Leaderboard

Can we all please get past the idea of a correct speed for passing moored boats, whether it be 2mph, 1mph or anything else. Chances are you have no way to measure your speed that accurately anyway, and on shallower canals, you can't get much above 2mph even at high revs if your boat has a relatively deep draft. Problems are not just caused by speed. Canal width, canal depth, canal profile and how close you pass all have a big effect. Much better to just keep an eye on moored boats you pass. If you're throwing them around or making them heel over significantly, then slow down a bit more. It's simple courtesy. Caveat to the above: If they're not tied up securely, or are using a centre line, do whatever you want! 😂 I've been told off for speeding once this year. I was on the GU passing a line of widebeams, all of them barely moving. I was crawling past even slower than usual, but my engine was loud. That is because i had just picked up something on my prop and was have having to really rev it to keep any control, and forward propulsion. I was looking for somewhere to pull in to go down the weedhatch. The idiot guy moaning had obviously heard my loud engine but paid no attention at all to what was happening to his boat.

Springs are useful when you tie up to rings or bollards that are inevitably wrongly spaced. If the lines are coming in nearly at right angles, they can’t be expected to effectively resist the fore and aft pull which is the main and virtually only force arising from a boat passing. Boats mostly only rock when being passed because the fore and aft pull transferred onto lines nearly or at right angles attached to the boat well above the centre of gravity causes it to roll. So if we are constrained by bollards or rings at right angles, we tie the stern so that the aft line is at an angle to one bollard/ring AND to a line at the opposite angle to another bollard/ring. This locates the stern in the fore/aft direction as well as keeping it in. We then put a line from the bow to the nearest bollard/ring just to keep it against the bank, not to resist the fore/aft movement. Or could be the other way round if the main ingress/egress is at the stern. Consequently I cannot remember ever having felt the need to shout “slow down”. I would say that 50% of moored boats we pass either on pins or to piling (where you can choose your own position to attach the lines) are at or very close to 90 degrees. And quite a few tied to the roof-mounted centre line as well. No wonder their boats rock badly at the slightest hint of a passing boat. Some people, in fact many people it seems, really have absolutely no idea how to operate and tie up their boats. I have no sympathy for incompetence. So it’s interesting that both Jetzi and I are expounding the 45 degree thing, and neither of us has an issue with passing boats. Seems pretty clear to me…

To reach the Canal du Nivernais from the south involves taking a short arm from the canal beside the upper Loire. From here it is a two kilometre voyage downstream to where the Nivernais canal begins. Going down through the lock into the Loire is straightforward enough. Coming the other way is A-level stuff, since the mother of all whirlpools waits at the entrance. A row of bollards on the shore invites an expert on the bow to lassoo these as you glide past, but I have never managed this myself. The alternative is a bellowed conversation to and fro, and it takes a very long time. The upper gates, however, have a certain splendour, once you are in.

But we only have one city that starts with Bristol? 🙂

Reminds me of the pictures of my inside when I had a colonoscopy! But you all didn't want to know that did you?

Following on from the justly deserved ribbing for the quality of my metalwork, I finally got around to getting a 3D printer and made up bezels for the OLED displays for both the alternator controller (0.96”) and the BMS (1.3”). Here is the 1.3” one. Down to the boat tomorrow to install them.

Those concrete ducts holding the HV cables don't offer much resistance to a good spike and a 14lb mallet.

I hate being shouted at when I'm having a relaxing boat trip, so I always drop down to tickover at least a boat length's away from the moorer even though I think it's faintly ridiculous. I still got shouted at every now and then at tickover, but I'm not going to drop out of gear, that's asking too much I feel. After I installed a hospital silencer I haven't been shouted at yet, so I reckon it's mostly about perception, innit? When the shoe's on the other foot. I've been passed by boats at full ahead at least once or twice a week. My boat rocks a bit. Who cares? Why that would bother anyone enough to abuse someone is absolutely beyond me. My only guess is that it's people looking for any excuse for a whinge, and the speeder has broken etiquette (though not any of the moorer's dinner plates) so they are fair game. Worst that's happened, I've had my pins pulled out once or twice, and you know what, mea culpa for not mooring up properly. In soft banks I put two pins in in a cross fashion, and those have never failed. Don't even really know what springs are, never needed them. Benefit of the doubt to the moaners though, this is the only boat I've ever experienced. Maybe it's just that I have an unusually stable boat (65' Black Prince ex hire boat?). So as I say, I follow the "tickover rule". Maybe, just maybe, if you pass some boats at 2.1mph the spices come flying off the spice rack, pots and pans come crashing to the floor, and the cat has to dive for cover under the couch. So for me it's tickover in all conditions and a friendly wave.

