Derek Porteous

[ Wow I bet that was a bit scary - its amazing how strong the flow is once it hits on broadside. Hopefully they weren't against the access arch otherwise it'd make it difficult for other boats. Yes, it was. however the river was meant to be closed to navigation with the rain the previous week which, I guess was the reason it got into difficulty. No harm done though. I saw the Dutch Barge after it was rescued and moored up. It was BIG (don't know how it managed to get through the relatively small archway). It was also very smart indeed. Derek

quote name='Hairy-Neil' date='Sep 19 2008, 10:05 AM' post='272549'] Each to their own. They would probably think boating was pretty mindless too, or perhaps be the ones on the river with jet ski's...... Perhaps it's as well they are into cars..... Too true..........Eckington Wharf is a very pretty spot. A couple of pics from our last visit

Hi Amduck, Just the one night, but that gives a 100% in terms of noise!! However I have checked my log and find that it was on Saturday night (3rd May this year to be exact), so it might just be a weekend issue. An extract of the log is as follows "Early afternoon and we moored up in a pretty little spot at Eckington Wharf. It is a picnic area beside the 16th C Eckington Bridge. The village of Eckington is half a mile away. We pottered in the afternoon enjoying the sunshine. I tried again and failed again to photograph butterflies. The highlight of the day was when an ice cream van came visiting. Regretfully, mid evening our pretty little spot with its picnic area and little car park, became the meeting spot for all the boy racers in their little cars and their strange outlook on life. They did not show any interest in Free Time but did proceed to spend the next six hours (until 1.30 in the morning), revving their cars, doing skid turn, speeding off for a bit, no doubt doing a circuit of the surrounding villages, only to disappointingly (for us anyway) return some twenty minutes later. I never went through the stage of being obsessed with cars and therefore cannot understand this mindless fascination. Why can’t these kids be tucked up in bed with a good book and a cup of cocoa I ask myself. I think the fact that I have to ask the question probably provides the answer. " I seem to remember there were indeed some steps up to the car park but don't recall them being many, or indeed steep. Derek

"Eckington - decent wharf by Eckington bridge. Bit of a stroll up the road into the village, choice of 2 pubs, one modernised, the other a bit more traditional." A word of warning about the Eckington Bridge mooring. The local boy racers use the adjacent car park as a base to do circuits around the local villages and wheelies around the car park into the wee small hours. During the day it is idyllic, mid evening to 3 o'clock in the morning it is a nightmare. Derek

Back to the point of speeding past moored boats..... During this summer we had to moor in Rugby for several days. The moorings here are shallows shelving stone which makes any banging against the side/bottom very jarring and uncomfortable when you are being passed by another boat. It was whilst my gin and tonic was being spilt by yet another speeding boat, that I began to notice that the majority of speeders were not hire boats, but in fact privately owned. Now it may be the case that there were just more privately owned boats around, but I took the view that at least hirers perhaps did not realise the effect their speed was making, but boat owner should.

Thanks Richard, I will give him a ring and arrange it. regards Derek

My boat is due for its first safety certificate next month. Anyone know where I can get a list of safety examiners close to Ripon. I have done a web search and the nearest I can find is Lincoln, hardly local. many thanks

[ All that after I had only just recovered from the bloody stupid so called booking system at Watford, don't ever turn up there below the locks and imagine you are in a lock queue whilst those in the know behind you nip past and book in, commenting I should of seen the notice that was actually out of sight....anyone know where I can get bionic eyes? Couln't agree more. Did exactly the same a fews weeks ago. Luckily by the time I found this out (an hour later) I was still in the group of six boats as originally scheduled, but bumped down two places. Bizarre! I knew the rules by the time I got to Foxton, but disappointly there were only two of us descending, so never did get to book in.

Hi Stickleback, You can go down as far as the basin, but you cannot turn a 58 footer there. To turn you need to lock down onto the Thames and then back up again. This is no big deal as you don't go onto the Thames proper. Lots of narrowboats do just that (and the lock will be set for you re-entering!!!!!!). Derek

We did the Chesterfield last year in June. It was slow going due to weed in one section only, but nothing to worry about. We had no problem mooring in West Stockwith basin, both going up and coming down, nor did we think the locks were partictulary onerous. I really liked the Chesterfield, very pretty, quiet and lots of places to stop. Would recommend it. Derek

Hi Bottle, Yep, but as Wifi only has a very limited range, a canal specific database would be great. It would save you wading through hundreds of listings, and indeed influence where to moor up for the night. I have BT Broadand at home, so for only an additional £5 a month you get BT Openzone thrown in. When I go for my summer cruising I am forever looking for WiFi hotspots (both free ant BT Openzone) to catch up on emails, send of photos, all the kind of stuff we take for granted at home. Perhaps it could be set up as a section within Canal World which could be read by anyone, but only added to by signing in as a member? Derek

I remember a couple of years back a chap (can't remember his name) put a simple database up on the web which could be added to by anyone. You did a search by waterways name, and up popped all the Wifi hotspots accessable on that waterway. As new WiFi hotspots were found, the finder would simply add to the database. Unfortunately some spammers found it and ruined (or perhaps not) the whole thing by adding links to porn sites to the database. The originator did not have the time nor inclination to moderate the web site, so I guess he simply withdrew it. I still think it is a good idea for anyone with the knowledge and time to do another one. Perhaps the moderators on Canal World might like to think about it. Derek

