Leaderboard

Is there a petition we can sign to agree with the proposal..

I am quite happy to pay an increased fee, it is my choice to have a 14 foot beam boat so I pay the penalty in both where I can cruise and what it costs me - just as it is my choice to have a 2 tonne dirty, diesel gulping, 4wd vehicle. Everyone should just quit moaning and get on with life. If you don't like it sell up and get a NB.

I'm glad most of the canal's near me are narrow, otherwise i'd have had to build a widebeam, and that would have been much harder..

The thing is, few of us disagree with the concept of bigger boats paying more than smaller boats. The next thing is, the area of a boat is a more accurate proxy for size than length alone. Therefor charging by area is fairer.

But the proper canal system is built for wider beamed craft up to and over twenty feet in some places. Its only the silly narrow system forced on us by accountants 300 years ago that means people like me who wish to cruise the greater part of the inland system have to buy stupid ugly skinny narrowboats. So called fat boats in other words the vast majority of the worlds boats are quite simply better handling and VASTLY more comfortable if even stopped on only one night per year let alone lived on. To be honest I expected the increase to be greater but if like many people that have for many years lived on boats always based on cost by length and have sensibly budgeted say for retirement and then there is a substantial increase then I can see why they would be peed off. Why is it that so many freaky sized narrowboat owners moan about superior more sensibly sized boats? Is it the usual jealousy? something else? There are a few too many non narrow beamed craft in dumps like London but in reality much of the system is mainly inhabited by narrow beamed craft and most wider boats are on the proper canals and rivers such as the Trent etc etc and cause no problems. Perhaps its little man syndrome? I have a narrowboat but realise no one in their right mind would have one if they didn't need to traverse north to south inland but that's what we are stuck with.

Or one to object that it is too small an increase

The thing is. If folk with 2 pack epoxy coatings still keep docking the boat every two or three years to check it, or touch it up, whats the point of all the expense. Might as well just black it each time with ordinary bitumen.

I know this is a canal forum and not a tree geek site but as some of you lot boat in the south and surroundings and tend to an outside lifestyle it might be worth watching out for this. Plus of course if you see any a report to the FC would be much appreciated https://www.forestry.gov.uk/oakprocessionarymoth#outbreak stage It can be nasty to human health so take care if you see it

As I've said on Narrowboat Owners Group, we have a pair, 55 & 53 foot, we take up less area than a 60 foot widebeam, they share the same engine, we have to pay full price for the motor and 50% for our butty, so 20% sounds cheap! In places where the navigation narrows, we can single them up, so we don't impede others. Still we have to pay one and a half licenses.

I very much doubt that the changes in licence fees are anything to do with boaters. The whole thing was decided in a CRT /IWA management meeting or 3 and then an expensive consultation paid lip service to the general public

Damn, I will next time...

Absolutely. We have narrowboats because they fit on the canals that we navigate. Unfortunately some people think there is no problem taking their fat boats to places that they are not suitable for. In marinas all around the country away from the rivers and canals, craft have been charged by area for 10 years plus because space is at a premium (in those marinas) and so you pay for your area. Space in the canals is limited hence charging by area seems sensible. If fat boats were suitable for the canal network, I would buy a fat boat. If all the waterways I navigate can take 1000 ton tankers then I would buy a fat boat. I would then expect to pay more as the area of the boat is bigger.

Jota mastic 87 as suggested above is one of the most surface tolerant 2 pack epoxies and one of the easiest to apply. The main thing to remember is to mix the paint thoroughly before adding part b, mixing thoroughly to the correct proportions by volume and to pay attention to minimum and maximum overcoating times. I used two coats of jotamastic 87 with aluminium followed by two coats of standard jotamastic 87 black. This will turn grey over time so if you want it black you need a coat or two of Jotun Hardtop to finish instead. Use winter grade hardener even in summer unless you can afford to keep your boat out of the water for a week after you finish! Curing will stop once the boat is reimmersed and the temperature drops. https://www.jotun.com/we/en/b2b/paintsandcoatings/products/jotamastic-87.aspx You will need to download the relevant data sheets. All available with a Google search.

The Nissan won't break down?

Ok so we renewed our curtains a couple of years ago and was going to fleabay the old ones but after them sitting in a cupboard since then simply cannot be aressed so rather than bin them they may be of use to someone on a budget or whatever so FREE to good home you will have to pick them up or maybe we can relay them by other boaters? Anyway there are if I remember a set to go across the usual front doors windows then at least four sets that fit windows of 3 foot by 2 foot ish obviously they are bigger to fit correctly there are several others of different sizes mostly cream coloured and they are lined. I will dig them out to see exactly what there is if anyone is genuinely interested. They are still in good condition but obviously used.

