Dharl

Enjoy the drink much better if finished boating for the day...less likely to spill a drop so can relax that bit more.

Before we got the dog we did long days and only stopped for lock landings, but now with a furry crew member we tend to stop a bit more often.....though often aim for an early start and moor up about 1500 so we can get a good spot and also can open the bar!

Welcome to the forum! Sorry but don’t know much about Viking Boats apart from what you just mentioned, hopefully someone else can be a bit more helpful. Meantime enjoy the forum, lots of great info on here.

One thing I have discovered in last few years that if stopping during the day you need to pay more attention to mooring than overnight as you will have more boats passing you during daylight. When stopping for lunch used to just rig a head and stern line but then used to get more movement as boats pass, now take the extra minute to rig at least a forward spring and always have a happy none moving lunch!

As long as you remember to dip your lines ?

I do like the Reeves hull, look very smart indeed. Great place for extra T-studs on the shoulder there. Would consider changing the aft dollies For a pair of T-studs as well as would give more options when mooring up.

Share boats? Our boat is owned by 12 different families.

Exeter Ship Canal?

Sad news and condolences to the family. Whilst I never had the pleasure of meeting him and I enjoyed reading his posts and learnt many things from his writings. Fair winds and a following sea.

Another vote for the Pearson’s Guide, however as a rule we have both Nicholson’s and the Pearson’s on board. We did the ring a few years ago, clockwise so got the majority of the locks done in the first half. If you need to make time up Not having to stop for locks is a big benefit! We did it in 2 weeks, with detour up the Ashby and into Coventry as well as a couple of lazy days, but doable in a week with a keen crew! good luck and I hope you enjoy it! Agree what others have said about taking the first day easy whilst you get to know how the boat handles and the best way to work the locks as a team. Happy boating.

Glad you enjoyed your trip! Look forward to hearing of your adventures.

Yep that’s how we do it, going down the crew sets the lock, opens the gate then moves forward to the gate paddles. The helm steps off when the boat is in the lock and the as the they close the gate the crew starts to draw the paddle then the helm goes forward and opens the other paddle. on long flights of locks we change helm/crew every 5 locks or so, only different on working locks is SWMBO doesn’t climb lock ladders so when I am crew I don’t move forward to the next lock until the current lock is nearly completed and she can Safely step ashore to control the paddles.

sadly I couldn't

it was the video on CWNF that wasn't working, no link provided to Facebook or You tube page so was unable to watch the vid. Other people were able to watch it as they made comments accordingly.

that facebook video didn't work for me and maybe didn't work for @Laurie Booth either?

I think that is the crux of the problem, inexperienced hirer in a situation that they were not prepared or trained for.

Whilst Foxes did specify that the other boat was still under power or not, certainly there was a good chance looking at the results that’s exactly what happened, the hirer rather than knocking the engine into neutral for the change over, Kept it engaged ahead whilst they moved up to the upper conning position. either way a nasty shock sitting there in your saloon when suddenly another boat try’s to join you on the sofa!

Never paint over rust, that will look like you have solved it but will make the situation worse further down the line. It is worth persevering to get it all up, treat it, then paint it with a couple of coats of Red Ox. White vinegar works good as a rust remover as well.

I always get both the Pearson as well as the Nicholson, the first is best for canal planning whilst the later gives a better overview of the country surrounding and can help to put the canal into context. Both together really help to ,aid the trip. ?

Welcome to the forum and I hope that you enjoy your trip! I am not an expert on the Stourport ring an only have done the "Western" side of Birmingham with the Grand Union in and the Birmingham and Frazley out. However I would recommend getting some of the old fashioned book guidebooks as well to help with planning as well as also when out and about on the trip. We use a both the Pearson Guides as well as the Nicholson Guides. They are slightly different from each other with different Pros-and Cons and combined give a great resource for both planning as well as time aboard! Happy Boating!

further to above two replies, there is also a shared ownership Facebook group which might be worth you joining and asking similar questions. As @cheese says it might depend on which block of weeks that you need, some share boats operate on set weeks each year and if you join one of those syndicates at the early stage (carefree cruising offer this system I think though there might be others). The system on our boat is that owners pick different weeks each year (there is a changing list in order that everyone gets a turn at the priority picks over the years) and even when we had two shares in the same boat we didn't often have the opportunity to have a large block of weeks in one go! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1119638451491774

not quite the same, but a couple of years ago on passing Wolverton, a springer was badly moored and the bow line line was hanging down into the cut with the stern line just abut made fast. With the wind and the cut just there it was easier to push the boat fully round and make fast (the pin was on the end of the bow line, also had enough line to rig a fwd spring too) so when the owner came back their boat was pointing the other direction towards Cosgrove....

Well as others have said, it’s your boat so you can do what you wish with it. If it had been an ex working boat then renovating the boat would have to be done with an eye on its past. From the pictures I have seen of Thelma I would replace the wooden cabin with a steel one and then re-work the interior to your personal requirements. I have seen several boats (both former working boats as well as modern copies) that have kept the clothed area, but with steel plates underneath the cloth ( yes I know the tarpaulins) at that area is used as a modern cabin space But from the external still Looking traditional. enjoy!

Lol, that might be a little bit tight! Though the one in my avatar IS built for canals......the Panama Canal!

Thanks for all the input, boat has now arrived, our friends have already been on the boat and are singing the praises of the staff at the yard. We will be on board in a couple of weeks time and looking forward to it!