam all over the Facebook boating groups meant he was the possibly first person I ever blocked. Total drivel....and if you criticised his viewpoint he wasn’t happy!

This year was the first of full retirement so ideal to boat to places that we had long wished to see but work never allowed enough time to visit. Our intention was to travel from Newbury up the western side of the country and travel as far north as possible. In addition we wished to tackle the Severn Estuary, the River Mersey and the Ribble Link, all of which we were able to do. I'm aware that these have been covered in the past but the following is a list of contact details and tips for anyone planning to do one or all of the crossings next year. Severn Estuary Gloucester Pilots 07774 226143 sharpnesspilots@gmail.com Gloucester Harbour 01453 811913 www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk Sharpness Lock 01453 511968 Swansea Coastguard 01792 366534 Bristol VTS 01179 802638 Portishead Marina 01275 841941 keithberry@quaysmarinas.com Bristol to Portishead You will need to have your fuel tank cleaned and the fuel polished before the trip, used to be advisory but now it is compulsory. Chief pilot had three narrowboats break down in one week all with fuel issues and they will ask to see a dated invoice. You need two tides so at least one night in Bristol and one in Portishead Marina. The Harbourmaster’s office in Bristol will supply a tide table and arrange the operation of the lock to let you out onto the Avon. If it is a high tide they will need to operate the Stop Gates so you will be given a latest time to enter the lock. It took us around three hours to travel from Bristol lock to Portishead marina. Inform Swansea coastguard before you set off and let them know you have arrived safely in Portishead. Call Bristol VTS before you exit the Avon onto the Severn Estuary, they will inform you of any boat movement from and to Avonmouth docks. Call Portishead marina once you can see the entrance, there is nowhere to moor on the outside of the lock so you need the gates open. There are pontoons inside the lock. Portishead to Sharpness The pilot will have kept in touch with you by phone and text since your passage request and he will meet you in the lock. Obviously you need lifejackets but check they are in date. Get your anchor ready for use. Remove as much as possible from the roof and secure everything which cannot be removed. If you do not have a cratch cover tape up the lower half of your front doors. Pilots like Tea, Coffee and biscuits, enjoy the trip. Costs Fuel tank cleaning £110.00 Pilot £200.00 (2017) On the day either cash or cheque Bristol £46.00 (one day) Portishead £54.00 (one day) River Mersey Mersey Pilot Stuart Wood 07770 664951 chestermarineuk@gmail.com Peel Ports Paul Kirby 0151 9496764 paul.kirby@peelports.com Ellesmere Port Lock Swing Bridge gwyn.wright@questservices.co.uk Brunswick Lock 01517076777 mail@liverpoolmarina.com Stephanie Lyons CRT Wigan Office 01942 405761 Crossing the Mersey is the easy bit but to get to the Mersey at Eastham Lock you need to transit the Manchester Ship Canal and that is where the fun starts. Go to www.peelports.com/ports/manchester-ship-canal, scroll down to Publications and Forms and download “Leisure Craft Induction Pack”. In there you will find an Application form and a Seaworthiness Certificate both of which must be completed and sent to Peel Ports, they will accept an e mail. In the Induction pack you will find a list of approved surveyors, the survey is just a basic check of safety equipment and to make sure the boat is in reasonable condition, a visual check. Print out the Seaworthiness certificate the surveyor will not have one. The certificate is valid for a year. Peel Ports contact is Paul Kirby, he is the person you send the forms, insurance certificate and payment to. Once you have sorted out the ship canal Stuart will give you a crossing time and a meeting place. You can access the ship canal either at Ellesmere Port or at the River Weaver. We used the entrance from the museum which requires the local council to operate a swing bridge which is across the exit lock, e mail Gwyn Wright the day before you need it open with a time. Contact Liverpool marina they need a copy of your insurance and a payment in advance to operate Brunswick Lock. You can’t book a mooring in Salthouse Dock via the normal CRT Liverpool Link website however once you know when you are going to cross contact Stephanie in the CRT Wigan office and she will sort out a mooring and an exit time from Liverpool via the link. Eastham Lock needs a very long 60’ rope. Cost In total around £300 (2017) Pilot, Survey, Ship Canal transit, Brunswick Lock. Ribble Link (Lancaster Canal) The link can be booked online but the website does not handle changes well so just because it shows no availability that is not always the case. Stephanie in the Wigan Office is the best person to contact. Tarleton Lock 01772 816592 Harry or 07885 762347 Roger Sea Gate (Savick Brook) 07778 153305 Tarleton Lock is operated by the local boatyard not CRT, they will contact you normally the afternoon / evening before your passage to give you the lock operating times. In the event of bad weather you will be notified if the passage is cancelled. We had to wait until the next day so instead of 6 boats we had 11 for the crossing. Moor on the visitor mooring just after the swing bridge at Tarleton, there is no mooring at the lock not even a lock landing. Tarleton is a very nice village with a good range of shops well worth a visit. Red diesel is in short supply on the Lancaster and it is expensive so fill up at one of the two marinas opposite each other below Rufford Lock on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds Liverpool. The Rivers Douglas and Ribble are straightforward enough but the Savick Brook is very narrow, shallow and the vegetation is very overgrown. If that isn’t enough there are lumps of metal sticking out on various bends, presumably there were originally lengths of wood attached but these are long gone. Lancaster canal is well worth the effort, if you choose to go down the Glasson branch I can recommend the restaurant next to Lock 6. Enjoy the trips they are all well worth doing. Our pilots Tim and Brendan on the Severn, Brendan was training, and Stuart were mines of information about the waterways and the visible objects on shore. Next year we start from Skipton on the Leeds Liverpool and intend to travel up to York and then down the east side of the country. Ken

