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I humbly accept that it was Varneys Lock. I wholeheartedly apologise to those I have disagreed with. Since the accident I have honestly believed it was Cropredy Lock. Hey ho! Onwards and upwards.

Update: CRT came yesterday. They agree it is too hard to operate the bridge. They will suggest that the contractor be called in to rectify.

In the interests of equality I really wish more women would expose themselves....

Maffi has been anything but rude to me in all the years I have known him. He is mildly eccentric, but so what. if you take the time to talk to him rather than abusing him over a platform, I am sure you would see another side to him. I get on with all different types of members on this forum, many having completely different views to my, why? Because we are boaters

I don't think Howard's comment was OTT at all. There are lots of bits of equipment on a boat that could be considered as non-vital. Do you really need an inverter for example which are also relatively recent introductions to leisure boats? For some reason whenever people have genuine BT related mechanical or electrical questions some people feel the need to start a debate about whether they need a BT. It's been done a thousand times already on this forum and I agree with Howard that it is unhelpful. Mine doesn't.

Welcome to the world of Maffi where the norm is being rude, arrogant, swearing at others and generally thinking he owns the canal system. Just another day in his world...but of course those of us that point it out or have been on the end of his canal abuse are just liars.

Just say you are a friend of @nicknorman They will see you alright ?

Some people have all the luck!!

I had a very busty women fully expose herself to me near Wolverhampton a few years ago, it was a bit of a shock. She had a summer dress on and lifted it up over her head and had nothing on underneath.

Thats where you are going wrong, either dont drop it in the first place, or pick it up yourself, or expect to get stick off Maffi when he has to pick it up for you and everyone else. Don't tell me, you own so many properties and pay so much council tax that someone else should do it for you.... ?

A bit harsh I reckon. I have got to know Mr Maffi over the years, not as a friend as such more passing boaters in the day. He is passionate about the canals and he does go out of his way to litter pick to the extent that he picks up stuff bigger than you’d think. People who abuses the canals and towpaths wind him up. I have read posts where he could be described as abrupt and possible rude. Get to know him better and yours and others opinions may change. I know he is more than capable to ‘look after himself’, but felt something ought to be said.

You get pinned between the tiller and the rail and suffer chest injuries. The issue of getting swiped by the tiller is one of low likelihood but high consequence. You make your choice based on your personal view of the risk. There’s no right or wrong.

I think that is the point I was trying to make but badly. Below the waterline we clean any scrapes or other mishaps back to bare metal and recoat with epoxy (and also antifoul but that is a whole set of other issues) we don't use Pioneer. Between waterline and strake there are several coats of Pioneer (one each time we drydock) on top of the epoxy. Anything that scrapes through that to bare metal may be touched up with ordinary primer if it's lucky and then pioneer, or just pioneer. Apart from scrapes there is little deterioration on that surface which is vertical and dry most of the time so that works fine. Above the strake as seen in the photos there is 2 pack polyurethene on top of epoxy as is the cabin. The cabin top has had extra coats of poly at different times since the original painting but it and the deck are now (14 years from the original paint) starting to show signs of loss of adhesion of the base epoxy as water can stand here. I shall put another coat on this summer ( if I am allowed out ) to try and keep it going otherwise it will be back to bare metal but I am putting that off as long as possible. I am a messy painter and mixing 2 pack is a nuisance but I am happier with it than conventional paints and it does dry reasonably quickly. The area that we have used Pioneer on is where most scrapes occur and is so easy to touch up. The Green bit isn't but I just touch up with ordinary acrylic and overcoat the whole lot with 2 pack poly when we dry dock - it doesn't seem to mind. Incidentally the SML acrylics are reasonably quick dry. Hope that makes sense!

You have been informed of the dangers, you can now make an informed choice, at least the forum has taken the responsibilty of explaining the dangers, you are now free to ignore the advice or follow it.

Whether my comment is a bit OTT or not is a matter of opinion - you have your and I have mine and there is room for varying views on what I am often reminded is a discussion forum. As for the ret of your comments, I don’t disagree particularly with anything you say but was merely trying to answer the original query which was for the OP to get a flavour of what might be involved in sorting it out. As often happens, however, whenever bow thrusters are mentioned, the discussion quickly morphs into the merits and demerits of having one on board, which is always guaranteed to bring out a variety of views. I have my own opinions but to some forum members I must be considered totally beyond the pale having not only a bow thrust but also a stern thrust! Ah well, one day I might learn how to use that tiller thingy. ? Howard

It was the Streetwise staff was threatened, who then refused to go near them. Seems a couple of the Council Marina Staff from Wisbech went down and had a word while serving court eviction papers (Big chaps according to fellow moorer whos shop overlooks the moorings). And the local elections next month may also have something to do with it. As the Town Bridge is a common place for candidates to tout for votes and seating councilers don't wish to be put on the spot. If a voter asks 'Why have you failed to remove these boats?'

