Hartlebury lad

My assumption is based on a possible engine failure on a river, and after deploying a decent anchor with a rope (both fit for purpose) failing to bite on the river bed and not arresting a moving boat. My understanding is it's not unknown.....shit happens.

Well......that was a hornets nest! On balance i have made a decision to renew. I think you can buy some peace of mind. Insurance is a complete waste of money, until you need it. On the subject of supporting local businesses, i have used RCR 3 times in the last 7 years, and each time it was a subbed out local contractor. On two of those occasions, i reckon i would not need to have called them out if i knew then what i know now. However, i can't easily repair or replace a starter, gearbox, or injector, and i certainly couldn't rescue my own boat off a weir in the event of an engine and anchor failure.

I have had a renewal notice this morning from RCR. Although i have reasonable ability to deal with boat problems, I find the bit of peace of mind for longer distance cruising, especially on rivers, worth it should disaster strike! Maybe not this year though. Standard email asks if we have had peace of mind whilst cruising, blah de blah, and to do the same again this year. We have barely done any cruising since last March, and this year is still uncertain to say the least. It's funny how they seem not to have noticed or mentioned this, in what must have been a very profitable year for them in this aspect. Stick, or twist?

I have had these on top of the roof and also in the gas locker. In truth, after a while the pimples break down and they gather or hold even more moisture anyway. So who is going to plasma cut the gas locker top off the boat then and make it good? Still looking for someone trustworthy near Nantwich area?

Well, i don't feel so good now! The boat is going nowhere for a while (lockdown) but when it does, it is going straight off to be welded up, after i have put a temporary sealed cover over the hole. it will have a low water tank, and nothing in the locker! Thank you for all these contributions so far everyone. The stainless steel water tank is behind the hole in that bulkhead under the deck below the cratch. I will be looking at getting the gas locker floor and bulkhead plated. If my regular welder chap can't do it easily, i am open to suggestions from anyone on here. The boat is in the Nantwich area. Happy to travel a couple of days.

Thanks chaps... That already makes me feel better and makes a lot of sense. I am particularly glad there is a void under the floor! No escaping the fact that the top bow area will need cutting open. Temporary patch over the hole, and i will get onto my welder contact. I always thought those rubber mats cause more problems than they solve too ......

Well, after not inspecting the gas locker properly for about 4-5 years, i am now paying the price for my neglect. A complete clear out, and removal of rubber mats reveals this nightmare. The white spot is the "drain" hole, and the floor is pretty poor. Most worrying is the gaping hole - which didn't need much prodding with a screwdriver to make itself known. Its on a bulkhead, with the water tank a couple of inches behind it. It isn't great in the other corner either. Meltdown! A few questions .... 1. Is the floor of the gas locker likely to be below the waterline or will it have a separate skin? I have scraped a fair bit of rusted metal off it. 2. The hole in the bulkhead- is it an urgent fix in terms of structural integrity of the boat? I am sure it would fail a BSS re: proximity to the gas bottles. 3. How the hell can a welder get anything done in there without hacking off the top bow area of the boat? The boat is a 1996 Evans and Son Trad. Thanks in anticipation. (Sad face icon thingy .....)

After a number of years with no complaints about going too fast past moored boats, a recent trip from Nantwich up to the Peak Forest yielded 3 critics - Marple ( slow down, idiot, hooligan!) Hardings Wood (Wanker!) and a withering sarcastic shake of the head from some miserable sod near Ettily Heath as i passed by at close quarters as i mouthed "hello". All looked like permanent/long stayers, and were extremely senior citizens, and were in narrow sections as i passed window to window. I was told by another boater who tracked our route that he had had similar. I am convinced there are many online moorers obsessed with moving boats actually moving, who would be even more angry if you collided with their badly tied up boat due to being unable to steer because you were in neutral .....

Brownie points to Richard and Ruth. Mountbatten.

I always try to use the fuel boats whenever possible. If the fuel, "coal", gas, even Elsan is a few pence dearer, i want to see these hardworking folk continue to make an honest living in increasingy difficult times. Having said that, i am now only going to hail one out of the four i have used over the years. Their keen but careless approach when coming alongside had cost me a telly, a fairlead, and numerous external dinks and damaged items inside the boat. They seem to forget they weigh in tonnes more than me. Mrs HL has given me enough earache. I cant afford a second divorce. Sorry guys. No, wrongly , i didn't complain. No, i am not a "shiny boater" .....

My friends had a similar boat. They suggest Canal and River Craft of Sowerby Bridge, who apparently ceased trading around 1982. the Shells were made by someone called GM in the midlands. Look for number welded on the stempost in the front cockpit. Hope this helps ......

Here'es another helpful pic in happier times!

Greetings knowledgeable ones... I have a 1996 Evans and Son Trad, and it had a full repaint 8 years ago. Due to personal circumstances, i have been unable to lavish much tlc and most of the windows need attention. Hopper windows, with a tilting top pane. Leaks and bubbling paintwork.I cant afford to replace them yet. 4 of the 7 badly need sorting. I have already taken one out, thankfully it came out easily, with long ss screws going through the hull into the wooden frame behind. There was compressed neoprene gasket behind the frame, which brought off the rust and damaged paint. I sanded it to the metal, put rust treatment on it, and then a coat of Bonda Primer. I may then put on Craftmaster primer, a couple of layers of undercoat, and lightly fit them back temporarily this summer before removing them again for 2 topcoats within a couple of weeks. I cant do them all in one hit. Two queries .... 1. Can anyone identify the maker - i need more of the sliding lock assemblies, and seals. ( Seals Direct will certainly have some, i know) 2. New 12mm x 3mm neoprene seems order of the day -thats what seems to have been fitted- surely i can restore with basecoats and refit the windows and not apply full pressure to the screws until after 2nd removal and topcoats? Heres another pic . Thanks in advance ....

