X Alan W

In the days back & various volunteer groups restoring sections/canal lengths the "Digs" I was involved in always seemed to proceed better with less in those days BW 's case involvement the waterways set up always seemed to have a lot of chiefs & not many workers & the talkers /organizers always out numbered the doers ,with limited funds this if still the same it possibly is the reason of slow /no progress + the doer's get disillusioned at the lack of progress & being volunteers gradually drift away to possibly not have the place re filled I would guess the present more intense "Elfin /Safety"is a slower /downer with the need for the erection/fitting of more safety devices Before any one picks up on the safety I state I'm not against most of it but it takes a longer time to sort guess the claim society doesn't help in some ways C&rt is a prize example lots of office top end staff very few employed by them boots on the ground most jobs/maintenance /repairs sub contracted & lacck of checking if they are getting best bang for their buck& from following their antics it seems any thing other than boating gets quicker fixed more interest shown problem is it"s being going down hill for a while & I do wonder when the point of no return will be reached that will be a sad day

An emoji usually helps if that' s the direction you' heading 28 inches or measure from chimney collar long enough to let smoke pass over your head ,single skin if you want a hand warmer good chimney chain & eye or it's a certainty it will end in the cut red paint between brass bands if you wish to be a #1 depend t on the placement of your chain fixing eye may double up as a tiller string anchor point on that side

A good #of units would be suitable providing the drive pulleys are sufficient to produce the revs in the alternators working range most times it's bigger pulley on engine & smallest on alternator a member on the forum refurbs JP's he could iv"e no doubt advise

It was never a case of going to fast it was all about performing each task required in the most efficient manner with the minimum out lay of effort so14/18 hrs later you were still capable & not dead to the world with fatigue knowing tomorrow would be very similar

Around post 1963 with the demise of BW long distance fleet & other piles of assorted unloved/unwanted ex commercial boats leisure boaters of that time were into ex pontoons, ships life boats & the thought of getting afloat in 70ft of ex working boats was a real scare for other than a few. There were good #'s of wooden "joeys" & buttys along with the all metal or composite examples most boat yards were more into wood for hulls /cabins etc steel was in the future so the money was in cutting in 2 & in the case of a butty have a forward /backward bits with squared off transom sterns in the region of 35 ft 5 ft longer than the usual life boat but able to "do" the narrow canals & not scaring the "whotsit" out of previous life boat owners/boaters at that time that was were the money was for yards that were appearing + diy was possible to tun out a decent looking boat if you were a competent "chippy"as the fore end shape had been formed As time passed steel was seen as better for the hull & finally all steel became the norm of today, as said Mr Braine was viewed as a god like figure as he always seemed to know of available boats but he had no soft spots for heritage unless it was a money making excersize similar to Ernie Thomas if he took a liking to you enough to produce a boat for you .Lenny Walton & his son produced a quality BCN style narrow beam cruiser in wood sturdy good swimming & built like the proverbial

I was not looking for your sympathy or if you are impressed or not ,just explaining that had super outdoor clothing been available we could not have afforded it ,you were the one that took the mick out of me saying a duffel coat was a good for it's day cold/wet coat to wear(Note jacket worn by the steerer on page 2 )Why are you getting all aggressive I was stating the facts as they were at that period of time on the cut if you think it's of no interest or you have had it harder or whatever ignore my posts as is your prerogative there is no need to come back with a i've had as hard if not harder life so not impressed syndrome. I assumed possibly incorrectly that your icy /cold boating was limited but other than that have limited my posts to statement of fact of the way things were for us cut wise 58/72 not having digs at you

The fact that the modern walking /hiking water poof kit was in the future had it been available it would have been way out of our price range the last trip I did to the "Jam Ole "was from Pooly Hall in 1964 46tons on the pair If you were unloaded right away it was a 5/6 days return trip it was paid @£23/10shillings & sixpence if you had paper with trip details your diesel was payed for if it was a casual trip you were payed for 3/2rds of your diesel costs as the motor in my boat wa a "Seffle" semi diesel& the oil system was yotal loss I always had to pay for my lube oil that payment was for 2 people working Wife & Self & as I was the owner of my boats & a sub contractor I was responsible for maintenance/ repairs not till I got an extended contract with BW for carrying piles & concrete products did my maintenance get covered

In that case I apologise are we talking 14/16 hr days,7days'a week must get on boating ?& coats obtained from ex WD or forerunners of charity shops I guess there have been significant changes since the late50'searly 60's may I suggest a try of some of the practices from days past some work better than present day ways What ever you choose enjoy

Your hand rails are of the type fitted by Yarwoods working boats so yes goo would run down the cabinnside You probably realise that I have done very little leisure boating all my boating14 years was either working11years & Hotel Boaying 3 years

From that statement your ice/cold /wet weather boating is/has been limited

Has the beige coloured one picked up the wrong coat ?? I'm not to up with smaller dogs are they pugs ? whatever brand they look very well cared for& content Our black lab needs re coating she needs her lower strakes& around the bow redoing the whites showing through

Ray you'll never get any smoke out of the top of them they're supposed to sit on the range flue ?Tidy bit of kit you have there If they were mine I'd be scared to use them (frightened of mucking them up)

If your boat has std hand rails (not Yarwoods type) how does tar run down the cabin sides unless there is a rain drain slot by the chimney? could collect on cabin roof which if it does you are not running your fire hot enough used to be a wipe with paraffin rag but am informed that road film remover used by car valeting company's is now the way to go Only works with Black non powder coated dogs ?

As said stand on the foot board close the cabin doors behind you & pull the slide till it touches your body or were it feels comfortable boaters standard practice for snowy /frosty boating not forgetting kettle on range & tea pot or brewing kit within reach duffel coat with collar turned up & flat cap/trilby with rim turned down

'Nah "you don't want to do that you get dog/cat hair on the bit you suck?

Yes unless it's changed in the last year or so

Used to be possibly a couple in the Stockton & Blue Lias areas but may now be different ones

Like some of these budget carpet/furniture stores flyers advertise as xxxx per sq yard on the carpet roll in store it's xxxx persq metre or the "tother way around"

The only sure way of doing that trip would be on a truck

You would be struggling a bit with a full length 14ft beam boat more so with a load on the GU most FMC narrowboats were approx 1ton =i inch less dry side used to be how much dry side you wanted/could cope with, now it's water depth/lack of channel that would be the limiting factor

Different ball game they are in most cases self removing & usually end up in the cut

Long enough to keep the smoke out of your eyes when stood on the foot board or the regulation baby milk tin extension always used "ostamilk" brand