boatsandsteam

Excellent. Thanks

Thank you all for your recommendations. Compton lock would appear to be the consensus.

Picking a hire boat up from Autherley junction on Saturday afternoon in 10 days. Intend to go south down Staffs and Worcs. Where would be a good safe spot to moor no more than 2 hours south of Autherley or am I better to stay at Napton Narrowboats base on Saturday night and start on Sunday?

Did you get there yesterday to ask in person? Just interested to know as we hope to go through the Bratch in 10 days time

I have just received the following message from CRT:- Thank you for contacting us about the stoppage at Lock 23,24,25 the Bratch, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. I just checked with the project team and they confirmed that the navigation will open on Friday 18th March as scheduled.

We had two Narrowboats in Aynho weir lock. Ours was 62 feet, the other was around 45.

With current Covid, does anyone know the current opening times for the Watford Flight - specifically the last week in September. Many thanks

Hi robtheplod. Have been through Blisworth a couple of times and not encountered any problems on the sides. You will need something waterproof on though especially near the north end.

Thanks Nick and Arthur. Appreciated.

My wife wants to visit the Emma Bridgewater factory in Hanley. We will be going up the Caldon canal in May. Can anyone suggest safe moorings around the Hanley area as have heard Hanley Park may not be a good place to overnight. What is is like during the day?

Does anyone know how to change the bulb on this fridge? Cannot see a way to release the plastic cover. Only have scanty manual which makes no reference to same.

I have a trad stern narrowboat. All the engine boards and flooring is varnished, but is starting to look tired. I intend to sand down back to bare wood and re varnish. The question is 'which varnish?' The varnish has to withstand footfall and the elements as with rear doors & hatch open it is subject to sun and rain. I know I want gloss. Midland Chandlers seems to exclusively sell International. I have seen others recommend Ronseal, Rustins and Le Tonikois. I don't mind paying extra to get a good product that will last - but if I am paying extra I would like the confidence that I have made an informed choice. Grateful for peoples thoughts and recommendation. Thanks

Can someone confirm the max size boat which can use the winding hole just north of bridge 59 on South Stratford at Wilmcote. Many years ago it was 50 foot max. No notation on Nicholson. Trying to avoid the last 16 locks down to Stratford. Many thanks ( I am 62 feet)

Hi magnetman As MoominPapa says there are several on eBay. I have not chosen which one yet. Having read everyone's replies I think I will go ahead after the pump. Thanks to all who contributed Hi magnetman As MoominPapa says there are several on eBay. I have not chosen which one yet. Having read everyone's replies I think I will go ahead after the pump. Thanks to all who contributed

I am thinking of buying a £20 water flow meter off ebay to measure litres of water used. Anyone done it? Is it best to install between tank and pump or after pump - or does it not make any difference. Are there any reasons why I should not install one? Reason for doing it is because when I have my daughters on board, I am never sure how much water is left in the tank and running out would put me in a bad place. Thanks

Thanks Sea Dog. That would seem to tick the boxes. Thanks BlueStringPudding. I too will be interested to see opinion of others in respect to possible long term damage

Jabsco recommend the use of their own Toilet Fresh Clean as a chemical to put down the bowl to reduce odours and not cause any damage to their seals & equipment. I don't have an objection except their chemical is not cheap. What is the experience of others. Are some toilet chemicals/cleaners more effective than others - but more importantly, which ones cause the least potential damage to the macerator seals and are thus most user friendly.

​I may need soon 4 new domestic 12V batteries 110AH. I am a light user - weekends and the occasional week on the cut - otherwise boat in marina hooked up to mains charger - which is also a 3kw invertor. So I look on ebay and come across Alpha batteries and their Xplorer range at £75 - 4 year warranty. I then check Alpha's own website and under boat batteries the same battery has a 3 year warranty. Under Narrowboats, the same battery has a 2 year warranty. So I am now confused and turn to the wisdom of this site. Would people recommend Alpha or is there a better alternative and does the use determine the warranty period?

Am in process of buying a boat. Queried with previous owner if they had every had problems with water in diesel tank. They said no because they always used a 'Fuel Save Diesel Additive' on every fill. Anyone throw any light as to what this additive might be?

Have just bought a 62 Foot boat. On an old copy of Nicholson, I have written a note that the winding hole by bridge 136 at Fenny Compton is restricted to 50 feet. On subsequent copies no restriction is mentioned. Can anyone clarify please ( I am aware the watering point could get in the way) As an alternate, how does the Marina view a quick wind in their entrance? Thanks

I have hired boats for the last 10 years and made the decision it is probably time to buy one. I am not looking for a liveaboard, but for something to cruise in 2 - 3 months of the year. Have been looking around the secondhand market for something less than 15 years, sleeps 2 +2 on occasion with the usual extras to make it comfortable between 55 - 60 feet. The good ones that come up seem to go very quickly and seem to be circa £55 - 60k. Bearing in mind additional expenditure which maybe needed (blacking, external paint job, surveys etc) got me looking at 'off the shelf' new boats (Northwich Boat company for instance) at around £70 - 75k as these would come with warranty and 4 years BSS with little expenditure required in the short term. If I were to go the new route, I would be grateful for the views of this forum as to which boatyards offer a good 'standard' product and boatyards I should possibly leave alone for the type of boat I am looking for.

Am thinking of doing a short break from Braunston to Stoke Bruene & return. I know there is a winding hole just south of the Blisworth tunnel, but I have also seen on Youtube a boat wind just above the top lock in Stoke Bruene. Is the latter adviseable? permissable? If yes to both, what is the max length? The only other alternative would appear to be to go through the flight and wind at the bottom which is a significant time constraint- unless anyone knows different please.

Many thanks Phil, Churchward, Tom and Bex, Bruceinsanity and Ally. It seems if we go up through Watford flight on Saturday, down Foxton Sunday we should be fine. As you say it will be the coming back. I assume if we come back up Foxton on Tuesday morning that should be fairly clear. Wednesday will be the heavy traffic day back down Watford flight in the afternoon. As you say Ally - time for tea and a chat - it is not as though anyone is in a hurry!! Tom and Bex - yes the locks stay open (or did in 2013 according to Google) for an extra hour in direction of show traffic - which on Wednesday would be down. My main concern was getting through Crick itself - but you have all put my concern to rest there.

Am intending to hire boat from Napton on 22 May for 1 week. Had intended to cruise to Market Harborough. However, with the Crick show on am having second thoughts. How busy are the Watford and Foxton flights likely to be? How easy is it to navigate through Crick with the show on?

Just out of curiosity - did you buy the boat in the end or did the number of hours put you off? I am only asking as I have a similar situation. Thanks.