Rebotco

That is one mega piece of engineering! Mind you, I bet they could have repaired a thousand locks for the same cost. Thanks for the photos, now I can see how it works. Cheers Brian

Yeah, well I've done that too! But if you step off the back holding the centre line, it does sound easier to hold the boat for a short while with the bow already out and ready to go. I'd have to train my crew (of 1) to speed up a bit though! Brian.

True - but old habits die hard (especially bad ones) Brian

I like that. The technical approach!! Can hardly wait for mine to go Kaput. Brian

Hi Mike I think you might find that list is a bit too broad for this type of forum. You might be better to just ask one question at a time when you will undoubtedly get a lot of detailed advice and expertise on each subject. I too am fairly new to this boating business, but what I found most helpful was the list topics discussed previously. You can get to this by clicking on the drop down box on the right near the bottom of this page. The two headings I found most helpful were "New to Boating" and "Equipment". But be prepared to spend a lot of time trawling through lots of posts, because there is an enormous amount of material available on each of the subjects you have mentioned. Best wishes Brian

Not exactly - have a look at Post No.76 in the "Boaters Manifesto" thread. Brian

Some people with long boats have told me the cratch cover is very useful in leaky locks as it keeps most of the splashing water out of the well deck. Brian

I think you will find it has been reasonably well organised. Nominations open on 12/12/11 and close on 18/01/12. You should hold a 12 mth BW licence at the cutoff date. You will need 10 sponsors also holding 12 mth licences. Voting will take place from 8/2/12 to 9/3/12 by website, SMS and post. To get the nomination form go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/councilnomination but it may not have gone live yet. Hope that helps Brian

I don't have a cratch cover, but often wondered if it would be useful. It does seem to me that it would likely make jumping off at the front more difficult (We do a lot of that!) Brian

There has been much valuable comment on this topic (+ much dross from the usual suspects). But I think there is also quite a bit of confusion around too. Some might find it helpful to be reminded of the FACTS. 1. The CaRT will be the executive power running the waterways after April 2012. The 8 x founding trustees have been appointed by the government. THREE (T.Hales, John Bridgeman, Nigel Hugill) are from BW, the other FIVE are are from other organisations like English Heritage, The Ramblers, Commercial Boat Operators(i.e. John Dodwell) etc. They are all UNPAID. Their appointment is for ONE year. 2. Alongside this, these Trustees are seeking a Council of 35 members to ADVISE them. Although it will have enormous influence on the trustees, it has no executive role and will not be running the canals, but crucially, IT WILL elect future trustees. It is to this Council that 5 ordinary boaters can be elected, as long as they hold a 12 mth licence and can produce 10 other boaters (with 12 mth licences) to nominate them. Nominations open on 12th December 2011. Form will be available then on BW website to download. 3. These 8 founding trustees are responsible for negotiating the terms of transfer from BW to themselves. It is to them the BOATERS' MANIFESTO has been sent to tell them what boaters' think, and hopefully aid their negotiations in the transfer. I have taken quite a bit of trouble to ensure these details are accurate, but I am offering no guarantee! Most boaters are sensible adults and do not to be spoon-fed every detail. So please check it out yourselves and this should remove a lot of the inaccuracies and misunderstandings that have been posted. Hope you find it useful Brian

Look at the contributions over the last 7 hours - do you seriously consider that "debate"? Goodnight. Brian

Time for bed. Night night. Brian

You're wrong. The topic is foreign Narrowboats, not cars. It has no relevance whatever to the original question, which was of interest to many of us. It is these later posts that are pointless. If you want to discuss cars, that's fine - but do it on a motoring forum, not a boating one. That's what's boring me. Sorry, can't find a yawning icon! Brian

Children! Children! Isn't there anything on the telly you could go and watch - Tellytubbies or something? Brian

I'm bored! Anyone ever seen one of these? Brian

I would suspect you've hit the nail on the head there! Brian

Well, thanks for adding the link, so members can read the document - I didn't know how to do that! I have no idea who Peter Underwood is, other than the composer, nor why you feel hostile towards him and therefore to what he has written. It only takes a cursory glance to see that among other things, it calls for the sacking of the BW board, so it is odd that some on this forum seem to think it originates from BW!!!! Brian

Just as well you don't want to read it or sign it then. It works fine for me. Brian

It applies to all boaters, "real" or "unreal". Nor is it a survey or masterpiece. It is merely a starting point. And you can sign it or not, as you wish. Brian

No, Carlt. It is a summary of the views of a great many boaters, and well worth reading. And yes, it certainly includes you, if you find yourself in agreement with its findings. Brian

If you would like to to add weight to the Manifesto re CaRT taking over from British Waterways, you can do so from here. Just fill in your name and email address on the first page and it will be added to the petition. The next page also gives you the opportunity to make a donation to "iPetitions" if you want to, or you can just ignore that - your vote is still added. I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed: "The Boaters' Manifesto" http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/theboatersmanifesto/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time. Thanks! ------------------------------ Brian

Ho! Ho! That's the funniest excuse I've heard all week!! Hang on though - its only Monday! Brian

Go for it matey - I will vote for you!! P.S. It is for the CaRT Council, which will only advise, not a Trustee. Brian

I have just received the following e-mail. What do members think? Boaters can get involved in shaping the future of Britain’s waterways say British Waterways who are calling for boaters to stand for election for the Canal & River Trust Council. Tony Hales, chair of the Canal & River Trust, said: “The boating community has a wealth of hands-on experience of the waterways, and having boaters on board is essential to the success of the Canal & River Trust. I am writing to all licence holders and I encourage them to put themselves forward and add their voices to those shaping the Canal & River Trust’s future.” The new charitable trust takes over from British Waterways in April 2012 and the nominations for boaters’ positions on the Council open on 12 December 2011. Seven positions on the 35-strong council are to be filled by boaters or boating businesses. Four positions are to be elected by boat licence holders and two positions elected by boating businesses. The British Canoe Union, which holds a collective licence for around 60,000 individual and club members, will be asked to nominate a person to fill a further position representing all those who use the waterways for waterborne sport and recreation without holding individual licences. A Canal & River Trust employee will also be elected by all employees at this time to serve on the Council. The Council will help to shape policy, raising and debating issues, and providing guidance, perspective and a sounding board for the trustees. It will also have the power to appoint or dismiss trustees. Members of the Canal & River Trust Council will be expected to bring the experience and perspective of the constituency they represent and to provide a voice for their interests. In exercising this role they will have tact in the interests of the charitable purposes of the Trust. Members will serve for a term of four years. Tony Hales, chair of the Canal & River Trust, said: “The boating community has a wealth of hands-on experience of the waterways, and having boaters on board is essential to the success of the Canal & River Trust. I am writing to all licence holders and I encourage them to put themselves forward and add their voices to those shaping the Canal & River Trust’s future.” Boaters who want to stand for election in any of these groups will need to complete a simple nomination form which will be available for downloading from www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/councilnomination from 12 December 2011 until 18 January 2012. To be eligible to stand for election and vote in the election, boaters must hold a 12-month boat licence on 18 January 2012. Nominations must be supported by ten sponsors who each also hold a valid 12-month boat licence on this date. Voting will take place between 8 February and 9 March 2012 via a designated website or by SMS text. Voting by post will also be possible, but only for this first set of Council elections. The election is being managed by Electoral Reform Services.

Sounds like a local scallywag has recently come out of clink then! Brian