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I feel this comment actually highlights the problem beautifully, a nothing event happened today where a boat had a minor cock up ( I presume, I wasn’t there they could equally have picked up a blade full and lost steerage) just like probably hundreds of other boats all over the system will have had minor cock ups today. Nothing was damaged, no one was hurt and the day carried on happily, lessons will have been learnt (which is the exact purpose of this training run) but it gets commented about on here, why, purely because historic boats were involved. Rich

I'm very happy that some people wish to own and maintain old working boats, and that they occasionally gather with like-minded owners as effectively, a private members club, to chat and discuss their hobby ... same as vintage car and bike owners do. Rather like thatched cottages, I love to see them but wouldn't want one. It gives us mildly interested observers the chance to admire and take photos of their boats as they move around to such gatherings. But it is clear their ownership of such boats is for their personal pleasure, exactly as ownership of mine is for my selfish reasons. Neither of us should pretend we are doing anyone else a favour. We're all capable of demonstrating varying levels of skill at boat handling at any given moment and I'm sure that errors and misjudgement are not confined only to historic craft. Many hire boats are instantly 'labelled' and incorrect assumptions made and I'm confident the same is done with ex working boats ... the boat may be old but the crew may be novice. However selfish or poor behaviour is not absolved simply by the type of boat involved. Rog

Fortunately more like

Some larger boats steed better because They are less affected by the wind. Built with longer swims and a better rudder

Sorry, but my computer didn't like the last quote and wouldn't let me alter or finish it. I meant to say that the L&LCS members who look after Kennet, although they get some pleasure from the work, do it more for the general public and to promote the history of the canal. Kennet and Mersey are the only unconverted short boats on the canal, and Kennet is the only one to which the public have access. Last Sunday we had over 450 visitors on board over the day at Skipton, and though it can be a pleasure chatting to them, it is also time consuming. Heritage is one of the many factors which ensure that our canals stay open, and educating the public is an important aspect of encouraging government to keep funding the system. A few more volunteers would be a help in achieving this aim by educating the public to the benefits and heritage of our canals.

I never tired of hearing some of the tales from David Blagrove. In the pub with the narrowboat crew at Braunston one year where linked to my family like the time he broke down on the Thames at Brentford & Mark Harrison broke the rules by going onto the Thames to tow him out of danger .Mark was called up before the company who had their office in a pub the next morning. David turned up with 4 bottles of good whisky plonked them on the table & said fine paid .

It’s not unusual 😂🤩😂 ha someone had to start!

Can't It's a Nokia 3220.

No boat steers in neutral if it is not moving through the water. All boats steer to some extent if they are moving, depending on the design of the boat and how fast it is moving. But many modern boats have rather small rudders that are barely effective in neutral and certainly can’t create a significant change in direction. So yes boats do steer in neutral to some extent if they are moving forwards. But all narrowboats steer much more responsively if they are in fwd gear and preferable with a bit of revs on. Surely everyone (who knows how to steer a boat) knows this? So I’m not sure what point you are trying to make apart from stating the obvious.

I guess that if you took a survey of anything these days it would be hard to find positive things as the mood generally is a little bleak. I feel for the CRT because Government (and the next one!) will do anything to ensure that they are not getting the blame or are distanced from difficult decisions. We live near and walk along a canal as well as travel the waterways with Moose and all I see near us is deterioration and frankly indifference shown by "the general public". Hardly CRT's fault here but what I see is so frustrating. Litter, dog mess, vandalism, graffiti. Two overbridges are reaching the point where they need repair work. Once vandalism removes 1 brick, another one goes and it suddenly becomes an avalanche but the decay is entirely due to indifference, disrespect for our heritage etc. Some local parish councils have removed waste bins - not our responsibility (in their opinion) so guess what? Litter builds up. Dog poo bags are piled up etc. And I will call it as it is, a huge amount of the litter near us is dumped by people of foreign origin in areas where they frequent - this is evidence of my own eyes. I noted around us how many new C&RT signs have gone up - not one exhorts people to take litter home, clear up after their dogs properly. Sometimes we need to tell people how to behave but we cannot for fear of shaming them or disrespecting them. If only people would show more respect and consideration for others.

Just converted the document above to a PDF, let's see if the forum accepts it. The Jointless Cratch Board.pdf

Ah, but has Laurenen sold her soul to the Devil as the Flying Dutchman did? Might be worth a try.😰

They are trying to get volunteers to do the towpath vegetation cutting. The problem is the same as with most other organisations these days in that the amount of potential volunteers is decreasing year on year because many are either getting too old or passing away, and much of the next generation aren't interested in volunteering or have other activities to pursue. Add to that the fact that many volunteers are away on holidays or out boating for the summer, and it's no surprise the towpaths are getting out of hand. I appreciate the financial difficulties CRT have, but relying on volunteers for this just isn't going to work. It needs a regular time structured programme of cutting not the adhoc gathering together of a few volunteers whenever they happen to be available.

So what does he do in meantime?

The wife is not allowed to use the pole whilst the boat is moving

Dusty is very approachable. He will also tell you where he has used artist's licence. For example our boat FLAMINGO features paired with BRIGHTON on one of his paintings set at Hawkesbury. He has changed the family aboard to one he knew, and added a dog. Also he has introduced a pair of boats threading it's way between the rows of breasted boats moored on each side of the canal, to make the picture more interesting than if it was just the water. The photograph on which Dusty's painting is based is freely available, so it is very easy to see what in the painting is fact, and what has stemmed from his imagination. We do have his print of FLAMINGO on the walls inside FLAMINGO.

Heretic!

Are you sure? That looks very much like half an inch of water at the bottom of that container to me.

I've just watched this video and what is very noticeable is that there were a lot more historic boats at Braunston on Saturday than there were when I got there at 11am today. That's very disappointing. When I go next time I will make sure I go on the Saturday.