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Something else to dodge on the canals and rivers this summer probably packed with mum, dad and kids with not a life jacket between them, what could go wrong. I expect we will also get our share going out to sea here on the east coast keeping the lifeboat busy.

There was a thread about this very recently, with somebody providing some excellent information about the old locks and basins. Have a search but the short answer is no, lock has not been looked after. I suspect the Middlewich stoppage is going to hurt some canal businesses badly, good thing is it's forcing hirers to get out of the ring mentality and explore, suspect a lot are finding out how wonderful the Caldon is. ...................Dave

They’ve put a circular out to all their suppliers: “If a gas bloke called Mike wants to buy a SmartGauge, be sure to send him one of the ‘special’ ones”...

Visitor moorings should be divided into sunny areas for solar power boats, and shaded areas for engine runners. The latter could sit in the gloom running their generators in their own little ghetto.?

I think the Tuel lane hole is shown as 55 foot in Nicholsons???????. Like the idea of going into a short lock to wind. ...............Dave Have seen one of those, not sure I want to acquire a handspike to not go through a lock though! ..................Dave

Given that many people don’t paint their base plates, and their boats don’t get rusty and sink, I presume you are introducing a hint of sarcasm? I don’t know why bowthrusters get such a bad rap here. They can be helpful and handy in certain circumstances. I haven’t got one on my current boat, and can do everything I want to, but one would be handy for reversing, as it would save me slowing down to straighten up the bow, and for controlling the bow when docking/undocking, particularly when single handed.

Easier after heavy rain

Yup - its often difficult to get out of Lidl - I wonder how many have to be rescued tho' ?

wont be using my family boat on the canal . I will be using it at the seaside ?

You will find them on the Nene and the Thames also the sea, They even use to go blowing past the gas platforms, empty I might add

I bought one today. Next Thursdays offer look good too. In particular there is an Electric Air pump for beds chairs balls and toys and I reckon it will be good to inflate the boats. Only £5.99 ?

NABO is still alive working away largely behind the scenes and reporting back to its members via a monthly email circular and Nabo news magazine. Engaging with CRT has been difficult recently given the number of managers on notice of redundancy due to the recent strategic changes. But there was a meeting with Jon Horsfall yesterday in Leeds agenda items included : CRT reorganisation outcomes, Boater contact points, Disenfranchisement of boaters, Forums (based on model set up by Nick Worthington), Mooring auctions and pricing, Ongoing engagement Its a fair question given the instant access to social media to challenge the need of boating associations and their relevance. It takes time, effort and expense to attend the various forums and NAG, BSS committees etc especially as in NABO’s case those that attend are all volunteers . As someone who has attended some of these meetings I have also questioned their relevance. With the recent rebranding and the focus of CRT PR directed at attracting new visitors/users there perhaps is a greater need for associations or other social groups like CWDF keeping boaters interests to the fore. As CRT is now totally reliant on Government renewing its grant (which it was probably not expecting to have to do) we need CRT to succeed and to take boaters with them.

Love the mushrooms ? ours are painted matt black with gloss red tops. You wont believe this but they are usualy made of a dull alloy metal and some people spend ages rubbing them with some compound until they go shiney for a day then they go dull and the action is repeated ?

You mentioned a three day slot to start moving the boat, which I think may be enough to get you from Thatcham to Brentford if we assume: (1) it's soon, while long days of daylight are available, and you're fit enough and happy to do long days (2) You have crew; being single handed would be much slower, especially on the K&A section. (3) You plan ahead for the tidal Thames, as described by Scholar Gypsy who I'm sure knows it better than I do. Assuming you have an annual CRT licence and just want a temporary EA licence for Reading to Teddington (below which it's PLA, no licence required), you have a dilemma; either buy a week's licence, or attempt it on a one day licence. The latter option would give you the day you buy it, at the first Thames lock where you encounter a lock keeper, plus the next day. So to do it, and to reach Brentford in three days, you'd have to plan to moor just above Fobney lock on the Saturday night, get up and make a very early start (crack of dawn!) on the Sunday, then keep moving and covering the miles well into Sunday evening, and again on Monday. Much would depend on the Monday having an evening tide at a convenient time. The trouble is, if you don't get to Brentford in your three days, I'm not sure where you could leave the boat until you can get back to carry on; it could cost you a lot for a marina place on the posh lower Thames I imagine. Probably better to get a week's EA licence and either find an extra day or two to do it, or move the boat along near to Reading beforehand (the Friday evening?) then have three days from there to Brentford. Once you're on CRT waters at Brentford you can easily find somewhere to moor the boat a while before doing the last day up to Uxbridge. I hope we're not overwhelming you with too much information!

Ah you're right, must have been stressed

Ive been pressing both buttons furiously hard but yes this test was in my mind to do before taking steps as serious and revolutionary as ringing technical support

Smoke, explosions, flying soot - it's fun operating those valves

Sam gave a perfectly sensible suggestion in post #20 which I thought was an elegant way around the problem.

Can't see any practical solution to this problem other than converting, as others have said, to side doors. This would at least keep the aesthetics of the boat pretty much as they are. Would need that Honda advert technology where items pass through solids.

Down with the Federation!

Oill? From the crankcase breather, quite normal.

Ideal! It's the ones who don't know the rules properly that you need to look out for, whether they fail it for something that's not against the rules or pass it with something that is.

How about if the new car was built by a chap on the canal bank to his own design including all the systems in it?

That’s a boat fitted out by a small firm. If you search the guy’s name you’ll find his Facebook page. if you particularly like his work, why not get in touch with him and ask if he ever does boat’s with the things you want, and if so how much would it cost. Builders like this often just build boats on spec and then put the up for sale, but they often make each boat different and might be open to building one to your requirement. This may, however, result in you having to sign a contract on a yet-to-be-built boat, and making stage payments etc.

Last year we winded a 57' narrowboat at Judes Ferry - stern into the slipway.

The foilage had I think been cut back since then. Here it is on 2016, straightforward turn. Bows to the left, then reverse onto the Hythe (wharf)

But at least you could see the bottom.

Yup. This is as far as Fulbourne got in 2001. The Imray guide unhelpfully gave the width, depth and headroom, but not the length of lock!