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I thought I was fairly knowledgeable about trees but one I am seeing a lot of has me stumped. It has masses of pure white blossom but no greenery  and I am seeing it in the hedges canal side.. it is not hawthorn ( which is still green) or pussy willow (catkins) ( which has bigger yellowish flowers. 
It is not, I think, a tree we see up north.
Please put me out of my misery and tell me what it is .

I'm preparing for my BSS inspection.
I have a single 6kg LPG cylinder contained within its own dedicated locker at the rear of the boat. There is nothing else in the locker except the cylinder spanner and it is impossible for the cylinder to fall over as the locker is only just wide enough to fit it in. Does the cylinder have to be secured with a chain to comply with the test requirements?

Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
Location: Navigation Closure: Lock 58, Tardebigge Top Lock, Worcester & Birmingham Canal
Starts At: Lock 58
Ends At: Lock 58
Up Stream Winding Hole: Tardebigge basin
Down Stream Winding Hole: Above Lock 23
Monday 17 February 2025 08:00 until further notice
Type: Navigation Closure 
Reason: Structure failure
 
Update on 04/04/2025:
We would like to update customers on the ongoing repair works at Tardebigge Top Lock.
We have started the initial phase of the works which is in the interests of safety. The lock has been dewatered and Kingspan blocks have been installed to support the failing wall. 
Next week we will be creating an appropriate access/ compound area and constructing a temporary new pedestrian route along the offside of the lock. We will also be installing two pontoons across the canal so that the towpath can reopen again.
From 14th April we have an archaeologist on site who will be watching and inspecting the chamber wall as it is taken down. We are planning to reuse as many of the original bricks as possible, in addition to the coping stones. The Trust is working closely with the Bromsgrove and Redditch Council Conservation Team to finalise the restoration scope so we can gain Listed Building Consent. It is expected that we will be investing over £500,000 in this project.
The exact timeline for completion will be determined following dismantling and further investigations. The flight is anticipated to remain closed until the end of August.
Restoring the lock and reopening the canal and towpath is our priority. We appreciate your patience during this important project.
We will provide the next update on Thursday 17th April.
 
 
 

Hi all, newbie no. 465433 here. I can no longer bear living with my fellow human beings so it's the canals for me. My narrowboat budget is probably £25k, but I've been searching up to £30k. I was wondering if you more experienced folks would help me play the exciting game* "spot the red flags", when looking at boat listings.
 
I'll link to a listing, say what I think is dodgy about it, then you can critique my efforts, pitch in with other red flags I might've missed, maybe score me marks out of ten if you're in a playful mood.
 
It bears stating that a lot of these boats will be old, and the "that boat is old, be very careful" red flag is a given. No purchase will be made without a hull survey and careful scrutiny of boat, boat seller, and paperwork.
 
-----
 
And for round 1 we have Leo, a "charming 45ft Cruiser crafted by the skilled team at Shropshire Boat Builders".
 
https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/shropshire-boat-builders-45-cruiser-stern-for-sale/775884
 
I thought the interior - barring rug - looked suspiciously nice for the price, especially on a boat with supposedly recent-ish blacking and BSS. Far worse, a googling of "Nationwide Boat Sales" took me to this nightmare thread called "Think I might be in trouble" (15 pages of a man in despair).
 
What do we think? Is this actually a reasonable price for a nice boat from 1972? Are Nationwide Boat Sales actually a cracking bunch of lads who just made an honest mistake one time? It's time to play ♫ "spot the redddd flaaaags" ♫
 
*new this Spring, from Mattel™

Has anybody heard anything (rumour or otherwise) as to what, if anything, is to be done regarding the future of this canal?
If what I have read so far is true, the only solution is to empty it all then scrape away the polluted bed and then replace and refill. The disposal of the polluted bed will be a mammoth task.

Do the folk approved by BSS HQ have an official title and when they do their thing on a customer's boat to produce a certificate are they doing a BSS:
 
Inspection. Assessment. Examination. Test.

