davey b

Hi there, We're changing the name of ours when it is out of the water next month for blacking. I'm not suspicious in the slightest but Mrs B is, so we'll do it her way! Our thinking it is our boat so we want our chosen name on it; it's not old or historic, it's got a name that meant something to its previous owner that means nothing to us (but was at least unique), we are repainting it anyway (the paint is just at the point of failing, so it's a necessity) - so why not? You have to live with the name and you may as well be happy with it! I'll let you know of any repercussions... hopefully not from the bottom of a lock!

Any developments? At all?

I'm not sure we are that over-run by marina space in this area of the network, especially not modern well serviced spaces. Apsley is almost full (of both res and leisure), Cowroast is not ideal and now has no res, the boat club at Pitstone Wharf appears full, serviced linear mooring are few and far between. Its not like the Trent/Soar or Ches/Staffs areas where there appears to be lots of spare capacity. The plans do look grand (too grand?) but as long as it doesn't turn into a Barby, it should be good.

Meggers, That was really the point I started chasing... Pete, I haven't been around boats anywhere near that long but I agree, the term tunnel bands does not appear in many older publications. It's nice to see that this has nearly got back on track

Someone had to... Glad it was you Biz

I was wondering how and why the 'keyhole' pattern on the rear doors of the back cabin came about, and it also occurred, why is the counter banded in red and white (ish)? Is it some kind of 'tail light' or sighting aid? Is there a set pattern to the doors because some look quite good and some look awful! When would this have started? This is all prior to painting the boat this summer (probably not going anywhere... with water as it is) Ta Dave

They put MTUs into the Astute boats. The MTU units are doing fine service in a number of fast boat or generation applications but also in locomotives, similar to the Deltic. That animation is splendid, isn't Richard. A true example of a picture painting 1000 words.

Commiserations to Alan and to Dave. Clearly there is life outside Canalworld! I'm not sure I like this PR/STV/voting gibberish... Didn't we decide in unanimous apathy that wasn't the way to do elections in the UK last summer. Anyway, the names are there... Start writing to them!

This popped up on my work browser today, supply of s/h engines Light weight but bulky...

Its been re-floated and had some squirty foam and polythene sheeting put in to plug the holes. There is a lot of work to be done there! Has anyone got any ice left to break? Relatively warm again with warm forecast ahead.

There is the inside diameter of the collar to consider, some of the collars will have different wall 'thicknesses' - and then there is the single/double skin question.

The Rega Planar 2 (& the later 3) was a good turntable, but the Linn Sondek was better... never could see the point of spending the price of the Naka on a cassette deck. Back on topic, is the price and problem going to make that much difference to the price of the boat when you sell it? If the pump out will make a difference but you cant fit it, just make sure the current unit (or the cheap replacement) is clean!

I remember this was a sponsored event as a Cub Scout... Kids love rubbish as there is always something funny they find (or embarrassing to the parent/leader/teacher - dog poo is always a favourite, it appear magnetic to kids shoes, but the stash of porn mags or discarded underwear will take some explaining!) The H&S considerations are there, but easily managed with forethought and parental inclusion. The risk assessment for litter picking on the tow path will be very water-centric first with the rubbish easily covered with tools, equipment, ppe and supervision. The former post is how the latter can be changed. Without turning this into an 'education standards of yesteryear...' dialogue, the effect children have on their parents is noticeable in most quarters. There will always be the ill-educated thugs that cannot be changed, but the child effect on attitude is mostly positive. I don't have any children, but the change noticed in friends is remarkable. If this can be channelled positively then the society and environment can only benefit. More bins would help. I know the problems but people can only be encouraged.

One day will do (preferably the first) and get there early to scoot round and get all your appointments made for boat styles/builders that you fancy (research required) as they fill up quickly and you'll spend the rest of day waiting to view those without appointments. I'm looking forward to going for the parts, equipment, demonstrations and lectures this year, with the marina just being sight-seeing.

Winkwell, if I'm not mistaken...

Found on 'duck, bought through broker (Rugby), not sold one yet though. Can you afford the time to go through the sales process? Add up the mooring, the days off to show, the possibility of 'trade plates' and the 6% or there abouts is probably well worth it. It may depend on how much you need to get out of the price you are asking.

Go for a frame with wooden slats not steel springs, though if it is truly damp they will still mark the matress

We're in! Our first year with a boat, too, and nowhere to go! Halves on trailer?.. I've got the licence and I know a crane driver. Maybe a deal with Winkwell and Willowbridge...