We're moored tonight in the Nelson pound at Braunston. What appears to be the outlet from the backpump is just the other side of the hull from my head when in bed. The pound is about 15cm down and stable, I guess the pumps are running all the way up the flight. Any guesses on if/when it will stop? Could be a long night. MP.

To help with basic boat handling: 1. The boat will only steer when you have power on, in the forward direction. Doesn't have to be much power, but it does have to be forwards. In tight spots, it pays to come in as slowly as possible and then use quick bursts of power with the rudder fully over to steer, using reverse to slow down inbetween if necessary. With practice it's possible to get the boat turning and let it continue the turn whilst putting it in reverse. "Pumping" the rudder can sometimes help you to turn more sharply. 2. When steering, the boat will pivot roughly around the middle. It's therefore essential to allow space for both the pointy end and blunt end to swing when turning. 3. High winds can be a real nuisance, in general slightly more power is often the answer, even though it's more inuitive to back off. 4. Contrary to popular advice, boating ISN'T a contact sport. However it's a very inexact game and the only way to learn is to start. No-one minds if you're trying your best to avoid a collision but end up nudging another boat gently becuase you've run out of options / luck / skill. Just try to do it as slowly as possible (i.e. while making considerable effort not to make contact at all) and say sorry if necessary. There's nothing more British than everyone saying sorry to each other over an event that was pure random bad luck. 5. Tea should be used for bribery purposes prior to 12 noon, beer thereafter.

Not all of them. A litre jug has something to be said for it compared with a pint pot.

Cover the cross bar and central bolt with thin foam glued or cable tied on. Worked for me! Any condensation on the curved surface should run down to the edges and on to the roof. Richard

Maintenance, or mainteance, dredging and vegetation works are done only as a grand publicity splash, (expect an exculsive soon on how they have cut back all the offside vegetation from Rugby to Braunston......hillmorton to Braunston probably just to keep the fatboats happy). Ongoing necessary works are being neglected or not done at all. The dredging of the north end of the Coventry is long overdue, there is no way a radar survey cannot have picked this up. Barton Turns lock has been leaking onto the towpath for 2 years now, it was barriers off for repair 12 months ago. ..it continues to leak, how soon before the side of the lock collapses.

Exactly, in my career I have a manged contracts with both direct labour and contractor resource. Contractors can do an excellent job, but only when the specification and contract supervision elements are of the highest order. (Same can apply to direct labour who often feel a sense often entitlement and become lazy if not adequately supervised). From what I see of CRT contractors, neither the specification or the supervision elements are up to scratch.

As one of the 'plonkers' who posts quite often on Tripadvisor, I have to say that I find it useful. I would think that at least 3/4 of my reviews are praise & I have had many people who have found my reviews helpful. If I am going to a strange hotel, I always check the reviews to get a 'feel' for the place. I think that the vast majority of reviews are fair, although you are always going to get a few people with an axe to grind.

I had a pair of trousers like that once. Particularly loud after a curry too.

Very true. I used to have a Linn Sondek LP12 record deck in the mid 80's. Great sound but it was interspersed with loud cracks from static discharge and the "static cling" meant a fight to get the record off the turntable. So I bought a device called a Zerostat, which was a gun like device that reputedly shot a stream of negative ions to counteract the static. All it did for me was lighten my wallet, so I sold the LP12 and bought my first CD player. Slight loss of "warmth in the sound but a complete lack of static induced interruptions to the music. Some people prefer listening to the equipment rather than the music.

