MartinC

Just to confuse you further you should find that your insurers are in fact Royal SunAlliance (65%) and AXA (35%) and Inter Partner Assistance (100%) for Section 9.

I notice that the only two subjects raised are cost and attitude to claims. Whilst the latter is important, judging on cost can be misleading. I wonder how many of those who changed insurers compared the old and new insurers wordings. At least one of the insurers mentioned here has a warranty requiring two competent crew at all times. There are many differences on many other aspects including, but by no means limited to, the definition and exclusions relating to latent defect. Most of those mentioned are not insurers but brokers or underwriting agents. For example Craftinsure use the Navigators & General as underwriters of their policy, but as an agent with their own book you will find that their quote may not be the same as a direct N & G policy.

I am glad to see that the Trust have tried to explain the real facts. 38 Degrees seems to specialise in dramatic petitions that are intended to create moral panic. I had previous dealings with them, on a petition about the NHS, where the petition demanded legislation which already existed. A Google search will disclose further examples of their conduct, particulary relevant to the current issue http://davidg-flatout.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/disabled-people-betrayed-by-38-degrees.html

There appears to be a wide variation of policy by local authorities. Some will only pick up from "highways", some from "public owned land" and some from "any land accessible to the public". Some include sea shores but nobody mentions rivers or canals. There is power backed by legisation for councils to make orders requiring occupiers/owners of land to clear waste, and powers relating to water pollution, requiring the polluter to pay, but nothing about who is required to remove dead dogs.

There have already been a significant number of objections from boaters but the application (13/01601/OUT) is still open for comment. The Council's "Senior Design & Conservation Officer" is supporting the canopy as a "bold statement".

I do not know the background to the present state of Wolverhampton, but I do know the impression I got from my first visit about seven years ago. On a first visit I usually go straight to the Tourist Information Office to get a walking tour leaflet. It was obvious from the Wolverhampton leaflet that they had a hard job to find twenty places worth visiting in the city, with the result that any other city would have been ashamed to have included some of the places suggested. The walk up from the canal had set the scene, row upon row of take-aways, sex shops, and dereliction.

As one of the problems seems to be noise have you thought about complaining to the environmental health department of your local council? Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 applies to machinery.

You are highlighting the way in which marine (and subsequently aviation) insurance has always operated in a different way. The type of motor claim you are talking about is covered by an agreement that the government "encouraged" motor insurers to enter into after a few problem claims. The marine and aviation insurance industry even managed to get excemption to a significant part of the Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010.

Average amount paid for policing, per head of population in England and Wales, just over £200 per annum.

CRT do need to get APCOA to sort out the signage. £60 if you park overnight but does this still apply if you pay the "longer term parking rate" by phone? If not how do blue badge holders avoid the penalty?

I am not sure that any form of self selection poll can be considered to be "decent", but I agree that "all internet polls" are flawed. Without verbal responses based on a statistically correct sample you have no hope of a valid result.

Shortly after the top of Wigan flight, 100 yds.in on the offside. None of my canal books mention it, but it appears that there was an arm here. Close up the viaduct looks very substantial. Any local boater able to supply information?

Must have been a bad day or we are lucky. Went up in June, shared 19 of the locks, rafted up to provide extra shore crew. Came down in early July and shared all the way with another boat that had waited about 45 minutes to see who would turn up. On one of the other flights going east not only did a CRT crew help us but suggested that we went ahead of them as they had two workboats to work down. I must say that I feel a bit sorry for the local CRT men who have to continue with those odd ground paddles that you pull up and down. I understand they are historically "listed", but it is rather like insisting that the railways continue to run steam engines. Should we have a preserved canal run by volunteers using all the old equipment along the lines of the various toy preserved railways.

I seem to remember that this situation also occurred at this spot about six years ago and BW obtained an injunction

Back to the topic. Currently on the eastern half of the L&L and the jury is out. Plus factors, lots of cheerful people on the cut and some excellent scenery. Minus factors, too many half empty pounds with paddle faults that have clearly been long outstanding, according to the locals and the failure of towns like Blackburn to recognise that there is more to valuing your canal than putting up fancy bridge numbers. A boater from Burnley has just advised us to get through Blackburn and Burnley as fast as possible!

Not yet quite done and dusted. 18 member states have voted against, 4 in favour and 5 abstained. The Commissioner can ignore this when making a decision on 5th June but only for a provisional period of 6 months, and, in the present situation, it appears that he might have a problem getting permanent ratification in December. If he goes ahead, in the face of this sort of opposition, it puts another nail in the coffin. It all looks like a bit of posturing. The USA imposed a similar tariff, but only to bring China to the negotiating table which is what has now happened. China imposed an export tax on the raw materials which brought home that a tit for tat situation was not in the interests of anyone.

You will no doubt get a lot of expert replies, but I have had an Eberspacher on my boat for 10 years and offer a couple of tips from practical experience. I have not found it provides an economic method of producing hot water compared with the boat engine or shore line immersion. Pipe work needs to be 22mm flow and return without too many elbows. A balance valve before the calorifier. Finally, corrosion inhibitor (in addition to anti-freeze).