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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/07/22 in all areas

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  6. So, another minor run in with volockies today. It seems to happen to us quite often that there is some sort of annoyance or interference created by volunteers. We have decided on a “zero tolerance” policy of reporting every annoyance. Does anyone else report such stuff, or is it just us? Or do people find volockies annoying but just tolerate it? Or do people never find volockies annoying and it’s just us? If we are the only ones, CRT are just going to dismiss us as serial complainers. To be fair, the previous volockies we encountered at Hillmorton were fine, so it is by no means all of them. This is my latest complaint to Christine Mellor. Who is head of volunteering: Dear Christine As I understand it, you are in charge of volunteering on CRT waters including the volunteer lock keepers? Whilst I understand that volunteers are a vital part of CRT’s strategy, unfortunately an element of volunteers who are lock keepers, are spoiling our enjoyment of the canals by their interference with our boating. We have had several run-ins with volunteers bossing us, trying to take control and giving us unwanted “advice” on how to operate our boat. It really is getting us down. We are out on a trip and 4 days in, our first encounter with volunteers at Claydon locks on the S Oxford has turned sour. Having happily come down a couple of locks behind another boat, boats coming the other way, everyone happy and having a good time, at lock 19 we waited on the lock landing whilst the boat ahead locked down. I didn’t go up to the lock because there was a boat coming up. However whilst I wasn’t looking, the volunteer decided to close the bottom gates and start to fill the lock for us. I was puzzled because the elderly lady from the boat waiting to come up was at the lock side. The boat waiting to come up was clearly visible below the lock and the volunteer had “turned the lock” in his face. It was embarrassing and we had to explain to both the lady and the elderly gentleman on the boat - who didn’t look best pleased - that it wasn’t us who had turned the lock in their faces. The volunteer said that when he turned the lock the boat was still in the previous lock, I don’t think that was true but even if it was, the boat ahead of us was waiting for the lock and there is no point in pushing more boats through into a short pound, it just causes boat congestion and doesn’t speed anyone on their way because we just had to wait in the next pound. At the next lock (20) after the boat ahead had gone through, and we were waiting on the lock landing, I could see that there was a boat about to come out of the lock below heading our way, and there were already 3 boats in the pound ahead. So absolutely no point in turning our lock on the boat coming the other way and indeed that is contrary to CRT’s boater handbook. Nevertheless the (different) volunteer started to close the gate. I said “we don’t want to turn the lock on that boat” but he argued, so I had to say “you are not in charge, don’t turn the lock”. He got irate and sulky and stormed off, refusing to give his name and he was not wearing a name badge. I went back to the hut and asked the two of them, (neither of whom were wearing name badges) if there was a supervisor on the flight. There wasn’t. I said they should be wearing name badges, they said they were in the hut. I said they should ask if boaters want help, not to presume to take charge, they said it wasn’t practical to ask. They of course also said “I’ve been doing it for 4 years” etc etc. They did give me the phone number of the volunteer supervisor Paddy, but when I phoned he didn’t take the call. So once again a lovely cruise through a lovely flight of locks encountering lovely people, everything going smoothly, ruined by officious volunteers who seemingly like to hold power over boaters, don’t really know what they are doing, and cause congestion, irritation and resentment. This problem is manifest throughout the system - not all volunteers of course, but a significant proportion who think they “own” a flight of locks and want to rule it according to their whim. As the person in charge of volunteers you are probably the only person who can sort out this problem by ensuring that volunteers stick to their training, because at the moment there is a huge gulf between CRT’s volunteer training material and what actually happens on the ground. Please try! Kind Regards Nick Norman
    4 points
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  9. What a load of bollux. They do it because they want to play at operating the locks - something I pay handsomely for to do myself but they compete with me for that pleasure, and they pay NOTHING and expect boaters to be grateful.