Just a follow up, My dynamo was mounted different to Richard’s setup. Instead of the front mounting being on the front engine mount it was on the top outer timing case bolt so I decided to use this mounting point together with the original rear mount bracket. In Richard’s pic it shows the rear extension using a length of tube. This I wasn’t too keen on as it would be possible for the rear alt sliding bush to pull through the rear mount and simply slide into the tube (if you look at the pics I’m sure you will understand). So after a quick measure I got hold of a piece of 20mm dia aluminium bar with an 8mm clearance hole the “correct length” to take up the difference. Bolted the new alt at the front end (pulleys nice in line) and slackened the two nuts holding the rear mounting bracket to block. Placed the new aluminium spacer and adjusted the sliding bush in the alt rear mount, tightened up the rear mount to alt. Then tightened up the 2 nuts holding rear bracket to block. This way no strain on the front/rear alt mountings. Little unsure of the alternator output etc I bought from Richard I decided to go for a new 75amp one from ATP (a company I have used before). New cogged belt and new 16mm2 cable to 80-0-80 ammeter so bypassing all the old dynamo wiring. Now to test….. I am on shore power so the bats (new this season) are well up toward 100% SOC (sorry no SG to verify.... ) Engine started, warning lamp out and low amperage in. All good so far. Switch off engine switch on inverter and run a 1kw fire for a minute or two, (100amp draw) restart engine and even at tick over a nice healthy charge going in. Increase revs to ~2000 and ammeter showing 70+ amps. All in all very happy with the end result.

I don't care how high the bit rate is I can still hear (sh) it when listening to MP3. I dont listen to music on the NB as there is just not room for a decent system. On the barge I did but that system is now in the cottage with upgraded speakers. I'm still tempted by a Quad CD player to replace my modified Marantz then the whole system will be from one manufacturer

