ChrisK

Boat does about the same as me - around 2 pints to the hour at canal speed.

On caving rope. Climbers like bouncy rope - like nylon - so it doesn't hurt so much if you fall on it. Cavers use ropes for climbing up using sliding clamps called prussiks. This is practically impossible if the rope has much bounce, so they used to use strech free ropes made of terylene. Could be that there is now a cheaper alternative.

Buggered that up didn't I. only bell ropes ? What about BOLTROPES (sewn around the edge of a sail to strengthen it) and MANROPES (run around the edge of a boat supported by stanchions to stop you from falling overboard) There is even a MANROPE KNOT.

I did my informative boating on the Trent - sailing dinghys and canoes in the 1960s. The one thing I remember is that when you fell in you "kept yer gob shut". Does the water still taste as bad ? in the days when there were loads of power stations using it for cooling, the Trent was always warm too - even in winter.

I have been on it - I was on business in Edinburgh a few weeks ago and drove there (about 40 mins). It works on electricity - but the caissons are balanced so it doesn't need much - about 7KW to start ad stop it, then about 1 KW to keep it moving. The seals are inflated rubber and even the water between the two guillotines is pumped back. There is a web site if you need more info. Although it it not connected to the main system, you could theoretically sail there - down the Trent or the Yorkshire canals to Goole - out of the Humber to sea - up the Firth of Forth and onto the Union canal!

My mooring is by a live-aboard - it gives you a kind of secure feeling.

I finally got a new box from Calcutt Boats - they were competitively priced and gave me a good p/ex on the old one. It arrived next day by courrier. It cost me less than most suppliers wanted for a reconditioned one. I've just got to fit it now - cruiser stern, so just waiting for a good weather forecast.

Perhaps it is just a government ploy to get us all away from talking about red diesel !

Matthew, We brought our boat across the Rochdale last Easter. We had no problems with vandals / yobs, though we were partially escourted up the "Rochdale 18", out of Manchester, by a couple of BW lockies. What you shoud be aware of is that certain stages of the passages must be booked through BW in advance, and some of these are not available on Sundays. The scenery is great and really worth the lock work

I think you are right about his chances of actually getting in. The IWA response is quite interesting for what is normally a non political organisation.

There is an interesting news article on the IWA web site. Evidently Mr. Howard (leader of the Tory party) if he gets into power, intends to sell off all of the valuable bits of BW - pubs, buildings etc, leaving behind just the expensive to run bit - the waterways themselves. Has anybody heard any more about this ?

I nearly went in at Dale St Manchester earlier this year - both feet slipped of the wet side deck. Fortunately (unusually?) both hands were on the hand rails, so I didnt need decontaminating after all. Last time I really went in was sailing with my daughter and a friend of her's on Pugny's Lake near Wakefield. A thoroughly incompetent gybe in a gusty wind and the dinghy flipped over pitching us all in. To add insult to injury, the wind blowing on the overturned hull pushed the mast down and it stuck in the mud on the bottom of the lake. The girls swam ashore (about 15 feet away) and left me with the indignity of having to be towed out by the rescue boat in front of half of the population of Wakefield. It's true - you only make a spectacular show of it in front of a good audience.

I like the sound of the cheapness of the carpet underlay - does the boat inspector have any isues with it not being fuel or flame proof ?

Does anybody else have problems with "Killer Cyclists". They are known to operate on the Yorkshire side of the Rochdale Canal and have been especially active since the Calder Cycleway was opened using part of the towpath as its route. Their normal practice is to shout "coming past". You just have time to turn around and leap into the nettles or the water before they knock you off your feet. Mooring up a boat can be especially dangerous on a warm evening. When you read that a local boater has been arrested for decapitating a cyclist with a mooring rope, will somebody come and bail me out ? Another breed is the "Illiterate Cyclist". These are seen on the Calder and Hebble navigation. Their distinctive feature is that they believe that the no-cycling signs are to keep off the other cyclists so that they can use the towpath as their own private race track. Well - at least anglers only glare at you and occasionally throw maggots at you.

Isn't this what ASBOs are for ? If a few boat friendly magistrates were to ban these people from trespassing on BW property, then they really would be frightened of cameras etc.

My local marina has a sign saying it is illegal to supply red diesel to a can. You will therefore have to buy the expensive stuff, or syphon it out of your tank then go back for a refill.

I also have a Hurth gearbox (a HBW100 on a Nanni 3.75HE). It has recently started slipping in forward gear. I have done some research , both on the internet and talking to dealers. It appears that it is either the cable adjustment or the thrust washers or clutch plates are worn. There are no other adjustments on the Hurth. You can get Bill Carver on 0161 320 3400. Try also Bob Knowles (Leicester) on 0116 235 8685 and www.asapsupplies.com. I also contacted Calcutt, who quoted the lowest for a rebuilt gearbox and they do repairs on your own box. Lancing Marine (01273 4100025) tried to sell me a Hurth workshop manual for £40+vat, but I found an American book called "Inboard Engine, Transmission and Drive Service Manual". I describes how to dis-assemble and rebuild the Hurth transmission. Cost me £10 + postage from Amazon. In the past I have rebuit motor bike gearboxes, but this was enough to put me off trying to do a Hurth. One supplier suggested I tried changing the fluid and adjusting the cable before I do anything more expensive. I probably won't have time to do anything this year, but will let you know how I get on.