howardang

Sorry, but i have more interesting things to do than cutting and pasting so I’m not playing that game, I’ll leave that to others. All I was hoping to clarify is that what makes a horn is effectively a whistle and I am sure I’ m sure you get the point. Howard

I understand that the canal rules follow as closely as possible with the Steering and Sailing Rules followed at sea - often knows as the Rules of the Road - where the definition of a whistle is as follows:- (a) The word “whistle” means any sound signalling appliance capable of producing the prescribed blasts and which complies with the specifications in Annex III to these Regulations. Howard

Just think of the time you will spend in vain looking for the perfect boat rather getting some experience by hiring, or even purchasing a less than perfect boat and finding out what you really need to look for - what is absolutely essential and what is a nice to have. Howard

Yes. Part of your licence conditions asks that you ill will comply with the Bye Laws. An extract of the Bye Laws:- Sound signals 12. (1) Every power-driven vessel navigating on any canal shall be furnished with an efficient whistle. The actual signals are well know and are set out in the Bye Laws which can be found on C&RT web site. Whether a boater agrees with this or not/doesn't agree with the sense of them or not is irrelevant. By purchasing a licence you have said that you will comply with them, and it is your responsibility to read and understand them. BSS does not cover such things but CRT Bye Laws certainly do. Howard

Many years ago - 1990's I think - we had a last minute hire from Braunston Boats (Balliol Fowden) and the only boat available was Binnenship - a narrow beam wheelhouse boat about 57 ft long. We had a week on board and had no need to worry about the wheelhouse, we were advised on hand over that the air draft was low enough to enable it to go to most places with no issue - in fact I don't remember now but looking at the photos I don't think it was built to enable it to be lowered. We have had a number of hire boats over the years and for my part it was one of the best we ever hired. Wheel steering didn't phase me because I was well used to that method of steering but my wife did find it a slight challenge at first but soon acclimatised to it. A great boat and I wonder if it is still around. Howard

There are two more you should add to your collection:- "When no lights you see on his masthead, full ahead and ram the ......d" "When no lights you see in front, full ahead and ram the ...." Howard

No body has yet mentioned the two clinchers for the Skipton route - Bizzy Lizzies Fish & chips and the Pork Pie shop. Two gems worth visiting Skipton for with the bonus of superb scenery as you proceed further westwards. Howard

Aint that the truth! Howard

I find this frequent mentioning of Chartered Engineer status as something that is to be respected when boats and boating are under discussion as slightly odd and not necessarily helpful. I know a few charted engineers but I don't think that one of them has ever been involved in canal and river boating and would be the first people to admit ignorance of the subject. I also have worked with many marine engineers over many years, and I have to say that most of them have a far better knowledge of most aspects of marine engines both large and small not to mention electrical and auxiliaries of all types. The vast majority as part of their training have been certificated up to and including degree level. That is one of the reasons why I am always wary of so called marine engineers on the waterways who sometimes can talk a good talk but seldom are able to walk the walk. There are exceptions of course but you have to seek them out. Howard

As can be seen from above, there is a widely differing range of experiences and advice on this forum and there is no definitive best" choice. It is your decision after all. Like many things in life you will need to sift through the various replies and do your own sorting out the wheat from the chaff. No one has the totally correct answer. When I started on the canals I was a bit like you although with a young family to take into account and I did have some boating experience from years of sailing elsewhere. As a small example of how doing too much planning can sometimes bite you in the bum, our first ever venture with a hire was with Silsden boats but many years ago (1978 to be precise.). After spending a lot of time making plans like you are doing etc we arrived at Silsden for a weeks holiday to find the weather gods had not been kind. In fact it was persisting down, and it didn't let up for all 7 days of the holiday with heavy rain all day each day. Despite this we ventured out and got as far as through the Fouldridge Tunnel before turning and going back eastwards, past Silsden and going as far as Bingley Five rise where we turned again and returned to Silsden, totally hooked on canals and have been ever since. For a long weekend trip please put reality into context: as an example, realistically you may not leave Silsden until mid afternoon 1st day, which would be too late for you to descend the Five Rise until the second day. Back up the 5 Rise on the 3rd day and return the boat on the 4th day. Personally, for a short break, I would go west towards and beyond Skipton, where you will find some glorious scenery ( I know I'm biased because I was born along this stretch!), but don't be too ambitious for your first trip. Enjoy the experience and like us you may become hooked. Howard

