Up-Side-Down

By implication it would appear that Chertsey is on the moon. Explains a lot really ...............

That post smacks of misogyny! It also suggests that you've seriously missed the point of the OP's post and her reason for posting it.

Definitely very yellow - not dazzling, granted, but far from cream!

I've had a quick scan through the WW back numbers online is there is no mention of an article about The Stoker there. The listings go back to before 1999. Therefore most likely to be one of the other two waterway magazines published then.

Keith at Crowthers is your man - you really can take what he says about propellers as gospel. Yes, I am a very satisfied customer. Tel: 0161 652 4234

Hopefully the Anchor in DIGLIS BASIN will re-open to provide a consistently good pint of real ale, reliable food and an agreeable clientele.

A friend, having had much time to kill recently while waiting for the Severn flood waters to abate, spotted a notice at the Anchor stating that it was now being refurbished and will re-open soon.

Shameless bumping, but before this short thread disappears for good, I'm hoping someone who knows the whereabouts of nb Flemish Weaver will see it. Still the optimist!!

I was hoping to avoid bothering them 'cause I know they're got a lot on their plate. But it could become Plan B. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Well that's quite a diverse selection of boat builders - many remember the Brum Tug with great affection, though I didn't realise that Sam Cole was involved. The builders Canal & River Craft Ltd cropped in a thread at the end of last year when LoopyLou was trying to track down the origins of her boat. You again hit the jackpot by identifying that its original name had been Tyke and steered her towards Jim Shead's list: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=52032&page=2&hl=tyke#entry974319

I'd second all that ................. in conjunction with the aforementioned cape of course!!

As the above - but with the addition of a good quality cape (+hood) in foul weather. It funnels the heat from the Epping to the upper part of the body which it keeps dry. It also prevents rain, snow and the like from getting into the back cabin and heat escaping into the great wide world.

A couple of days ago – armed with very little useful information and therefore not expecting much success – I set out to trace a narrowboat dating from the late 1970's, then called Claragh. To my amazement, and thanks to the efforts of forum member Pete Harrison, exactly one and a quarter hours later I had a result. According to Jim Shead's list, Claragh is now called Flemish Weaver, was last licensed in May of this year and her index number is 68466. Everything else tallies. So my next question is, please can anyone put me in touch with this boat's current owners, or provide further information on the whereabouts of this craft? According to the list there is only one vessel registered with this somewhat unusual name.

Indeed 'what a result'. It's confirmed my belief in optimism - I'm just waiting for the owners of Flemish Weaver to step forward now! According to Jim Shead's list there is only one craft of that name registered. When I started on this quest I too was wondering about this very point. Could this boat (which must be around 35 years old now) have been scrapped, sunk, abandoned, cut up, or whatever. So what is the realistic life of a narrowboat? I'd be interested to hear people's experience. When I was first contemplating buying a boat I was told that 20 years was the expected life of a new steel narrowboat. Clearly that was somewhat erroneous information!

Thanks for the reply Dave. It seems that we're looking for a boat by the name of FLEMISH WEAVER now due to a name change. As a matter of interest did Brummagem Boats hire out any boats built by Canal and RiverCraft or did they build their own? From the details that Pete has provided I can see from Jim Shead's list that this boat was built by C & RC. There might have been another name change along the way or else B B just brokered the sale.

Thanks very much for that nugget of information Pete - pure gold. So she's called Flemish Weaver now and appears very much alive ...... and I hope well. Her previous owners will be delighted. Now can anyone throw any light on a 50' narrowboat called FLEMISH WEAVER ................................??

This is a real long shot – possibly a basket case in fact – though may be one that Dave Moore can shed some light on. So here goes: Brummagem Boats sold a boat called Claragh in 1982 to a couple in Stockton (Warwickshire) who then went on to have three boys – two of whom spent their early life on the boat – until the profusion of nappies forced the owners to reluctantly move on land and sell the boat! The details of the craft are somewhat sketchy – 50ft; painted green; Perkins engine; square stern/transom; square windows, opening at the top – probably of a hopper pattern. The boat had been in a hire fleet (having two bunk beds at the stern). It was possibly in the Brummagem Boats hire fleet, but briefly privately owned, before BB sold it to this couple. There is not a single Claragh in Jim Shead's list and the past owners have no record of the index number. For sentimental reasons they'd like to track it down if it's still 'alive.' (which it very well might not be on account of its advanced years). However, any light that can be thrown on this craft would be very gratefully received. Thank you in anticipation.

You're welcome. It's an excellent permanent mooring by the way!

Yep - those are my old moorings. The address is: The Paddocks Station Road Broadwell Rugby Warks CV23 8FZ You could sent it to Molly Rose or phone Ann Loudon - the owner of the moorings - on 01926 814850 and ask her. I believe this boat has only recently taken a mooring there.

Until recently I moored near Gibralter Bridge - but I could only cruise east or west from there! If you could be a bit more specific with a description of the location and appearance of the moorings I think I will be able to help as I still have several contacts on boats around there.

Because it was closed for a while (between tenants) and the number was disconnected.

Thanks for that - I'll see that it gets added to the appropriate boating guide!

Is this uni-sex hair cutting?

Within the framework of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) a non-tidal canal is Cat D. It is , however, very easy to get confused with the MCA helmsman qualifications for skippering passenger boats which work in the 'opposite direction' A - D.

I have used an iPhone in an all porthole tug for a couple of years now and a dumbphone for 10 years before that in the same boat - on the dreaded vodafone at that. Going with the simple solution I just prop the handset up in the porthole, turn on the loudspeaker setting, and stand there talking into the device. If I have an overwhelming urge to slob out, reclining on a bed/chair/whatever, I use a cheapy bluetooth hands-free thingy stuffed into my ear. Both are simple, cheap, cheerful and have worked everywhere in GB for me.