sparrowcycles

Cool, thanks bizzard, I'd hoped there'd just be another plate somewhere that would say for certain but that's just me being lazy Out with the chalk then!

Hey folks, this is probably a silly question but is there an easy way to determine the ratio of the reduction box on my JS3? It says 3R on the side which I assumed to be a 3:1 ratio but I have since read that all JP (or S) reduction boxes were badged 3R, is this true? Thanks!

That's amazing. Reckon I'd have more than one gear myself but love the 'clutch'.

Ah it's you! Now I have a name to fit the boat! It was good to cruise with you. Having had both an sr3 and an st3 I should have remembered, the ST has way more power.

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143170666642 Ive seen this on a thread recently, like the bow. Not many Uxbridge steel barrel co boats around.

I did a few locks with Belfast coming back into London with Yeo, I believe it has an SR3 in it so would suit the engine swap theory. Lovely folks they were. Oops just read the rest of the posts and the story became clear!

You could buy Paragon.. I went past it and it still has a little sign on the top.. much less of a dent on the wallet

Ive done a good few gravity systems with the stove up the front, if you definitely get it running up hill, even when the water tank (if it's at the front) is empty, and there's not too many 90degree bends etc it'll be fine. Most rads have 1/2" bsp threads so Ive used 1/2" to 22mm compression fittings into and out of them so the pipework doesn't have to reduce to 15mm into the radiators. And I always start with the return pipe, to make sure it's got a nice flow back with no need to rise up to the back boiler. The only issue is that the rads can end up quite close to the gunwale due to the pipe angle.

I'm mainly interested in the stretch that goes from the dock itself towards the school and am looking for photos of boats moored there from as long ago as possible. I'm aware they would almost all be working boats back then. I do have an amazing photo of a steam dredger there with some willow wren boats in the background.

Thankyou, those really are very interesting and show the area I'm looking at perfectly. I just realised also that the remains of what seem to be a circular courtyard in the cauldon canal park are actually the base of an old gas tank! Much appreciated. S

That's a great map! I didn't know there was a basin under what is now the car park. The bit I'm most interested in is just south of this map, it'd include the bone mill of which the tiny arm can just be seen at bottom centre. Thanks!

Hello folks, I'm currently moored in Stoke on Trent at Etruria works and it has got me wondering about how the whole site used to look back in the day. Does anyone have any photos, particularly of the pound just the other side of the footbridge which adjoins the bone and flint mill, currently there seems to be an overgrown area there but the canal widens and it must have been a wharf or lay up place at some point.. Andddd.. while on the old photos theme, I'm looking for photos of the fields either side of charity dock when they had boats pulled up there, If anyone has an image or two of that that they'd be happy to share I'd be very grateful. None of these are for anything online or to be shown on any way, just my own interests in the sites. Many thanks!

Thanks i wanted to say just that

Hmm I couldn't see any evidence of that when I passed but the cloths were all ripped and you could see into the hold. She looked more solid when I passed a year ago.

Cool, it was looking a bit sorry to me compared to when I last saw her.

I just went past 'Lily' the other day, do you know what's happening with her? I have a friend who is looking for a nice josher if it was perhaps available to buy..

Ah now I have a face to the name! Yes, until I take the engine out I definitely have the option of just moving one boat at a time, certainly flights and the like I reckon I'll be doing that. Thankfully the Trent and Mersey above great Heywood has a few single locks spaced out pretty well for some practice! That's a good tip about the shafts, I will make sure to keep them in place!

Agreed!

Thanks, if I find it difficult I will certainly ask. At the moment I'm happy to learn a new skill. Quite likely by the time I'm ready to go down to Birmingham I'd be up for any help at all!

That certainly answers my question, have any actually gone over a gate? Great photo!

Thanks, that makes good sense to keep the motor right there if possible. Yeah I remembered that closing the gates was a real mission!

Hello folks, in a few days I will collect Prince and after a few more days cruising him back to where Yeo will be I'll be towing up to Preston Brook and then back to Birmingham. I've towed on cross straps before with varying degrees of success so thought I'd ask here for any tips on good time before the day arrives. I'm particularly interested in pulling up to locks on the narrow canals.. those places where there always seems to be a small plastic boat moored super close to the lock landing! But any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

What's that then?

And Grus is sunk just below hanham lock where the Kennet and Avon ends.

Weren't some found to be too deep in draught to get under the bridges when empty?