Hi Tim, I think I went through almost the same thought process as you are now doing. I used to sail on, first the Irish Sea and then (as I got softer) up on the Firth of Clyde. After a couple of years of pondering, I sold the yacht and bought a narrowboat. I have never regretted it. Canal cruising is so much more comfortable. You don't heel over (well not intentionally anyway), you don't have to worry about tide tables (unless you do a little tidal river connecting) and you generally can tie up for lunch. elevenes, tea breaks, wine breaks or if its raining. I guess you should hire a narrowboat or plastic crusier for a week, and see if it suits. Then, if it does, you need to think of where you want to be based. Other members of the forum are better qualified to make suggestions for a Solent sailor than me, who'se boat is based in Ripon, about as far away from the Solent as you can get on the inland system. Derek

It may be a bit far away, but after Linton Lock there are relatively new moorings on the river halfway from Linton Lock to Boroughbridge (sorry, don't know the name of the company. Moorings are rural, looks like there is lots of space, but it is on the river which does flood a lot). There is also a small marina at Boroughbridge and a larger one at Ripon Racecourse Marina. Derek

I hired a boat from Middlewich a few years back. We did the Four Counties anti-clockwise comfortably in a week. There was only my wife and myself. We did, on a couple of days, start very early and got ahead of our rough timetable. This meant that there was no great sense of time pressure for the rest of the holiday. In August/early September early starts are magical. Quiet waterways, daylight and reasonably warm, and at peace with the world. The early starts were planned to co-incide with a long lock free stretches of canal. I set off, and bacon butties would appear a couple of hours later. The crew have the choice of sharing the magical experience, or staying in bed. Personnally I perfer to be on my own helming when dawn breaks, but I am a selfish git. Derek

Hi Graylyn, I have tried to clean the covers, but as I said, I don't think they were the best of quality to begin with and will just not clean up. PaulG, Many thanks for the Ebay link. I did do a search a few days ago and turned up nothing. However, being ever lazy, a couple of clicks onto your link and hopefully the brass louvre covers are in the post as this very moment. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. Derek

Thanks guys, Obviously I am a tight wad (I am Scots), so will have a look around the DIY shops to either buy them there or pick up some gold paint. Plan B will be Midland Chandlers, but afraid I don't have a Plan C as I have no idea who TP? are (sorry, Tomsk) Thanks again, Derek

Hi there, My front door ventilation covers have become a bit tarnished (I don't think they were all that great quality when new). I don't have a chandlers nearby, so any recommendations of a mail order/web based company who could supply these? Thanks Derek

I quite like to see "trophy boats". Nicely polished boats add to the colour of the waterways. I am not sure there is any correlation between "nicely polished boats" and "hardly ever used" but if there is, so what? I also don't see much difference in the boat handling of the "nicely polished boats" and the less well polished boats. If you have boat, what is wrong with getting a duster out from time to time? Equally, if you don't want to polish, that is OK as well. Derek

As a follow up to this, I did contact Garex by email. I asked for an external magnetic mounted DAB aerial (I didn't want to start drilling holes anywhere). I got a quote of £20 plus postage and received the aerial the next day. Plugged it in over the weekend and now have perfect reception. Good service by Garex who made up exactly the aerial I wanted inclusive of the cabling and correct fittings. Derek

I have an identical boat to your's, 55ft cruiser stern Liverpool Boat (also very pleased with it; no quality/commissioning issues). There certainly can be a draft at the front from the door vents, but I wouldn't dare do anything about it except turn up the heating a little. However I cannot say the aft cabin is particulary draughty, although it is a deal colder being the further point from the stove. Could your hatch be a poor fit? We also have central heating but to be frank hardly ever use it. One thing we did buy very early on was an eco-fan. It made a BIG difference to the circulation of warm air from the stove. Whilst not saying you will be as warm as toast, it certainly is an improvement from very hot at the front and freezing at the back. Have you tried one yet? Regards Derek

Would agree with the two comments about UCC at Braunston. Excellent service, nice people and reasonable. They let you stay on the boat is you want, but it is a bit Stygian like in the dry dock. I guess you could get a power supply, but would not be able to use any of the sinks. We booked ourselves into The Millhouse, about half a mile away on the canal, for a couple of nights. Big mistake. The downstairs pub is fine, but the rooms leave a lot to be desired. Next time we will try to get in a self catering or B+B in the village.

Whilst in no way condoning LB's lack of response, I can comment on my experience of them when they built my 55ft fully fitted nb 3 years back. They were always helpful, if a little disorganised. I got the impression that chaos reigned, but nevertheless was very pleased with the final product. It was good value for money with few items on the snagging list. They sent out an electrian to sort out an additional battery charger who met me en route to my mooring in Ripon. No fuss, even if I did provide the bacon butties. Any follow up technical questions have been answered promptly and helpfully. I do hope you get your problems sorted out. Perhaps LB are reading this forum and taking note of the adverse comments? Derek