Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 27/09/21 in all areas

  1. I've been a member for years now. I've had one callout when the bloke just shrugged and walked away, another who did his best but failed to sort a broken fuel pipe, one who replaced a bust starter, another who sorted out a gearbox problem in half an hour. On top of that, they've contributed £2000 to gearbox repairs and their service engineer had a fallout with the owner of my mooring site which got RCR banned from the farm and for which they never apologised. So a mixed bunch, but as a person of a certain age and inflexibility with no expertise in engines, I wouldn't be without them as a safety net. When disaster strikes, panic sets in and an expert on the end of a phone call is very reassuring. And to know they'll always get you to a boatyard if necessary is also handy. And to slag off a new poster, who in good faith put a useful report on here, as some members have done, is a disgrace and they should be ashamed of themselves. Sadly, it's typical of some, but luckily not the majority.
    14 points
  2. As with lots of companies with a large customer base, the odd person with a bad experience tends to make a lot of noise about it on the net while the satisfied customers just get on with life. So you posting about a good experience helpfully adds some balance. A lot also depends on the competence of the bod who turns up on the day, and RCR must just get on the fone and ring around looking for a local technician when they get a call-out, so you who you get is entirely pot-luck. You hit gold I'd suggest. It could easily have gone the other way.
    9 points
  3. I too was shocked at some of the responses on this thread. We have a new member who's joined to share a good experience she's had in a boating related matter. Disagreeing is one things but comments on here have gone well beyond that. Some members on here would do well to have a hard look at themselves and think about why this forum continues to dwindle. Welcome Glynda, and thanks for your post.
    8 points
  4. It's true that bad news spreads quicker than good news, so it's no surprise that horror stories about RCR are regularly heard. My experience is a bit mixed. Until just over a year ago I'd never needed to call them out. Then I had a couple of issues. Both times they came out quickly and got me going again. In both cases their 'fixes' were a bit of a temporary bodge, but they explained what they'd done and made me aware that I'd have to get them properly fixed at some point, which I was happy with. Having had a reasonable experience with them, I had my annual engine service done by them last winter. The guy came on time and was friendly and seemed to be doing a good job. It wasn't until a few days later, that after my engine had been running for a couple of hours, that I looked into my bilge and found around 40 litres of diesel sloshing around down there. I was horrified and called RCR straight away. They sent a different guy out who diagnosed the issue as something not reconnected properly and the diesel was pissing out when the engine was running. He spent a good while getting all the diesel out of my bilges. I queried how I would be recompensed for the lost diesel and he said the office would be in touch. 2 days later they called and were very apologetic and offered a choice of a payment based on the lost diesel or a free year's membership. I took the membership. So they did cock up but they also put things right. That counts for a fair bit in my book.
    8 points
  5. When BWB wished to close the K&A a group harping on about legal niceties stopped that happening because it could be shown that someone had recently made a trip in a kayak, and the law BWB claimed as irrelevant by the passage of time meant they were unable to carry out their intended closure. For better or for worse the law is the law. I personally find the continuous moorers' actions generally unacceptable, but BW/C&RT brought that upon themselves by not nipping it in the bud when they had some chance of success. Tam
    7 points
  6. 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.
    6 points
  7. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  8. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  9. Hi all! Thanks so much for all the responses - some have been really useful for my project but i do understand that they may seem strange without the context. Essentially I am doing a GCSE Design and Technology project, where i am supposed to get a lot of feedback and responses with advice, comments from lots of people, which is why i posted the survey here in order for me to learn some more, before designing a product that will basically solve people's possible problems. The survey actually got so many responses so its reached the maximum limit for the number of responses! So I've unfortunately not been able to actually see the last few (the ones posted yesterday onwards) which I actually assume would be the more helpful ones, after the people who didn't understand what i was doing. Anyway to anyone who sees this I've opened a new link here for any responses still coming in and if you did complete it yesterday or today it would be amazing if you had the chance if you could just fill it out really quickly again! Thanks so much the new link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GSSG3YK
    3 points
  10. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  11. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  12. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  13. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  14. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  15. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  16. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  17. Lol yeah well that's normally how my repair attempts go, but I'm pretty confident this time. Will definitely post and let you know .