I am thinking of going on to the Llangollen. Are there any particular issues I need to know about the locks at Hurleston for a solo boater, or other locks along there?  When do the volunteer lock keepers start at Hurleston and at the staircase lock at Grindley?
 
Thanks!

I ran out of gas and replaced the cylinder yesterday. And all day yesterday and today everything was fine - perfectly normal., When I went to cook dinner tonight the gas on my hob sputtered and went out,  It ws just like the cylinder was empty, but it couldn't be. I bought it only yesterday. The hook up is fine, the cylinder feels heavy and full. No smell of gas anywhere. Just no gas reaching the hob. Any ideas?

Hi, I've been lurking on these forums for years on and off whilst dreaming of getting my first boat. After huge regret of not making the move years ago way before the pandemic demand sent prices crazy, I finally have the opportunity again after returning back in the East Mids to be closer to family.
 
I'm wanting to spend around 10 grand (with a few extra grand set aside for licence, mooring fees and initial extras/maintenance). I would pay extra for a Highbridge Crusader, however non-mega projects seem like hens teeth, so I've been looking at the Nauticus 27 which looks like it would do me perfectly and I could get a decent one for this budget, and they can also be transported by road for not too extortionate money which widens my search area considerably. I'm a complete newbie with boats, however have lived in tourers and vans previously. 
 
I've seen a Nauticus 27 I'm particularly interested in (pics attached) due to the inboard diesel, and bonus of the calorifier, fitted shower and heating. It looks like it's been completely refitted by the seller from an old wreck, even though I prefer the tradional look, I'm worried I'm getting swayed by the good looking whitewashed refit, however on paper it's ideal and looks well looked after. Although I know it's impossible to tell from pictures, is there anything I should be wary of or any red flags I should be looking for in particular with the Nauticus in general? Spots prone  to leaks or other issues? Is the gas boiler and heating likely to cause issues with the BSS? What do you think a Nauticus like this is worth? (Pictured).

 

 

 
My boat would become my base inbetween working away for a few days/sometimes weeks at a time with similar times back on the boat.
I'm also looking at leisure moorings at Lincoln Brayford Marina if anyone also has any experience of mooring here? (Growing up with narrowboat friends, I always dreamed of cruising my own boat to the Pyewipe for a pint!). Was also potentially considering Beeston Marina, Nottingham if any suitable became available. Main requirements are security, showers, nearby carparking and easy cruising for a complete beginner (and single person).
 
Big thanks in advance for any info and advice!
Amy. 
 

Labour is implementing stricter net zero measures on fishing boats, canal barges and pleasure craft, The Telegraph can reveal.
Under the maritime decarbonisation strategy, boat owners will be forced to swap out diesel engines, petrol generators and wood-fire stoves for electric motors, batteries and extra shore power hookups.
 
Peter Braybrook, the secretary of the National Association of Boat Owners, cautioned that replacing diesel engines and generators on canal boats would be impractical.
“The major problem is charging them on most canal boats, which are about seven foot wide and 60 foot long,” he said.
He added that the available space was not enough to install solar panels capable of charging boats for more than six hours’ operation.
The Nabo secretary warned the net zero measures could trigger a wave of homelessness, as people live on canal boats because of a rise in the cost of housing would be unable to afford an enforced switch to electric power.
 
Miliband launches net zero crackdown on boats

Brand New, unused, still in box. 
Bought for Narrowboat build but now not needed. 
Spare new urine tank plus all accessories included. 
 
Only want £800
buyer to collect from Nottingham. 

