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Well let's be fair we are on a forum discussing another forum ourselves right now So then we will be discussing a thread on another forum discussing this thread that is discussing this post. My head hurts

Yes there is, there will probably soon be a thread on there discussing this thread ?

I do not find the comparison narrow v wide quite so simple: instinctively, yes, narrow should be easier and usually required less line handling, if only boat in wide lock. However, it depends on which narrow and which wide. Some narrow locks either involve leaping across bottom gates or quite a bit of walking when there is no bridge below. Some narrow locks have longer top and bottom tails which make it easier to hold a boat whilst shutting gates. However, most narrow locks will require both sides of paddles to be opened but the Hatton and Stockton Locks can just as effectively be worked from one side only. If you really are on your own, then by the time you have fully opened one paddle and crossed to the other it is of little effect. I was not making any sort of recommendation as much depends on individual taste and working methods. However, I really don't think that it is as clear cut as some make out. And yes, I do know about single handing,. going back more years than I would wish but in general I choose not to but that is little to do with effective lock operation! In any event, when working a flight, especially narrow, our commonest mode of operation is for the other person to go ahead and set a lock whilst I bring the boat through and close up. One of the intriguing facets of canal operation is that there are at least as many ways of doing it as there are boaters! By all means watch what others do and learn, but in the end it is what suits you and your lifestyle that matters. Also, sometimes the characteristics of the route between locks may influence the choice, especially if looking for places to stop and possibly go off to the pub, shop or whatever. I don't think we have ever chosen a route on the basis of the number of locks or their width.

Firstly let me say I am a 'double' widebeam owner, with one at 23 feet (the catamaran) and a river/canal cruiser at 14 feet beam I have had a number of 'Narrowboats' over the years so understand both 'camps'. Much of the animosity to widebeams on the canals is due to the owners attitudes and philosophy which can range from "My boat cost £250,000 so get out of my way", to "My boat is bigger than yours, so get out of the way - might is right", to "I've paid for it, so I'll use it on any waterway I choose", to "We are all boaters, lets work / live / play together" Unfortunately the 1st three way outnumber the last one. A widebeam boat on a waterway that is SUITABLE for its size has no trouble at all, unfortunately many of our canals (even those classed as 'wide') can no longer support two widebeams passing - some struggle with a widebeam and a narrowboat - the lack of vegetation cutting back, dredging width and depth and general maintenance means that the canals are actually getting narrower. The target dredging figures (of which compliance is unfortunately rarely achieved) for many of the canals is (channel width x channel depth) 5.3m x 1.1m BCN 5.3m x 1.1m GU Buckby to Berkhampstead 7.6m x 1.1m GU Leicester line Buckby to Foxton 5.3m x 1.1m GU Leicester line Foxton to Leicester 6.0m x 1.1m Oxford Canal 5.3m x 1.1m Shropshire Union 5.3m x 1.1m Trent & Mersey 5.3m x 1.1m As you can see even canals with locks wide enough are not always suitable for widebeams - imagine a 4 metre (14 foot) widebeam meeting (even) a 7 foot narrowboat in a channel width of 5.3 metres - one of them is going to be forced into the shallows and grounded. Unfortunately 'many' widebeams owners spoil it for the 'few' widebeam owners who want to 'fit it'.

There you go his new avatar

I have him on ignore we have changed his name to Mr Pikey

Shame. I would take em all back, but you can keep MJG

Was the Krisgate situation ever resolved? Not that he would want to post here anyway I spose,but would have a right to do so if he chose.

No, not unless you believe in a Ponzi scheme of adding to the population to fill job vacancies to staff public services that the new citizens use themselves that then require more staff ad infinitum .

The problem is many naroowboat owners are also narrow minded. Narrow boats are an abomination that we all have to put up with due to poxy narrow locks if we wish to move freely north to saarf. Widebeams are immeasureably nicer in every way, especialy to live on. Main problem is with plonkers who put widebeams on inappropriate waterways.

I'm not

Lots of us already signed up over there too

? You mean there is a forum that has a section discussing this forum?

But have you noticed cars don't rust as much as they used to. I reckon it's because the aluminium alloy wheels act like anodes when the weather is wet. ?

Chirk one complete with train..

Quite a few posts on this thread mention crew. If you have crew then I don't really understand what the issue is? I bring in a big 30 tonne boat on my own - with varying degrees of success. I think half the problem people have starts because they come in too fast and use too many revs to slow down. Then they are then forced to try to counteract the excessive revs and nine times out of ten they use too many revs to do that bit too, and so it goes on. I come in as slowly as possible and take the boat out of gear before approaching the bank letting it drift for a short time to see what it's doing. Then I go back into gear and apply the minimum revs to get the boat to do what I want it to do. It doesn't always work and occasionally I'll have to give it a blast in one direction or the other. But in most cases using high revs from the start for close quarters handling is unnecessary and just wrong.

