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I believe it is now fixed, 4 hours later! Basically an automated backend task got stuck and as such none of the posts were being indexed for the site search. The site search is also what powers VNC. When I tried to manually force the task to run, it would error out with a rather unhelpful error message, but after much troubleshooting I narrowed it down to a software compatibility issue, which should now be fixed - though it will take another hour or two for the re-indexing of the content to complete. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this today.

The bloke is a numpty lol. Dont waste your time. The opening post should just read " Ive got loadsa money to chuck away, and I know more than anybody else about everything in the World but I will pretend to ask a question " Lol.

We could easily find out if a narrowboat will roll under a weir boom if only we knew somebody getting a very expensive all singing all dancing - cos I can afford it - 60ft boat. Just take it onto a river and switch the engine off (electric or otherwise) and see what happens. Apparently there's very little risk so it should be easy to persuade new boat owner to participate. I'll sell the popcorn anyone want to supply the deckchairs?

Having read bits and pieces of this thread it strikes me that someone is trying to convince himself that he has made the right decision not to have an anchor. I take my hat off to all who have advised having an anchor and why but I think you are wasting your time. I don't think anyone other than the original poster is reading this thread to find out if they should have an anchor or not. The OP is the only one and he made up his mind ages ago but is still trying to convince himself he made the right decision.

Anyone who actualy knows anything about boating would always carry an anchor, a fool may not. Speaking as someone who holds 3 different boatmasters licence I can say in full knowledge that, had I taken the Nottingham Princess out without BOTH its anchors I could have been prosecuted, they were part of the very strict regulations pertaining to that particular boat. Yes, i fully understand we are talking leisure boats here so there is no requirement in law but if an anchor is deemed necessary on an inland waterway such as the Trent for a commercial passenger boat, then anyone who knows anything about boating would have the sense to realise that an anchor makes sense. Anchors cost diddly squat, if say I was mug enough to pay well over the odds for a narrowboat and then not pay a few hundred pounds for an anchor that would make me stupid. Problem is some people know better than all the proffesionals.

Such folk pay their full share of a licence and, by virtue of being the above quoted "boats who never leave marinas", have the lowest possible impact on the canal infrastructure. We should all be grateful for their contribution and lightness of touch rather than treat them with disdain.

I could see the writing on the wall last year and we very reluctantly made the decision to sell up and do something else. We thought long and hard before we took the step but now we are very glad we did the deed, and all the signs are that things will get increasingly worse over the next few years. it’s al very sad. Howard

It's not just licence fees, you have to include mooring costs as well as most boaters don't CC. I would think that would well exceed your council tax, and at least you don't often get stuck between roadworks for six months of the year. It undeniably a big increase, but, assuming the system manages to stay in one piece for a year, it's not bad value for those leisure users who actually use their boats. For those who venture out for a week or maybe two per year, I think they'll get rid. There are boats on my mooring that haven't moved for years. For my minimum ten weeks holidays and usually more, it's ok, and I still love the (mostly) peace and quiet of it. And luckily I can just about afford it, though I may take the melodeon on the next trip and busk to buy diesel (not sure the trombone would earn enough, though I might get paid to go away). Anyone who can afford a new boat can afford a licence. It'll be the breakdown of the system that knackers it finally, not the costs.

A pair of old knickers make a jolly good indecent sea anchor. With a circle of bent Hazel twig sewn into the waist part to keep them open, leave the the leg holes open. Just a brief description.

For about 40 years we have had both NBs and crusiers pretty much at least one of each concurrently. The Canal was steadily improving from 1980 until around the early 2000's it was a joy to be out and about slowly bimbling along stopping wherever we wanted - just as the canals should be. We still had out Sea going cruisers that got some use on longer holidays going further afield but we always 'navigated' our way back to the Canals and Rivers. Come the turn of the century the canals started to 'fall apart' the bottom was getting nearer to the top, there was a lack of maintenance and as we got older the canals got harder to use but we continued - roll on 2012 and the 'new guys on the track' were going to make it all right again. C&RT inherited a large maintenance backlog from BW and despite this being pointed out to them by KPMG prior to the 'hand over' they were not concerned and ACTUALLY PLANNED to continue the underspend to even maintain the 'steady state' let alone eat into the ever increasing backlog of work. Then they sold off all the maintenace tools and made redundant the years of experience that was held by the lock keepers and lengthsmen, but it looked good in the books and allowed them to appoint more managers and directors and regional heads it is now a case of "too many Chiefs and not enough Indians" The "rot" continued and it suddenly appeared that many / most / all of the infrastructe failures were down to boaters - lock beams snapping off, breaches because a boater left the gate paddles open etc etc etc. I guess that was simply because one of their KPIs was number of days lost due to failure of things within C&RTs control - if it is left to rot - that is within C&RTs control, if a boater causes a breach that is not counted as being within C&RTS control. For us (yes aging may have paid a part) the canals just became a much less pleasant place to be and 'hard work'. We even ran aground in the main channel on the Trent where C&RTS own dreging figures said they must maintain 6 feet depth. We were getting more an more enjoyment, and spending more time at the coast (and less hassle, paperwork, rules and easier to use the boat) - it became the time to Sell the NB and so we sold up, took the Cruiser over to Anglesey ( 3 years ago) and moved the 'Big-Cat' from Hull to Plymouth. We now spend 4-5-6 months at a time on one of the Coastal boats - its great ! It's sad and we do look back with fond memories, regularly when out driving and we cross a canal we'll say "remember when.............." but I think if we had not acted when we did we'd (I'd) be very bitter now about what we were getting for our money.

