Leaderboard

If you want to get your narrowboat to Europe here's what you do. Sail your boat to Goole and moor up next to one of the big ships that has a crane. Talk nicely to the captain and ask them if they wouldn't mind hoisting your NB on board and taking it to wherever they happen to be going. Hopefully it will be somewhere with access to the European inland waterways. When you get there they hoist you off and there you are. No expensive lorries or ferries. Simples 🙂

Once the posh twats can’t use their solid fuel stoves the stink of dirty boaters will stand out a mile, they’ll come after then and fine them £1000. They can try a flowery defence if they like but I predict it will fall on its arse.

Brave words - maybe poor advice - particularly for city CMers

I had spray foam done 13 years ago and it’s great. If paying someone to do it make sure you tell them when they quote you want it thick, approx flush with the wooden bearers for the lining. That way it’s warm in winter and much cooler in summer. The downside is I agreed to trim it back where it was too thick. Spent a few days with a bread knife.

Jarrah was sprayfoamed in 1989. The foam is going strong still. I don't think DIY is practicable. You need too much kit to do it properly and a good deal of experience. Trimming the foam can be a PITA. Cellotex/kingspan is DIY, and can be near as good as well done spray foam, provided you pay attention to vapour barrier integrity and fill any small gaps with gun foam. Done well it is better than cheapskate foam. If this is for a refit, stick to cellotex. Sprayfoam does not always stick well to even slightly rusty or painted steel. If it is a new boat, ask the builder for recommends and look at the examples he has in build. N

I say give boaters nothing. Lets prove living afloat is not a cheaper way to live, don't make it easier

If this is "Bullfinch" as implied by one of the pictures in the Facebook ad, isn't it actually a (somewhat) modern replica?

I've not seen any mention of weddings being held alongside the canal - is it official or just speculation ?

It would be interesting to try as a defence. I don’t think it would work though. It would be interesting to try as a defence. I don’t think it would work though.

As no-one has said they've reported it, I've done so.

From the uk gov statuary guidance Moored vessels You must consult with the public before you can apply the smoke control area rules to vessels that are moored or stationary at a mooring place, including canal boats, to stop them emitting a substantial amount of smoke. Smoke emissions are allowed from fuel used by an engine to move or provide electric power to the vessel. You can exempt specified vessels or classes of vessel from your smoke control area rules. The providing electric power specifically states ‘engine’ so would exclude a stove with a thermoelectric generator. But it does appear that smoke is only smoke when excessive, and that is not defined……

They hauled the boats up because the site there at Thames Ditton is going to be used for water extraction. There was a modern motor narrow boat which was originally in steam and went down about 20 yars ago then there was a GU motor and butty the butty sunk and the motor was saved amd taken to Laleham. Also there was a nice old tug called Enterprise which sunk and was salvaged to Laleham . The butty hasn't been down as long probably about ten yars I think. I tried to buy the modern motor before it sunk but the owner was a bit of a twit about so it went down. This was actually more like 30 yars ago as it was when I bought my first narrow boat in 1994.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/narrowboatsforsaleuk/permalink/2638259129659482/ Interesting story here....

That's deeper than usual in the pound below Tuel Lane Lock...

A piece of uPVC window frame, scrap from a glaziers.

Yes I was thinking about plastic decking. It comes in a wood grain effect. It's very heavy and won't rot. It's expensive though so perhaps you could get some offcuts if you don't need much?

When we lived in wild Wales, a field on the edge of a near-by village was bought by a developer with the intent of building 25-30 houses, it was not favoured by the locals and during the planning application and site reviews it was found that there was an Otter living in the stream - evidenced by its footprints in the mud. PP inquiry was delayed until more investigation could be undertaken. It was eventually found that it must have been a one legged Otter as all of the prints were the same right front foot (paw ?) Makes you wonder how it survived in the wild - or - did it actually exist ? The concerns about the Otter were dismissed and the PP review went ahead - and was refused anyway.

Please do. Don't forget to include the person who -- as so often -- made the needless comment which started the political argument, though... 😉

Drain & refill. No need to flush. It's a coolant circuit not a lavatory. If you're concerned about the level of corrosion protection, drain half a cup of coolant and place a mild steel screw half into it. Check back a couple of weeks later. Either rust is forming on the screw = change coolant asap or it isn't = change when the sun shining, temps are in the 80s and ladies are walking by in bikinis. Sorry, getting the Grand Union canal mixed up with the Canal Du Midi. As you were.

Sold our lovely boat Compass Rose in 2019, due to family circumstances that looked like not much cruising ahead. Bought a motorhome with the proceeds, on the basis it's more flexible. Had a fantastic time, still going strong, spending months down in Cornwall and loving it. But, so regretted selling the boat. We'd made it our own unique space. I hope the new owners are getting as much fun as we had out of the idiosyncrasies of the toilet. Never failed to amuse us. We've just bought our next boat and I'm delighted. Just sorting out the kit now, and then we'll be off to cruise the whole way round again. Vaguely hoping to pass our old boat and wave but no idea where she's gone. This will be the last time round for us so going to appreciate it all the more.

Yes I was 19 and couldn't afford to repair a failing gearbox, I drove it every day then and here is it now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFejaQG2jnU

Oxters are what we call armpits in Scotland - in fact it's the term most used.