canaldrifter

Please quote your source for this. Tone

.... and it stinks. Tone

True. I forgot about the CWF pedants' code Tone Yes, I thought so too, but even that was a fair bit bigger than a narrowboat. That video has featured here before, and I seem to remember that there was some sort of deadline they had to meet, that caused them, very foolishly, to venture out in what became a force 8! Tone

What? The Pontkach(as if clearing throat)oostay? Tone

I should think it leaves most of the coastal tidal waters and many of the rivers, creeks and inlets. I think we're slightly at cross-purposes. Somebody said that we would need an EA registration to boat on the tidal Great Ouse or Nene. That surprises me. Any other tidal rivers where registration or licensing would be necessary if there was no intention of using port or harbour facilities? I'm pretty sure the tidal Bristol Avon and the tidal Severn are free, as well as the Humber confluences. Tone

One advantage of a flat bottomed boat is that it doesn't matter when the tide goes out. I'd forgotten about that second lock above the sea lock. It's a while since I've walked the Chichester, and the canal doesn't reach Chichester from the harbour for boats any more than the Chesterfield canal reaches Chesterfield from the Trent. The difference is, one day the Chesterfield will. Tone

Our EA man is not allowed to touch the bottom gates at Sutton for effin elfin safety reasons. He told me about one visiting boater who came up here solo, and only had one arm. He felt bad about telling the bloke that he couldn't help him. The guy managed the lock ladder, paddle gear and the gates without much problem, though how, I've no idea. Tone

15mm pipework in my Alde CH system works fine driving three rads on a flow and return system. I have seen many single pipe systems installed in boats. Obviously these will be less efficient and present more resistance to flow. Tone

So outside of EA, harbour or port controlled waters tidal waterways are free. Tone

So wuz I... Time flies. Tone

How would you get there. By road? That's how their boats arrived. Tone

Then I stand corrected and would respectfully ask for more details. Certainly, the vast tidal sections of the Yorkshire Ouse, Humber, and the Trent are free to leisure boaters, unless you need to moor in Goole or Hull Ports. Are you talking about mooring fees or a boat licence? Tone

I attended a seminar at Hepworths when Hep2O was still fairly new. The instructor was horrified when one plumber declared that he never used the inserts, and the system still worked fine without leaks! If the system is used correctly, in whatever form, then I agree it should not give problems. The only time I had a burst on the boat was indeed due to a pipe freezing, and the resultant joint replacement was a lot easier and quicker than replacing burst copper pipework. Usually the flexibility of Hep2O will cope with freezing conditions. Can't say the same for it's cheaper rivals though. Tone

You might have more fun working it out for yourself using: http://www2.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/canal.cgi?m=js; Tone

I'm at that phase now. To qualify you would need to be in that council's spot for a minimum of six months, and if you want to be housed, you would need to be housed. I know this sounds stupid, but it is the way the system now works. You need to be at an address to get an address. Even then the address you are at would have to be unsuitable for good reason. Eviction is a good reason. If you apply from a movable boat that has been in the area for more than six months, you could be housed fairly immediately, as local councils do not accept movable boats as legitimate 'homes'. You would be declared 'Homeless. Living rough'. However, their obligation is only to give you 'shelter' and that is where you would end up; in an hostel or homeless shelter for six months, so that you can get a local address, and then qualify for a local address! I wouldn't recommend this route to anyone, unless you would be happy sharing accommodation with alcoholics, street drinkers, drug takers and those needing care in the community because they were booted out of mental hospitals so that Maggie Thatcher could asset strip the land they were built on. Tone

That is the whole point. He ignored local weather advice and misjudged the width of the waterway. Luckily the swamped boat actually sank alongside, so it could be lifted out by crane, but he lost a lot of video material. I don't see why a narrowboat could not go coastal, if all precautions are taken, the cruise is carefully planned and not too ambitious, the boat is not alone, and weather and tides are taken into account. A properly organised and escorted trip from the Thames down to Chichester would be interesting. There are many places where narrowboats could shelter, and other places to explore such as the River Sandwich and the creeks of the south coast. But the Chichester canal does not go to Chichester. There is only a short stretch that might be navigable up to Cutfield Road Bridge. I'm not even sure that Salterns tidal lock is operable now. It might be better to navigate up to Dell Quay. The only navigable part of the Chichester is from Canal Basin to Crosbie Bridge at Donnington and that is isolated. Obviously the best way to go coastal is in a coastal boat, but there is a certain appeal in taking a narrowboat where others fear to go. Tone

Probably because they are understaffed, and the existing office staff are overworked. I guess it won't be long before they are asking for admin volunteers, if they aren't already. That'll be a great opportunity for some of the pedantic judgementalists on here to leap in and enforce the rules rigidly against their fellow boaters. Tone

50+mph gusts here in North Yorks today. The dog is keeping her head down. Yesterday, whilst visiting in York, a garden swing seat with fabric sun-shade took off and chased her across the lawn, closely followed by some plastic garden furniture. This lock island is very exposed. When the wind blows hard here, it sounds as if a baby is nailed up in the walls somewhere. No wonder the local kids used to think this lock cottage was haunted. Tone

It's not her. Tone

If the population want the waterways as their national heritage, then yes, I agree. The cost of maintaining them, less the boaters' reasonable share, should proportionately come from everyone's taxes as it did about ten years ago. But we're a long way down the list behind caring for the sick, the elderly, education, housing, roads... oh... and lining the pockets of our leaders. Could the economy stand an increase in taxation that would cover all of these? Or is our government misspending our money? Tone

Tidal waters are free. The Yorks Derwent is unique in that there is no licence fee. You just pay for a certificate that you won't pollute the water (£12pa). The snag is, there are almost no moorings available. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is a licence fee on the Middle Level Drains either. Tone