The scary thing is, as with you tube, people with no clue put stuff out and people with even less idea, watch it, and take it onboard, as though the poster knows all about it, and thats what to do. Even a complete numpty understands the good reasons why an anchor is carried by people with a brain, on their narrowboats but there may be the odd chance someone reads this thread and thinks the OP actualy has some understanding, when in fact he is clueless and his views dangerous. Still, he has 200k to throw away on a boat that will be worth 100k after launch so I suppose he must know best. The combined knowledge and experience of the rest counts for nowt.

Well what a load of tripe to justify your opinion that anchors are not essential for river users. This from somebody who has probably never done a tidal stretch or a river in anything but perfect conditions. Your scientific assessment is flawed! Your house has probably never burned down but I suspect you insured it against fire for years. Stop trying to justify your flawed belief and start listening to those who have a lot more experirnce than you. Next year you get your shiny new boat. You intend to take it over the Rochdale canal (risky enough for most 60ft boats). If like the past couple of years the Pennine Canals are closed (more likely than needing an anchor) you will have to go via the tidal Trent - will you be risking it or will your buy an anchor of choice?

Likely the old batteries are all the same age, so it can’t be too surprising that they are dying at much the same time. I would just get rid of the old batteries and keep whatever new ones you have in circuit.

So hang on. You call somebody a troll and in the same post complain about name calling. You really are priceless Ian. Priceless. Why dont you just put everybody you disagree with on your renowned 'naughty step' and give your blood pressure a chance. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

What happens in the electrical cupboard, stays in the electrical cupboard

Not being sarky here, but how can he answer that unless he ended up on the boom?

If boaters were willing to pay an economic price for their licenses that actually reflected the costs of running the canal system, the waterways might not be in the state they are in now.

Thank goodness there is not a legal requirement for everything. But taking reasonable care and not acting recklessly are insurance requirements How taking reasonable care is interpreted is matter of opinion . Some advice on Navigating the Trent here https://nabo.org.uk/files/trent_sg.pdf Anchor does appear in the text

You missed out patronising and condescending - "of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you'll find that mine is the correct one" Or to quote George Bernard Shaw

In some cases the cylindrical floats on the boom are very large diameter, meaning they bear on the boat quite high up. And so with a boat caught broadside on to the current, there is a significant sideways force acting on the submerged part of the hull, which is resisted by a horizontal force from the floats at some height. That creates an overturning effect which tilts the boat over and which could easily cause front well deck drain holes or other hull openings on the upstream side of the boat to dip below water level. And what follows is more or less inevitable.

Considering the very remote chance of me needing it - I wonder if I should not bother paying for insurance, likewise the chance of the boat bursting into flames is pretty remote so why clutter it up with fire extinguishers.

Others have said lots of sensible things on my behalf but the truth is... I have no idea. There wasn't much flow so I might have been OK. But the lack of flow would have been luck and not part of a cunning plan of mine. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't have an anchor. But I'm 100% glad I didn't have to find out.

Update: I can now add a data point as a Canalworld user who has deployed in an emergency situation (probable drive plate failure in mid river). There's always one... Location: Thames Weather: Not good, wind and yellow boards Anchor deployed: Brittany (one of the compact budget ones, although I've heard it suggested it's marginally better than the Danforth) Prior deployment experience: nil Drag: a little, but not much considering Decision to purchase: vindicated (although I'll probably still leave it in the locker on the Great Ouse in summer) Timeliness of trip boat going past and their assistance: excellent

My money would be on the Clankshaft.......