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It's also very confusing for the new wave of canal boaters. I imagine a lot would sail past thinking I'd like to turn round but my name's Smith.

The number of boats I've seen moored opposite winding holes recently indicate that the signs are in fact needed these days. I spent an entire afternoon (feeling guilitily like a jobsworth) a few years ago pointing out to both hire and private boats that they were mooring in the one at Rode Heath before giving up and sticking a notice on the towpath fence to point it out. I was greatly relieved next time I went to see CRT had both put a sign up and taken the relevant rings out. Mind you, people still try and moor there. Same on the lower Macc. Sometimes, signs do perform a useful purpose, especially when the cut is filling up with ignorant people.

or even a "turning place for boats", not sure of exact wording but at the Devizes winding hole. I have also noticed a few "winding hole ahead" signs in addition to the actual winding hole signs. It is clear that CRT want to erect signs and are just looking for any excuse to do so. Maybe the forum could help and have a little competition to invent new signs......... "Beware of the Blue Signs" "Take Care Shallow Canal Ahead" "Do Not obstruct the Cyclists" "Rubbish Bins Full, Please do Not Use"

This is the crux of the matter, the grant from government is effectively the taxpayers paying a contribution to the canal, and therefore the taxpayers can expect their needs to be catered for, not just boating needs. CRT need the the grant to be maintained, and will have to show they are providing a service to all, not just a narrow group to get it.

I take everything said above as further confirmation that IWA are failing and have lost their way. We don't need a cut down "Festival of Water", we need a return to campaigning for places at risk. The fact somewhere is at the periphery of the network doesn't make it at risk. Forty years ago Blisworth was hardly on the edges of anywhere, yet leaving The Grand Union truncated was without doubt an option that relied upon heavy campaigning by many different individuals and organisations to ensure that didn't happen. As for suggesting feasibility of returning to campaigning turnouts is "limited by the need for a suitable space (eg council-owned park or common) to hold the event and sufficient moorings for up to 100 boats." Demonstrates a total lack of insight into what campaigning is about or how to do it. One of the main reasons for choosing a particular location was often because lack of Waterways maintenance was endangering its future. As has already been said, lack of attraction in visiting somewhere is reason to not spend money on it. Vicious circle syndrome. Holding an event, it isn't necessary to supply a nicely coiffured park to house beer tents, food stalls a fairground and trade stands. We would warn Waterways at least a year in advance where we wanted the largest number of boats possible to turn up at . It was their problem how they adhered to their responsibilities regarding navigation and access. They didn't want to be seen nationally to have failed with a year's advance notice. We then boated/week-ended for days to get there, and if necessary moored abreast when we arrived (Think of The Braunston Strike of 1923). It all highlighted to everyone how inadequate and non conforming the situation was at that location. I have no proof but I would expect Waterways to have used the outcome to highlight to their paymasters their need for better funding to do their job (?). Whatever, it did achieve some things, saved some about to be lost locations and refocussed Waterways' approach to what it did and how it did it. Through The IWA, boaters had a voice, no power, but a voice which made things happen. Climbing into bed with Waterways only benefitted Waterways. It removed the thorn in its side (us the paying customer) it castrated The IWA and re-educated the new generation of canal enthusiasts into being boaters only interested in going to comfortable, easy to reach boat shows that provide numbered mooring spots, mud free car parking, bouncy castles and beer tents. As a result boaters started to happily accept situations that previous generations had refused to, and indeed had fought against. Increased fees for less service A boating season!? A maintenance season!? Lack of need to be accountable to paying customers. Meaningless/expensive restructuring and shifting of areas of responsibility that only confuse and confuddle (even their own people). If you want a boat show you've got your Braunstons & Crick etc. And jolly rollicking good fun they are but so far as campaigning is concerned, we are the poorer for failing to do any. Sorry for the rant, I didn't intend to, my only intent is to remind (maybe for the first time for many) what was achieved in the past and how.

Ah, I will get my wallet out and join them now, do you have the account number, sort code and membership forms available Glynda?

We have a dog who everyday surprises me about just how clever she is, she has lived all her entire 11 years on the canal system, she shows zero interest in that silly CRT sign. Maybe dogs can't read, maybe they don't like blue, or maybe they are just above that sort of silliness. 😀

I'll grant that "ten points of the compass" might not be widely understood, but since the text also refers to that as 112½°, I don't see why a person of average intelligence shouldn't be able to work out the meaning.

So, are you suggesting that anyone helming a NB is unable to comprehend instructions written clearly and unambiguously in English? In reality it just means that the person fitting out the boat needs to understand the laws - all the helm has to do switch them on. Maybe using pictures will make it easier :

How about this one for useless and inaccurate, photo taken while in lock 6 at Atherstone.

Not entirely sure, but they do all seem to have brown noses and very shiny knees on their 'corduroys'.

PLEASE don't FORGET that CRT still gets a government grant - presumably to make the canals and towpaths used by folks other than boaters and mebe the signs are part of that 'making the canals inclusive' bit. The signs migh also help in reporting an incident / whatever to the Polis / whatever... No apologies for trying to be reasonable....

Carry on Ray, I think sunny has become a bit overcast.

I agree. The dog walkers, cyclists and anglers most definitely need signs to know when they are a approaching a winding 'ole. How else would they know where to turn around?

If you read the words at the bottom it says in partnership with the IWA. No wonder that group are losing support.

The only problem with shared ownership.(I had shares from 1992-2014) is that it is almost impossible to get days or weeks away in the summer at short notice, because all of the co-owners take their pre-booked holidays then. However it is a different story in winter when extra breaks are often available.

How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? Also are you living on the boat? A lot of people find the Tinsley Flight hard to do, you do not get people going out for 4 day stints, it’s just too much hard work for that short of time. Also 4 day breaks from Sheffield would not get you far, you would not get much further then Doncaster and back to Sheffield in that time with relaxed days cruising. With your budget and the way narrowboat prices are going and your talk about GRP’s I would get a good GRP and try to get a mooring at Strawberry Island, Doncaster, they have a good club set up and you could get out to places far easier with the majority of locks/bridges being electrically operated, so far easier to go some distance to half decent locations and back in 4 days.

Jen, please. Please. Don't tell me about spine damage- what about the damage that could be done to half a dozen innocent cans of beer by being jostled about in a bike trailer? (and my apologies Polly- I wont spoil what is a very informative thread with any further nonsense)

What a useless survey seemingly wanting to know whether I have difficulty eating on board. Rubbish and I said so.