oboat

Dead right. But I was trying to keep the parking a secret, not many riverside pubs you can drive right up to. It also retains a working boat yard. I assume much to the amusement of many and the annoyance of officialdom.

Spent many a winter evening in that pub. The White Cross. The main bar has a fascinating coal fire where the window breast should be. No obvious space for the flue. Unlike Hammersmith, the Draw Dock still has road access and remains in operation.

Was in Putney a few weeks back. This area and its Draw Dock were being massively improved. Be good to see what had been done. Any takers?

We sold ours last month in 3 days. So I would say its the price. It looks a good boat but if its just a try it and see? you could do well to try an Ex Blackprince for a lot less and have the option to trying a longer boat (not 60'-0" it will go most locations but could be hard work that extra foot or so can make a difference outside) before you finalise your build.

For the kind of boat you are after 48' would be ideal for a number of reasons, being a new boater is just one of them.

If you can I would defiantly keep the house and borrow against it, then go back to it when you wish. This is what we did, the rent paid the mortgage and we still had a place to store stuff. The only problem is when you go back you have even more STUFF!

We had a 58'-6' for go-anywhere,(and we did) with a 4+2 capacity layout. L/Dining/G +2, D/Bed /WC/ D/Bed or 2 singles & big Stern area. (with the pram hood up this was also a great drying area, odds & sods store, sun lounge reading room or boot room. with 2 tables we could seat 6 or 2 at table in the lounge and 4 comfortably on the rear deck (with small table) open or closed in. We loved the outlook through the front cabin doors but also loved using the back deck for entertaining particularly on summer evenings or for breakfast. However we could never reconcile loosing the beautiful end of day views that moving the L/D/G to the rear would entail. That said, we did a lot of entreating on the move and this was an incredibly flexible layout.

You will also need to check the headroom for both the Nene & the GU.

As said before. On the way up & on the way down is a big problem going in & out of Liverpool & the Ribble link. Yet no enforcement of any type on the Chesterfield.

My apologies for the missing "S". That said, I would like to know more about the area?

What salt water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a delightful trip down and back and the locks make an interesting variation to an otherwise boring level. You need to ask them why. Should be no problem, this is one of the more interesting locations on the canal. No need to go through the Sea Lock unless you are intending to go to Liverpool or the Isle of Man. LoL

Thanks. The Clyde above the weir seems to be an almost lost asset in regard to boating now that commercial craft no longer go up to the workshops. A true cruise it or lose it waterway! Is the Clyde River Cruise a regular event? I can't recall having seen anything in the national the waterway press. If not maybe a local group could get one going? In fact considering the recreational opportunities the river presents it seem to get almost no press cover.

This is all great stuff are you working your way up river? Keen to see the navigation above the half tide gate any chance?

Battlbridge Spalding on the Welland

Try this

Did you have a queue ? if so how many boats?

When I went up to look at the MBB link at Salford a few years ago when putting together the Amberley Book on North West Canals, I seem to recall a trip boat on this section from the Docks at Salford. Does it still run along the Irwell? Yes thats correct it went up to the TV studios if I am correct? This area was used as part of the site for the IWA festival in 1988. Due to the GFC the massive development which was going to fund the connection to the Irwell did not get built. No problem with boat access to the unfinished area below. It just the connection that needs to be put back in working order. The next short length is (or was) prime development land thus funds should be available given the right financial climate.. Unfortunately few visit this area so have little idea of the opportunities the MBB has to offer. I have not been to MBB for a few years but it presents a fabulous development opportunity for an area that desperately need regeneration. That said CRT seem to have had a deliberate policy of running down the canal environment the most obvious manifestation of this was the demolition of the warehouse at the Prestolee Junction. Claiming it was unsafe in fact all it needed was the rectification of maintenance neglect.

Yes and this is how many ships ended up. The opening of the canal had a devastating effect on the local ship repair/supply trade and thus the economy. Didn't help the South Wales coal trade either.

Well I shall get on the phone to Stanley and get them to repair the dock ready for re-opening up the old route.

If one is into Historical Geography I would recommend the The Black Fens. A. K. Astbury. Gives some clues as to why so many buildings are falling over. That said, my other book would be, Waterways and Canal Building in Medieval England. John Blair. As to medieval enterprise, the area has been known as the UK Holy Land and the church was the developer of the day.