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Fascinating, she has obviously come across from an alternate universe where they use enilosag to fuel their engines.

Blimey some folk do like to make other people's lives difficult and create problems where there are none! No wonder this forum has a bad reputation for putting of newcomers.

Yeah why sit dribbling in a home boring the medics about what you could have done.

Wow thanks guys - so much encouragement. And thank you for all the tips. Of course you're right and life is short so if not now, when? Anyway, we are committed now so too late to chicken out. I saw a T-shirt in a shop recently with the slogan 'Now is the later you talked about yesterday'. Will keep you posted!

If you don't do it now, what're you gonna do: do it next time? You both know how fit and healthy you are, so consider this: narrowboating is not exactly the preserve of athletes; you had a holiday on one last year; you will get more efficient at the working aspects as you gain experience; you can always sell the boat again if/when it gets too much. Good luck with your new boat!

I do not think that any discussion of this nature should descend to any anti cyclist rant. The main question remains as to what CRT can do and have done. CRT appear, if I am not mistaken, to have done much to encourage cycling on the towpaths, without fully understanding the implications of that policy. Without some form of control, be it a licence or physical barriers, or both, cyclists appear to be free to do as they please. Those that care are careful with others, those that do not care just treat all others with varying degrees of contempt. Sadly the latter group, at present vastly out number the former. But as said the problem is not just confined to the towpath, but is found on the footpath and pedestrian areas in towns, cities and even out of town areas. In Birmingham we have a pedestrian area located between Victoria Square and the New Library, where building works has restricted the pathways there for some five years now. There are signs erected asking cyclist to dismount. These are very large signs at each end of the restricted area. It is probably fair to state some 95 % of cyclists using this stretch ignore the signs. For the walkers the inconvenience of a cyclists passing by in a tight spot ranges from mild to major depending on whether the pedestrian is aware of the pass or suffers torn clothing on the times the rider misjudges the distance. On the towpath, there are many features that relate to the working and mooring of boats. Such features such as mooring spikes, ropes and bollards are part of the working waterway and essentially part of that character. Where such exist any cyclist passing through should dismount. The fact that most do not appears to be part of the belief that it is acceptable for it to be done. If this belief persists other users of the waterways will continue to suffer and CRT will be culpable of allowing such a situation to remain.

Age is just a number, fitness and condition is what counts, enjoy the journey.

This must be the fourth or fifth time the Delph has been 'tidied up' in my recollection. I helped with a archaeological report made after excavating a couple of pits to see if the original level of the section between the two tunnels could be identified. There was a system of underground passageways which could allow the tunnels to be drained for maintenance, and they can be seen on the 1785 map below. Talking to maintenance men, they suggested that the tunnel from the water mill could also be used to create a circulation of water in the Delph, allowing sediment from the mines to settle before the water fed into the main canal. The Delph would be dredged regularly to encourage this effect and remove the silt. It was probably a simpler solution than spending vast amounts on settling pits away from the canal.

The CRT, bless them, have put signs on towpaths asking reminding people using the towpath to share the space. Sharing usually means being considerate for others, but for many cyclists there appears to be a different interpretation and that is they have precedence over walkers. This of course is not the view of the CRT code. Wringing a bell, or shouting to move people out of the way has little consideration for others, on a narrow path. I sat on a bench yesterday for half an hour, at Farmers Bridge Junction, by the Arena, 1715-1745 and counted the number of persons passing me Pedestrians alone - 8 Pedestrians in groups- 3 Cyclists travelling fast- 12 Cyclists travelling slow- 6 Cyclists passing each other in front of me on the narrow curved path -2 There are three bridges here and I only mention that strip of towpath by me, not those cyclists that passed over these bridges, often at speed, and along both towpaths to and from Broad Street. I suppose at this time of day this was popular for workers cycling home, yet for those that want to walk along these path, those who, in particular, choose to travel fast, is taking any pleasure from walking in an area that should be reserved for walkers, in view of the narrow towpath widths.

