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Thought you might like to see this it’s the big load on Tadworth not long after we brought her. Steerer Hill and the late Trevor Maggs on gunwale.

As someone guilty of pretty much everything Pete accuses him of Id like to offer a counterpoint to his post regarding historic boat websites. I started my research 40 odd years ago as a kid, raised by ex working boat people my every spare moment was spent on boats, talking about boats and if I am honest dreaming about boats (steering our boat along a road like a car, turning into our drive and taking the boat through the entryway between the two houses like a tunnel and mooring it in the back garden... yes, I had that dream a lot). I had exercise books full of boat names, where I saw them, whether they were converted or not, along with little snippets of information uttered by my granddad or uncle about the boat if they knew it. I had the a5 ish size Robert Wilson/Alan Faulkner books as presents when other kids were having toys and games because I loved old boats and needed to know as much about them as I could. I could identify a boats builder from its name or the style of its bow/stern as easily as other kids my age could reel off footballers or pop stars, I still couldnt tell you who sang what song or when even now. As with most kids school exams and then starting work got in the way of my boating and the collection of information and in my own particular case numerous nervous breakdowns along with deaths in the family saw my information lost in house clearances and meltdowns of my own volition. But I still had that love, that deep seated connection to old boats and canals in general so I began to build it back up from a point of having lost everything, I had the intensely good fortune to meet and speak with others who shared that passion before I became as good as housebound and through those connections we shared and collated what we had and put the lists online as a means of spreading our passion. We knew we hadnt got everything right, we never claimed we had, in fact my website has disclaimers on its front page even now saying any mistakes are genuine and totally my fault and that if pointed out they will be rectified. About 2 and a half years ago I was in a very dark place, I was at the point of taking the site down and letting everything go but kind words on this forum and some amazing (to me) offers of help and support meant that the site not only survived but it is being rewritten, its a long job, not helped in the least by my own mental health being shite most of the time, but it is happening. People who have done the research hard yards are helping, I know I havent, mea culpa, not wishing to excuse it but I am extremely shy in person and the thought of actually meeting people and going somewhere new fills me with a terror I cant explain while at the same time making me feel wholly inadequate as a person, so its correct, I personally have not gone to the places where the information is held, not through want of desire or dedication but because I actually cant do it, for that I am sorry. The people who are helping rewrite the site have been brilliant, I wont name them unless they want to come forward themselves but they have not judged me disappearing for almost 2 years, or cut me out of the loop for being the flakey idiot I am and for that I am eternally grateful. So while the point Pete makes is accurate, as in my opinion he is about everything narrow boat related, it doesnt tell the whole story. Hopefully Ive shed a bit of light on what that story is, at least for me. For my own peace of mind I have to say that this is in no way critical of anyone nor is it written with any malice or ill intention, I just feel bad when I see it as me letting people down with my not wholly accurate information on the website, I am trying to be better. Sorry.

That was me but I requested the post be withdrawn as it seemed to be muddying g the waters as it was said that sightings had been made elsewhere. Seems to of happened exactly as I surmised (now wearing my Jeremy Clarkson smug face and hating myself for it) Kudos Jim for making the effort to follow up on my post and for your efforts and commitment to helping a fellow boater. Brilliant news

All Thames boaters need to be aware, that whatever nonsense the EA, District Enforcement, TVM or anyone else tries to peddle, charges for OVERNIGHT mooring at any site owned or provided by the EA are unlawful by virtue of Section 136 of the Thames Conservancy Act 1932.

OK so I now have to pay £9.50 to stop to do some shopping at Tecsos. Another big thank you to all the illegal moorers on the Thames. I can now and this location to anywhere in Richmond, Kingston and Chertsey where casual overnight mooring was allowed but now isn't.

............ they've got to get to Windsor tomorrow night.

Now hear de name of de Lord

That photograph (courtesy of Andy's website) dates to shortly after its conversion from a maintenance boat by Simon and Samantha Mitchell, Birmingham. The cabin dimensions were taken from a combination of BADSEY (owned by me) and BEAULIEU, and the works were carried out by the owners at Sherborne Street Wharf. When FENNY first arrived in Sherborne Street it still had a deck instead of a back cabin

I've referred to your site, referred others to your site and enjoyed your site. I know it isn't perfect what is ? However I cannot imagine how much work has gone into it over the years. Life is about learning and you have helped many. A definitive is always hard as owners change, boats get modded and new history comes to light. After 6 years searching for pics of my boat ,quite by accident I came across a picture of my boat with an extension cabin on it, a great surprise especialy as it almost mirrors one put on recently! History is only as good as the current update! keep going and thank you

And, despite how confident you are there will be no flow, it's best to ensure that the water is not hot. If it is hot (and it does flow) you can easily have a burnt or painful thumb whilst it is holding back the torrent until you work out what to do next.

Yep this high voltage reading illustrates the panel is working but not connected to a load. Well done for fixing it by actually asking good questions and following the posted advice. Many don’t and you’ve no idea how pleasing it is to successfully guide someone to fixing it themselves!!!