I believe (but could be mistaken) that the 2mph figure appears in some CRT publication, and so it seems reasonable to expect boats to come past at up to 2mph. I'm a bit sensitive to this as I've recently had a few people shouting the usual 'slow down' abuse when I know I'm in tickover. And I'm very sure my boat doesn't do 2mph at tickover on any canal. Similarly the gentleman who I think shouted "slow down you pr'k" when I passed, not overly quickly, in a crosswind gusting 30mph didn't really enamour me with his understanding of boat handling either. The issue seems to be that some people want to 'play boats' without any of the inconvenient realities of boats. The expectation that everyone should pass at tickover is mental and unfounded and should be actively pushed back against at every opportunity. People should pass at an appropriate speed for the conditions at that moment — surely we all, for example, pass more cautiously when we see boats moored by pins to soggy mud than we do when we see boats moored with chain to piling? Similarly, are you really going to slow at all for the boat moored on the opposite bank of a deep and wide river? 2mph seems like a good starting point on the canals, but it always has to be subject to local conditions. Some waterways are shallower, some deeper, some boats displace a huge amount of water compared to some others. Etc etc etc. No allowance should be made for shoddy (but secure) mooring practice though. (I'm not disagreeing with you — just fleshing out my thoughts now that I'm sat on my sofa and not at work.)

Having to drop in and out of gear is ridiculous. Any boat should go fine at 2mph and I see no reason to go much slower past boats unless someone is actually in the process of tying up or, like here on the Caldon, the canal is barely two boats wide. Or it's six in the morning & I'm trying to be quiet, though I do wonder if they'd rather I went quicker and got further away faster... And if someone's permanently moored in the middle of a mile or two of linear moorings, tough. Set springs or buy a bungalow.

Aren't they sold by the ice-cream boat ?

I don't know if you are just missing the point, or, deliberately missing the point. The actions of these (presumably) untrained volunteers have caused potentially very dangerous situations, which could have even possibly caused death, The reason they didn't was because experienced boaters were aware enough to see a problem developing and react quickly enough to avert it. The outcome may have been very different for less experienced boaters. Without reporting these instances to C&RT they may well feel that their training is undertaken at acceptable levels - IT IS NOT.

Today on the staffs and worcs, at the top end of Wolverley Court lock, this chap decided to sit on the top gate until he saw me coming to close the paddle, then went into the undergrowth, swam across the canal and vanished over the towpath into a field.

On this day in 2013 Painted canalware, Meashamware, lace plates. IWA National Rally Cassiobury Park

I couldn't agree more. But today I was reprimanded by The Foxes Afloat as I passed them at Mancetter on the Coventry canal heading towards Hartshill Yard! Heavy ex FMC steamer hull in mud and shallow-ish water with just few extra revs on on a FR3, 2.1mph showing on the GPS and bingo, the head popped out demanding that I slow down. Having said that I knew exactly how fast I was travelling, I offered some mooring advice but I got the impression it wasn't well received. Oh well, apparently they're the experts!

Funnily enough I saw one on the path this morning, just sat there, no damage. Anyway apart from the frustration the issue with trying to have a licence the policy is trying to stop idiots transferring crayfish and the disease they carry to waters without them. I'm not suggesting the OP is an idiot, just pointing out the licence system was created with all the right intentions Here you go https://theconversation.com/invasive-species-why-britain-cant-eat-its-way-out-of-its-crayfish-problem-147961 Good idea, no money to enforce, typical for this country where invasive species are concerned

The law seems to be an ass here; as far as the environment is concerned, signal crayfish are a non-native invasive species which have no positive side to them. You'd think it would make sense to positively encourage people to catch and eat them to try and keep their numbers down and stop them driving out the native crayfish, not require a permit that you can't get. Yes there are lots of them in many places on the canals, and yes they're very tasty. Make sure you clean them in a bowl/bucket of water for a day or so before eating them. Also make sure there's a secure lid on this so you're not woken up in the night by spooky skittering noises on the boat roof as they try and make a run for it... 😉

Many years ago I shared an office with some IT support people. After a protracted conversation one suddenly slammed the phone down and shouted "pebkac" at the top of his voice. I had never heard the word before, so asked if it was an expletive and what it meant. Back came the answer - "Problem exists between keyboard and chair!"

