larryjc

Sure I've seen that lot on the K&A on more than one occasion.

At that rate it will take me at least 200 years to do the same.

As I even bought a camera with a special 'bird' feature to take multiple shots in seconds - the little sods simply hide and laugh at me from inside big bushes. We've been out weeks now and not seen one and that's on the Macc, T&M, Caldon, Staffs and Worcs, Fazely, GU and Oxford!!!

Or there's this one. Pickled young girl anyone????

Seen on the Thames some years back - a steered, powered floating Jacuzzi along with four rather cute young ladies - I WANT ONE.

Started at the Dog and Doublet on the Fazely at 0800 (earliest we have ever set off). Now 'accidentally' stopped on the Gower link at 1800 for scoff - the longest we've ever motored in one day. Gin slipping down well and motivation to go on to midnight slipping with it. Looking forward to the finish. Photo below of one of the classic BCN sights - pretty sure this was an 'ASDA'.

We got ours done for £1k last year including haul out. But we weren't blasted back to bare metal, only pressure washed as we had a bitumen type that you can two pack over. That was on the L&L between Wigan and Liverpool.

I just use a standard breaker switch in the positive line from the panels. - Needed it the other day when I had to remove them to get through the Harecastle tunnel!!

Haven't got it yet but I was talking to Lancing Marine today (who designed the PR gearboxes) apparently there is an article in the latest Towpath explaining how to replace a 120 with a 150. It seems that the dimensions are almost the same and they will bolt straight in as a replacement. However with the 150 you need to plumb an oil cooler in. He suggested diverting the return line from the engine cooling skin tank as the way to do it. This would should be pretty straight forward. I have to say I dislike my clunky 120 and if it fails then I will look at the upgrade - but as it isn't broken at the moment - I don't intend to fix it!

No override - you have to do it manually but once you've done the key presses a dozen times it only takes seconds.

I've got exactly the same set up but with 500w of panels and use those settings, the equalise, bulk and float ones being the main ones. I think I cut the equalise down to 1 hour. Four of those batteries are nominally 450 Ah but I put 440 just to allow for some degradation. You may find that the float charge is great for when leaving the boat but if the batteries are in daily use, ie discharge/charge then the tracer goes into float rather early. I often bang that up to 14.8 manually for a while just to ensure the batteries are really full I use the remote box for this - do you have one?

Just in case some have missed it the Macc is closed at Macclesfield. Apparently there is an underwater breach which has leaked into someones house. The section has been drained and they are now removing fish but are not sure how long it will take. So what with Middlewhich and Marple, this section of the system is looking bad. We were lucky and were past it the previous day but I feel sorry for all those who decided to go up to Bugsworth as an alternative to other routes which are closed.

Not in this case - this is in the area off Southampton water where large vessels are declared in restricted waters. The yacht skipper got in severe trouble over this.

To err is human - if you really want to f**** up - use a computer (as TSB just found out!!)

Er - yeah its the blog link in my signature block!!!!

Back to the boat this weekend and then a gentle 3 months travelling in 'Narnia'. Current plan is: Leave marina on the Macc at Poynton, down to Kidsgrove and Harecastle Up the Caldon - preferably both ends T&M to Fazely for the BCN challenge then a slighly slower mozey around the BCN Taredebigge to the Severn to Tewksbury Tewksbury down to Gloucester then back up to Stratford. GU to Napton then depending on timing either the Oxford or through Braunston and have a look GU Leicester section before new marina back at Dunchurch pools Anyone interested in our progress and weekly Sunday lunch assessments of canal side pubs - all will be on the blog - link below

As an RYA sailing intstructor (lapsed) I feel I known the Colregs reasonably well and the 'restricted in ability to manoeuvre' argument strikes me as the correct one except for two problems, firstly there is nowhere on a narrow boat to display the correct signals and secondly no one on the river/canal would have the slightest clue what they meant even if they could see them. I've had this issue - normally on the Thames where some twat/twats in a rowy thingys ignore every rule, even being on the correct side of the river but I work on the basis that I'm fifteen solid tons of steel and they aren't. Photo to illustrate:

Probably no harder than any other part of the network - its just locks and swing bridges.

Understood but why the limit of 7 boats if its not to limit bridge opening? When we were there last year I calculated that at least a quarter of the berths would always be empty. To my mind CRT are missing a major trick here - one of the best places we have ever taken out boat. Free electricity, free waste disposal , free berthing for 7 days and never full. From a boaty perspective - great. From a commercial perspective - utter madness.

Er - if its going to be that easy now - will they be able to police the 7 boats in/out per day?? Yes I know you still need to book but will there be anyone to check? Mind you I've never understood that policy as effectively the basin will never be full. I was told that it was to reduce the number of times the bridges were opened as at least one is on a route to a large hospital but that can't be right if they are allowing crews toeffectively go when they want now.

Totally agree with the idea that the boat will sell itself - happened to me twice now. However, during my last search I had the usual flight of fancy of buying a new boat to my own spec and then saw what the waiting lists were for most builders. Certainly, when/if I win the lottery I am not going to wait many months or years for my new wonder boat to be built. I will be lookiing for a really good second hand boat that either meets my requirements or can be easily tweaked.

Good advice all - thanks. The boat is a 57 foot narrow boat. I've checked all of the ones mentioned and prices vary from £2900 per year to £1950 (Barby) which is quite a difference. (Mind you Braunston was over 3 grand) Also Barby promise me they now have their workshop and slip up and running and I may need some hull work this winter. So its looking like them unless I can negotiate something even better with Dunchurch.

Thanks - just had a look and they are better situated for me but quite a lot dearer than the other two.

I need the collective 'wisdom' please. I'm looking at a marina at the end of this years epic cruise and want to end up at the top of the Oxford/Braunston area. I've looked at the marinas available. We only really want it for storage and occasional visits until our next leap off into the unknown. The two that seem best - because they are where we want and we don't need a remortgage to afford them are Barby and Dunchurch Pools. Barby were offering £100 per month for storage but apparently this may not be available from now on. I've read some 'interesting' things about Barby, indeed you have to read the web site a little carefully to realise that most facilites are a pipe dream. Dunchurch is a little more expensive but I spoke to the owner and he seems a really nice chap and is offering deals at the moment although still a little more expensive than Barby - but at least there will be facilities by the end of the year. Can anyone offer a view on the relative merits please?