I think I agree with you Brian and its not just a question of Money , more and more People are now choosing these Widebeams in order that they can simply replicate their life ashore with an effective " floating country cottage " , the GU South is simply awash with them . Cruising last year I encountered one which was home to three separate cars , another a chap was making a living by purchasing " sailaway shells " from Collingwood fitting them out on the water and as soon as one is complete he simply moves onto the next . I don't believe the GU is where they belong and I think the CRT simply see them as another Revenue Stream . What interests me most is that in the main Widebeams are purchased by those with a " Few Quid " I wonder if they will prove to have a Louder Voice than the rest of us , judging by this increase it would appear not .

I honestly can't remember what the form said, or what I ticked when I filled it in, if I did. I vaguely remember a form filling exercise a while ago - supposedly only to take a few minutes (it said in the intro) - but dozens of boxes took me nearly 2 hours to tick (I like to do my research) (and get sidetracked into interesting things). In my cynical view - it was a PR exercise to create the illusion of being a consensus process to help decision making. Albeit, a pre-settled decision will have already been made - where favourable comments will be selected and used to 'support' it. "...there were numerous replies in support of charging extra for increased width...." "...some suggested 'double'...." "....but we set a fee a lot lower than that...."

Obesity shouldn't be a reason to charge a person more for a CRT license.

Just as i thought. This is still a very silly thread.

The additive does add a not trivial increase to overall fuel price so its not an easy decision. It helps keep the diesel stable but if, as you say, diesel turnover is mostly quite quick then its not an issue. Additives also help keep the injection system both clean and lubricated so a lot depends upon how fussy your injection system and how traumatic it would be if you had to get an injection pump rebuild etc. We have a Stanadyne injection pump which is a fussy bugger so I think the additive is a good investment. Some people pour their old engine oil into the fuel tank, I think Russel Newberry used to say this was fine, so if you have a pump that can drink anything that you give it then its probably not worth paying for an additive. ................Dave

The one on the right "before" and "after" is a bit dangerous. People will be expecting you to turn water into wine next!

And the rest lol Front Back Like said, i mite get a better background, this is ok for now.

My boat is so beautiful it enhances the canals it frequents. But for some others this does not apply so they should pay an ugly levy, say an extra %age on the degree of uglyfication. Unfortunately this would mean I would incur a surcharge when I get around to installing my cratch.

I think, if you built the boat yourself, from scratch, not this self fit-out, cheating lark, but actually started with sheets of steel, then everything should be free, forever. Seems perfectly fair.. Casp'

Summary of the argument: "I bought a boat too big to fit everywhere therefore I should pay less."

Brain?

It's so cold up here, the polar bears put their jackets on and walked out in protest.

No. Panic not.

It's alright, its re-opened. Thankfully it was down to BEAR Scotland to fix it so no 'working with partners to find a resolution to the problem, public safety is our main concern blah blah'

I lightly grind the rust off and paint it on its just for the damage that happens in daily boating, two coats does it fine. The problem is that its always the same places that get damaged! My gunnels are also zingered I do the same there as well but use a semi gloss on it afterwards. The beauty is that the rust never goes beyond the scratch and any corrosion is very light so easily dealt with as the exposed zinc becomes an anode

Agree completely, just looking at the photos the second boat has a very, very cheap looking fit-out and obvious paint rusting. I haven't compared levels of equipment but 'kit' like inverters, batteries, galley fittings can add a lot to a boat's price as does properly done joinery. You definitely do need to look at boats in the flesh - see, for example, how a quality fit-out like a Braidbar or Stoke Boats looks after 10-15 years and you'll see why they command higher resale values.

You said in the previous post there was corrosion. Jet washing and abrasion is not good enough to paint over that. Painting over old paint is ok with water jetting and abrasion. If you are painting epoxy straight onto steel then it has to be back to SA 2 1/2 or just about ok onto a slightly rust bloomed surface if a tolerant epoxy is used. The temperature guidance is also tied into being above the dew point - otherwise there will be moisture on the steel and then you have a problem.

A WHAT?????????????????????????????????????????????????????!! The centre line is for handling the boat, not mooring it.

