Mike Tee

When we did the Wey and Stort earlier this year, I knew of the policy of leaving gates open, but it was really hard to do it - years of canal cruising have left their mark! (Although in any discussion, I will always argue that it is far more efficient to leave gates open on leaving, although I do think paddles should be dropped). However, after a week or so of leaving them open, it was a shock to get back to 'normal'! eta - senior moment - of course I meant the Lee and Stort

Maybe the new one has more sensitive cut out bits in it - perhaps if your old one had those sensitive bits, it wouldn't have burned out.

Mines been on for just over a year. Its red, so has faded a bit, but red will fade faster than other colours anyway. As they say in all the ads - 'try on a small area first'. If it doesn't work the way you want, all you've done is put undercoat on, and can always put more paint on top. There is a picture of mine in 'owners boats' - not a close up, but looks OK to me.

Two coats of Craftmaster undercoat in your preferred colour, no gloss - comes out matt

Craftmaster

I would guess most of us carry a digital camera of some kind, maybe on a phone. I hope you got photographic evidence of your boat with the notice, showing that they were in the wrong. At least with a traffic warden they take a photo showing the reg no and location of anybody issued with a ticket.

That'll be boating then!! eta - http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/faria-alternator-generator-sensed-tachometers-with-hourmeters black with hourmeter, but that is even more expensive

How about this one http://www.asap-supplies.com/search/tacho/faria-tacho-rev-counter-gauge-alternator-sensed-td9322

Either get a second cassette (one for each hand) or try and swap sides regularly - nothing worse than ending up with one side bigger than the other.

Many thanks - trying to sort out boat movement!

Where are the 7 day moorings at Foxton? Top, bottom or both?

Got two the other side - not a fan of over fenestration.

You changed a couple of words while I was responding!

rub down with fine wet and dry, then try this stuff http://www.thefiresideshop.co.uk/stove-grate-polish-170gm.html#.UjDZBj9h-No eta - not particularly from these people, it was the first one that came up on search

Maybe the councils will can be bent by one of the residents

My compliments to Leo No2 for the work put into this - it takes committment to turn out regularly in all weathers, plus all the recording and computer work. Is there a forum member in Blisworth who might do something similar? The results (as sugested in #366) might be useful when looked at alongside the Stoke Bruerne results. Although of course it could backfire with C&RT using that Blisworth data to support bringing in changes there?

Now that winter appears to be close, just a reminder of August 2013 between Bakers Lock and Shipton Weir Lock on the River Cherwell -

For me, a centre line is a handling line, not a mooring line. It means, for example, when queuing for locks, I can walk the boat up easily, plus when single handed doing locks, particularly uphill, I can walk the boat in without having to use a ladder. I sometimes use it for added security (three points of contact) overnight but not tied tightly, just enough to keep the boat near the bank if the front or rear is untied. My earlier comment (post #22) was when walking the boat up in a queue. The idiot exited the lock at normal cruising speed, and I needed to take a turn around a bollard to save swimming after my boat.

I think speed in general when passing moored boats has increased - maybe its because there are more boats on the system, therefore at any one time, more boats moored, so people are less inclined to slow right down. However, waiting for a lock to be vacated on the south Oxford the other day, a private boat came out of the locks as if being chased by the Sweeney. I yelled at them to show some consideration, and got the response 'learn to tie your boat up'. It almost makes one think 'OK, if thats the rules now, get ready to be washed up on the bank when I come past you'. Fortunately they were going the opposite way! In all seriousness, if that attitude gets to be the norm, (I understand that is the system in France?) then soon none of us need slow down at all.