Leaderboard

As one of those young whippersnapper new liveaboards people love to moan about, I'd say we've done pretty OK over the last 90 days...

And if BW had had the sense just to increase licence fees all round to take into account that everyone, even Higgs, has to moor somewhere, rather than penalising home moorers alone, they could have cut collection costs in half, scrapped half the bureaucracy, and CRT would have a lot more money and we'd all be paying the same.

Today HNC lock 41E

And best of all, mebbe we'd have fewer of Higgs' half-baked arguments about it! On reflection, probably not.

Unusual for a relatively young boat to be surveyed every 4 years. The Boat Safely Certificate requires an inspection every 4 years. Could this be what is being termed a survey? The BSS is aimed at ensuring that a boat has safe gas and electricity on board so that it doesn't blow up and take out other boats. It is nothing to do with hull thickness etc.

I think this might be a good year for the Rochdale, we have been seeing a boat most days recently. The rumours that the Rochdale is about to close (from this forum?). have possibly inspired a few boats to do it while they can 😀. We are down in Tod for a week or two (cheap beer Tuesday at the Lion) and I suspect there are a few more boat movements here than the summit suggesting that some boats turn rather than risking Manchester. Of the boats that I have spoken to at the summit most said that the Manchester 18 was hard work and unpleasant, but few have said it was a nightmare, so maybe things are improving.

Use the search box to find the numerous threads on exactly this subject. The main problems are the onerous extra requirements if you plan to let your tenant go out cruising, along with what you do if when you want the boat back, it is nowhere to be found. Possibly lifted out and cut up for scrap while you are away! In summary, don't do it.

4 days up and 4 days back is very compressed for a delightful waterway.

Hi Canalworld! I have been hire boating many years, but now that I'm retired I'm ready to sell up and build my dream liveaboard, so I thought I would join this forum and get some advice. I have thought about it very carefully over the years and I've come up with the following requirements. The first thing that will make my boat unusual is that on fine days i want to be able to handle estuaries / coastal / inshore waters without worry. In particular being that I'm near Runcorn I want to be able to cross the Mersey as well as go down the Severn. According to the RCD, Category C - Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes, and rivers where conditions up to and including wind force 6 and significant wave heights up to and including 2 meters may be experienced. 2 metres would be terrifying if not fatal in most narrowboats! So, I want to look into what it would take to construct a boat to go-anywhere narrowboat dimensions (say, 57' by 7', 2' draught with a flat bottom) but still be able to meet the requirements of a Cat C boat. (maybe even a Cat B so I can cross the channel or go to the med). I am thinking the main thing would be to ensure watertightness below the roof line with ventillation supplied by openings high up under the roof with snorkels. Another thing would be plenty of ballast to keep it upright. The second thing I want is an electric drive. I would want it well overspecced in power so that I can do 10 knots in open water. Probably dual motor for safety. For such powerful propulsion I would want lithium batteries under the whole floor which would double as ballast. And then both sides and roof I would want virtually covered in solar panels. In fact I'm thinking of using the solar panels almost structurally, in that the boat would be a frame with solar panels fitting into the frame. Of course a cocooned diesel generator is a must as well for a diesel-electric drive. I'm not very set on what it should look like but I am interested in a cruiser deck that has a rigid lid that folds down over the superstructure, which is another unusual feature I know but I think would help keep the boat watertight. I don't know what questions I should be asking but here's some for a start. Hull Design: What hull design would be best suited for Category C conditions? Should I go for a traditional narrowboat hull, or are there other designs that would offer better stability and performance? Something unusal like those fold down side keels like you get on some dutch barges? Length and Beam: Is it feasible that such a small boat (say, 57' by 7', 2' draught with a flat bottom) can manage Cat C? Safety Features: What safety features should I prioritise when building my narrowboat for Category C conditions? Are there specific requirements for navigation and safety equipment I need to consider? A radio is a must, and maybe one of those emergency inflatable lifeboats. Construction Materials: What materials would be best suited for building a narrowboat intended for Category C voyages? Should I consider steel or aluminum, considering both durability and weight? Interior Layout: Any tips for the interior layout of a Category C narrowboat? How can I optimise space while ensuring comfort and functionality? Any other fit out good ideas you can think of would be very welcome. I realise this is a big dream. I know it will take a long time, both to find a building willing to do it and to wait for a slot. and I know it will take a lot of money. But when you have time and money then dreams can come true, right?!??!?!????

No mushrooms should be sliced quite thickly so you see them as well as eat them.

Mine doesn't have an inspection hatch. As the OP says, one downside of any external hatch is that it may actually increase the risk of leaks and water getting into the tank which sort of defeats the purpose of a installing a maintenance hatch in the first place.

This is a video that shows the restoration progressing toward the Coventry Canal. It would appear that the New Cappers Lane Bridge will not be finished until 2027, but will there be a link through from the Coventry Canal to Lichfield and that when it happens will be a watershed moment

Moored up, not moving...

Moored by mailbox in march for four days shared me breakfast with Street people each morning no drama

Nah, Rochdale summit. There's sometimes as many as two boats a month moving ...

I know very little about phones but understand that swollen lithium batteries are dangerous if left on charge and the cause of many fires. As Bizzard says they are easy enough to replace if you google them. It’s just not worth the risk

Welcome, a lot of ideas and a lot of re-inventing the wheel???? To save all the expense and time. why not just buy a standard Narrowboat and do all the inland waterways and when you’ve done all you want of that, sell it and buy a coastal cruiser and do coastal waters? This would save you a lot of time and probably a lot of money with the type of boat your dreaming of building.

When we were there we did struggle a bit to find marina space, there are not many marinas on the Lancaster. We did get into Barton Grange in the end, but it is the only time anywhere on the system I have not easily found a short term mooring in a marina. I would enquire about the mooring as soon as you can. I think only you can make the decision on the crossing and the boats capability, but only being able to do 3mph on the Severn I would say puts very much at the low end, as you are pushing the tide for much of the trip with say 30 mins in the middle at slack water. Have you watched some of the YouTube videos on the Ribble link, here is a selection if you have not, there are many more. Bear in mind lots of the YouTube stuff is very sensationalist as that is good for views, and add revenue!

Darnford moors is finally open! Robbie Cumming features in the opening, a lovely chap and it was a pleasure to meet him.