X Alan W

If the townig boat is a narrow boat with 2 mooring dollies on the counter & the the boat requiring towing has a higher bow than than the NB' counter with a single mooring stud then "Cross Straps"s are the best way with the towed boats bows pulled up tight to the towed boats stern fenders

That would be the middle of the 3 you listed At the time I knew it it had a tired full length wooden conversion early 60's

Realise this is an old post Bert Dunkleys "Prince"was as said wood ,there was also also an Ex FMC steamer lived on by a couple who's name escapes me at the moment at the stables on the off side below the bottom lock at Audlem he had it as a very early Hotel boat around 60ish

Mr TM from your posts I gather that either you were/still are involved in commercial logging /tree work. I service saws & mechanical tree harvesting machines for a company in the Midi Pyrenees for wages & supply of fire wood we are required to plant 3 saplings space permitting on every total clearance tree taken on certain sites interested if the UK has similar regs ?

Sorry missed the Zero off stuff around us seems to depend on tree specie for #of harvests

My French computer is not always up with English wordingvyou probably know but it'a form of tree cutting tht laethe tre sttilllive&growing to produce possibly 5 or more goe's at harvesting the one/same tree

My neighbor & I were discussing the stack he had right at the back of his barn As best he remembers it was the first coop icing of the lower slopes to the N W of his property the best he remembers that was 20 years back this autumn moisture content at the moment is between 12/14 % 1i er

You can purchase a moisture content meter for not to much money this ban should it come into force is a not insurmountable problem or Joe (Metropolis) public but could be a BIG problem for a way out in the country liver I know that if I couldn't harvest & burn wood the cost of heating my home would be a great deal more expensive but as there are only 2of the 4 houses within a 4km radius used in the winter i guess we might be OK;

"Nostalgic"the photo of "Towy" at the Port the boats still belonged to Thos Clayton & the one of Mr Atkins was of course Charlie Jnr & his good lady shortly before he moved to look after the Farmers Bridge Flight & living fora time in the top lock cottage

Working the grey matter further on the subject of work clothes, these points came to mind around the early mid 50's when they (Gov )realized we were not going to have to oppose the USSR in WW3 they released a wide range of ex WD kit. A sought after item for boaters was the Great Coat excellent in the ways of keeping the wearer warm/ dry unless the rain was heavy & day long ,& could be purchased from Army & Navy Stores or Millets for 8s/6d /10s/6d 2 draw backs weighed a ton & were were a b***er to lock wheel in one using a bike ,around mid 50's a cut down hip length model appeared en quires via the tow path telegraph came up with the info the Wheelock flight lock keepers wife was the sewng machine wizard & would cut & sew the garment or 2 shillings or if you supplied the correct thread it was1s/6d This led to someway out colour schemes the most bizarre being a RAF GC with pink & kingfisher stitching a the longevity was so great by the time they were worn out the availability at an affordable price had passed there was a row of cottages near Big Lock in Middlewich 2of which were used to produce clothing & around 60ish was the first sight of the "Donkey Jacket as passing through the lock a guy used to appear with2/3 asking if any one wanted to purchase IIRC the price was 12s/6d I think it was 63 when I needed a replacement which I bought from a Agri outlet as it was 2s cheaper

Racking the old grey matter I can't remember any regularly employed boater weaning a red or other coloured "hankie" around their neck, silk or other upmarket materiel scarf + C Atkins Snr's quip "I'll have to polish me brass " he was refering to the front collar stud I have spoke with a few folk on the end of the working boat era they cannot get their heads around the lack of disposable income & were gobsmacked that some shops would not serve us

Cheshire rose you could if you are not aversed to men's clothing wear trousers of type that suits,shirt with collar & a gents waist coat this was my wife boating attire on suitable warmer days

Northern canals of 58/72 had no "official issued clothing some boots on the towpath wore B&B overalls ,or boiler suit, most wore what have been regarded as the std manual work ware .ISTR that branches of Army Navy stores in towns the cut passed through had sales of "Seconds "in clothing line summer/winter buttons missing needing a bit of stitching ( How the working boatman would have welcomed the Charity shops ) There used to be company's that collected & bundled "Rags" from rag& bone operatives a couple would let you sort through before shredding, often a good jacket pair of trousers could be found a good wash & OK for a few months Some got footwear at agri outlets or government surplus stores I used to get " Clogs"made a bit more expensive but always found easier to get comfy in than & "pre run in leather boots "Donkey jacket from mid 60 on with trilby or flat cap tried beret but didn't keep the rain of my face as the others did the limiting factor was cost rather than fashion & the fact that not all outlets would sell to you

Not a dog but my daughter had similar problems when under way with her Motor home /cat ,no matter what was tried In desperation they took on a rescue older cat who"s owner had passed & the problem was more o less cure overnight the net day journey the"wuss" curled up to the other cat has been fine ever since

So nice to hear that how ever small the cut is being used for the purpose it was designed as said small but then every journey starts with a single step

Is this Hobby Boater a new term? what please is the definition of a hobby boater & what guide lines are used to pigeon hole the various groups ?,My view would be allexcept the fuel &trip boats would be leisure /pleasure boats

I would guess the size shape of the boat is dependent on the location /use My thoughts on this are the owner with little experience isn't sure what they really want the initial thoughts stay put more or less so max size would be best then after a couple of years in much the same 2 or so square miles a wouldn't it be nice to move but the size etc. makes this a pain for owner & other boaters find it a pain moving or it' causes bad feelings I've met a good #of wish I'd bought so& so rather than the boat they own