Part 3 (See Post #1 for intro and scoring system. The scores, although brief, reveal at least as much as the comments.) Back on the canals, and just in time, too, as the Soar went into flood. I love rivers, but it's sometimes nice to relax and not think about rainfall and catchment areas! Trent & Mersey Canal CLOCK WAREHOUSE, Shardlow (July 30) 4+3+6=13 Large,corporate (Marston's) pub but comfortable, good service and not expensive. NAVIGATION, Shardlow (Aug 7) 4+4+6=14 Light, airy and plain. Odd collection of furniture, including piano. Pleasant service, but rather expensive, so went to: MALT SHOVEL, Shardlow (Aug 7) 2+4+8=14 Quiet side room with inlaid game tables (chess, Scrabble, Monopoly, backgammon, ludo, Clue). Much better value. BRUNSWICK, Derby (Aug 8) 5+5+9=19 By bus from Shardlow to the door, 24/7! Superb brewpub, 16 beers, most brewed on the premises. Several rooms, with red leather benches like the House of Lords. No music, just quiet happy conversation (I think - not all was in English). Dedicated to beer, not food. Very good value. GBG A highlight of the 2017 Pub Cruise. WHITE HART, Aston-on-Trent (Aug 9) 3+3+6=12 Pleasant enough village local. Cheap, but not much of interest and rather dark. Odd pervasive smell, so went to: MALT, Aston-onTrent (Aug 9) 4+3+6=13 Attractive interior, but more upmarket and expensive, with unsmiling bored service. COOPER'S ARMS, Weston-on-Trent (Aug 10) 4+3+7=14 Large manor house, really impressive inside and out, with lake. Good but impersonal service. BUBBLE INN, Stenson (Aug 11) 3+4+6=13 Converted barn, trendy 30 years ago. Comfortable lounge area, with cheerful service, but not cheap. COOPER'S TAVERN, Burton-on-Trent (Aug 12) 5+5+8=18 Lovely warren of little rooms in a traditional brewery tap (10 beers), full of interesting memorabilia, but empty on a Saturday lunchtime. BOOT, Repton (Aug 12) 5+4+7=16 Rather stark and dark modern makeover. Slow service. On Boot Hill, leading to the burial ground! GBG BARTON TURNS (formerly VINE), Barton Turns. (Aug 13) 2+3+6=11 Basic Marston's pub backing onto busy main road. Undistinguished. GBG, but can't imagine why. CROWN, Alrewas (Aug 13) 3+4+6=13 Rambling local with several small rooms, but couldn't escape the awful music in any of them. SWAN, Fradley (Aug 14) 5+4+7=16 This much-loved pub has had a rather bare makeover, with much clutter removed, and new furniture. Beer still good, though not now in GBG. (2014 - 5+5+9=19 Justly famous and keeping a very high standard. GBG) (2016 - 5+5+8=18 New management not changed much, fortunately. GBG) CLIFFORD ARMS, Great Haywood (Aug 15) 5+4+7=16 Now the only pub in the village. Excellent welcome in large, pleasantly shabby bar. (2014 - 3+4+8=15 A large, pleasant busy bar.) BOREHOLE, Stone (Aug 16 & 22) 5+4+8=17 Good range of beers mostly from own brewery close by (Lymestone). Former office in industrial estate. Homely, with oddments of furniture and fittings and piano. GBG DUKE William, Burslem (Aug 23) 5+4+6=15 GBG Beautiful traditional interior, but obtrusive music and sl-o-o-o-w service, so went across the square to: JOHNY'S (sic) BAR, Burslem (Aug 23) 4+5+8=17 Tiny, friendly and interesting. No crisps, but given free bowl of Pringles from barman's own supply. I could hardly refuse! HOLY INADEQUATE, Etruria (Sept 7) 5+5+8=18 Proper old-fashioned pub with several rooms, all for drinkers. Closed weekday lunchtimes. GBG (2015 - 5+4+9=18 Folkies banished to the back shop. Yay!) Caldon Canal HOLLYBUSH, Denford (Aug 24&25) 4+4+7=15 Not quite as good as it used to be. Bar skittles and other games now replaced by food and families. Famous tug'o'war team seems defunct. But no music! Good value WHEEL, Longsdon (Aug 25) 1+3?+2=6 This requires some explanation. No plain crisps, so said, as usual: "Good job I have my own supply then!" Barman: "Yes, well you can eat them outside then." A short lively discussion resulted in me telling him where to put his beer and stalking out. So the 3? for beer quality is a charitable guess. This has never happened before or since. BLACK LION, Cheddleton (Aug 26) 4+3+7=14 Church very handy, and vice-versa, for this attractive comfortable village pub. (The RED LION appeared to have recently closed.) RAILWAY, Froghall (Aug 27) 2+3+6=11 Friendly, but rather spartan during refurbishment. More ciders than beers. BLACK LION, Consall Forge. (Aug 27) 4+4+7=15 Welcoming and friendly despite the aftermath of the Bank Holiday crowds. Good atmosphere after they had gone. CAMRA discount offered as soon as they saw me! GBG ROEBUCK, Leek (Aug 28) 5+5+8=18 Very old half-timbered pub full of interest, taken over and well refurbished by Titanic 6 years ago. Several rooms on 2 levels. My first pub food in 3 years! Peace on a Bank Holiday and genuine friendly service. GBG BOAT, Basford Bridge (Aug 28) 1+3+6=10 Very ordinary canalside pub suffering from Bank Holiday hangover. BLACK HORSE, Endon (Aug 29) 2+4+7=13 I described this 17 years ago, in another Caldon pub report, as a "seventies retro barn". Extensively refurbished in 2005, it will soon become a "noughties retro barn". But a good welcome - I liked it despite myself! TRAVELLER'S REST, Stanley (Aug 29) 5+4+8=17 Extremely comfortable pub/restaurant worth the slog up the hill. No children in the bar area! Almost fell asleep in large leather armchair. ROSE & CROWN, Stanley Moor (Aug 30) 3+4+5=12 Every table set for meals. Sat outside. SPORTSMAN, Stockton Brook (Sept 5) 3+4+8=15 Cracking wee local's local with good atmosphere and friendly service. Bar skittles. Taproom & snug. Closed weekday lunchtimes (opens 2PM!) FOAMING QUART, Norton Green (Sept 6) 3+4+6=13 Not very interesting pub spoiled by over-loud music and large telly screens (but very cheap). Macclesfield Canal BARLEY HOPS, Congleton (Sept 8) 3+5+8=16 Lively micropub with good atmosphere and lots of unusual bottled beers (at a price!). A bit of a trek from Congleton wharf. GBG RAILWAY, High Town, Congleton (Sept 9) 5+4+5=14 Rather anodyne refurb of this surprisingly large food-oriented pub (but places to sit for a pint). HOLLY BUSH, Bollington (Sept 10) 4+3+6=13 Interesting refurbishment with several small rooms. Shelf of books on Hegel, Kant, Plato and other philosophers didn't quite fit with the general ambience. But cheap! SAMUEL OLDKNOW, Marple (Sept 11, Oct 19) 5+4+7=16 Rather cramped micropub (more seating downstairs, but dreary). Self service dog bar (water & biscuits). Lights dimmed at 8PM, but turned up again to let me read! GBG ROYAL OAK, High Lane (Sept 12) 3+3+7=13 Cheerful, bright and comfortable on a dreich night, but telly overkill. GBG, surprisingly. HORSE SHOE, High Lane (Sept 13) 2+3+6=11 Run-of-the-mill GSM* pub lacking imagination. NAVIGATION, Marple (Sept 22) 4+3+5=12 Ordinary GSM* town pub with nothing special except the very good floral display, so went to: RING'O'BELLS, Marple (Sept 22) 3+3+7=13 A more welcoming GSM* pub. Good service, with little rooms to hide in and a handy gun hanging from the ceiling. Quiet on a Friday night - not what it was? (2014 - 4+4+8=16 Not a Robinson's fan, but quality good in an interesting pub) WINDMILL, Whiteley Green (Sept 23) 5+3+6=14 Selfconciously trendy, uncosy open-plan pub with pretentious beer-tasting notes but mediocre beer. COTTON TREE, Bollington (Sept 24) 4+4+9=17 Proper old-fashioned pub - no food, cash only. Little interesting rooms with books and games. Brilliant piano singalong of old(ish) favourites suspended my anti-music principles. Nice dogs. VALE, Bollington (Sept 24) 5+5+7=17 Beer brewed across the road, and travels well. A bit echoey and rather dark. Can be very busy. GBG (2015 - 5+5+7=17 Own brewery. Rather dark. Easily the oldest customer. GBG) DOG & PARTRIDGE, Bollington (Oct 4) 2+4+7=14 Basic GSM* pub with the addition of a vivarium (bearded dragon lizard) and small but eclectic bookshelf. SPINNER'S ARMS, Bollington (Oct 5) 2+3+5=10 Yet another GSM* pub. 4 rooms, all with large telly. BEER TRADERS, Marple (Oct 7) 4+4+4=12 Rather bare hipsters' hangout micropub, often crowded despite awful loud music and slow service. Left before Saturday night disco - my wellies didn't really cut it. GBG RAILWAY Rose Hill, Marple (Oct 8) 4+4+6=14 Comfotable but rather dark large GSM* pub handy for the station. HATTER'S ARMS, Marple (Oct 19) 3+2+7=12 Another GSM* pub, quite pleasant with little rooms. Used to be in GBG, but no longer, for good reason. (2015 - 4+4+7=15 Refurbished and improved local bar. Robinson's, of course. ) *GSM - Great Stockport Monopoly, i.e. Robinson's. You can't escape them round here. Peak Forest Canal NORFOLK ARMS, Marple Bridge (Sept21) 5+3+8=16 Rather scruffy home-from-home with rocking chair, pallet-burning fire and handy dictionary. GBG, but beer inconsistent. MALT DISLEY, Disley (Sept 19) 5+4+7=16 Micropub showing some flair. Books & games. Related to the SAMUEL OLDKNOW, Marple (Sept11, Oct 19) so also has a dog bar. WHITE LION, Disley (Sept 20) 5+4+6=15 Large, eerily empty pub with big beer choice but no customers. Regularly activated over-loud jukebox interrupts the crossword. GBG SPORTSMAN, Strines (Oct 6 & 9) Great views, but drinkers now banished to small bare back bar. Good service - lights turned up to let me read. GBG (2014 - 4+5+8=17 Great views from light, airy bar. GBG) BEEHIVE, New Mills (Oct 20) 3+3+6=12 Another disappointing GBG entry, with beer of variable quality. Bar like a corridor, with over-trendy seating elsewhere. GBG GOYT INN, Whaley Bridge (Oct 21) 4+4+9=17 Lovely little homely old-fashioned pub with lots of interesting corners and good friendly service. No music! Just a buzz of contented conversation. NAVIGATION, Bugsworth (Oct 22) 5+4+7=16 Really intrusive music drags down a classic pub in a terrific situation. (2014 - 5+4+8=17 Great situation and pleasant atmosphere. GBG) SOLDIER DICK, Furness Vale (Oct 23) 3+4+7=14 A good roadside inn with welcoming service and an intriguing name. Quiet music, but escapable in various odd corners. SHEPHERD'S ARMS, Whaley Bridge (Oct 26) 3+4+7=14 Disappointing choice of beer and tiny bar (but bigger lounge) GBG WHITE HART, Whaley Bridge (Oct 27) 4+4+7=15 Good atmosphere with several cosy little rooms with good lighting. Escapable music. Are you still there? I make that 121 pubs visited this year in the course of the 2017 cruise, although you sort of lose count after a while. By now, of course, I should be tucked up in my home mooring at Sowerby Bridge, but because of the Marple Locks closure here am I wandering like a lost soul on the upper reaches of the Macclesfield and Peak Forest until December, when I have a winter mooring booked for 3 months. So it's entirely possible I may find one or two more pubs........ In which case this will become A Trilogy in Four Parts (Hitchhiker reference there!) or perhaps I'll just add an Addendum Bibendum. Until then........

