Leaderboard

That's alright, she will just run a crowdfunder if it sinks and buy a 5000 berth cruise liner.

Thought I would put a video of my boat with it's little engine. Can't remember if I ever did after not being on here for a while.

Oh no, not another one. I fit the general demographic myself - in my 20s, fairly recent CC liveaboard - but: * Financial motivation not the main thing; I've wanted to live on a boat ever since I said "mummy I want to live on one of those" aged single figures and jumped at the chance when working practices changed due to Covid. The costs of a 30ft boat aren't less than renting a similarly-sized room somewhere, and I could afford more than that if I wanted to live on land. * Remote working and not tied to a specific location, so I can actually cruise and not just shuffle around a 20-mile radius of some fixed point. * I have some woodworking and electrical skills, and am willing to wield a spanner given a manual, so I can at least try to look after it myself. These articles always seem to understate the costs and the enforced differences in lifestyle, and encourage people with no knowledge or particular interest in boats to jump into it. I've met some people who've been seduced that way who clearly have no idea what they're getting into.

I thought it was relevant to most boaters, ie general interest to general boaters, which is why I put it in General. I wish some people would stop nitpicking at every opportunity. Mind you, I accept Peterboats heading was more informative and if we can get the threads merged, do it with his title.

I expect the government wouldn't know the difference between a river and a canal.

A much smaller railway swing bridge is located on the Tat Bank (or Rood End) branch of the BCN. First is 1937 photo, from the "Britain from Above" collection via Duncan Moore's excellent website https://lostbcnimages.blogspot.com/2022/05/oldbury-and-titford-area.html Other two are mine. The bridge still exists, with swing mechanism intact if rusted solid, but can't be reached by narrowboat. You can visit it by canoe. There's no access by land as it's within the BIP site.

if it keeps the canals open, then I'm all for it.

Lol, I noticed that too. Along with the nice coat she always wears with doing some token 'boat stuff'. i can't help worrying that she thinks she's 'on the property ladder' having bought a colander of a historic(al) boat that at least one of our mutual acquaintances turned down, despite the knock-down bargain price.

Here you go rusty69, this is what happens mixing epoxy and bitumen! Can happen in two weeks or two years. But it’s sudden death 💀 either way

They have a card with name, number, dates, magic QR code. No holograms. Anecdotally, I'm one of very few individual canoe/kayak owners using the canals who's bothered to license it. Most such are the casual go-for-a-paddle-occasionally variety and CRT don't give a damn about canoes in any case. EA were a bit more active in enforcement when I was in Cambridgeshire. Those who canoe as a serious hobby might join BC in greater numbers for the other benefits, but usually find more interesting places to do it!

Of course they don't *have* to act on polls which are not legally binding either, just like in 2016... 😉

In your defence it was over the page so hard to see

Most of the cost comes from maintaining them as heritage assets. If it was acceptable to treat them as the EA does on most of their waterways, with standardised steel gates etc, they would be improved for navigation at a fraction of the expense. I've been to Bradley gate workshops recently, both the price of oak beams in the sizes required and the amount of skilled manual labour required are enormous. Add the design and admin overhead of building every gate effectively unique to the right historic design, and the much shorter lifespan. (not that I'd like to see this happen, but that additional cost should be borne by the government or the wider spectrum of people who benefit from preserving history) Disgusting attitude.

Looks like Heartland lit the blue touch paper and then departed 😂

Like this ?

I do

It’s all in the wording, a specialist company has vast experience of phrasing the questions properly to yield the results you require.

Just thought I'd update you on my plans- I'm booking into Northwich Dry Dock for July, and I've decided to go for their epoxy paint option. Since I can't guarantee getting some extra help this far ahead of the time, I'll pay for them to do the labour as well. They are covered so rain shouldn't be too much of a problem, and their schedule allows three days for it to dry off before going back in the water. Its not a bad price, at £350 for the dry dock and £1165 for the full treatment including baseplate, so just over £1500 (that's only for a 50ft boat though). They also charge £25 for the electric hookup, which I might not need with all my panels- its a high roof with open sides and there might well be enough sun poking in the sides to charge the batteries. Brian and the Haggises have used them, among others, and it does seem a reasonably long lasting treatment, good for at least 4 years and maybe more. I'm not kidding myself about the longevity, I can't see how it would last 10 years or more like an epoxy over bare metal. But even if if it lasts 4 or 5 years, the pricing still compares well to bitumen, when you factor in haul out costs saved, extra level of protection gained, and that the price includes the baseplate, etc. Their PDF info leaflet mentions the common concerns about epoxy covering existing bitumen, and they say that they have checked with ands gotten approval from the main epoxy suppliers that their very high pressure wash will leave the surface suitably prepped for epoxy to adhere well, even if all the bitumen is not removed. Overall, I would describe it as definitely not being a perfect 10 year solution like bare metal treatment, but nevertheless it does look like an effective and very good value compromise, and they do have a very good reputation. If I could guarantee getting help I would have preferred to haul out for 2 weeks, hire a sandblaster, and get it back to bare metal (I'd love to blast out any rust from the pits etc), but without wheeled transport and extra muscle, I don't really fancy the DIY route. They seem a very professional outfit and there are enough very satisfied customers that I can go into there with a lot of confidence that the job will be done well. ETA- I've just realised the dry dock is not covered, so if we get a few days of rain that will be an issue. But they do say they have always managed to get the boats completed on time, and they work all year round. Fingers crossed its a dry week.

Outsourcing avoids retribution!

It could work maybe. I think it's a bit of a pipe dream atm. 🤔😂

How did you climb the lamp posts?

I always look for a good service life. I didn't realise they had been around that long. That's good to know. I've always wanted to sail in a jelly. The more serious aspects of this article have been dealt with above, so I'm happy to take a lighter view of the article. I'm disappointed the OP didn't take the time to translate it into Enlish.