Opener

Still fondly remember the two foreign sounding newbies in a newly purchased Tupperware who overnighted on our marina before heading to London to live/work. Turned right into marina, right to go up marina, right into spare berth. Next day pushed back off berth, turned right back down the marina then 'left hand down'. Nothing happened. Turns out previous owner had been at the steering linkage and had reconnected it at extreme end of its travel. Much head scratching amongst locals trying to help them on their way.

OK - so the 'plain' end will open up when it is relaxed and pass over the knot. Pass it through the fitting and eye at the end of your rope or whatever. Back over the knot. Under any tension the plain end will close up its cores so that it won't slip over the knot. Am I on the right track? Someone said your soft shackle will give before any fitting it is tied to fails. How strong are they? I'll hold the boat on a centre line with a strong breeze from behind pushing it away from the bank - 50ft - can I hold it/keep it under control before the shackle snaps? I do fancy trying one.

OK now I'm halfway there. Afraid my imagination is not up to working out how you actually use one.

Always willing to learn new tricks - can someone define/picture a 'soft shackle'.

... and we all know how many head-bangers there are on the cut.

Apologies - not a direct answer but, for travelling through tunnels, I have a solar powered lamp - el cheapo from cheep shop. Stuck in the centre of the roof at t' front. If you can see 'the light at the end of the tunnel' line up the solar with the exit - advantage is it works automatically. Charges during the day and comes on as you enter the tunnel. Simple and lazy but that's the way I boat🙄.

I like the Ring RIL83 - seems to be available from Amazon. I've got a similar battery version from?? Aldi. Magnetic base, led lamp (including torch at the end), swivels in the middle, rubbery body so you can stick it anywhere metallic and point it virtually anywhere. Mine proved invaluable whilst stuck in my water tank so a tunnel should be a doddle!

Just finished repainting the roof so intimately acquainted with the state of the centre 'loop'. No paint damage visible since the last repaint. I use a centre line with a spliced eye at t'end. Feed eye through the ring then feed the length through the eye. I was surprised to see one regular vlogger attach a lazy line using a metal shackle. 😲 I also use centre line to stop/hold the boat while the croo does the lock/bridge. And as an extra mooring line - tied off to the outside handrail on the principle that scrotes can probably reach bow and stern lines on their cleats if they wish to set us adrift for a laugh but, to get the centre line, they'd have to negotiate the offside gunnel which we might notice.

You don't honestly think that they'll obstruct road traffic which can find an alternative route in favour of canal traffic which has slightly more limited alternatives???.

The clue is in the text. "Powercut" = ain't gonna work/swing.

Hmm! Noted. They've lasted this long so ....

Oops! Having re-read my comments perhaps I should qualify and say that I would suggest mooring overlooking the stables/field and not IN ........?.

Yes. At the end of the row of houses towards the bottom of this pic (have a look at this view again but move West) - there are some stables plus a small field. Very acceptable mooring if you don't mind slumming it a bit ?.

No evidence (visible ?) of corrosion yet although the munchrooms themselves show signs of chronic neglect. Beyond Brasso!!

Just been wielding the paint brush on the roof and noted, in passing, that my mushrooms are pop-rivetted. I was a bit surprised but, thinking about it, you will be pulling the mushroom firmly into place as you set the rivet, no rusting of fixing (aren't they alumin?), easy to drill out (soft), no screw slot or star to chew and they still look 'as new' on a 2003 boat. The only downside I can see would be if you wanted/needed to fit an extra washer on the inside to reinforce the fix.

Once you have your Nicholson's guide(s), pop along to one of those low cost stationery shops and look out for a translucent plastic box. I have one, embossed as 'Keyway' - it holds one guide open flat at the page you are travelling on, protects from torrential rain, prevents pages blowing over in the gale and you can read all about what you are about to hit.

Quite amused to watch a frequent vlogger explaining to a total novice how to go up a lock. ".. and what's that one there?" he asks. "Oh, that's called a ground paddle - you don't use that one until the lock is nearly full using the gate paddle" ?

Reminds me about the bloke who drowned in a vat at our local distillery. Supposedly a horrible death although apparently he did get out twice to go to the toilet ?.

OK I'm puzzled. We've got an upright Alde which is actually plumbed to provide hot water and space heating via a run of low profile fin-rads. If I could be bothered I'd isolate the heating circuit but I can get washing / washing up hot water in maybe 30 mins running Alde set to 3 or 4 and room stat permanently set high. Stoopid question - can you see the water level in the Alde header tank? Put your finger on the top of the pump when it is running - you should feel the shaft turning (and hear it running!!). How hot does the body of the Alde get?

Hey-ho!! That's boating for you!!?

What? Purchase cost or delivery??

According to SpaceX, the panels they sent up to the ISS last week are to replace the originals from 20 years ago - and they are flexible.

Yeah. Spent a night on a swing bridge mooring cos handcuff key wouldn't fit. Realised next morning that a 1/4" socket reversed fitted perfectly.

Stopped at one water point where there are two separate taps in a wall behind padlocked metal doors. This was BC (before covid). My long-time BW didn't operate either padlock. Good job I'd bought a shiny new spare recently! Nope - didn't fit. Popped round to a nearby hire base to ask if they knew the secret. Nope - no news but loaned me one of their known operational keys. Nope - no dice. Phoned CRT - nope, no solution. Fortunately, a nearby tap but a four mile round trip to wind. Moral? Even having the right key may count for nothing. That point doesn't have locks any more!

Huh!!? Some of us on L&L are glad to see a bit of the wet stuff. Seems like CRT were announcing relaxation of boating lockdown along with water conservation lock timings ?.