CRT Press Release 6 July 2018 CELEBRATING THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE MAKING LIFE BETTER BY WATER The Canal & River Trust has celebrated some of the fantastic work carried out by its staff and volunteers over the past year with the presentation of its annual Waterways Alive Awards at the Anderton Boat Lift. The awards are open to staff and volunteers from across the charity and the winners showcase the sheer variety of the work the Trust carries out. All the finalists (see attached booklet) were recognised for their particular achievements, and Chief Executive Richard Parry announced the winners in the four main categories alongside an award for Apprentice of the Year. • The award for Best Operations or Works went to the £2.5m Marple Makeover which saw major repairs to an entire heritage lock flight and aqueduct • A staff-led project which has helped to improve efficiency and employee engagement saw the replacement of out-dated mobile technology to over 600 bank staff pick up the award for Enterprise or Innovation • The award for Community Activity went to Spirit of Stonebridge which has turned a heavily vandalised area on the River Lee with the highest repair bills of any operational property on our network into a busy community hub, enjoyed by local people • For the first time, there was a category for the Trust’s Values Team of the Year for those teams that consistently employ the organisation’s values. This went to the South East Boat Licence Support team, who exemplify how important it is to be true to the Trust’s values when facing some of the more challenging issues that the charity has to deal with when supporting boaters • The Trust also recognised Apprentice of the Year, Paula Baron, a Wigan masonry apprentice who has worked on several heritage landmarks and big projects across the country, and runner-up M&E apprentice Jeff Croker who is based in Gloucester. Canal & River Trust chief executive, Richard Parry, said: “This year we had more entries than ever before, and yet the quality of the work remained higher than ever. This is testament not only to the great work we do but also the passion and commitment of all those who are doing so much to make life better by water. All of our finalists have made a very positive difference to our waterways and the people who use them, and the impact they can have. The winning projects and teams were all exceptional and reflected the wide variety of activities the Trust carries out. “I would like to thank everyone who entered the awards and congratulate all the finalists for their achievements. Across this year’s entries I have seen more great examples of our creativity and innovation; of teamwork and partnership; of reaching out to find new opportunities whilst consistently delivering excellence in our core work; and an outstanding commitment to the Trust’s vision and values. We can all be proud of what they - and we all - have achieved.” More information about the Waterways Alive Awards winners is available on request. ENDS For further media requests please contact: Fran Read, national press officer, Canal & River Trust m 07796 610 427 e fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk

I thought they were a bit cr*p....

No it isn't. Flueing and ventilation is 67% of this gas malarky. At least. In fact I'd say possibly as much as 80% of the exam questions are on flueing and ventilation rather than the supply pipes.

They are still not "s**t" photos, though, are they ?!?

I thought some of might be interested in a few pictures taken this evening of the tidying up of the Delph. This is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. I do hope they don't mancure it all. It's quite an atmospheric place but it has needed a much overdue bit of gardening.

I've never had to re-format a camera card, however if I had to, I guess I'd simply take another photo of my phone number …. doh!

Do you really think the cabin is going to extend by 2 1/2 inches more than the hull?? I think you've got your numbers wrong! According to that graph, a difference in temperature of 25 C results in a difference in length of about 25mm over a 100m length. This is a 48 ft cruiser stern boat , so the cabin length is probably not much more than 30 ft - say 10m, and so the difference in length will be 2.5mm. If the cabin is sealed to the hull with a temperature difference of less than your 25 C, but non zero, then in hot daytime weather the cabin will expand more than the hull, but at night it will contract more than the hull, so the total amount of 'stretch' on the sealant will be between say plus 1.5mm and minus 1.5mm. And if the middle of the cabin stays put relative to the hull, this will manifest itself as a +/- 0.75mm movement at each end of the cabin. A decent flexible sealant should be able to cope with that. There was a post on here a year or two back with pictures of where someone had completely unbolted the fibreglass cabin, derusted and repainted the gunwales and flanges to which the cabin was attached, and then reassembled with new sealant. This is only really practical if you are completely refitting the interior.

And that’s just the boaters

My I suggest you take "contemporaneous notes" of the steps you are taking.

Death is usually the right time to stop boating. On a more serious note, if your in reasonable agile then that's usually the deciding factor from whether your 18 or 80.

As long as you avoid the top end of the GU - no ALL of the GU where the locks are heavy, then you'll be al right. Better still keep to the Oxford, the upper-upper Thames where they have 'proper locks and the upper Thames where they are all electric, then you'll be fine....

They merge into one after a while......... always posting and appearing together, owners of vast fleets of hulks each.

