Barry L Burnell

Thanks for all your replies, I have worked it out now. I hadnt adjusted the cable properly at the gear box end which was causing me the issue.

Ive only been boating in total 7 years and in this time I have owned 2 narrowboats. The first was an all steel 1970's 40 odd foot Springer-which at 9k was barely worth surveying. I did have it out of the water and borrowed a metal thickness gauge for the metal. The boat required a fair bit of attention but in my ownership did not require replating-I had this 3 years. It was a risk and I dont think I would do the same with a Springer of that age. My current boat is a 1995 45ft Liverpool Boat, again for the very good price I paid I didnt bother having a survey. I again had it craned out and a surveyor who I met last year when I was looking at buying a boat via a mortgage lender was surveying another boat. I kindly asked if would check a few places, he checked 6 places and reported there was minimal loss and no electrical pitting. All the metal looked good to me but this was good to hear all the same. Just remember if you are not having a survey you may need to budget for maintenance or plating. It also helps to be handy yourself.

Well I have just come back to boating-2 weeks to be precise-I shall write my story another time but I have been unlucky in some minor aspects. I thought these techical difficulties were behind me-however... My teleflex ss700 control unit was exteremly stiff and had cracked. It had been stood for a couple of years and instead of greasing it up and messing about I opted for a new unit to save me some dramas as my boat was due to come out a week later a few miles up the canal. The item arrived and I cant for the life of me see how it works...I have installed the same model etc to save cutting the panelling etc and with the intention of straight swapping-this has proved challenging. I have had no problems with the throttle cable, this operates with a push of the red nipple and thrust forwards and backwards, I have connected the gear cable up but nothing! Manually selecting the gears is fine so I know the box is ok. I disconnected the cable and with abit of effort it pushes and pulls to that isnt snapped. The linkage doesnt move on the new lever as far as I can see so have no clue how this even works as it is a sealed unit. It feels like im bolting on a cable to something that does nothing! Can somebody help me, I hope there is something simple I am missing.

As the rest of you have commented, sad news but at least no lives were lost. Ive seen some serious fire damaged narrowboats for sale-are they only good for scrap? Im no expert but assumed the strength of the hull would be compromised after such heat?

From previous experience, I know that 2 stolen boats from Harefield Marina hadnt travelled far within 10 days, and one was found at Rickmansworth repainted, the same happened to another but this time was found in Hayes. Id say its worth ringing some marinas to keep an eye out

Its a shame that some forces know little about the geographics of canals. I work in the South Bucks region and cover the Slough arm and a small section of the Grand Union south, Its not something I had been made aware of on this occasion unfortunately, but I will keep an eye out as it could have reached this point by now. Rest assured I would be out on bicycle looking everywhere if it had happened on my area.

Looks pretty original to me, the picture above of Mary Poppins 2 is a boat I knew a few years back. It was moored near my narrowboat about 6 years ago in Harefield Marina. I believe from memory it had some form of single cylinder petrol engine. Nice little boat

He certainly looks a character, not sure I'd put up with that engine for long but an unusual find

I lived on a 42ft narrowboat which consisted of: 6ft front deck, 4ft rear deck and 30ft internal space. Ideal size for what I needed, with the occasional female guest -Thank god the mrs isnt on here!

I am more of a traditionalist, however I can see the reason you may want the luxuries-if you can afford it-or if you can afford to replace it if it goes wrong then I say go for it! I will probably have to consider some luxuries for when me and the mrs go back to a narrowboat. Anyway, I would suggest a 57ft so you can go everywhere.

I would agree, find out what the minimum requirements are for the lender. Mine was approved for the age etc etc, but in the end the goal posts moved. Just be careful. I would also point out that the lender that has already been mentioned RSL-They will only lend for a known builder-and a good one! I know for example they arent keen on Liverpool Boats-Ive heard good and bad stories, and my family have been on the poorer side of them.

The one thing I would say about boat lenders is this-make sure before you pay for a surveyor they are happy to lend the cash. What I mean by this is-I found a beautiful boat in the summer last year-I had 20% deposit sat waiting, everything had gone through, and the boat I was looking to buy was a 57ft 1971 narrowboat. Completely refitted from a shell in 2009, and with a beautiful paint job, the boat was a real masterpiece inside and out-the owner was a superb craftsman. I paid for a survey, and that came back with the boat at its worst point down to 4.5mm and the best was over 6mm. The rest of the boat was sound also and deemed to be in very good health. The lender came back and basically wouldnt lend because the boat would be "the oldest on their books" and wouldnt lend the rest. I then lost my deposit with the boat owners, and surveyor and crane fees. Id estimate just under £2,000. To clarify-I found only one lender specialising in boat finance, and Barclays had put marine finance on hold due to the financial climate. Id consider applying for a loan if you dont need more than £20,000.

Sounds like a great opportunity, and with the apparent worst of the weather gone you will only have the forth coming drier season ahead-well so they say!

Having sold my boat a few years ago, and stayed through a couple of harsh snowy winters, I can safely say I miss it all. I cant wait to get back on a boat and this time I wont be selling! The walk to the car may be a bit longer than if you live in a house, and the coal gets expensive in the deepest winter, but its all worth it in my opinion, and it just makes the summer even better. I guess some people it works nicely for if they are the outdoors type, whereas others prefer more creature comforts. Its the old working boaters that faced the real challenges

Apologies, I see where you mean now. This is the most recently known "Denham Quarry" Very interesting indeed. Does anybody know anything about the boats at the bottom of Harefield marina/Harefield flash and if any were saved?