Right, to be rude and contentious, if you are listening to MP3 you might as well as forget hifi and just use a really cheap car stereo. Any good (mechless) car stereo will have aux input so you can plug your "media server" into that. You get the advantage of convenient radio reception and even bluetooth if you like that sort of thing. That 640w will only ever be used for a fraction of a second. though strictly due to amplifier ineffficienct the pull from the 12volts will be at least twice that. But, short transients will come out of the amplifiers supply capacitors rather than down the cable. Once again we really need to know the typical current draw. I would guess that 6mm cable would do, but obviously 10 would be better. Because the cable run is longer than a car, and because there will be transient demand it might well be worth one of those Huge capacitors that the car HiFi use. On this subject, you will need to take great care with the cabling and the amp (or car stereo) and your "media server" must be off the same supply and close to each other. I use my laptop as my music source ("media server") with a huge hard disc full of WAV files (and some MP3) and a half good USB sound card. The laptop is on the table here but the car stereo is a few feet away but fed from a totally separate 12 cable. It sounded bad with tone of interference due to the different zero voly potentials due to the negative cable volt drops. There is actually potential for doing big damage too. My solution was a little audi transformer but that I suspect this would upset the HiFi purists (or maybe even please them as tey like valves and old technology). I agree that headphones do have a place but they are just not the same "experience" and are not sociable, though silent discos are rather fun. Bluetoooth headphones are attractive but in my opinion bluetooth is surely the modern day work of the devil. ..............Dave