We moored our 55 footer there easily a couple of years ago. It was all very much overgrown on the path to the old basin, a secluded short amble away. The little bridge very much stuck fast. Keep it our dirty little secret. It is fair to say that there are not a lot of good mooring opportunities on the Monty. Half a mile or so after Queens Head is doable and àlmost out of earshot of the A5, between the first two locks. Decent Armco piling about a mile before Maesbury Marsh and very quiet - as there is just before and also about a half mile after Maesbury Bridge. Its all pretty much down the far end.

3 pages. The first four words in reply to the OP must have encouraged him greatly. Since then ........?

Yes - front of the boat near the first bollard .... Exactamundo Mike, especially on a breezy day .... Cheers Iain ,and these comments collectively makes me feel vindicated, as if i was at least indulging in good boating practice! Still learning after 6 years. Cheers chaps x Report post #69

Yes -Middlewich does have an air of grumpiness and possible conflict. Here is another conundrum .... We descended the top lock onto the 90 degree turn opposite the dry dock going to go into the middle lock. There was a boat just about to leave the middle lock coming up, so in order to facilitate his passage up, i stayed on the left, tight on the sharp bend, holding a centre line, scraping my own boat, but allowing him an easier turn (albeit on the "wrong" side) into the lock with a wider turning passage. I made polite small talk over the roof, commenting on how his bow thrusters must come in handy on such turns, and he responded with growling something along the lines of " would be a damn sight easier if you were on the right side" - i disagreed with him .... The volockies were saying he was moaning about stuff coming up the lock too. I simply don't understand why some people choose this way of life, or leisure pursuit, when they clearly dont seem capable of much in the way of civil behaviour or good natured communication. The guy was a typical example of the breed - sixties, stocky, follicly challenged with grey goatee, sturdy replica "working boat" (with bow thrusters?) and shouting instructions at his poor wife from the back of the boat .....

The winding hole at the end isn't the easiest to use. A bit silty and sometimes craft on the wharf shrinking it, particularly on a breezy day. It's a lovely trip - pretty enough and traffic free - but decent moorings are not frequent. Little in the way of clear areas. Some ingenuity needed, but i have to keep secrets secret! Either side of Maesbury bridge probably offers the best "proper" mooring.

Very good post from DMR We are on the Weaver now at Vale Royal after checking out the Middlewich branch repair yesterday. Chatting to a lockie today and he mentioned the accident. Its a pity, but at least no one was injured or worse. We were talking about CRT, and agreed that in general they do a decent job in enabling us to continue doing what we enjoy the most - or at least the lads and lasses on the ground do. I sometimes think a lot of folk fail to realise how incredibly difficult and expensive it is to maintain such a vulnerable and fragile system......

Thank you both. I found this link on a previous thread that made me think, because it specifically mentions the Platinums and the Varta in the article. http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/battery-technology.php I have just realised that this thread may have been better placed on the Equipment section. Mods, feel free to shift it over there please if so.

Thats good all round advice from Jennifer. Our new 10 week old cocker Bertie will be on his maiden voyage tomorrow with big stepsister Bella. Lots of pads, disinfectant, and patience for a while. I would also mention crate training. We take no chances on long busy lock flights, and especially in tunnels. In they go, safe and sound. You dont need dogs under your feet halfway through Harecastle .... I am sure the potential owners will have necessary common sense. Dogs generally love boat life.

Hello all. Well, it is time to replace the bank of four! They were fitted by the previous owner in 2011 and i took over ownership in 2013. I have been either on the marina pushing power into them via a Sterling inverter/charger or cruising regularly for up to 3 weeks at a time. I have been flogging on with them since, and they have done really well considering i once left the fridge on with the door open for 2 weeks unattended, and exhausted them completely. Despite a subsequent obsessive power conservation regime, it is time to wake up to a charge reading of over 12.1v. The barcode suggests they are Platinum LB6110L's and given the fact they have done well i thought i would get like for like. My inkling is though that the Platinums' longevity is more down to my (generally) careful regime, and other batteries may be even better. I am tempted to get some Varta LFD90's, which have a lower rating of course, but seem to have good reports and will fit. They are even a bit cheaper and a top branded name. Is a good 90 better than a "regular" 110? Tayna stock both, and i live locally to collect. I was also considering similar Banner or Exide. The most critical aspect is any replacement must fit in the box and take the same cabling - see pic - i am not in the mood for extra aggro and expense in that area, although the existing batteries are a pretty much a standard size.

We did em once (up - does it make any difference?) and were on course for easily about sub 3hrs with our friends setting some locks early am in front of us. Lock 20 something got clogged up wirh debris and a CRT man on a quad sorted it and we relinquished our record attempt! Its not a race but it still can be fun. We did Grindley Brook 6 in 22 mins mob handed once as an exercise with lotsa crew. We also do leisurely as default....

https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/store/category/1882/product/fk-028.aspx Then there is this?

Aye- its the roof collar aspect that bothers me. Hadn't thought of that! There is no back boiler.