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I telephoned the telephone number on the original post and asked if I was talking to Simon who placed a report of his boat being stolen on the canal forum. He said it was, so I asked if the boat was still missing and he said he found it this morning. I said that was good to hear and can you go back on the forum to tell people it is found. His reply did not convince me that he would, so I placed the simple version on here so that you could all stop looking.

Because there was insufficient room.

Hi Simon - I'm so glad you got your boat, it's so sad that she's been damaged but perhaps once you started on fixing her back up it won't be as bad as it first seems. You'll be ready for a good night's sleep after all that frantic excitement. Well done to you and good luck finding the grotbags who took her.

Thanks all, have recovered maissey all be it in a bit of a sorry state- think the term joy ride comes to mind. Have secured as best I can tonight nd will begin repairs tomorrow. Don't suppose anyone got a cover/ awning for a dawncraft for sale as was damaged in the theft? Thanks again all for being vigilant ?

We had a stop over after half an hour as there was a problem with the remotes which i fixed, well bodged as i couldnt get the circlips on so used duct tape, still struggling with my elbow to do things. image: https://i.postimg.cc/qqLzYDPW/20190629-142034.jpg image: https://i.postimg.cc/6qw8Mxmd/20190629-142047.jpg It was a 3hr or so cruise to the first stop at Billsboro so a few Asti`s was called for image: https://i.postimg.cc/FRSSPZsQ/20190629-150333.jpg image: https://i.postimg.cc/zDdKXVbW/20190629-150401.jpg Got to the first stop in good time, just gutted there was no Strawberry cider on tap this time. image: https://i.postimg.cc/rpWNDMXT/20190629-172929.jpg I was having such a good time i wasnt even bothered about the launch and the state of the paint work afterwards, will give the boat another coat and touch up soon. image: https://i.postimg.cc/J44xPfJ3/20190629-185712.jpg Well that was the first night and it went spiffingly but for the leak which i was still not concerned about fro some odd reason. why stress hey We got to the mooring and well, i think it need cutting back a touch again, my mate did it ages ago but since then image: https://i.postimg.cc/qRWPrkT3/20190630-153559.jpg Our Skittles loved the trip aswell, she likes to warn the ducks off lol image: https://i.postimg.cc/jjFYS6bm/20190630-153327.jpg image: https://i.postimg.cc/W3dBxdQV/20190630-204709.jpg So i have ordered a 250w solar kit which should be here in a week or so, that will keep my mind at ease for the bilge pump to have power plus more when we use the boat. That will be mounted on the storage shed i have coming aswell next week, in the mean time we will sort the mooring out, needs a mow and more decking fitting which is all ordered for this week.Interior needs a few cosmetics and wot not but will do a walk around video this week. I do have to say though the rudder works better than all the others i have used in the past. I was able to cut the engine thrust and still steer well. Got heavier the faster you went but i was cruising at 6-8knots max and was great and kept direction better. around 4 knots perfic.Captain Faffer

The boat was found this morning.

Pigs ears are sold for dogs, but perhaps not for @Sea Dogs. My boat is a semi-trad. I think these look a bit naff with wooden panels on the insides of the rear doors and being outside in all weathers, the wood soon deteriorates. I did mouse/pig ears on the outsides of the doors, then repeated the pattern on the inside, so with the doors open, they continue from the rear bulkhead. The pattern is carried on to the control pedestal on one side and the inside of the rear bulkhead on the other. Not traditional, but I think it looks alright. Jen

No, no, no. What you need is a graduated set of bridge holes starting at 14’ and reducing by an inch at a time down to 6’ 10”. Then you try the boat in each hole in turn until you’d find the one it won’t go through.

Jesus there are some jaded replies here, looking at you @canalboat... Let's just try to keep an eye out for the bloke in case he isn't just trying to mess with you for some reason.

You simply measure an adjacent bridge hole it won't fit through and add a bit .............

Ah, but that's where you're wrong. Mrs Magictime continues to live in my pocket, and I in hers, just as we've been doing since we moved aboard.