Each to his/her own of course and whatever you decide I do hope you have a great time. Personally, I found over the years that it is definitely not worth having too rigid a plan for a hire boat trip, and it can even be counterproductive. Weather and other delays can change any pre-planning and in my experience I got more enjoyment out of exploring what you find along the way, working on the basic idea of planning to turn on the return journey halfway through to trip. As a family we found that the occasional visit to a pub might be a great experience but over the years we got more satisfaction and enjoyment in eating on the boat more often that in pubs. Most hire bases should have some arrangement for groceries to be delivered to the boat to save you the hassle of taking stores with you. Of course it all depends on whether you have young people of board and is of course, like most things, a personal choice. You will be going along a beautiful stretch of canal so leave yourself a little time to admire the scenery or even to explore it a little on foot, rather that setting too ambitious a timetable. In my view the canals are better enjoyed at a relaxed pace rather than racing to keep to a rigid timetable. Whatever you decide enjoy your holiday.😄 Howard

Owning boat(s) good, no boat bad? Have read something similar before. Howard

For what its worth the thread is still visible on my PC screen. Howard

Seconds out, round 2! Pass the popcorn please. Howard

As a non-engineer I have always thought that the best tool for hitting a nail is a shifting spanner. Am I wrong?? Howard

If you want some more information, the Flag institute is based in Hull; their web site is as follows; https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/about/about-vexillology I hope you find it interesting. Howard

And the fish and chips are a million per cent better! Howard

Have you tried googling for crane hire, Kennet and Avon Canal? You may find some advice in the search facility on here. I presume that Aldermaston Marina cannot point you in the right direction for a suitable contractor. Howard

To complete the story, the third vessel is the Wingfield Castle which is berthed at Hartlepool and is open to the public with free entry. The berth is in the same dock as Hartlepool Marina - see the details in the link below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS_Wingfield_Castle Howard

We sometimes watch the tv programmes about policing and we often comment about how most of the work shown seems to be predominantly social work and also frequently demonstrates how the public have little or no respect for the police which to my mind is a real contrast to my memories of how the police were regarded when I was younger. I can speak with some knowledge because my father was a reasonably senior police officer until he retired and I spent most of my formative years living at or very near to police stations until I left home to go to sea. The modern police contrast greatly to my experiences of them in earlier times, and if some of the TV programmes showing them on duty are representative I am saddened by how they are disrespected by some members of the public, especially by younger people. Howard

Quite common on dredgers so you may well have seen then on dredgers on the canal network. Howard

For goodness sake, please stop the pipe dreams and be more realistic. I hate to say this, by the very nature of your questions so far it is patently obvious that with all due respect your journey to see the barge would be an utter waste of your time because of your lack of knowledge and experience. If you are really wanting to get involved with boats, start more modestly and don't waste your money on a pipedream. Good luck with whatever you decide but please think very long and hard and look at other more realistic ways of getting into boating before you make what could be an expensive and time wasting mistake. Howard

Not Ashley's book which is all hand drawings of the various knots and bends. It is a very useful and definitive bookshelf reference book but at times it is not the easiest book to follow, and it is not cheap compared to some others. Howard

This reply sums up many of the points which I was also going to say but I will only add that I do hope that you think long and hard before you spend a lot of time and money, not to mention potentially risk your life while chasing a dream. Yes, everyone has to start somewhere but please take some time to get experience of what you may be taking on. I also come from the same part of the world (Brough) and may I suggest that you may find it very useful to have a chat with some of the moorers at Hull Marina or at Beverley Beck, who may be able to give you some assistance and point you in the right direction. Finally, I would also say that around the coast you will find the remnants of many a pipe dream, left by people who had the same wishes but who found that they had vastly underestimated the need to walk before you can run. Good luck Howard