frangar

I'm sure I've drunk a few boat themed beers can recommend this one though! http://www.colchesterbrewery.com/red-diesel

I'm not sure timber windows in a metal boat make much sense either aesthetically or due to the difference in expansion rates. I think Channelglaze and possibly someone else do windows with a thermal break

One thing I forgot to say was buy a card when you find a lockie rather than waiting till you get to the machine just in case the lockie is off duty etc.

I have to say the only time I've done the Erewash the feral youth at a lock in the middle were enough to put me off...they kept trying to get aboard and were discussing how to drain pounds and break lock gates. Chatting to the BW guys as it was then revealed it had taken 3 days to refill pounds after they had been drained plus a number of the anti vandal locks had been glued shut meaning the leakage on the gates was more than the one operational paddle! Hopefully it's got better!

There's a list of EA ones somewhere..there's definitely one at Abingdon ..they need a card you can buy from the lockies which is £10. You get about 9 min on the Abingdon one. Found the link! https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-bridges-locks-and-facilities-for-boaters scroll down for facilities at locks.

Give Chris on merchant a ring if you are on the Thames. Bit more a litre than better boating but when I came past the other month it would have been a challenge to get on their fuel jetty plus Chris's fuel is pre treated with additive. Nice bloke to boot! http://www.thamesdiesel.com/

I have to say my experience for getting stuff shipped either UPS or FedEx from the USA has been quick & painless. I have rarely paid any duty if all packaged correctly. I wouldn't get anything sent US postal/Royal Mail though.

I ended up getting some made by Mr Redshaw last time I needed some...I dare say it's something any good engineering shop could do especially if a reasonable quantity was involved.

Although you do get plenty of narrowboats in daft places at least they give you a bit more water to use. I'm sure after our recent trip down south that more fat boat owners must have sold their common sense to pay for the extra steel......

When my alloy one slips cos of all the damage caused by the stupid plate ones I'll be less than impressed too.

Our duntons are now probably 20 years old....lost count of the paddles of all types...not broken one yet! The only time I've gone back to a steel one is either when I've been trying to free a jammed paddle or when the OH needs something heavier to swing in the less salubrious areas.....

Had the problem of the broken riser wires at diglis lock on the Severn a few years ago when we were going up....the lockie wasn't impressed when I ended up in the middle of the lock but didn't seem to quite get that it's hard to have a rope round something that's not attached. I'd asked him to take a rope up but he refused. Words were exchanged!!! I did notice they were fixed when we last went through.

Just seen this. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/10483/bridge-154-cropredy-mill-bridge-oxford-canal closed due to a boat hitting the bridge (!!??) Thats going to cause some queues!! Hope it's a quick fix.

I'll be interested in the reply too! I can't even find the 400009 filters on the General Ecology US website now... do keep us posted.

I'd recommend "just beer" micropub and "the flying circus" for pubs....both near the river. There's also a bottle shop that I can't remember the name of. Good luck with a mooring on the Cart pontoon....think most of the boats are welded to it despite it being a 48hr mooring right next to the CRT office. i think all the other moorings involve a lift off a typical narrowboat. You might get a temporary (paid for) mooring in the marina

Sadly that link doesn't work for me...poss because I'm not a "friend" of the person concerned.

It says they were rescued in the report after another boat came along and found them and then phoned Hawne Basin who sent a boat in to help them...

Just seen this on fb. Does anyone know more about it?? I'm surprised if it's as reported it hasn't had more "airtime".....although some of the other articles by The floater" are a little..... shall we say....sensational "Stuck in a tunnel - for nearly a day A 20-hour nightmare jammed in a low tunnel was the start of the cruising season for a boat leaving Hawne Basin on the Birmingham Canal Navigations, as Peter Underwood reports. While making their way towards Netherton, and just after entering Gosty Tunnel the boaters found their boat, suddenly and without warning, stopped dead when it became jammed solid by a large log against the tunnel wall. Although only 500 yards long Gosty Tunnel is notoriously narrow, and shallow with a very low roof in places and travel through it is painfully slow at the best of times. http://www.thefloater.org/the-floater-april-2017/stuck-in-a-tunnel-for-nearly-a-day"

I would phone the Wigan office tho. They might be able to put your name on a reserve list

Surely if it fits through a lock it's suitable for the navigation....I thought everyone knew that....... always amusing when they meet themselves coming the other way....

You do book online and you should be able to see the available dates....might still be worth a call and seeing if they have cancellations etc I guess. I've found the Wigan office...if not the management....very helpful in the past.

I'm afraid I didn't pull over when I met it...I did give them just enough room...but only just....they didn't look too happy about it but as you say it's totally unsuited to the waterway.

Apparently it also allows the boat to moor on lock bollards as well.

What's wrong with having a RBOA sticker in the window?? Much more sensible than an IWA one or heaven forbid a NTBA one.....come to think about it you don't see many ACC ones these days........