I've been boating for years and I can't do it. I just come in at an angle and then when the boat is nearly stopped just bring the stern in. Sometimes it works but wind, current, shallow bits and a dog turd on the towpath just where you want to jump off means that I often end up travelling 50 yards at 45 degrees to the bank before I have another go. There is one thing though, coming in parallel and then engaging reverse will send water down the side of the boat and shove you away from the edge or the lock wall in big locks. Best thing is if it all goes badly wrong just shout at the crew.

Bloomin' good idea! I can't think of a better car to leave just about anywhere - remember to remove the number plates and the engine/chassis numbers though, or the authorities might catch up with you. Mind you, a Bongo Friendee or a (whatever-it-is) Picnic would come close...

Hire one when you need it, they can be delivered to where you are and collected from your next landing place. Its cheaper than ownership once you consider depreciation etc. and you don't have to worry about vandalism. Train railcard, bus pass etc all help. A cycle can be used for surprisingly long distances in the countryside, less traffic.

Precisely what I thought would be happening. Highly dangerous and stupid but folk will do it. There is no other way! Does anyone at CRT read these posts? If not, an employee should be designated to do so as a way of getting continuous feedback from their customers/clients/ The useless editor of the Boaters Update would be an ideal minion.

Sales did not slow down at all last Autumn, and most brokers were struggling to get enough boats in during the darker months. Stoppages and Winter have no effect on getting a good deal. Not correct. Boats come to market throughout the year, there has been no visible November glut of boats for many years. No broker worth their salt would allow a boat with a daft high price to be listed for long, brokerages have to pay for every mooring they use in most cases. Most brokerages will offer trade plates and licences can be refunded for full months left over, along with the fact that licences are no longer transferable to the next owner(except Gold licences and these expire at the end of each year). Insurance must be maintained until completion of sale regardless of how long the boat is on sale.

We moored there for a couple of years. Great choice of routes. I can't remember it being any worse than other marinas in gusty conditions. However, we never really felt at home there. The long, narrow pontoons were a bit daunting when walking down them in wet/icy weather. Especially when you are moored at the far end with gaps on the way. Parking was very congested during the summer. The Black Prince operation took precedence over everything else on Saturdays. No diesel/pumpout available on those days to us mere mortals!

I thought the CWDF section over there was for us over here to go look over there with the intention of signing up there.Perhaps we should have a Thunderboat section over here, so that them over there can come over here with the intention of signing up here.......Oh!

Which tree, the one in post 1of the boats internal diagram is a lavatree.

Yup, a forum within a forum discussing this forum

Forgot to say, my 'hull only' survey on a 68ft boat cost £250, done while the boat was out for blacking, and that included a written survey report for the insurance company. P.S. If you buy this boat, ask them who pays for it to be craned back into the water before making your offer!

Be careful those have one hell of a kick back, amazingly efficient on diesel though!

Is it Wednesday yet?

If you wanted to post a link to the boat you'll likely get specific things to look out for/ ask, and views of how realistic the asking price is. Someone might even know the boat.

You mean we'd be able to staff the NHS, get the fruit picked, have a care system for the elderly that worked, and stuff like that? Truly a terrifying prospect.

The wheel will also come loose if the studs/bolts shear off due to being overtightened!

I have to wonder why the corporate lot feel the need to eradicate foxes but as unpleasant as their method of control is, it still allows the fox population to regroup outside of their boundaries, unlike the red coated inbreds chasing them over property they don't own or have permission to be on, not to forget the many pets and other unfortunate animals the pack encounter. Animal cruelty is animal cruelty, even if carried out on horseback with cartloads of entitlement. Most chicken coup attacks are down to poor security, or forgetfulness - why blame the fox?

I'm not fooled, we all know they can read because Waterways painted lanes for them on the towpath. When I told her I'd impose a penalty for ignoring my sign, she simply said ... "Put it on my bill!"

Well, I like it!! I ignore all the incorrect ways of saying things and the clatters and bangs and the wrong information about this and that. What I'm seeing is a pretty mismatched group of people who are discovering what a joy it is to be on the water, on a boat and be part of the landscape, the community, the history. Good old John Prescott is genuinely impressed with all the engineering side and I love that. Michael Buerk is astonished at how much he's come to enjoy it all. And I don't believe either of those two are putting it on. So it makes me remember my earliest days on the water. I was hooked after a week and I probably did most of the things they've been doing. But I don't care; I still feel exactly the same about going out on the boat as I did a couple of decades ago, so if they are picking up on just a tiny bit of what we all feel then I'm really pleased for them. Jo

I thought I had managed this a couple of years back after stopping perfectly against the side and stepping off to talk with some friends for a few minutes 20 minutes later the boat was exactly where I had stopped, but I found that it was actually still running at tickover in reverse gear and the only thing keeping the boat in place was the fact that it was aground.