[Myth or Truth]

In the mid 1970"s I was involved in some work on the Sprinch Yard site. While the digger was on site,conecting the dry dock to the main Runcorn sewer.I got the digger driver to excavate the arm which now leads to a slipway,also part of the little packet dock on the Big Pool side of the Sprinch. The origional gates to all the docks were still in place on the bottom of the canal. These gates lie flat on the canal bid and are winched upright. I think there were other gates like this on the Bridgewater(but on the main line of the canal) The culvert to drain the dry docks were(are?)brick lined and go underneath that part of Runcorn,presumeably draining into the Ship Canal. They were considered to be life expired,which is why the conection was made into the main sewer. The first time the dock was used with the new connection(with a Claymore hire boat),live fish appeared at the sewage works. In mid 1974, I remember the gate to Simpson Davies yard still had their name on it. The Bridgewater Motor Boat Club had a slipway into Big Pool for many years. All buried now.

[Old Batteries for an Old Boat?]

I remeber driving one of those Ford lorries for miles in third gear,looking for another gear. The diesel was a Fordson Major engine,the V8 petrol was from a Ford Pilot car.

[Standedge tunnel.]

Keep your speed down and ask for plenty of warning before stopping at the adits ( to report to control) .I  have scraped the front corner of the roof a couple of times. My favorit canal.

[Buckby Can]

Thanks for the reply. Nice to think the can may have been painted by a giant of the restoration movement.

[Buckby Can]

On 12/24/2017 at 13:41, dave moore said:

It could possibly be the work of Graham Palmer, the group’s founder. Graham used to paint stuff for sale, I remember, but it’s hard to be certain without a photograph. I expect other members painted too, though I’m not familiar with the work. Others will add knowledge, hopefully.

Dave

Hope these pictures might give a clue to the painter. I think the can is tin plate as it is lighter than my other cans.

[Buckby Can]

I bought a Buckby  can from a W.R.G. fundraising stall,probably  40 plus years ago. Dont have a photo at the moment. It is signed W R G on the bottom. Anybody know who might have painted it? I presume it was a new can,painted as a  fund raiser.

[Bargain hunt and Lister]

I seem to remember that the R.A.Lister site in Dursley covered 75 acres and had its own railway branch.  Quite a lot about the factory on the web.

[How Many Straws To Break The Camel’s Back ?]

We have been cruising the canals for the last 40 years. We have experienced proper winters.  Am I a  newby? We have sold our boat. I dont feel negative about the Canal system in general or Cart in particular. I do feel that some of the exitement has gone. I also feel that Cart has a lack of focus. Staff are a major expence for any organisation,but I believe bankside staff have been cut back to the point where they are just roving trouble shooters. This year on the Peak Forest Canal we were stopped for a couple of days due to a fallen tree. Contractors who very efficiently cleared the blockage had to manage very precariously with a small dinghy. A CaRT workboat was nearby,but there was no CaRT staff available to use it. The clutch on the contractors Ford Transit would never be the same again.

[Runcorn sailmakers loft]

Thanks for the replies. It was definately a "loft" aproached by outside steps. Interesting that Abels were listed as sailmakers. No reason to assume that the sail loft was at Castle Rock Boatyard. It could have been the same firm. I suppose lorry tarpaulins and cloths for narrow boats might have kept them going. I took in a sail for a dinghy,which must have been small fry for them. It must have been 1964 or 5 when I visited them. I wish I could remember more detail.

[Runcorn sailmakers loft]

Does anybody remember the sailmakers loft near Top Locks in Runcorn. I am sure I took a sail in there about 50years ago for repair. It was a proper loft with a door that self closed by hanging a huge shackle on a piece of string. The loft had obviously been there for a long time,  Was this a place where sails were made and repaired for the sailing flats?  If so surprising it had survived. When was the last sail made or repaired for a sailing flat? I also remember an ornate cast iron urinal nearby. Handy for boatmen?

[Stonehouse to Bowbridge]

I understood that the origional paddle gear was on the gate and was in such a position that it would have been dangerous to operate by inexperienced crews. The new design has to be a compromise between safety and heritage. In my opinion,free running paddle gear is a safety bonus,having come close to losing two boats on the Wigan flight,this year(heavily geared bottom gate paddles very slow to close)

[Trailer Hire]

Pass test before 1st Jan 1997  8.5 tonne MAM.    After 1st Jan 1997 Trailer over 750 tonne,total MAM 3.5tonne.  i.e. Pass test after 1st Jan1997 LR Discovery Max trailer 1,500tonne approx.Manufacturers can de rate a trailer to reduce MAM ie 3,500kg trailer could be de rated to bring MAM within limits. Dont forget that when you reach age 70 and renew your licence, unless you make application to renew under HGV rules and have a medical,you will lose grandfather rights for towing.