The gas pipe connects (via the control valve) to the jet. The burner sits on top of the jet. The gas comes out of the jet then through the holes in the burner.

This is indeed true. Can't remember when I last used my heater, certainly not yesterday. Thanks for not being pedantic about my 42/43 error Jen - I did know what engine I had really!

I zingered mine I looked at two pack but the Zinc looked [and is] a better system I still pull the boat out every two years and apply Keelblack as cosmetic finish, but where it matters any damage to the zinger is confined to just that scratch and is easily repaired. Two pack if damaged will allow rust to creep underneath it which it what I wanted to avoid. I dont think it was anymore expensive than two pack and it also required glass blasting to prepare the surface

2 pack epoxies should last far longer than 2-4 years on the hull of a NB. Your experience and need to recoat is most likely due to a lack of surface preparation or bad application. You really need to get back to clean steel and preferably SA 2 1/2 if you want it to last.....and apply the coating in line with the manufacturers instructions. If you cannot achieve this level of preparation, which is expensive, then it is a waste of time using a 2 pack and so a 'traditional blacking' single pack system is the best answer. I do not understand your comment "but at the end of the day it's all blacking no matter what you use" . No it isnt. Prepare the surface very well and use a 2 pack epoxy for 10 years life or just water jet and slap on a bitumen based blacking and repeat every 2 years.

You'll be very unpopular in London when CRT tell people that there is a way to move their boat with a broken down engine.

Frankly this is plain silly. I'm surprised at you mrsmelly. If we all accept 24" as the standard maximum depth I predict it will be only a few years before CRT try to make that 18".

Hi all, rivers still running high, I have left my boat in a secure place on canals and left home to return on Sunday and try again to enter Nene and cruise to Suffolk. I have tried last Friday. I went down the Rothersthorpe flight solo and because I was advised not to navigate even to Northampton Marina, I turned back and went all the way back on Grand Union where I felt it safer for my boat than in the middle of Northampton. So 32 locks in two days Anyway I had great time last week navigating the Leicester arm up to Welford and back. Huge thanks to Matty40 to helping me with some advice whom I met at the first of Buckby locks (almost miraculously). Also huge thanks to all the lovely boaters who helped me along my first boating experience. Loved it every bit (even after I sent my new mobile swimming with the fishes). Cheers Martin

I didn't get to where I am today by digging a hole and sitting in it.

My grandma never used to go on about comas. She was in one most of the time due to too much brandy though!

The "K" refers to a change of specification which occurred in 1952 and indicates that the pump has been set to the later standard and should be used with sprayers that also meet the changed standard. The pump phasing was changed and the spring pressure for the sprayers was increased from 55lbs to 61.5 lbs. Previously sprayers were marked "E or E1" Gardner's only used the CAV Body, BPF pump elements, delivery valves and control rack etc. All the other parts were of Gardner manufacture and assembly. The pumps were built and calibrated in house. Gardner's originally made there own sprayers in house, the design changed very little from the first L2 "E" Type version (1929) to the latter type used in the LXC (1980's) Steve

The problem is people will just keep paying higher and higher prices so that those on lower incomes will never ever own a boat or owt else. We need a serious property price crash and the price of boats will fall in line with them and do everyone a favour in the long term.

Payment received in full thank you very much Mrs Bob but in fact I have done very little, it is Carl who has gone the extra mile on this one and his cup of tea was very well deserved. I can see that between Carl managing to interest you in another bit of kit and Auntie Wainwright managing to sell you a second bit of kit you are going to be requiring a butty very soon Of course, if anybody else would like a lovely sewing machine serviced by the fair hands of Carl then he has others available to raise funds for Chesterfield Canal Trust. I suspect of anyone has a Singer that is giving them grief he may be able to help out with service or parts to get it working again. It is very kind when someone who earns their keep with such things is prepared to do them FOC to raise funds for a good cause Thanks a million Carl

I have a Gardner 3L2 in the boat that I purchased. ‘Markinaboat’ from whom I bought the boat kindly gave me a present which was a book detailing the history of Gardner. The book itself had by coincidence been recommended to me previously by ‘Athy’ It’s a fascinating read and each time I look at the engine I’m reminded of its origins and the quality of both the materials and workmanship. To illustrate my dire knowledge of mechanics etc I never realised that it was a gentleman named Diesel who in fact invented the engine named after him. I always thought it was because they used diesel fuel duuuuuur. Just one little fact gleaned from the book above.