    3 points
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  15. I've just done the equivalent of filling up my original tank at a cost of about £160, which will sort me for a five or six weeks cruise. I can still remember doing the same time for fifteen quid... and, back then, no CRT mooring fees, no boat safety nonsense... It's still a very cheap way of having over a month's holiday. And pottering along at 6am on a misty canal morning, going nowhere in particular slowly, there really isn't much better.
    3 points
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  18. But as I’ve already said, I don’t have a problem with the principle of volockies available to help people who want help or don’t know what they are doing. I only have a problem when some person who happens to be wearing a blue t shirt and life jacket wants to take control of our passage through a lock and generally causes resentment and ill-feeling when it’s pointed out that they are not in charge. The solution is simply that they should follow their training and ask boaters if they would like assistance. You wouldn’t think it would be too difficult!
    2 points
  19. "Mabel, quick, cover up the budgie, Nick is coming round."
    2 points
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  21. Nope never had a problem but as a single handed boater I’m just glad for the help tbh
    2 points
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  23. Do volunteer lockies have any 'power'? I was under the impression the person in charge is the boat owner as they have responsibility and can choose to ignore or advise the volunteer their services are not needed?
    2 points
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  32. Cavitation, in a canal boat is almost never going to happen. There is not enough power, the blade loads are too low, and the water is too shallow. Ventilation is common. Swimming better in deep water is hydrodynamics at work. In a canal most water usually has to flow either side of the boat. In deeper water it can take the easier route and go under the boat. That is why sea going craft are shaped to help the water underneath , and canal craft are shaped to force it round the sides, worsened by the need to build a rectangular box for (cargo/living) space reasons. N
    2 points
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  38. Engage a hefty obese person ''Feed em on lots of doughnuts first'' to stand on the fuel filler side of the boat so any water will settle in that area while you suck it out.
    1 point
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  42. I’ve had some reassuring conversations that indicate you’re right! I’ll send back the charger😁💸 I kept finding advice on needing a smart charger but it appears that I don’t😁 thanks for taking the time to reply
    1 point
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  45. Well, you've messed up that then. You're not supposed to come back and say CRT did the right thing after all; the general idea is to start something off and then never appear on the thread again, so we can all then moan about you. Anyway, very pleased it worked out for you.
    1 point
  46. The Regents Canal is the nearest navigable waterway to Liverpool Street, with 3 or 4 locations all around 1½ miles away. Casual moorings in that area are extremely popular, with double-mooring the norm. Boaters regularly report cruising through there (say between Kings Cross and Victoria Park), and not being able to find anywhere to moor. Permanent residential moorings in that area are scarce and, when available, very expensive. Like often more expensive than renting a flat. If you move four times (I'm guessing you would be looking to move only one mile or so each time) and then turn back you will soon come to the attention of CRT (Canal & River Trust), as in broad terms you are required to cover a range each year of at least 20-25 miles. And that requires steady cruising with regular moves, not staying in one area most of the year and doing a big trip for a holiday. In practice, many leisure boaters travel 20 miles in one day, let alone a year, but many - particularly in London - seek to move the minimum distance possible in order to stay close to work/school/family etc. "Continuous cruising" in London can be done to CRT's satisfaction if you adopt a cruising range between three points (for instance) - Brentford, Slough/Rickmansworth area and Tottenham - and move at least one mile at least every two weeks. Other options are available, for instance Kensal, Hertford and Bishops Stortford. But many do the same, which leads to regular congestion. Moving day in London is often a Saturday or Sunday, and it can take a whole day to move a mile or two, fill up with water, empty toilet cassettes and find somewhere to moor. Boating in London is not an easy life.
    1 point
  47. If doing this ⬆️ there is a great Facebook group called 'Trentlink - the safe navigation of the tidal Trent'. They post regular updates and many people buddy up for support with other boaters if they are unfamiliar with this part of the Trent.
    1 point
  48. A blowlamp up the air intake whilst trying to start it works wonders on a tired engine with poor compression. Not if there is a paper air filter though!
    1 point
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