I think the mooring issue can be a bit of a red herring. It's fine if the mooring is where you want it, it's fine if the price is in your pocket range (afterall it will be a new contract) it's fine if it all goes well... What if your landlord doesn't like the buyer? what if they put the fees up? Where and when do you move if it falls through? Yes, Went through all of these... All the advice is get a mooring before you get a boat. Have you actually tried that? It seems people don't want to rent out empty spaces for some reason...

The Waterways World 'How to...' books and the Canal Boat Buyers' Guide both give traditional cabin dimensions and examples. From memory the cabin is 7'6" from door to wall or engine room with the bed'ole being 3'6" wide and the height of the that cupboard being governed by the width of the walkway - the larder above being the height to match. The cutlery drawer should sit on the swim, the rest of the cupboards (above the table, under the bed, etc) fit to match. You can vary to match your space (a 3'6" wide double is 'friendly' for example) but be careful with the relationships to avoid odd, stretched appearances. Hope this is useful...

There is a lot of boats over-priced and poorly advertised on there! We found your advert for our boat on A'Duck. All the pictures were there with a full description and most of the brokers do a similar job and have seen the advantage of using the duck as a 'full browse'. This is far from the case in all ads... Some of the the private ads on there range from as good if not better than a brokerage link. Others are just taking up unnecessary kbs - they don't even make megs let alone gigs! Some don't even have a single picture - it is as if they don't want to sell the boat at all. Boat owners do not appear as savvy as house owners when it comes to preparing the property for sale. My wife laughed out loud when she read the advice 'Tidy up before people come to view your boat' but have a quick look at some of the pics on the various websites where private sales prevail. There are 910 narrowboats on 'duck as I type, (excluding barges and specials etc but including widebeams). The first 53 are POA which is annoying to say the least! I need to know if I have a hope of affording it. The next 123 are under £20000 - that's about 15% of the market. The most expensive is a 12 year old 45 foot Springer at £350000 - I'm assuming that is a mis-type! So the most expensive narrowboat is £129000. Most expensive private sale boat is a 2011 57' cruiser stern with a fitout in white and the advert is excellent (I'm not convinced it is a private sale in all honesty... more likely a trader with no 'lineage') There is some chancer trying to sell and RW Davis Northwich trader for £100000... The comment be good and be cheap - less expensive is sound advice. The bread & butter as you put it is where there is probably 70/30 broker/private (at a quick glance) and is also where there is the majority of overpricing in the private market - by about 20% at a rough guess. My point is that the higher end of the market is brokerage served and that there is a lot of space for people to advertise 'from home' simply by taking the pattern of the better, brokerage style adverts. Some of the boats on there are overpriced to the point their scrap value would be higher! As for new boats, you'll soon struggle to find anyone making them or financing them. And they are all at the top end of the price bracket in this day & age. However, the canals have only so much space...

Dominic, As a recent customer of yours, I'll throw my comments in... Realistic pricing is essential. As you may remember, CofC was the find of a find for us, but we had looked without commitment at a few boats over the preceding years and some were still for sale at too high a price when we decided on ours. Either the seller is unrealistic or was badly advised. Either way there are boats on Apolloduck that have been there too long. Finance situation is a problem. RSL are the only people offering live-aboard finance. There are other houses available ( I had an offer from a French bank but their fees and exchange rate put them too far out) but they are really in the market for gin palaces and liners (or container ships). RSL are good to deal with but ask quite a high interest rate. Surveyors need to be chosen carefully. Dom, you may remember the saga of our survey, but a survey is essential and they are expensive, sometimes over-rated and can will be area dependant too. Stock levels. There appear to be thousands of boat available which makes it a buyers' market and makes life difficult for seller and broker alike. Meanwhile boats are still being built. There is a disparity here for which I don't have an answer but clearly it cannot go on for the market to remain as it is. BW fees and mooring policy. It sucks! There is no real sense in the way they sell off the on line moorings and the position of marinas is 'regional'. £700-900 to licence, £1500-6000 to moor, £100-250 to insure, BSS every 4 years... That's before paying for the boat! A relatively secure space with power and water £3700 leisure and £5600 residential is a lot but understandable, £2500 for an online towpath mooring with no power or water is robbery! C&RT. There is uncertainty over the future, nuff said. Hope these are of use, but with out knowing where you want to go to with it (and without revealing your first article!) I don't know if I'm in the right area. Incidentally, is there link to 'Kenneth'? I know 'Dover' and have found 'Whitefield' (DEFINITELY not my cup of tea) but no reference to Kenneth... Cheers Dave

Good youtube clip, almost seems a bargain at that price.

Could you not paint the area in grip paint then paint over it with undercoat and colour?