[Visionary Val]

No linear moorings on the Stroudwater. Cant see anything wrong with stimulating new housing, if the area was a dump before. Depends on the quality of the development.

[Visionary Val]

I enthusiasticaly support the Cotswold Canals restoration(From an armchair).  We have walked the Stroudwater Canal and Thames and Severn Canal as far as the tunnel,several times. The length now restored is one of my favorite walks. Much new housing stimulated by the restoration. The key to the restoration is the partnership of promoters,particularly Stroud District Council. The re instatement of the canal canal below Walbridge Upper Lock is one of the wonders of the waterways,in my opinion.

[Advice for Upper River Severn Please]

BE VERY CAREFULL AT DIGLIS. When you come down the river,you will have to go past the entrance to the Wand B Canal. Do NOT try to turn by the pontoon opposite the orange barrier. Go past and turn near to the lock. Then motor safely up to the pontoon.

[Caldon canal]

The river section can be a bit hairy. Went down once when it was bordering on red.Fastest our old boat had gone. Watch the gauge at the tail of the lock. Level can drop quite quickly.

[Caldon canal]

If you cant fit through Froghall Tunnel,the moorings by Thomas Bolton Copper works are a bit of an anti climax. Lots of walks from Froghall Basin. Long walk from Thomas Bolton to the elsan point in Froghall Basin. Since our last visit I understand a new operator has taken over the shop in the basin. If you moor at the end of the Leek Arm,it is a short walk past the scrap yard to the railway footpath. If you turn right and go through the tunnel,you will reach the end of the heritage railway. You can then walk along the mothballed Stoke Branch,if you are so inclined.  If you tun left at the scrap yard,you will end up in Morrisons car park. Turn right up the hill for good fish and chips. Note. The hight gauge at the last lock on the Froghall Branch is a bit pessimistic. But no chance if you have got anything on the roof.

[Trailable narrow boats?]

Also remember that if you have "Grandfather rights" you lose them at age 70 unless you make a application to renew them and have a medical.

[Incident at Fenny Marina]

My experience has been that a 2kg co2 is very effective at damping down a fire. If your priority is getting someone out of a burning boat,for instance,they can be very usefull. As the gas disperses,the fire may reignite,which is where foam and dry powder come in.  Cleaning up the mess made by a foam extinguisher takes some doing,but better than not being able to put the fire out.

[VDO hour counter V Durite, just as interest]

Tractor meters record hours run at a certain rpm. The reading is calculated to meet the engines need for servicing i.e.run the machine hard and the meter runs faster. No idea if the meters fitted to boats work the same. When the liquid crystal display on our Isuzu failed,we fitted an analogue unit. The hours recorded matched our log.

[Has it been a busy summer?]

Done a fair bit of cruising this year,including Huddersfield Narrow and Leeds and Liverpool Canals. Not busy at all,more a steady trickle .Never bother to pre book Stanedge,as we can always get a passage when we want it.(We dont cruise during school holidays). Wont be a problem for us,in future as we have sold the boat. Very sad,after nearly 16,000 lock/miles over nearly 45 years. Unfortunately, age catching up with us .

[Remove pump out]

Big and heavy and smelly. Measure it to check it will fit out the door. Do not expect it to be completely empty. If it was fitted before the boat was fitted out,may involve some carpentry. Make arrangements for disposal of the tank i.e.trailer to take to scrap yard. It will be heavy,even if you have managed to empty most of the contents. Couple of friends needed,preferably with Marigolds.

[trailer with surge brakes]

A tri axle is much more stable at speed than a twin axle. 3,500kg Ifor Williams behind a Discovery with a max gross loading and 150kg nose weight is comfortable at 50mph,in my experience. At 55 a passing lorry or a gust of wind can seriously unsettle the rig. As to the over run brakes,if the braking of the towing vehicle is not effective,then the trailer brakes will not come on. I have had many linen soiling moments where the rig does not respond predictably to my efforts to stop. American trailers have electric braking(From the towing vehicle) or no brakes at all. Dont know what the parameters are for over run brakes in the States.

[Weighing in batteries]

Just weighed in 4 100ah leisure and 110ah. Had £54. Few years ago you could not give them away. I believe it may be because of new processing plant that can separate the bits in an environmental way.

[Montgomery restoration]

I note the newt fences.  The section between Bridge 83 and 84,which is not yet filled to navigation level,is full of fish and has a pair of swans on it. Compare this with the remains of the canal in Newtown.(A sewer pipe). If I may say,Your photo is with bridge 84 behind you. I would be interested to know why these engineering works are nessesary at this point.Is it bad ground conditions? The section between B r83 and Br 84 is lower than the navigation level. Is this because of a leak?. Very exiting to see this work underway. Also,the railway embankment at Pant has been removed,making walking the towpath much easier.