Rob B

I moor a distance from home because i've spent years cruising in the North of England and would like to see other parts of the network. The grass is generally greener too. In reality it's not a major job to visit the boat and check all is okay, it just seems a little mindless and well worth asking. I know there are gadgets available that will monitor and let you know if there's a problem. I don't think you can beat the real thing though. (does the engine start, are the ropes tight enough, is the solar panel still there, does the boat need airing, are the books going damp, did I forget to put the chimney cap on when I left, what is that strange smell coming from the fridge, ah... that's where the cat is etc) Thank you to the people who have offered to check my boat, part of what I'm after is to save someone else the journey not just check that mine is okay. I think once a 'swap' can be found it takes away the feeling of relying on others and gives the opportunity to move mooring again and perhaps retain the same swap partner. If you do fancy a change and want to move your boat to the north, it's never too late to get in touch. It is, of course, possible to swap 2 for 1. Happy new year. Rob

I have a Narrowboat moored in the Midlands and live in West Yorkshire. I travel to the boat about once a month in winter and it takes about 4 hours round trip just to check everything is okay and run the blige. I'm usually on the boat for about 10 minutes each time. Do you live in the midlands or the south have a boat moored in the West Yorkshire area and do a similar round trip? If so, would you like to discuss a possible winter swap.?....you visit my boat and I'll visit your boat, check everything is okay and confirm to each other after each visit? Please let me know if you're interested or even if it's a mad idea. Rob

Thank you for your advice. I followed the BW complaints procedure and....... I received a letter of apology from BW and had my invoice cancelled. The BW mooring conditions don't currently stipulate any notice period required at the end of a annual mooring agreement. Rob

Thank you all for your advice. I have communicated with BW via email throughout so I have all details who told me what and when. I've also contacted the customer services dept at Watford and will follow their complaints procedure as advised. I have read the T&C's cafefully and cannot see anything that says I must give one months notice should I not wish to renew my mooring permit. When I cancelled my SKY TV viewing recently, I was referred to the t&c's I signed that clearly state I must give one month's notice. This is good clear an unambiguous communication. I don't feel BW's is any of these things. I wonder if your local mooring officer implements the t&c's in the same way. Rob

I have recently moved mooring from a British Waterways on line mooring to a private marina. My British Waterways mooring permit ran from 1st November 2006 to 31 October 2007. I contacted British Waterways local office on 31st October to inform them that I did not wish to renew my mooring permit and that I have already relocated my boat to the private marina. British Waterways have accepted my termination but have said under item 30 of the British Waterways Mooring Terms and conditions, I am going to be sent an invoice for one further months mooring. I have questioned this based on my expiry date and that the mooring terms and conditions do not give any reason for British Waterways to invoice based on the notice period from the customer. I've but been told that there is nothing the mooring officer can do it's in the terms and conditions. Am I missing something? TERMINATION 29. This Agreement terminates at the end of the period specified. 30. You may terminate this Agreement before then by giving one month’s written notice of termination to our local office specified in this Agreement. 31. If you terminate this Agreement by giving notice, we will make a part refund of your Mooring fees where the Boat leaves the Mooring Site on or before the notice period expires and you return the Mooring permits to us when your Boat leaves the Mooring Site. Any refund will be the difference between the short term fee for the Mooring for the period up to expiry of your notice and the annual fee paid. The short term fee is a monthly charge of one tenth of the annual fee.

I've not yet signed the petition, before I do, can somesome please explain the apparent lack of BW licences on the boats on Beeston Cut?Towpath Talk suggests that only half have valid licences. I've just returned from a two week holiday down the Trent and travelled through the Beeston Cut, counting myself there appeared to be only 8 out of 15 with valid displayed licences on the side at risk of BW action.Having discussed this with many fellow boaters on my trip, many seemed unwilling to support the petition due to the number of unlicenced boaters.I'm sure clarification would help the cause. Opps, I'm confusing two similar stories in the same area. Still be interested in knowing about the Beeston Cut though.

