Tacet

(Unless there is a contractual arrangement), the party that whose negligence caused the damage is likely to be held liable. But if it was not reasonably apparent to a surveyor/crane operator/slipway chap exercising the usual care and skill that the boat would collapse when lifted/slipped, then it is hard lines on the owner or perhaps any buyer who is contractually committed. The surveyor etc was not negligent.

The business rates payable for the Red Lion will not be much more than £7,000 for 2018/19.

Looks like just you and me, Bizzard. I too would use "barrel" for a screw-jointed pipe (i.e iron/steel) but not for copper or plastic. I had no idea of the history behind the use; there must have been a lot of joints though.

My father-in-law refers to BSP as "iron" as in a 3/4 iron fitting or whatever. Obviously this dates from when iron (or steel) pipe was in common use, but the usage persists even now we are more frequently referring to brass to brass. I have picked up the habit too. Is this a regional expression - or is it widespread?

Can you push the soffit up - and thus return the roof to a better shape? Maybe a timber prop off the floor with something to spread the point loads. If you can shed the water off the roof it will help greatly. Whilst the dip remains, it will be susceptible to leaks. MTBs tarp will work better if it is packed up over the dip - and sufficiently sized to ensure that the water runs away at its edges rather than back underneath.

Mostly, they do. Gates and paddles at both ends - and a tendency to rise and fall. That the boat steerer has a real say in the operation of a lock is clearly reasonable. But it is less reasonable where the steerer is dawdling along - causing long delays due to inefficient working. I appreciate one person's dawdling is another person's safe working, but if you're holding people up and not willing to accept help (or loose the second boat by), it is less reasonable. We followed a pair of boats up the Shroppie last week and whilst they had the road, at every lock we were catching them before they had even entered the chamber. With a crew of maybe 10-12, there was often not a windlass in sight, and if there was a windlass, it was nowhere near a paddle at the right time. To be fair, there was no objection voiced to being assisted.

And who is in charge of the pound, whilst your boat is passing through?

The paddles seem to drop faster (or at all) in warmer weather; maybe the grease is less viscous. But even when a paddle appears to be falling rapidly - as evidenced by a spinning pinion/windlass square, it is not that quick when you look at the relatively low rate of descent of the indicator rod. Even allowing for these being big sluices, with the paddles rising/falling a bit further than most locks, the rate of descent of a gravity dropping paddle could well be less than a controlled winding down a more typical rack-and-pinion (only) ground paddle.

Private Mooring would amuse me

14. Flow from gate paddles into welldeck overwhelming scuppers

I've cruised a fair way above Brandon Lock. But as it was 45 years ago, it is a rather hazy recollection apart from my parents taking a joint, unplanned into the river. I appreciate the lock has been built/rebuilt since, but I don't recall it at all.

It wasn't the foliage - it was insufficient depth to swing the stern in an arc even with the bows in the bank. It was solved by shafting the bow round. It didn't take too long But maybe we weren't in the best spot. The channel was narrow and weedy too - but, you just keep on. http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N3uP6mUy9SM/UcoHt-z8FhI/AAAAAAAAM5M/xcc-Gj51M8g/s1600-h/P1090987%255B3%255D.jpg

Of the three Lodes, Reach was the most awkward to turn a 57ft boat when we were there in June 2013. It was possible with some manual effort - but it was tight.

It may have been something to do with the Dock and Limehouse Cut being in common ownership between 1854 and 1864. This link may help http://www.leeandstort.co.uk/Limehouse_Lock.htm When the redevelopment of the Dock was under discussion, an early scheme showed berths moored beneath flats - with only limited headroom. It seems the designers had not appreciated that the water level rose on spring tides which would have been interesting for both boat owners and flat dwellers alike.

I have found a couple of photographs of the Thames Lock serving Limehouse Cut being filled in - presumably shortly after the short link to Regents Canal Dock had been reinstated. The houses on the western side remain to this day, albeit with some unsympathetic alterations. The buildings on the eastern side have been replaced - and the lock chamber now remodelled to hold water again - albeit only as a feature. Can anyone say they have been through this lock?