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That may depend on what one thinks the purpose of CRT actually is. Many boaters mistakenly think it's to fix our private playground using other people's money ...

I am unaware of any attacks via PM or attacks on the forum but what used to happen is a fairly steady constant stream of complaints when tech issues arose or updates completed. I could easily imagine a situation where the person giving their time for free to the forum becoming exasperated and feeling under attack and thinking "bugger it I'm off"

Stourport again, long ago. A few Health & Safety rules being broken here, but never mind. That is myself on the nearer bow. It still seems like yesterday.

When I reached Old Ford Locks, I found "Cloudy" in the middle of locking down its three empty lighters. It seens that the tug had used the RH lock and the first lighter the LH one.. The stern of the first lighter was then manoevered into the entrance of the RH lock to await descent of the second lighter.... ...which was then attached and towed out of the lock to await the third lighter... ... that was waiting for the bottom gates to close so the lock could be re-filled. Barge manoevering was evidently facilitated by the powered capstan located on the central island. Bottom gates closed, and lock filling up. At this point, the lock-keeper noticed me and told me in no uncertain terms that I needed a permit to take photos on the canal, so I had to put my camera away and wasn't able to complete the sequence.

On this day in 1968. Lee &Stort Navigation. I had just got my first provisional driving licence from the council offices which were next to the Bow Back Waters. I was then going on to a photographic shop.near the Lea Bridge Road. It would have involved several changes of bus so I decided to try the tow path, my first experience of canals. The tug "Miriam" towing three empty lighters then appeared. I heard its approach before I could see it and so had time to go through a gap in the fence and climb the embankment to get a better view.

Yes to a point licence payers are customers but they are not "the" customers or rather the only customers. The licence fee only provides around 30% of the income/revenue for CRT. The canal system is a national resource open for everyone to use be they in a boat or not. This is the main reason I have always believed that the government contribution to the CRT budget must continue as the payment via taxation for the access for all to the canal system is the only fair way that everyone pays a bit towards its upkeep.

A little late but we have made it so that users with less than 10 posts can't send PMs at least for now. Can't be having this as not only is it unwanted from a user perspective, it also has implications on the site as a whole. Appreciate the mods have done a great job keeping on top of this as always. Just as a FYI though - if enough people report a spammer, the forum system will take corrective action automatically, in most cases. Obviously we can't give full details as to how this works exactly but please bear this in mind. That said, the risk of this attack happening again in this particular form is now reduced. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this

I'm new here and don't know who the mods or admin(s) are apart from a couple whose posts I happen to have noticed. What I do know from previously being an admin on a different forum a few years ago is that most people have little idea how much work is sometimes required to keep things running smoothly. But they are quick to complain when there's a problem. Which let's face it is little more than a first world minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things. It's a thankless task being a mod or admin. I wouldn't do it again. So from a newbie I raise my glass to you. Cheers guys.

CRT have spent lots of money on two rebrandings in under 10 years, have lost a lot of staff who understood waterway maintenance and have tried to bring the system into the 21st century, by using contractors. Nobody is paid to oversee the wide picture all are looking at their little bit. Towpath renewal paid for by someone else how wonderful but no rings and wall to edge hard surface, what does the boater do who gets something round his prop? Contractors do only what they are paid for and no more, so if they spot a problem which can be solved in 5 minutes, no its not our job, and CRT don't inspect after to ensure it is done properly. I have found Armco left bent sticking out 3 feet by contractors. I have seen men pointing a wall in sub zero temperatures, when asked they said the computer had scheduled it for today, they knew it would need re doing in better weather, and sure enough they were back 6 months later. Contractor happy CRT had to pay twice. It is not just CRT who seem to have lost common sense and joined up management, it is money men trying to run everything.

Impossible to answer with a definition of what the questioner thinks CRT's purpose is. A more sensible question might be: Is the canal system still fit for navigation? And is that its prime purpose?

Impossible to answer without an accurate definition of CaRT's role.

I did promise myself to stop contributing to forums but this is a really good question and a matter close to my heart....so I've failed! My thoughts on this is that it's difficult to ask the these questions without asking ourselves what CRT could be replaced with? I've always been pretty impressed with the front line workers but have questioned whether the continuous 'empire building' is wasting funds. For me, as a CC'er, the biggest issue is to be able to continue to have navigable acccess to the amazing network of canals and rivers here in the UK. Sadly we have watched this decline over the past years due to maintenence issues. I'd like to believe Richard Parry still (?) has the requirements of us boaters high up on the list and is listening to us. At the moment I'm not so sure. CRT has marketed the waterways as a playground for all, not just just boaters. This was quite a clever move financially, but it has made us boaters more in the minority. Watching this thread with interest. Belated Happier New Year to all. x

Yes but what is CRT's designated role or purpose? They have multiple roles but I bet everyone here will be concentrating on just one. They may be seriously failing in some areas but be very successful in others.

So I was right (For once)

Would it not be better all round to lose the attackers rather than Rich who so generously gave his time?

Once when were moored up for the afternoon, a boat moored behind us and then proceeded to carry a small petrol generator half way alongside us. He placed it right next to our open lounge windows - which was the limit of the length of his extension lead - and started it going. When I remonstrated with him about it, he replied that it was too noisy for him to use it near to his own boat. Strangely enough, every time he returned to his own boat it would mysteriously stop working; after half a dozen times he gave up and carried it away again.

CRT's 'About Us' has the Chairman's fingerprints all over it. Folks continually have it in for the CEO, but maybe you should look further. Richard Parry doesn't workalone.

You see, you just know that ordering that logger makes sense.

Thanks for that. Now I know. And thanks for the reply @buccaneer66 Is it just me or is it frustrating to not be able to 'like' a post by a moderator?

Quite. There have always been stoppages too. They are more publiscised these days and there may be more but it has not just started happening. How long was Braunston tunnel closed for in the 1980's? The canal network has not suddenly aged and started to fall apart in the last 9 years of CRT's existence either. There has been a lot of deferred maintenance in the BW days.

What I said was "say there is space for another boat and I move on immediately if someone fills it". Obviously overstaying is selfish if you're filling the last spot. But if things are quiet, say it's a Wednesday in the off season, and there is space for 4 boats of which you are the only one, say you're in little used drain and not one other boat has passed in the last 2 days, say the weather is a bit miserable. Moving on just because it has been 48 hours isn't really following the spirit of the rule, is it? I have no idea what it's like on these waterways, my impression is that much of it is quite remote and perhaps underused. That's why I'm asking. If the 48 hour rule is there because there are hundreds of boats competing for dozens of moorings then obviously I am not advocating hogging the most accessible mooring on the network. I'm trying to gauge whether the only way to visit this area is to be boating full time (4+ hours cruising every other day come wind, rain or high water) or if I'm going to be able to hold down my (remote) job while I do it, and still have time to actually explore the countryside off-boat. I guess all one can do is moor up where it seems like you won't cause a problem and be ready to move if anyone asks, like your guide says.

Yup. Taxi trip to Wolverhampton hospital to get it x-rayed and a plaster cast. Then stopped in Stoke 10 days later to get the cast patched up. I spent 2 1/2 weeks steering while the wife did all the locks. We had our 3 month old son with us, and my mother joined us for part of the trip. Sat in the pub after a particularly hard day's locking Mum announced "Well that wasn't bad for an old age pensioner, a nursing mother, a babe in arms and a man with a broken leg!"

Ah, yes... https://tenor.com/RaHQ.gif