I massively appreciate everyone's help, there's a lot to learn with this narrowoat business..

They don't, its just a perfect excuse for the scammer to use.

I had good result using a random orbital polisher (battery powered). To apply and polish the wax. Blue paint is > 5 years old.

Well here's what I do, others may differ. Don't clean in blazing sun for starters. Hose the boat down well to get it wet and rid of any debris. Whilst wet shampoo with a large soft sponge. Rinse well with clean water. Shammy the boat dry. When dry apply polish to small areas at a time. Use a soft cloth or microfibre cloth and polish. When the boat is complete it will now be well into the afternoon. Get a chair, a good bottle of Merlot or whatever your tipple is and admire your handiwork.

When you buy a Thames licence you are agreeing to abide by the bylaws this includes retrictions on anchoring and mooring to 24hours unless specified otherwise by the riperian owners. I disargee that the navigation authority should have to signpost and enforce 100miles or so of towpath. They are already facing budget cuts and getting rid of illegal moorers is a time consuming and expensive process and it a waste of our licence payers money.

Not a catalogue then?

I fins the majority of businesses that I deal with lacking in many ways. Be that customer service, product knowledge or downright crookedness. This seems to apply right from your corner shop to big business. I expect no better from boat brokers. Find your boat then tread carefully when dealing with the broker and surveyer.

I'd say that worrying about a possible gearbox failure is well down the list of priorities when choosing a new boat. If the subject boat ticks lots of other boxes, its gearbox type is unimportant provided that it is currently fully operational!

Thanks Mike, Alan. I'm actually looking at buying a boat and I'm trying to educate myself about as much as I possibly can, being an inexperienced newbie to boat buying. I'm trying not to be a Joe Public with little or no idea, as Seadog has suggested in another thread that some buyers are. I figure it's better to ask the question than wonder. I've seen boats for sale with Hurth gearboxes, and after spending quite some time reading about Hurth gearboxes here I get the idea that they aren't the best gearbox around. So I thought if I was to buy a boat with a Hurth gearbox it wouldn't hurt to have some idea first what it would cost to replace the gearbox if it failed. Better to know and have some funds waiting rather than get a shock if it happens. Sounds like it could be a bit of a minefield though. Not easy to educate yourself when buying your first boat, though this forum is priceless. I'm learning - gradually. But I figure the real learning will start once I own a boat!

Yes, yes... but but but.... if I hadn't read about the signs on here, I'd not know. If the CRT had informed boaters their connection through their website, their 'official' channel, I'd be 'perhaps' better informed. As it is, it looks like it's CRT's grubby secret.

I had a netbook (Acer Aspire One 10" running win7), fabulous bit of kit - survived 10k miles in a motorbike tankbag round Europe. Eventually the hard drive bit the dust and was replaced by a SSD and Linux Mint; nothing wrong with it and it still works except the battery is getting a little short of life. Bought a 14" Acer Chromebook last year (£200 from Currys), took 2 hours to install Linux as a dual-boot. Luvverly. And now the chrome OS will run android apps as well. Happy bunny. It is physically larger than the Aspire, but the weight is about the same and the battery life is awesome.

And if similar portholes are fitted with the fastenings on the inside, so they open inward, the result with a sloping cabin side is a dished area on the outside that fills with water as it rains, so when you open the port it empties itself all over you and the inside of the boat............... And I know this because.......

That's bloody CRT for you! In t'old days, BW would have whittled the trunk into a canoe, made flower arrangements with the brash, tidied up, polished the water surface to a bright shine, fed the goldfish and paddled off before anyone even reported it.

Most LTM with lots of spaces are on the offside, I know there is a space at Braunston stop house LTM as I always use it late on because it annoys the guy who has put laminated notices along the stretch.

Before taking an unproven boat on a river give consideration to the engine and fuel. Has the boat sat for months without moving ? - what's the engine oil like ? Is the fuel clean, has it got water and anti-freeze in it ? I would (politely) suggest that it would be madness to take an new to you, unknown boat on the river without, as a minimum, doing a full engine service and fuel condition test.

If you were in Braunston today you may have seen Nutfield and Raymond heading towards Norton Junction with a group of 25 enthusiastic photographers. I thought you might be interested in this photograph which was one of many taken during the trip. It was taken by David Pond so please respect his rights as the owner of the picture. If you are a member of a photography club and would like Friends of Raymond to host you for the day please contact treasurer@friendsofraymond.org.uk for more details.

My favourite moorings are 1. On the summit, on the bit fairly close to Wormleighton mast (and just after the sign that says "HS2 crossing here") 2. In the Cherwell valley south of Aynho (when the M40 has gone off to the east), just below Somerton bridge, or just above Heyford Common Lock, or in the nature reserve (old brickworks) on the left before Pigeon's lock, and a few other places as well with nice walks across the water meadows. 3. In the weirstream alongside Shipton Weir lock (the posts used to hold a sign saying no overnight mooring)