Indeed. It will be a big local story down here. Will keep all appraised.

Exactly, thats why you never sit or stand within the arc of the tiller. They are known as suicide seats for a good reason. If you want to sit down whilst steering either buy a trad-stern boat, or convert your steering to a wheel.

A 24 year old from Weybridge arrested.

Having taken the boat out for the first time since last Summer. Needing to buy plywood, I cruised through town to turn round passed the railway bridge before returning to the March Town Centre moorings which have since been cleared of baton tossers by the Council apart from three who are screaming human rights' and refuse to move. The number of boats moored on end of garden moorings is much reduced. At least 50 boats have either gone or been sold since last year. Many well now be in the London area now.

It was definitely Varney's lock ... I believe Mike the boilerman had some personal testimony ... but he's no longer here. Rog

I don't think that comment was unhelpful and I do think yours is a bit OOT. Bow thrusters are a comparative recent fitment to leisure boats, especially inland boats and narrowboats in particular. Bow thrusters are far from vital equipment so when one is faced with a large bill its logical the consider if the faulty equipment is really needed. I would suggest Tracy's comment was spot on advice that the OP is free to accept or reject. By your logic if a light fitment fails one should replace it whatever the costs rather than do without it. If a fridge fails one should replace it even though its October so it won't be needed for months and even then it's not absolutely vital, its only convenient so a bit like a bow thruster. One thing is for sure, its only leaking oil out, not water into the boat so the next time its out for blacking welding over the tube would almost certainly cost less than the repair or replacement.

DO you mean Moi!

and yet nobody has mentioned the Heron? something just not right about it

The famous female put down to a flasher who flung his mac open and said "what do you think about that then? Answer "Oh it's like a penis,.... but a lot smaller"

I just plug my phone into my laptop, plug a memory stick into my lap top and down load anything / everything from the phone to the memory stick (via the laptop). Simples

I think you are right that the OP needs to be prepared for expense but unfortunately unless an owner is a self sufficient, well equipped boat mechanic with appropriate spares to hand, that is a foregone conclusion and one that can't be avoided. I have to say, however, that I don't think your final advice is particularly helpful. You might just as well say "Do I really need a narrow boat? For that matter does anyone actually need to own a boat. He has a boat with a BT and it needs fixing, not unhelpful comments. Howard

Self-healing gates, what an excellent idea. I wonder if CRT are working on self-dredging canals as well? ?

I wasn't being rude I am just a straight talker. Neither am I incorrect. Up until just recently the Lift bridge at the Mill in Heyford was a manual lift bridge and operated from the other side, had it been the other way around to 'make it easier to operate from the towpath side how would the horses have got over the beams? I fail to see how it can be a pain in the A... when you signed up for it! The canal is what it is. Whoopee so you are a man of property! What do you want a medal? No the post was not about the bridge operating set up it was a plea for people to complain to CRT that it was hard to operate. No they haven't. They electrified it and put the control console on the tow path side, via a conduit that goes over the canal.

I was around when Clayton’s finished in 1966, in those days, the boats were known as gas boats by boatmen and us enthusiasts. Whether this coincides with historic correctness I don’t know. I learned the term from young Charlie Atkins who was employed by Clayton’s at the time.

Thanks for the explanation, but not the rudeness or incorrrect statement part. Not all Lift and Swing Bridges are like that at all. In fact just a bit further up the canal you will find Mill Lift Bridge No. 205 that has bridge landings and operating gear on the same side and the towpath does not change over. I did not miss the bollard either, possibly being a "proper boater" might have helped, same as I didnt miss the boat moored just below the bridge using the upper water point, but it was stilll a PITA anyway. As for 'not being up to it', seeing as you have absolutely no idea what I am up to or not, how can you suggest I get a house - I currently have one under construction, one for sale, one rented, one in Thailand and one in Philippines, what next? By the way, the post was about the bridge operating set up, not abusing fellow boaters who may have a slightly different opinion to your own.

I think some confusion due to the photo being of Broadmoor, but the incident was at Varneys. 2009.