haggis

Yes, you have to "think light" if walking on top of a Pat Buckle boat 🙂

Pat Buckle was not renowned for using thick steel. Copperkins, also built by PB had wavy sides below the gunwale and I understand that it has had to be rebottomed

This thread reminds me of what happened to one of our friends when we were on our way to the Festival of the Sea in Edinburgh. He had on his life jacket and while someone else was steering he was getting something out of the small pointed space in the bows. He lay on his front and worked his way into the space, which was a bit damp. His life jacket inflated and he was stuck and because he was not used to life jackets he didn't know how to deflate it so he stayed where he was till it went down a bit. He was glad that his life jacket was faulty and did start to go down😄. When we were locking into Leith Docks we, on our little Sea Otter, were behind The Matthew and when I stood in the bows the top of their rudder was several feet above me. Quite an experience.

And me

I don't know if you have ever been on this bit of canal but it is much wider than "normal" canals and the bridge keeper is quite a bit above the water so if he/she doesn't shout, you aren't going to hear him/her.

I must admit I like our folding tiller too. No more dodging under/round it. Even folded up it can still be used.

I expressed interest (but got no reply) but looks like health problems will rule out boating any time soon 😞

Yes, it involves making a paper template which fits the hole then getting a basin slightly bigger . Good luck with that!

Then all you have to do is find another basin with the same shape and size. On Copperkins, many years ago, the basin was needing replacing and from the Macclesfield canal we walked down to a shopping area and bought a new basin. It took a lot of ingenuity on Iains part to get the old one out and the new one in. We also bought a new double mattress and it was like wrestling with an elephant getting the old one out and the new one in 🙂

If the loo is full, time to get out the soup ladle and a pail and empty it. You can then buy a new soup ladle 😄.

He keeps referring to "private property" trying to stir up the argument he produces at every opportunity about boats in marinas requiring licences. It is so predictable 🙂

I think your cruiser stern deck is a bit different from most in that it is level right to the outside edge . Many have a metal surround which stands a few inches higher than the deck. And this prevents any water running off the deck

When we were out on kelpie in April the licence checker said that his notepad showed that the boat was unlicenced but he could see from the licence disc that it was. He took a photo of the disc and all was well. The licence had been paid about 6 weeks previously. The fact that we had the licence on display saved any hassle about it not being paid.

You going back to the Chesterfield or moving further south?

Although we never made it to a banter, we loved hearing about them and seeing the photos. I wonder if some folk are now a bit wary of attending in case one of the more verbose and opinionated members is present and hogs the show?

an advantage of a boat made from plastic bottles is that you would be able to see the canal through the bottom and watch the fish - and shopping trolleys.

I don't know how new an invention it is but ever since in my enthusiasm on my first ever canal cruise ( about 40 odd years ago ) I cracked up a top paddle in middlewich big lock and sent a boat careering across the lock I have always looked for some sort of indication that the skipper is ready. I was so embarrassed ( and so was Iain who had taught me how to work locks ) that it was a relief to be able to properly apologise later in the pub . Some thing you just never forget ! 😀

Yes, sorry! I was responding, rather belatedly, to the comments about the OK from the skipper on the boat in a lock :-). When iain and I are boating, like most couples we know instictively what the other will do and the only time I would look for an ok would be when the depth of the lock made it impossible for me to see if the bows are in the required position.

I don't start to raIse or lower a paddle for another boat till I get an ok from the skipper that they are ready for this to be done and that they are happy for me to do it . Ok, folk like Nick get their boat into the lock and into position quickly but not everyone does and I prefer to wait till the skipper is happy . Knowing how Nick dislikes anyone helping I can just imagine his reaction if I just cracked up the paddle 😀 Some skippers want their boat right at the back of the lock, some want it at the front and some the middle and only they know when they are in their preferred position. I would rather wait for an ok than be responsible for a boat bashing gates. Fortunately, the boaters we meet seem to appreciate this and it also gives them the opportunity to indicate half up etc. It is their boat in the lock, they dictate what they want to happen

Just had a text from halsall to say they will be at park farm on the T ,& M on 15th so they are on the area

I don't think you can boat to the "old end" at Frodsham now. There is a barrier across it now, I think. Shame as it used to be fun to see how far down you could get.

The Weaver is a beautiful river and it is worth spending time boating to both ends