Ray T's photo: Marsworth Junction from the Aylesbury Arm (Google Streetview) I woudl say these are the same location.

Tranquil Rose has been around for a very long time it was launched in 1973 as a hotel boat and hasn't had problems until recently. Cart's lack of maintenance is the cause.

I am sure that both you and your kitchen fitter are aware of the requirements of the BSS (boat safety scheme) and the RCD recreational craft directive. Failure to comply could result in a boat you can't use and can't legally sell. This forum can give a lot of guidance and help.

The locked gate uses a CRT handcuff key.

Blimey, and they let you fly aeroplanes...!!

LifePo4s dont catch fire fingers crossed,From my point of view and James who has taken apart these batteries he hasnt seen failed cells in normal use. However one of his customers cooked a pile of them! and he really cooked them they were beyond repair, when James stripped one some cells were still ok, I cant remember what the guy did but it was on a house based system and he put some parameters in wrong seems to ring a bell, but I could be wrong, anyway they didnt catch fire So basically all your reserve systems arnt needed as the alternator does it anyway? ???

If you don't eat your frog then you're not getting any fish

Provided you trust it to ALWAYS work and NEVER go wrong?

I can't even remember anymore! But you're both wrong...

All boats are a money pit. Old boats are even worse. Just as well some of us are prepared to fight logic and keep old boats afloat - best not to think about it. Old boats always have a character and history which is something a replica can never match no matter how exact it is so there must be a limit on what people would pay for something that isn't quite what it seems. However I would much rather see representations of boats that fit with the historic canal environment than some ghastly purple wide beamed boxes on the canal.

I can buy a lot of phones like mine for what you paid for that

Congratulations Wayne. What are you going to do with that big empty space at the front of the house? ?

OOoooooooo YES been very busy cruising and luvin life for a change We have had to come home due to post op on my elbow tomorrow and T has one Wednesday. Lots to do when we get back. What a cracking few days it has been. Launched Friday afternoon which went ok, It did get a few battle scares just from the straps on the lower chines and gunnel and cabin top, but hey ho, he should of protected them but i will get over it with a quick touch up. All ended up a bit later than planned, a mate came to give me a hand with it all which was a great help. Slight panic as when we got to the launch site at Ashton Basin Preston there was nowhere to get the boat in. So we moved aNB over a tads and squeezed it between it and scaff poles sticking up out the water lol. bottom twitching moment but the crane driver did a top job. We spent the night at the basin with take out and copious amounts of Asti love the tarty drink Had a right laugh with Iain and the rest of the loons from the yard till 1am. Then up at 6am for prep work like add 125kg of ballast to the bow locker to sit it better. and shopping for supplies around Preston, forgot a hose pipe for water. Not that i needed more onboard as it has a leak at the back end , I fitted a sealed cabin bulkhead so i know it is leaking under the rear deck some where, not a bloody clue where but the bilge pump kicks in every 4-5 hrs and pumps out maybe 3-4 gallon. But for that its great. We set off Saturday about 2pm to get to Billsboro fro tea time which we did around 5:30pm, i was well waiting for a Strawberry cider but they didnt have it know, hey ho Thatchers will do and a fish mix platter. The next day we met up with my Bro and took hi and his girl friend for a cruise, they are coming back done next weekend and stopping on the caravan park near the home mooring, BBQ time i hope. Well rest was plane sailing to the mooring, oh Barton is amazing, driven past many a time but never knew there was so much to do there and see, the garden centre is the best yet. When we arrived at the mooring it was a wee bit over grown, a friend cut it back but that was back in February i think and now its this. T stated but then got a bush cutter on it in time for next week, i have ordered some new decking for it and a storage shed for this week when we get back up to it. Oh need a petrol mower aswell. So there you go a boring few days on the cut :):):) NOT. i was lying there a few time pinching myself to think its been so long i have been afloat and the boat is done but for cosmetics which you will see in the video when i manage to download them all. burrr with