    2 points
  18. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  19. 2 points
  20. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  21. Will they though? When I queried that on my first call out, (the oil warning light coming on) the impression given by the guy who turned up was that there is a false sense of security on that one. Their terms and conditions state,"....If the vessel cannot be repaired at the scene of the Breakdown within a reasonable time at your request, we will tow the vessel safely to a marina (within a maximum of 2 hours cruising), or – failing that – tow the vessel to a safe haven (advice and locations will be given)....." that 2 hours includes the time it takes them to get a tow boat to you, so you are looking at a maximum distance from a marina of 3 miles (if they can tow you at 3mph), but probably a lot less than that. It was realising that which made my mind up to just call out a local marine engineer as and when needed and not bother with RCR. With 8 cruising seasons on the canals and only 1 as a RCR member that equates to about £1,000 that I haven't spent on membership (based on Bronze Level) that would buy me a 3 day's labour from a Marine Engineer. I would say that for anyone with no idea of engines they are probably a good idea, but they are not the same as Green Flag/AA/RAC on the roads.
    2 points
  22. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  23. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  24. Thanks very much for the explanation of the ratiionale for the military compass using an unit that is normally confined to scientific and electrical engineering calculations. When reconstructing liveries from old photographs, you have to bear in mind that the early photographic emulsions were not sensitive to all colours. Thus the early "ordinary" plates were only sensitive to blue, and would render both red and green as black, the later "ortho" plates were sensitive to blue and green and so would render red as black, and the modern "panchromatic" films are sensitive to all colours, although still over-sensitive to blue unless a yellow-green filter is used. Ortho and Pan emulsions only started to be used around the turn of the 20th century, so virtually all Victorian photos would have been taken on "ordindary" film. Pan cost more than the other earlier types, which continued to be available to general-pupose photographers into the mid- 1950's.
    2 points
  25. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  26. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  27. This. When my drive plate failed on christmas eve just after leavin a river in flood ( phew ) theyb were amazing, quick and competent. The bloke who did the job was on time and spot on. Of course it will depend on who turns up.
    2 points
  28. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  29. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  30. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  31. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  32. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  33. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  34. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  35. Well, I've spent the last week redoing the roof (back to metal), front and back ends and stuck 2 coats of the Dacrylate Epidac16 on the hull. I will keep you informed of any happenings, hopefully none. It went on very easily ,2nd coat a bit more work as the two layers re-activated. 3 x 5 litres did the job for a 70 footer, One tin did about 2/3 of the boat, so I stuck it on over 3 days to ensure good coverage and drying times adhered to.
    1 point
  36. Interesting, the black edging has been painted out in the last couple of weeks. This from 12th September I must admit given the slack line I didn’t think moved when we passed another boat I had thought she had sunk 😕Looks like someone’s working on her.
    1 point
  37. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  38. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  39. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  40. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  41. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  42. This is true, and I'd forgotten that... When it comes to hair splitting, this board is peerless!
    1 point
  43. Thank you, I feel that my education is now complete.
    1 point
  44. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  45. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  46. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  47. Ah, I will get my wallet out and join them now, do you have the account number, sort code and membership forms available Glynda?
    1 point
  48. The East Coast Mainline stops at St Neots and Huntingdon are not too far from the River Great Ouse marinas and moorings. Then there is Peterborough similarly within easy reach of the River Nene. Someone has already mentioned Bridge Boats at Ely but there are other marinas and moorings as well. Littleport.is a bit further along. We have moored on the the Relief Channel pontoons at Downham Market for trains into Kings Lynn (then coast bus to Hunstanton & Wells-Next-The-Sea. The cruisers went down the estuary and round but we had a smoother ride!) Have also been to Sandringham from KL. Bedford Station is another possibility for the River Great Ouse. Then there are all the stations along the length of the Lee and Stort. Yiewsley and West Drayton station on GWR is right alongside the Grand Union as is Hayes. Uxbridge Met line is not too far from Denham Yacht Station and other Grand Union moorings. The list goes on and on. Chris
    1 point
  49. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  50. Wyvern Shipping at Leighton Buzzard are within walking distance of the station The hire boats at Lower Heyford on the Oxford are also near Heyford Station. N
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.