Hello. My Eberspacher runs fine (but needs a service), but the central heating radiators it drives are not heating up properly, especially the bathroom one which used to get to hot to touch and is now less than luke warm. Can anyone recommend an engineer to service the unit/sort this problem out. The boat in question, if it helps, is a 2001 Colecraft. Thanks in advance, any help appreciated

Hi, 
further to my previous post I’m now looking at a 50 fr no with this engine. I’m told it’s about 20hp. I would like to know if this would be capable of cruising on tidal rivers please?
50ft nb Apologies for predictive text typos

I recently moved the boat off her swinging mooring and onto a pontoon ready for lift out early January. I’ve got some charging issues which an auto electrician has been trying to sort for
me, I won’t go into that as it’s not the subject of this post. While hanging upside down in the engine bay looking at something else I was horrified to see the cast iron casing has sheered  clean through on  the rear port engine mount.  It’s a new break given the cleanliness of the exposed metal. When I was slipping the mooring I did make a schoolboy error and fouled the mooring
line wrapping it round the prop and stalling the engine. Apart from running the engine up once I had cleared the fouled line I have not run it. So here’s the question, I’m going to assume it’s engine out but once it’s out can it be welded (shipwrights in the marina) or is
jt something far more scary 

After wasting five weeks for the Wigan flight to reopen last year we got as far as kirkstall before we were stopped by the failure of river lock in Leeds. OK, turn round and overwinter in Skipton during which time the canal was closed between Newley and Kirkstall flights followed, just as we weee setting off, by the failure of Steg Neck lock! 
  We’ve now heard conflicting reports of a closure at Rishton but I can’t find any reference to it on the CRT site, or on fact, anywhere other than an article found via Google that says there will be an update in October !…… are we trapped on here for ever? Can anyone out there shed any light on this?

Now that the lovely weather is leaving us 🙂 we are off boating again starting next saturday. The plan is to go up the bridgewater as iain would like to have a look at where the canal breached. Is there a winding hole after the one at lymm? Our Nicholsons guides are on the boat and googling hasn't given me the answer :-).  After we have about turned we may head up the Llangollen but not sure we will get as far as the Ponty whatsit aqueduct!

Tooley's yard are working to save Hearty and are running bit of an appeal Hearty prizes to help Narrowboat Hardy! - a Community crowdfunding project in Banbury by Tooley's Historic Boatyard

This boat ( 512095) has appeared on tne Grand Union near Milton Keynes and is being hastily repainted , the people doing it are suspect as hell in my opinion, claim to be boat painters but know nothing about it , maybe totally legit but checking suspicions are how we find stolen boats. 

Hello. 
 
I have a bubble stove which has been installed in our house - 2 in fact. They are back to back in separate rooms one has a back boiler and the other is a standard stove. 
 
The stove with the back boiler works flawlessly. However, the standard stove will not burn cleanly. I have got a few installers out to have a look at it, but regardless of what they do the stove burns sooty with a yellow flame.
 
I have spoken with Bubble about this but they seemed unable to assist. 
 
What can I do to improve the burn of this stove? Shown below images of the pot at low and high settings. The chimney is single story, fully lined and has a vedette in to it the chimney pot. The other stove which works correctly had exact same setup. 
 
Thanks for reading. 
 
 

Hi All, our stove i think will need some tlc this year, noticing a few cracks at joints etc. see pics below... whats the best way to tackle this?  thanks!!!!

Anyone traveled to Goole and used the marine been trying to get an idea of how to get from Stratford upon avon up there canal plan is confusing me . Is the town worth a visit ?? . One of those places never been to but just fancy the trip . Been on the winter mooring too long LOL 

Hi there, I have recently purchased a narrowboat that needs a lot of work and there's a lot of unnecessary wiring in the engine bay that needs clearing out and redoing, but there's a couple of things that I'm unsure about.
 
I found this in the engine and bay, it's a switch you can press and it seems to be wired up to the alternator then some other wiring goes into a harness.
 
All the wires are attached to the same terminal at the bottom, one heavy feed from the alternator and two smaller wires.
 
This isn't in an easily accessible area so I'm not sure why it's a button you can press.
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Can someone give me a quick idiot's guide to check if my alternators bust? Batteries are charged ok  but ignition light staying on this morning. Worked fine two days ago.
I can't see anything obviously wrong but since the last rewire I no longer understand the wiring. If it's of any help  the light dims slightly when the starter is pushed so it doesn't seem to be a problem there.