So CRT have announced a licence hike for wide beams. Yes I have narrow beam, but I have had wide beam. My observation according to The Waterways Comics and online participants of forums and BookFace is that there is a lot of kerfuffle amongst those owners about paying more because they are too fat enough! Now as an ex owner of a wide beam river cruiser on The Trent 12 years ago I didn't expect a rebate because I couldn't access the whole of the network. I considered myself lucky Waterways didn't want more off me because I took up more room. They're argument that they should be left alone because they're using waterways that were originally designed for oversize boats. However the widening of the GU in the 30s seemed to merely make it more commodious for breasted up boats. The few wide boats that were built failed. They might have fitted the locks, although there were a few bridge 'oles they got jammed in, however they really had major issues passing each other. From what I can see if you can afford to foul up a canal with an overwide boat then you can afford to pay for the relevant licence for it. If you restrict it to Rivers you can have the cheaper river only bit of paper for your window. So far I haven't heard a realistic point of argument from their camp. So what actually is their problem?

When B.C.N. gauged (BCN1606 - 29 May 1930 and named as DELHI) DEHLI had a measured beam of 7'1'' - but having being built into what it is now I suppose it could be any beam the owner wanted

There is a totally non-controversial way for you to help out. On a lock flight, go ahead and set the next lock(s) for a boat. You can't be endangering a boat as there won't be one there And it's a very acceptable way of helping out and speeding a boat up a flight Likewise, closing up after a boat leaves a lock is very much appreciated Some of the best volunteer lockies we have come across (official or not) have been doing these things Richard

<smartarse comment warning> In the car I use my fuel gauge only to monitor fuel during discharge and to decide when to recharge, I almost never use it during charging ? ..............Dave

It’s not that they can’t do anything quickly enough it’s that everything is reactive with no proactive management ie lengthsmen with eyes and ears on the ground - apparently (towpath gossip) the landowner around the middlewich has been telling local CRT in writing for the past 5 years that the breach was likely due to wildlife habits and is now going to sue, seeing yet more of our licence money lost (if true) If this situation was repeated in any truly commercial entity contingency plans would be in place for weather/vandalism/damage etc such that the effect on stakeholders is minimised this never seems to be the case here as there aren’t enough knowledgeable feet on the ground except of course the CEO who thinks 1.5 days a week in the office is enough to do his job (his words) and seems to manage to get his face in every photo opportunity going. Rant over - I’m not sure these days of “social media” really help us all - last time it was this hot 76 I was boating and life WAS better......or is my memory clouded with old age and wine - thanks again Tesco’s for the wine reservoir which is always at least half full

Look at any non hard surfaced path, be it towpath or country path, and one can always see the wear caused by a bicycle tyre, and often the groove cut by repeated use. Footsteps do create wear, but of a different order.

So in your book are Oxford, Llangollen, Manchester, Huddersfield etc all "the Midlands" then?

Its simple, narrowboats and craft over 7ft that look like they were built as boats, normal licence. FUGLY wide beams that are just gross narrowboats double the cost.

I was knocked down by a cyclist on the Stort last year. Part of a group that came hareing past, a mooring spike caused him to swerve a bit and he collided with me then careered off the towpath - he was saved from a watery end by a soft landing in nettles I only suffered a bruised arm but the cyclist accepted he had been going too fast. He was part of a group of what I would describe as sensible. mature cyclists, so I took it no further. I dislike cyclists in general - they are a nuisance on pavements, towpaths and roads. Basically, wherever you find them. I walk a lot, and on towpaths, every five minutes there is a bell or a "scuse me" (if you are lucky) constantly being made to get out of the way. There are just a very few that are truly courteous to pedestrians, and I always thank them when they are. Cyclists definitely should have tax/ins/plates.

Isn't culture something you grow in a petri dish?

Keep cool by drinking beer out of your fridge to help its efficiency, it also helps you sleep well , like a cure all really.Even if you have a bad day you won't remember it tomorrow .

I agree with BWM above, when I removed all my fitting to repaint I made neoprene gaskets for everything and fitted them. A much better job

Take them off as others have said, i'm in the process of doing mine and have been making neoprene gaskets for them. I've found this much more reliable than sealant and has the added bonus of not reacting with paint.

NO!! They're family. That won't do! A skinny crackhead will do nearly as well if you catch them at the right time. Rattle like a needle gun. Available on a towpath near the OP. A fair rate - a 'wrap' and a used sleeping bag or two wraps if they do the Firtan. You will still need to supervise and a pointy stick could be handy.

Pay a smaller, less creaky person to do it for you.