Surely if they are too understaffed to grant a licence then they are also too understaffed to patrol the thousands of miles of waterways to check licences?

I did wonder if I used the wrong word. Thats the trouble with spell checkers, they don't know what I want to say. If I had found it and cut and past it would have been fine.

Wish id been quick or witty enough to post that Athy ....

One of my pictures of jasmine ready for the water

Getting ready for when they finally ban diesel for boats

Naughty Cal, Thanks for the advice lol We’re happy, always have on the water, just been a bad few days with, health, and what’s been occurring on the water. And BDM, no not thinned skinned at all, in fact your post made a smile, and Thank you for that. From rag and stick, Gin palaces to by old woodys, petrol vs diesel, floating or not. seen it and laughed through it all, your comments reminds me very much to the days of friendly boat banter. had many good nights, fact is we’re all the the same boat.! col

I has somebody red-faced shouting at me to slow down last year on the Soar in the middle of Leicester. He was moored on the offside at Castle Gardens, the river is deep and more than 100' wide here and I was passing maybe 60' away from him so there was no chance of any wake disturbing him, but it didn't stop him shouting... 😞

If I have to drop out of gear I lose steering and then likely to hit you so better I keep in gear and go past at 2mph. If a boat is tied up properly then 2mph isn't going to make it bounce around.

Col, tie your boat up properly, sit back and enjoy the weather.

Jasmine at the Stourbridge Rally Photo By Alan T Smith

I won't be here in 2050 - unless I'm in a very old people's home - regardless of whether people change or not. Having said that, for the past 6 years I have been cruising the Thames with a little leccy boat of my own design and now view the diesel powered monsters as anachronisms. Why visit the Thames where there is peace and quiet to enjoy at your leisure and then spoil it all by racing from one lock to another in convoys of white plastic 2- or 3-storey megaliths, proudly watching as your wake breaks against the banks? Some narrowboats are an exception and create little disturbance, but not all. The 8km/hr speed limit is apparently a target that most boats try to match or exceed.

Well for starters, the Beatles now came from Wilmslow. Cilla Black was born and raised in Wigan.

Questions.... 1 Are Signal Crayfish in the canals? 2 Are they edible - heavy metals, pollution etc?

To be honest I disagree, I would have expected better from a 'Resident Photographer'

no just a rattly weed hatch at certain revs, so in a way it did make you go faster or a lot slower

Wouldn’t fancy trying to put the awning up

All boats I’ve hired state persons onboard not to exceed the numbers of beds. Things were easier in earlier times weren’t they

Yes it’s always the wide beams fault, yep should have known not many of those on hire company’s books tho? although nice to hear that old chestnut again yep Thankyou for that, laughing now, thank you for the memory. 😂 Cant be a bad day then? may be next week I will feel better

Lovely photo, my dad is at the tiller in white shirt.

I have been on the Wey for a few years now, so here is my list of potential mooring sites upstream of Cartbridge. High Bridge, RH side between Cartbridge and New Inn Outside the New Inn LH side below Triggs Lock (2 or 3 places - very rural) LH side just past Wareham's Bridge (1/3 mile above Triggs - very rural) RH side by Sutton Place, a little way before Broadoak Bridge (some A3 noise) RH side 1/3 mile above Broadoak Bridge (very rural) LH side just past the lock landing above Bowers Lock (some A3 noise) LH side after Bowers once you rejoin the natural river (A3 noise) LH side by the metal footbridge below Stoke Lock LH side between Rowbarge PH and Woodbridge (against new wooden towpath support structure) Dapdune Wharf (a perfect peaceful idyll) LH side next to Odeon cinema in Guildford (only if you want to spend the evening with the local drinkers) RH side below town bridge in Guildford by the old warehouses (can be noisy) RH side above town bridge in Guildford (can be noisy) RH side above Millmead Lock (can be noisy) LH side above Guildford Rowing Club (perfect all the way along the straight) In the weir stream below St Catherine's Lock (perfect and peaceful) RH side in the rough above Unsted Lock (quiet) LH side Godalming Wharf (handy for Sainsbury's but can be noisy) RH side above Godalming Wharf