Doug_

Procast near retford made me an angled collar some years ago for my convex roof. https://www.procastnotts.com/product-category/chimneys/

When we held the ECP&DA Rally at Langley Mill at the end of May CRT provided us with a Biffa Bin. We asked for one to Recycle plastics etc. and were told that it is all sorted at the depot. When the bin was delivered it was plastered with Recyle Here stickers which the driver promptly ripped off and replaced with General Waste. Not sure I believe anything CRT tell us any more.

Lots of boats all day just below Aston marina on the T&M. We found a good spot under a very large tree yesterday and staying until Wednesday.

I borrowed a set of electrician's telescopic rods that they use to pull cable through between floors etc. Panels at front of boat, cables fed through a roof gland and then pulled them to the rear of boat using the rods inside the roof void. I had to drill a hole through the rear steel bulkhead to get the rods in and the cable out into the back cabin. But quite a tidy result.

I have a boat with a Beta engine. My rev counter and hour counter packed up about five years ago. The rev counter has since started working but not the hour counter. No amount of wire checking has resurrected the hour counter so I bought an engine hours counter off Ebay and wired it to the ignition switch.

About 7 years ago i saw a 11/12ft widebeam with a dinghy lashed to the side running an outboard for propulsion on the River Lee, Very slow progress, but it moved and got him along. Not sure about stopping ability.

We had a share in one of their boats, they are a decent quality build, at least ours was. If you are thinking of buying a share, a lot depends on the rest of the syndicate. We were very disappointed in that respect. Most treated it like a hire boat, no respect for it at all. It needed a complete repaint before it was four years old. Maintenance fees are what needs to be looked at closely and scrutinised before the AGM to question any anomolies. Good luck.

Basically as Old Goat said, pump it out, rinse well and pump out again. We removed ours for the same reason a few weeks ago, top rotting away. Ours had an inspection hatch so we removed and tried to remove the last couple of inches with the pump out pipe but to no avail so we resorted to ladling into a bucket and tipped down the local Elsan. Not a nice job, but emptied and taken out in a day. I was surprised how heavy it was for its size, 6'6" X 1'6" X 1' It was also a pig to remove because the bedroom/ bathroom bulkhead had been fitted after the tank was installed, so I had to cut some bulkhead away in order to be able to lift the tank to drag it back into the bedroom. i gaffer taped all the holes.It was too tall to stand up except under the side hatch where the roof section lifts up. It was a very tight fit but eventually came out through the side hatch. I took the tank to the local scrap yard, I didn't ask for payment. Dropped it and got out quick before they could change their mind.

Aston locks are closed until 17 June, and as of yesterday the locks at Saltley Cut are also closed due to the state of the building by the first lock. So from the city centre to Salford Junction you will have to go main line, Ryder's Green locks, Tame Valley and then down Perry Barr locks. That's 13 miles further round but 3 less locks to do. Once through the Minworth locks a good overnight stop is the Boat PH, or any where beyond that point. Plenty of opportunities to exercise the dog etc. Edited for fat fingers typo.

If you go to www.canalplan.org.uk then select 'plan a route' from the left menu, then click on 'route editor' scroll to the bottom of the page and select 'cruising ring'. This will give you all the cruising ring options to peruse.

Thanks guys for your prompt answers. You have explained it very well, me and electrics are on different planets so it's good to have advice from people that know what they're talking about. The fact that most available switches were low rated sort of suggested to me that it probably wasn't relative to battery bank size. Thanks again guys.

I have a problem with my leisure battery isolation switch, in that it it is very temperamental, it can take several attempts to make connection. I cannot see anything wrong with it, no debris between contacts etc. However, I am confused about what rating to buy as a replacement. I currently have Three leisure batteries, a total of 330 amps, I may add another 115 amp in the near future. Switches seem to be rated at 100 amp, 110 amp, 180 amp, 250 amp all continuous rating, or. 350 amp intermittent. Help, totally. infused as to what to buy as a replacement.

Welcome to the forum. The shell is shown on Jim Shead's boat list as a 57 foot X 10 foot shell built by Liverpool boats, not 58 foot as advertised. A wide beam will limit your ability to travel around the whole canal network, so something to consider depending on where you wish to base the boat. I'm sure others will be along to add their views but nothing wrong with Liverpool boats. Mine is a 1999 Liverpool shell, not a prestige boat in terms of build quality but middle of the road. I can't comment on the price in terms of value for money as its not a section of the market I have any experience of, however, you get what you pay, The boat pictures look ok except for the engine, mine is 10 years older and with over 2000 hours on it is cleaner and better looking. Hopefully it just says needs a clean and some TLC. Proving ownership or outstanding finance is not easy. Meeting the current owner helps to allay fears or maybe raise suspicions, good luck in your quest.

.[quote name="Machpoint005" post="1687603" timestamp="1446907666) ...but why are matters to to with licensing... Nothing wrong with your grammar or spelling, BUT perhaps a proof read would prevent the error in your post. Just saying ?

The only two I would add are the Salt Barge at Marston, near the Salt Museum near bridge 63 and the Boughton Arms at Rode Heath. Did the ring in July and enjoyed good food and drink in both.

Cheers guys, might have to plan a route to take it in

Which Manor Arms? What's so special about it?

I agree totally that payment should be in advance, as Matty says most boats will know their crew complement in advance so there should be no problem ordering and paying if the organisers can put a payment mechanism in place.

As I am crewing for a friend who crewed for me last year I have emailed Roy Kenn to let him know we would be interested in additional plaques for the challenge this year.

However many crew it is a team effort so I think all crew deserve the option to have a plaque

We did the Cheshire Ring a few years ago, probably 2007/08 and I distinctly remember a trip boat delivering passengers to the footie grounds. They supplied a meal and drink on board as a package. Can't say whether the moorings can be used by anyone else. We plan to do the trip again in July, so will try and remember to have a look and report back.

I had an angled collar made by these people http://www.procastnotts.com/www.procastnotts.coms/info.php?p=22 Very satisfied, 2 years on no more tar and best of all the chimney is vertical.