RichardH

and because they often have a 'lock free licence' Lower Park Marina have one and you can go between the top of Barrowford and Greenberfield Failing that, try Nick at Pennine Boat Trips or Zoe at Pennine Cruisers in Skipton.

Passing places ? It is not that much different to other narrow canals apart from as cariad says traffic levels are low so you won't have a problem.

The "privateers" are very damaging to the industry. They don't pay VAT, don't lease yards, don't have staff, probably aren't in trade bodies etc etc. This of course makes the weekly rental cheaper leading to cries of 'why can't the big boys match it'. Your experience probably sums them up - they think it is an easy way to subsidise a boat but come quickly unstuck when the situation wobbles.

We did it! The level of negativity towards the potential is quite surprising - the forum is quite quick to criticise the hire industry but if we didn't have one then how would people begin their addiction to the waterways? Mike, I wrote a paper for BW several years ago on exactly the question you have posed - pm me with an email and I will send you it. There is absolutely no doubt that the industry is picking up after some particularly tough years - a mix of the economy and Tim & Prunella

I have a feeling that the CRT resource has been cut to hit and miss attendance other than the 3 rises as stated above. My advice would be to hang around on the moorings above Office Lock for a willing partner to make the journey easier.

Just the job - thanks Alan. Yes, need self adhesive due to the position I want to put them in.

Hi All Does anyone know where to obtain self adhesive CRT plates? I have misplaced the metal ones and during repaint the signwritten ones disappeared! Cheers Richard

I found it very odd that this didn't make the waterways press - I suspect because the Shakespeares owed them a fortune along with many others.

If you do it correctly then it should cover its costs and make a little. Goood luck.

We still have a few 2ft fitted singles and 4ft fitted doubles left (brand new) if interested - PM me.

It has varied each year in the 10 years we have been on the summit of the L&L. For the past 2 years freezing has been minimal. For 2 years consecutive to that we were frozen for almost 2 months.

Feels just a little underpriced for me - for the engine etc but as we learnt, Tugs are a bit like marmite.

People can be very plausible - we trusted a nice chap from a reputable company called 'Nottingham Boat Sales' to sell our boat. The phone went dead, the boat has vanished and now the police are involved in what appears to be a detailed fraud investigation. I think the moral of the story is 'Don't do it'

Good luck with life afloat.

I can second the recommendation for Silsden. Their boats are comfortable, well maintained and location wise is great. I would be tempted to head to Barrowford, turn round, back to Leeds and then return. Achievable in 2 weeks and a lovely mix. You could even venture out on to the River Aire if you had time.

Here's a question - are you glad you owned or do you wish you had carried on hiring? We gave up hiring boats out to do more boating and erm.....managed 7 nights aboard in 12 months - so that didn't quite work.

Reckon you are correct. It puzzled me to as to the best of my knowledge, the only ex-Black Prince on the L&L licensed for hire belongs to us. The other continuity error I spotted was a shot of Bank Newton Locks when he was talking about Barrowford but hey call me Mr Nit Picky. Nice to see locals on Derry Mist with its lovely engine making an appearance. On the whole though, I found it dull and uninspiring - unlike the Tim and Prunella which had a hugely positive impact on the holiday industry.

If you like beer and don't mind a hill you absolutely must check out the Sair Inn at Linthwaite. It is an own brew pub which is fab.

Absolutely certain we have had the debate before. My mate has achieved the Ribble on his 64 footer but found the Rufford Branch locks very tight. IMHO therefore you would not achieve in a 68.

Shameless plug but.....our lovely tug style narrowboat Isabel, is moving to a new hire company (Saltway) operating from Droitwich Marina and she is absolutely awesome on the river with her whopping Crowther prop.

I think you are correct. The hardest guests we had to deal with in the hire fleet were those who announced they were experienced. We still spent time with them and the variation of 'experienced' was quite interesting.

We created a lovely variant mixing red oxide with post office red

Correct. However some of these long term people don't licence the boat for hire - they are on a private licence and hirers buy a very small share in the vessel.