Whitley Bridge is a complete farce. Having read the information on British Waterways website that the work has complete we decided to stay on the visitor moorings over Easter. Arriving on Sunday 31st March, we were told by the lock keeper " You can't moor there it's a building site". We pointed out that there are no signs indicating that the visitor moorings are closed nor is there any info on the BW website. After short negotiation we were permitted to moor for a short while whilst we used the facilities. The lock keeper told us although the visitor moorings were unavailable we could still use the facilities by mooring on the one hour max on the other side of the canal. Returning on Thursday 12th, we headed directly for the one hour facilities mooring to find that this mooring area was also closed. Over the course of the Easter two weeks, nothing has been done to make the visitor mooring ready again. We understand, having spoken to local boaters, a letter was distributed by BW in January outlining the work that would take four weeks. They have recieved a further letter last week stating that due to the local breach (which now appears to be finished) the job will take a further six weeks from now. I make that 16 weeks from when the work started.

I don't know what type of speed boats you've got if you can get from Stanley Ferry to Sowerby Bridge or even Huddersfield in a day. If you travel around 4mph and cruise from 8am to 5pm, I think you'll get as far as Battyford. I've only got a lister SR2 with a top speed of 3 beers and hour, but I thought that was the point. Cheers Rob

I've never really understood fishing with a pole. Why doesn't the fisherman just go round the other side of the canal? (where possible) If they do that they could also buy a smaller rod and I bet that's cheaper too. It seems a simple soultion, the fisherman saves money, doesn't block the canal and makes it easier to carry all their suitcases home afterwards?

Boat chugs on...but no driver POLICE were today searching a canal after a boat was found adrift with its engine running...and no one on board. The narrowboat was in gear with its motor turning over – and just a dog on board – when a passer-by spotted it on the Calder and Hebble navigation at Sowerby Bridge. The boat owner, believed to be 38-year-old Paul Burns, has not been seen since the discovery. A missing person inquiry was immediately launched and a police dive team combed a short stretch of the canal yesterday amid fears that the owner had fallen overboard. The search resumed at daybreak today, this time combing a two-mile stretch of water as far as Copley. A friend of the missing man, who did not want to be named, said: "He has only been here a couple of weeks and he wasn't on his boat all the time. "Someone found his boat drifting with its engine running and reported it to the police. "There was no sign of the owner on board. "It was unusual because he would never have left his dog. The door and the hatches were open and the engine was running. "You never leave your boat anywhere with the engine running." The boat was towed back to Sowerby Bridge canal basin by police and the Staffordshire bull terrier was left with family. Boat owners were yesterday concerned for Mr Burns' safety. His friend added: "He was a lovely lad and he doted on his dog. "Because he wasn't on the boat all the time we didn't realise that he was missing until yesterday. "The dog was definitely pining for him. It wouldn't let me on the boat at first. "We are still hoping that he might turn up. I didn't realise there was any reason to worry because he would often take it out overnight. "But we are really concerned. I am hoping he will walk around the corner and make us all feel really silly." The missing man has not been seen since 1.30pm on Wednesday. He is described as about 5ft 10ins of stocky build with unruly greying hair. He often wore a chunky knitted jumper. The boat was found in an stretch of the canal known as the Narrow Channel. Police stressed that they are pursuing several lines of inquiry. A spokesman said: "Shortly before 5pm on Wednesday, police in Sowerby Bridge received a report that a boat was floating on the canal with nobody on board." He added: "The boat was searched and officers undertook inquiries overnight to locate the owner. "Officers resumed their inquiries yesterday morning and are growing increasingly concerned about the welfare of this man, although we do not know who he is yet. "The underwater search unit has been searching the canal all yesterday and officers are continuing to scale the local area." Anyone with information should contact Halifax help desk on 01422 337059. http://www.halifaxtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2...ticleID=1909422