XAlan W

That was Ike`s standard practice on his boat Amy the pup[9hp bolinder] & any bolinder direct reversing powered boat he boated on, providing the lock gate was fitted with the upstand on the gate. He always said it was easier & more reliable than reversing the motor, but as David said you have/had to be skilled at it to get it right, more so with a full length boat. BW sought to stop this practice by, when replacing top gates they omitted the upstand, I received a rollocking from a young BW guy for doing this in Deptmore lock as far back as 1972. His older work companion sided with me in the disagreement, his words being ``What do you think they are there for then`` shook his head & walked away.

I believe this photo to have been taken 1904/12 as I.m pretty sure that the man holding the second horse is my paternal great grandfather.I need to find some old photo s to check, as he worked for the canal during that period, He was one of the many that did not return from WW1

Looking at the rock formation possibly in the Gnosall area by the Tunnel

Your first blue list is pretty much spot on for late 60/early 70`s, IIrc it was stressed to leave a bottom paddle fully up so as to make following boaters a ware there was a paddle up [not just a nick of paddle to save wasting water] it seemed to be about 20% of boaters took notice & I once got told off by a BW guy for doing it, when I pointed out the notice to him he walked away shaking his head & muttering some thing to the effect [A complete load of bo***cks] so from then on I didnt bother draining it if I was going uphill { can`t remember which one it was though]

If that engine in the video is similar to most 2 smoke semi diesel`s the guy will not stop it quickly, as it will have a second air valve on the silencer side of the crankcase that will still be sucking in air to the bottom end. Would have to block both to get a result, some what scary though.

I`m pleased you have possibly got rid of the ar**troll, Seem rather strange that the way of life that he so dispises, he is trying to become part of [re his efforts to obtain a boat] you guys had better keep an eye out in case someone takes him up on his buy & don`t know what scheme? Per haps he has worn out his welcome in his land based area

I cannot say when after the mid 70`s this bylaw/rule came into force, but during my time afloat 1958/mid 70`s there was, as far as i was aware, no such rule. At that time there was as far as I remember no 2/14 day moorings as long as you didn`t moor up in places to cause problems, no one seemed to mind. I suppose there were a lot fewer boats in those days, so bigger demand = more rules, more rule benders/breakers = even more rules, Shame it seems to raise peoples stress levels rather than lowering them.

I think you will find that stabiliser does nothing in regard to bettering fuel consumption the main purpose is to lengthen the shelf life of the fuel

Quite a few of the better quality 2T oils suitable for air cooled engines [ in my case pre mix for chainsaws] contain a fuel stabiliser . came about as the petrol the US in perticular contains various quantities of Ethanol causing the fuel to ``go off`` very quickly I presume the oil suitable for liquid cooled motors is similar

Each time I`ve visited this stretch of the Du Midi there has been a lock keeper & it has been done this way, Most of the locks are manned

The one on the forth row down & four along is the one Iv`e had the most sucess with It has tiny teeth inside the strap so doesn`t tend to slip

Looking at photo`s of his boat I `m sure he has a dry exhaust coming out of the cabin/engine `ole roof, would suspect a blocked mud box, or failing water pump if it`s not a constant stream of water coming from the hole in the boats side. Or it could possibly be the passage ways in block, exhaust water jacket restricted by crud, as I understand the engine stood pretty much unused for quiet some time

Please forgive this post, but I`m some what confused, a quote in post #6 { starting before 7am tends to p**s off other boaters] Why is this so? surely it`s just the passing of a boat & if done at reasonable speed & no radio blaring out + no yelling & shouting, why would this be a problem. I can understand the 8pm/8am engine/generator running moored up curfew, but not a 30 second passing being a problem, I have not boated for a few years, so has some present day boaters become a lot more intolerent, In my days of contracting we used to start at 4.30/ 5am most mornings, there used to be a saying . ``The miles travelled before breakfast were good miles`` Attitudes seem to have changed quite a lot, & in some cases it seems not for the better

I can not say if Derenk Bent did/did not own LILY I aquired her in 1963 & the Seffle was built up & fitted along wih new back cabin + various hull repairs at Charity dock. In 1967 she was returned to Charity for the fitting of a full length conversion. she was fiited out for Hotel boat use by Di Robinson at Norbury in 68, & used until 72. Taken to Norton Canes in 72 & sold to Ray Kearns through Malcolm Braine, I was told for his son to live on. I have no knowledge as to who owned/ what happened, as I moved away from the canal. Next came across LILY at Bulborne in 2002 in deconverted state fitted with a 20hp Bolinder with gearbox & owned by Gary & Tracy ? Understand the Seffle is in Jem Bates boat

If you MUST have a copper head gasket have a look in a copy of Stationary engine magazine there is an advert in there some guy will make up any type of gasket, in almost any material & he is rated by the SE bods

I was told when I first got & started motorcycling some 60 years ago. It didn`t matter how much you paid for a bike they would all do the same thing. they would fall over on you if you let go of them, & you got wet on them when it rained

Would not be able to do it present day, but at the time I first started out with a working boat (1960) I was advised (told) by the boatmen to tip a small amount of ash lock side (out of the way or by the side of the stop plank structure if there was one) it could be used to rack the gates, paddles,or spread on the gate walkways, lock sides,during the winter when it was icey

Sorry you seem to be ahead of me on this Twas just a thought, as the boaty part is somewhat more limited i would have thought.. Have you tried any of the stationary engine forums[ I know that they are more vintage ] but some one may have contacts to some one who could possibly help. I collect vintage & classic chainsaws so I can understand your problem [re non availabilty] of parts etc we both seem to be delving into the [hens teeth/rocking horse poo] league Be patient & keep looking/ searching] something will turn up.

Reading the Op , Would you maybe get more useful to you info by asking around plant hire & companys that deal in plant ,ie earth moving/ working kit, i would think that they have to renew/ re furbish kit all the time having seen the way some plant on hire was treated + it would not have the boaty bits on the motor & if you could aquire a short block or an exchange motor it would be a straight fit to your machine. Also I would think that the choice of companys to ask would be greater best of luck in your search.

That doesn`t apply in France any more. New vehicle`s for the last 2/3years now have a number for the vehicle for life, & if you buy used from a different department with old type plates, it`s issued with the new type number, which then doesn`t need to be changed if it`s sold to a different dept, you can still have your dept on the end of the plate or the French flag, but if you have a car with plates from a different dept, you have to change to either your dept,.flag,or nothing. Another French foible is the plates have to be pop riveted on. Screws, nuts & bolts, are not allowed & if the Gendarmes stop you & are feeling a bit morning after the night before, they will get you on that, if not riveted I think it`s some thing like a 50 euro`s fine, a bit off topic but their speeding fines are somewhat unusual if you are within 10 km`s above the limit it`s a 135 E fine but if you pay within 15 days of the letter date it`s 90E, 15/45days 135E, over 45 days 345E & it rises pro rata to the speed above the limit. Still we don`t have to pay road Tax & the CT [MOT] is only every 2 years instead of every year

Laidley Worm/ Sutton moored at Norbury in the late 60`s. i rebuilt the engine[ Petter PD2] whilst working for Shropshire Union Cruises I at that time owned Lily, ex FMC & was a member of NBOC.Binky Bush was [president? of NBOC at that time]. I cannot remember did your family take the boat to the NBOC cheswadine Xmas rally in 68/69? I moved on in 1970 so have no knowledge after then

Dennis Cooper was CTS, I understand his son carried on when Dennis retired