frangar

We probably passed each other at some point....sorry if I forgot to wave! Cheers Gareth

Wow...many thanks for that....we will press on then!....I really don't like being beaten and have prided myself on taking my boat where others said it shouldn't go! I will be interested to know if the weed is bad by chesterfield standards or I've just become used to having it easy!...I must say I being here is reminding me of when I first started boating and went on the oxford summit....think it's the lack of other moving boats and how peaceful it is. Once again many thanks....I hope to get a pic at the head of navigation! Cheers Gareth

Thanks...we came past Carrie Lou today...looks very smart! We would like to make it to the end if at all possible...it's a shame to get this far and be beaten...the clear water does make me realise that we don't have much spare water under us which isn't helping either...I see the idea of more power but I think if we do that we will just get clamped to the bottom. Cheers Gareth

Well it doesn't look much different now....some bits are fine but others are thick with weed....almost stalled the JP on more than one occasion....and that's just using tickover....still deciding if we wind or press on.....I really don't mind a challenge but the thought of doing it all twice is getting depressing! Cheers Gareth

I used an angle grinder with a thin cutting disc….be warned that the tyre will eat discs and try to grab the machine….it also puts a lot of loading on the motor so let it cool from time to time by running the grinder off load. I was lucky as i was given a tyre tread with the sidewalls already removed….some of the guys where our unit is do banger racing and they use the sidewalls to double the thickness on the tyre walls on the bangers….it did save a load of work on my part! Its also messy and smokey to cut the rubber….probably best done outside! I used some old inner tube glued on with evostick to cover up the edges where the steel belting might damage the paint. Cheers Gareth

Well whilst my attempt wasn't quite as faultless as Unmani's I didn't break anything! We did clip the bushes by the lock entrance but I think I needed more river to turn...I should have gone further over to the far bank before turning around.....I was also surprised that the tide didn't push me backwards more.....I had to use a fair bit of reverse. Thankfully the lockie had the lock all set for me...I couldn't get him on the VHF or phone....leaving a message on the voicemail did make me wonder what my plan b was going to be!...however he then did radio me and helped to guide me in when I said it was my first time. So as long as you follow instructions...helped by Unmani's video then it really isn't as bad as others say. Cheers Gareth

We are at present moored at Forest Locks on the chesterfield. Does anyone know if the weed gets better or worse heading towards shireoaks? We were hoping to make the head of navigation but the combination of weed and a reasonably deep draughted boat (2ft 8in) is meaning that forward progress is becoming somewhat slow...it's just taken us about 6 hours to do 11 miles and 5 locks...at some points I'm sure bow hauling would have been quicker if only we could have got near the towpath! It's a shame as it's pretty and very quiet...possibly some of the reason for the weed growth! I don't like being beaten but another day or two like today is not a good thought especially knowing that we will have the same trouble on the way back out. The winding hole at the next lock is starting to look very inviting.... Although we are deep draughted we don't usually pick stuff up...we didn't even have to throw anything off the prop going in or out of Liverpool and only had one weed hatch trip on the Ashton but the weed here is amazing....the water is very clear too so you can see the forest that you are cutting down! Any thoughts welcome.... Cheers Gareth

It's a bit out of Lincoln but I had a 10 day mooring at burton waters marina....very secure and very helpful staff. It's about a fiver in a cab to lincoln station. The pontoons at Brayford pool aren't the longest in the world...I don't know if they have other moorings that are more suited to narrowboats. I think they are outside of the gates as well. However they are cheaper than burton waters. Cheers. Gareth

Can really recommend the lime kilns...they do a very good value curry on a Monday. Food is all homemade and the beer is well kept and changes regularly. Stayed there overnight a couple of times and the road isn't as bad as you might think. Cheers Gareth

Yes.......!!! If it's looking a bit mad we can always leave it a couple of days....we aren't on that tight a schedule for that very reason. Cheers Gareth

This has been a most useful thread.....we too can't seem to manage much more than 5mph (measured with a GPS) on still(ish) deep wide water even with a JP2 and a compensated Crowthers prop. As we are thinking of doing the link next year it's useful to know that others have done it ok. Would it make a difference having a 2ft 8in draft to the skeg though?....I've been told it's a great help to be one of the first locked out of tareleton. How do you know if you should divert to Preston marina? Cheers Gareth

If I can do that on Monday I will be a very happy chap!! That technique is what the lockie there has advised me to do.....what can possibly go wrong??? Just hope I get the tide timing right?....do you know how much fresh etc was on when that was filmed? Cheers Gareth

I will have a look next time I have the side door off and report back!....it will probably be at the next oil change at the end of this years trip in the autumn. Cheers Gareth

Well I will let you what's it's like in a narrowboat fitted with a slow revving engine next week....not sure I will be going quite as quick on the river though!! Cheers Gareth

Well that's not going to be a quick check when I next swab out the sump then!!! Thanks anyway Cheers. Gareth

Neither the injector pump or it seems the flywheel are original to my engine so I will have a look at the crankshaft.....whereabouts would the number be stamped? Judging from some of the corrosion on the crankcase doors etc it might well have been a saltwater engine so might well be a marine engine from new....I think the JP3 flywheel might have been fitted to get a starter ring. Cheers Gareth

As my engine is a twin but has the flywheel from a triple fitted and is missing the brass engine no does anyone know if there is anywhere else like castings etc that might have a year cast into them? It has top decompressors if that helps. The plate is missing off the reversing box too... Cheers Gareth

Houses aren't much better....my mothers house has multipoint locks on doors and windows.....when she was burgled they just smashed the double glazed window in the back door and climbed through....unless you fit steel shutters all round there's not much you can do if someone wants to get in. Cheers Gareth

I did wonder if they hadn't updated their websites...it's a shame if you can't get them anymore...I really like them. Cheers Gareth

I have had a dunton double and a double plus for about the last 15 or so years that we use all the time.....maybe they were better made then but ours are still going strong and get quite a bit of abuse.....perhaps that's famous last words! Cheers Gareth PS it looks like you can still get them...or at least they are still listed from the canal shop at hillmorton and the bottom lock shop at braunston.

The water in Salthouse Dock in Liverpool is pretty brackish....it's great for cleaning the weed off your hull and you can watch your anodes fizz a bit...if you moored there all the time you might want zinc anodes instead of magnesium. Cheers Gareth

I too would be wary of this after helping one chap through Sawley lock because his key wouldn't fit the lock....he was a bit miffed because he had not long brought it from a chandlery (I can't remember which one)...it seems there are some dodgy copies out there...ours are a few years old and stamped BWB and we have never had a problem with them. Cheers Gareth

It was tied to the wall just off the pontoon when we passed a few weeks ago...it didn't look very gourmet to me..... Cheers Gareth