When I saw the URL 'the floater' my first thought was 'hard farts'

It won't wake you up in the morning with a nice cup of tea either. I don't believe that's explained in the manual at all...

I'm not even going to look at this as it will be the usual tripe on offer. "Floater" is a very appropriate title for this site.

More like, you know I'm right and you wish to suppress debate as you know I can produce either empirical evidence or quotations from the SmartGauge manual to support every one of my assertions. Such is the 'groupthink' on here in favour of the SmartGauge, any criticism of the SmartGauge is immediately jumped upon, as just illustrated.

Doesn't matter if it is sunny or not. Its warm on the boat with the heating on and its warm in the pub.

Looking at the text, there is nothing worth discussing. A hysterical, illogical anti-smartgauge rant will lie behind it.

We love the Trent. Many don't but we do. Great at this time of year as you can pretty much have the whole river to yourself and not see another boat on the move.

Crikey, it looks more like white water rafting! Enjoy your new boat

That's a bit deep for me - I think I was aiming more for Ken Dodd!

Are you sure you are not getting mixed up with Cholmondeley (which is pronounced Chumley) and is a little nearer to Bunbury than Cholmondeston (which is pronounced Chumston)

Never mind the flash boat stuff, absolutely do not do this. You are planning too for all the wrong reasons and your vertigo is probably your brain trying to get that through to you. If you really want to go ahead, you MUST hire a boat, any boat, now, this time of year for at least a week.

That is because most people don't stand in the right place, you should be standing inside the hatch, not on the back deck like 90% of boaters do. The first one is correct the second one wrong photos from Alamy on the web

when passing an oncoming boat be ready to be pushed away as your bows pass each other and then sucked back towards the middle of the canal as your sterns pass each other. don't do what a boat I was following last week did, every time a boat approached them they took their boat out of gear and then wondered why they ended up sideways across the canal (after the 5th time you would have hoped they would have learnt)

Pre boat steering practice can be had on dry land. Commandeer a rear wheel steered dumper truck and drive it around awkward obstacles. Or alternatively, drive your car in reverse everywhere for six months. If the tyres are let down by about half the vehicle should emulate a boat wallowing. Hope this helps.