Scholar Gypsy

NB the difference between kW and kWh - I would suspect your freezer uses 1.5 kWh of energy each day, which is 1500/24 = 60W of power. It's similar to the difference between Amps and Amp-hours - the former is a flow (charge used per unit of time) and the latter is a stock (total charge stored).

Yes, thanks - I should have said I have read those (and others). There's a bit of a collection in section 8 of my Wash page: https://nbsg.wordpress.com/washing/

In a decently wide river, I would say deploy from the bow, and put the tiller hard over (when the engine first fails) to start you to turn around. PLA advice is here. Their general view is that people in trouble wait too long before deploying their anchor.

Thanks very much - I know I am getting a bit obsessive here. I am using Imrays Y9, which only goes to Sutton Bridge, and keeping an eye on the Port's sketch map which is about to be updated (they have moved the buoys, see here). That map also says "see overleaf" for detail of Wisbech, but there is no overleaf in the online version.... I will transfer a bit more detail from both those to the photo grabs. I will also check the OS maps (which are on the boat, of course..) Daryl the pilot has already said that when he says "turn now" on the approach to Wisbech, he means "now". I think he had an experience with a boat recently who weren't allowing for the incoming tide. The photos suggest the Wisbech winding hole will take a 260 foot narrowboat, and the width of the river just north of the pontoon is about 95 feet. I completely missed the meridian on the way into Boston - I was trying to spot the sewage works on the right bank, well that is my excuse. To answer PeterX's question, the ceremony is only performed on tidal waters to the north of Watford, which means I think only the Witham, Nene, and Welland. [There is a sign on the Middle Level, courtesy of March Rotary Club.] There's a similar kink/eye on the Old Bedford between Welches Dam and Earith (though the naming of the watercourses is rather confusing as the Old Bedford at Earith does not actually connect any more to the Old Bedford at Denver!). All theories welcome.

I hope to do the tidal Nene later this year, returning from Boston to Dog-in-a-Doublet. This river seems (like the tidal Ouse) to be literally uncharted waters. so I have stuck together some Google earth photos and other comments. I would be grateful for any comments in particular: any missing landmarks that I could add - I have already included the two winding holes, but there's not a lot else to add? any thoughts on a suitable ceremony to perform when crossing the Meridian - I have read about how one should give homage to Neptune when crossing the Equator, should we do the same? 5 MB PDF file here. Constituent files available here. Many thanks! Simon

Further to earlier postings, here is a bit of info about Archbishop Justin's recent meeting with some Waterway Chaplains on the GU in Watford.

Something similar happened to a full length vintage NB who tied their bow to the stern of the next boat along in the (rather large) ship lock at West India Dock. Before the gates were shut, the swell was sufficient to make both boats pitch up and down quite a bit, even though stationary in the lock. The t-stud went ping quite quickly!

The report of the 2010 refurbishment (here - I had not realised the feeder had fallen into disrepair) suggests that flooding has been a bit of a problem.

Some further tips: put a large flattish plastic container under the engine to catch the drips when you take the filter off. A Quality Street container works well, though you do have to eat all the chocolates first. Opinion seems divided as to whether one should use engine flush when changing the oil - I do, and add it before running the engine for 15 mins to warm up the oil. one of the valves is sticking inside my pump. I have found sticking a hose on the end and blowing hard seems to do the trick. Once it starts pumping all is well... smear some oil on the seal on the filter before you spin it on.

The feeder from the Welsh Harp to the Paddington Arm (next to the Fire Station). I think this must be somewhere near Wood Road on the Stonebridge Estate. These blocks of flats look about right - feeder can be seen just behind the rubbish bin.. It's quite surprising how much one can see from Google Earth. Some photos of recent dredging here.

Here's the EA notice, not yet cancelled but Paul S's twitter feed is usually pretty up to date ..

Oceanographers have learnt a lot about surface currents from a container that fell overboard in January 1992. It contained 29,000 yellow plastic ducks. See here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/water_and_ice/ocean#p00gbgkn

I agree - I thought it communicated well the messages about boating etiquette, looking for oncoming boats before turning a lock, 4mph being a maximum not a target etc.

A quick google of Which came up with some chest freezers (rated A+ energy consumption) that consume about 300 kWh a year, 1kWh a day, so if the number you have is correct then that's 1.9kWh each day. That gives you an average power consumption of about 0.1 kW - same as a 100W light bulb. That will take an average current of 10 amps out of your batteries. 4 hours = 40 AH which again sounds about right (depending on how many batteries you have in your leisure bank). Another approach is to use the generator to charge the batteries - say running it for one hour in four? That will surely be cheaper than running the generator all the time? These are average loads - as you say the compressor does not run all the time. And they usually draw a larger current when starting up.

Hm - looks rather calmer than when I crossed the Wash recently!

Just a plug for the video versions of the Boaters Handbook, which I think are quite nicely put together (and do point out that if you turn the wrong way at Gayton Junc you need to do another 34 locks as part of turning round!) ... ETA I think I must be referring to an old BW product, here is the new C&RT video which I will watch this evening ... https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/navigating-the-waterways/boaters-handbook

Only if you use reverse gear ?? (But I agree with you - not worth the risk)...

I do support this. I am Treasurer for a small charity and I used to put our Standing Order forms on the website. This led to a couple of quite small Direct Debit frauds - for things like a Sky TV subscription, so I now give the info on request (or encourage people to pay via paypal). It is possible to set up a "merchant" bank account (eg nochex) that only receives money, and sweeps the net credit elsewhere (ie to the main bank account) at the end of the day, but that is a bit fiddly and will cost. The other big advantage of paypal (well worth the fees in my view as a hard-pressed Treasurer!) is that it gives you (once you crack how to download stuff) the info you need for the accounts as you go along - ie who is paying for what when.

The key risk, I think, is getting the rope or chain tangled around someone's foot. My approach is: i) put the chain in a bucket, filling it up from the boat end ii) work out where you want the line to be stored, lay it out on the relevant deck or hatch, and leave a metre or two between the coil and the fixing point(s), iii) hold the rope in position - to stop it tangling - with say four lengths of light whipping twine. Then when you chuck the anchor overboard (in an emergency there is no safe way IMHO of paying the chain out under control), the chain follows first, then the coiled rope and then the twine then snaps. I have a trad stern and have not found a safe way of storing or deploying the anchor from the stern - so it still lives at the bow. I have thought about running the rope down the side deck to a stern fixing.

Thanks - glad to see I was not making it up!

The OP may find this link helpful: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/8181-tidal-lock-times-2015.pdf It shows HW London Bridge (corrected as necessary for BST), and opening times at Brentford, which are indeed from 2 hours before HW Brentford (1 hour later than London Bridge) to 2 hours after HW Brentford. The lock is normally open either side of HW, between 0800-1800, but out of hours pre-bookings can be made between 0500-0800 and 1800-2200 as shown.

Done.

Thanks! I was trying to find a video of a boat doing this under sail - I am sure I have read (Swallows and Amazons?) of boats approaching at speed under sail, and dropping the mast just in time to get under the bridge, and then putting the mast back up and sailing on serenely. Or not.

Another approach:

I think there is a difference here between, on the part of the "follower": i) telling other boats what you are doing, so everyone knows name and destination of other boats. Obviously boats should/must/will help each other out if one gets into difficulties, and they can assist without putting their own vessel at undue risk. ii) expecting another boat to form a convoy with you, with no prior discussion - ie expecting the group to go at the same speed and keep close together - not as easy as it sounds - with all following the instructions and guidance of the pilot. I think the former is fine, the latter is less so.