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Foxglove

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Occupation
    Instrument maker
  • Boat Name
    Foxglove
  • Boat Location
    River Wey Navigation

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  1. Hi, I see from your advert for Foxglove that you had a SunMar composting loo. I'm fitting out my Narrow boat at the moment and am trying to decide whether to opt for a composting loo or casette. I have seen some fairly bad reviews of composting the more expensive composting loos and also some great ones – Can I ask what has been your experience? Where do you empty it?

    Many than...

  2. Hi,

    It's been some time since you posted on this thread http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=4859&st=0&gopid=841539entry841539 but I thought I'd let you know I;ve turned up some information for you.

    Thanks,

    Colin.

  3. So how about Iona , the horsedrawn trip boat on the River Wey ? She's the GU small woolwich 'Bellerophon' , built and worked as a butty . Now working with one horsepower . Butty or horseboat ?
  4. Cyprus's owner is very fond of his boats and surely would not have been so involved with HNBOC were he not passionate about historic narrowboats . He agonised for a long time over whether or not to convert Cyprus and , having decided to do it , employed some of the best people in the business to carry out the work and designed it so the conversion could be removed without damaging the original boat . Not everyone will agree with what has happened to Cyprus but the owner has certainly done it with the best possible intentions .
  5. I think the conversion of small Northwich motor 'Cyprus' at Brinklow was completed in the last two years . Sorry , no photos . Foxglove
  6. The National Trust Wey Navigation notes give Broadford Bridge , near Guildford , as having 6'4" clearance at normal water levels . http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-riverwey-info_boat_users.pdf
  7. more here http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=31876
  8. This was the damage to Unstead Lock on the Wey recently . The boat entered the lock to go downhill , hit the top beam pushing the top of right gate past the left one . Most of the cracking noises were heard when the boat reversed off and the gate sprung back a bit , accompanied by the sound of the top gates slamming behind it as the water started to rush through . The damage to the mitre post on the right gate is obvious , the less obvious damage in this photo is where the main body of the gate has cracked away from the heel post . The heel strap was broken and the quoin cracked also . Apparently the steerer's comment was " oops , I haven't done that before " . Hey ho ! Foxglove
  9. Just to update everyone , Unstead Lock is now open for essential supervised use and has been since Wednesday afternoon I hear . Anyone who needs to use the lock should book through Dapdune Wharf office on 01483 561389 or Thames Lock on 01932 843106 . The damage to the off-side lower gate was severe , a large section of the mitre post broke off , the gate cracked away from the heel post and the quion and heel strap were damaged . It is lucky the whole lot did not end up in the bottom of the lock ! The navigation staff deserve a big pat on the back for their swift response and hard work since the incident . One member of the maintenance team had his holiday put on hold to get the job done . They actually had the lock capable of holding water by the end of Tuesday and by Wedneday were sufficiently confident in the temporary repair to allow boats through , carefully supervised . Production of replacement gates , which were due to be fitted in November , has been brought forward and they now hope to have them in around three weeks time and I believe they will be fitted straight away to allow lock use to return to normal . Foxglove
  10. Hi guys , I've just spoken to Thames Lock . The navigation staff are working on the lock now and hope to have a temporary repair which will allow supervised locking in a couple of days . Thames lock also confirmed that the boat that caused the damage was a visiting boat . There is a boat of the same name which is kept in Pyrford Marina which was not involved whatsoever in the incident and I am sure that the owner will be very keen that there is no further confusion ! Cheers Foxglove
  11. There is now talk of the possibility of some sort of repair to get the lock working until later in the year when I believe the gates were due for replacement anyway . I think some large steel plates and lots of bolts will be needed . No idea of timescales for the repair , sorry . All but one of the Farncombe hire boats and the day boats were out when the incident happened . I imagine the boats will be operated from the Guildford Boathouse for the duration . By the way (wey ?) , my information is that the boat that dunnit was a visitor , not a regular Wey boat , not that it matters really . Jo , did the steerer offer any explanation as to why the boat was going so fast or unable to stop ? Mechanical problem , fouled prop , pilot error ?? Cheers Foxglove
  12. Thanks Jo , I was steering Iona yesterday so I heard about the incident but did not get to see the lock or hear exactly how it happened , sounds a bit scary , good job you untied that rope or the boat could still be hanging there with no way to re-fill the lock ! I'm surprised the ' perps ' left the scene , don't think I could just leave if I had caused that sort of damage . Duncan
  13. Hi P J , The gates on Wey locks are indeed of much lighter construction than those on most of the system . They are made of oak and generally last thirty years if they are not abused . The Wey and Godalming navigations were built for and used by horse-drawn barges 14ft wide so the only contact likely between barge and lock gate would have been at the mitre . The gates are strong enough to hold back the head of water and to take the occasional light contact from barges . They were not built with narrowboats in mind which is also the reason there are no nosing boards . The trust keeps the Wey Navigations , as far as possible , the way they were when the Stevens family gave it to them . Replacing lock gates with heavier ones like , for instance , those on the Grand Union is not really an option from a conservation standpoint or from a practical / financial one . For a start all the gate recesses in the lock walls would have to be made deeper . The National Trust are not a perfect navigation authority ( who is ? ) but I'm sure their staff will be working very hard to get Unstead Lock open again as soon as possible . Cheers Foxglove
  14. Some time during yesterday morning a narrowboat struck one of the bottom gates of Unstead Lock sufficiently hard to damage it beyond repair . The National Trust inspected the lock and initial estimates are that the lock will be shut for four weeks . This may well change once more thorough inspections have been undertaken to establish the extent of the damage which could possibly include the quoin and cill . Unstead lock is on the Godalming Navigation approximately half way between Guildford and Godalming . Foxglove
  15. Another boat which I think we've missed is Jem Bates' Severn (T.Clayton). Paul H The engine in 'Severn' is a Seffle isn't it ? Duncan
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