TheBiscuits

I'd guess from the demographics that there's more boaters get paid by the state than not. You do realise that the state pension is a benefit don't you? In fact it's more than half of the entire benefits bill. I'd further go out on a limb and say that those in receipt of state pension who can afford a two hundred grand boat are having it considerably easier than those who just about managed to get hold of a "project boat" and get Universal Credit. It's not just green eyed envy, and before the personal attacks begin I'd like to point out that my predicted date for receiving the state pension has now been pushed back three times. It's likely to get pushed back again, and to be truthful I'm not expecting to ever get it. There's not been a corresponding discount on my National Insurance or income tax either!

That's a very interesting turn of phrase if there is going to be a clear commercial difference between types of licence ... CCers having precedence at locks and the right to move home-moorers on from visitor moorings based on a premium licence is going to be interesting!

Most dry docks lower the water level rather than lift the boat

Importantly, the Sterling 60A B2B takes max 60A from the alternator/start battery, delivering around 45A to the domestic bank (or 30A/23A at half power) The Renogy 60A takes around 90A from the starter/alternator, delivering 60A to the domestics (or 45A/30A at half power) All figures are taken from the relevant manufacturers manuals, and there's a reason I opted for the Sterling version ...

Quite. My diesel bill has been higher than my licence cost for most of the time I've owned this boat. The COVID lockdowns reduced it a lot when we were asked not to move, but other than that it's been higher. I gave up my previous mooring after paying for it for four years but only spending a continuous 7 week period on it (once) when the canal was closed. I could have been on the visitor moorings opposite for the same period without upsetting anyone - in fact a couple of years ago I did exactly that for four months! Not taking the Mick, the pound was closed due to water shortages in both directions. I was first through the lock the day it reopened.

So just to confirm, you'd prefer the volunteer that usually does the angling taster sessions to repair the lock instead of waiting for the reactive repair & maintenance team? Odd.

So which current job would you suggest stopping work on so they can do this instead?

You seem confused. The licence fee above-inflation rises apply to all classes of licence not just CCers. If you don't want to pay the CC surcharge, get a mooring. Simples! Thank goodness you've left then

My old Seagull smoked like that too!

There's been a contractor on a weed boat for the last couple of days above Johnson's Hillock, clearing a lot of the stringy stuff out. Presumably they'll be doing or have done more areas too.

And the electric boat discount remains. So ideally you'd want an electric narrow boat with a home mooring. Oh, wait ...

Lousy beer. Not been back this year so no idea if it's better/worse/under new management/turned into flats ... Depends on what you want from a mooring. I quite like mooring near the golf course at Haigh Hall, but it's a mile and a bit to anywhere if you need anything. If you're dashing for home you'll not have time to amble around Haigh Woodland Park anyway. The VM at the top of Wigan Flight is as good as anywhere if you want a quick start the following day. There's also a bus to Wigan Central (https://wigancentral.bar/) if you mistime it for the festival.

The Bridge was dire last year, not been back since. Chorley has a better selection of alehouses and good pubs, and is only another stop ...

Train from Adlington, two stops ... Yes, Bolton Wanderers ground. Usually around 150+ different cask ales as it includes the SIBA North West regional competition.

Shame that, there's an enormous beer festival at Middlebrook from the 12th ...

@IanD make sure you're out of the Yorkshire region before @Midnight gets there. Based on his track record there's going to be three breaches, a collapsed tunnel and a landslip preventing him getting back to his mooring! 😁

I've never really understood this heating by calendar thing that some people do. If it's cold, warm the place up a bit. Admittedly there are some who run heating/stove just to avoid putting a jumper on, but when you're considering salopettes it's not being a wuss to warm up! You're not obliged to keep it in until April just because you lit it once. I have seen some people stick a couple of large candles inside the stove to get the cheery flicker on a dank day. I might have to try this to see if it fools me into thinking it's warmer ...

Stop canoe/kayak, climb out, either pick up boat or deploy portage trolley, walk to other side of bridge with canoe, put back in water, climb in again, set off. I challenge you to do this in under 2 minutes for a standard L&L swingbridge. That's what you are calling snails pace. In practice of course, most canoes/kayaks/boards just lie down and go under the bridge if possible, but some of the bridges have big girders and sticking out bolts underneath them. It's a liability CYA exercise from CRT.