TheBiscuits

I did my high school work experience with the TV detector vans, they worked well back then. Favourite story in the office was a visit to a house where a woman was just dashing out on the school run, and told the chap in the van "Sorry I'm running late, but my husband will be back in half an hour, and our TV licence is in the top left hand drawer in the desk in the lounge." TV bloke goes back 40 minutes later. TV bloke: "Hello, TV licencing, I believe your licence is in the top left hand drawer in the desk in your lounge, may I see it please?" Husband: "F***ing Hell! I didn't know your vans were that accurate!"

No, the problem with that lock was the drunken eejits trying and failing to cross the head gates (which are in a direct line from one path to another) instead of walking to the curvy bridge 80 feet away. It's a shallow lock (boat deep). Jump across the roof of the boat if you don't think you have time to go round the head gates.

Thanks for the clarification Nigel. I knew they didn't report them, but not that didn't bother with them!

Technically it's a breach of the bylaws, and carries a criminal conviction and a £100 fine. It's not something CRT report the way they do Section 8 court cases and seizures.

Or indeed marker pens and a bit of paper and stick them in a window. There is a requirement to display the number, not the official plates or stickers.

If you have never vacuumed before, it's no wonder you need a new carpet!

Looks like a roll-flat hosepipe to me, just next to the anchor. Unless the hozelock couplings are a new method of attaching the rode ...

Until we can't buy red diesel anymore and then you'll be paying £1.50 per litre for diesel ...

Consider a tarp or a rubber sheet to cover the entire deck. Easy to remove when you need to get to the engine bay, and stops water flooding your deck.

It's being identifiable and having to buy a licence that upsets most of the stealth boats ...

Agreed. That's what mine has, and it came with a full set of spares. I'm still on the original set after two years, but check they are all fully inserted and haven't come loose in transit. The courier's van that brought it to you was probably harder on it than the ship that brought it halfway round the planet!

Photos & travelogue please.

Duck noodles to load, that sort of thing?

It's a bit annoying, but as you haven't launched your boat yet it's no biggie. The day you get there if it's still there that would be very annoying. I'd untie it and then retie it securely in a place not accessible from either bank, but I'm nice like that.

No. I mustn't.

I like the authenticity of a badly overgrown lock landing with a fisherman on it.

@NB Esk

That is the origin of the "London Whiteout" look - paint everything with white paint so it looks like a flat on a property development programme. I detest the look, but do understand why people go for it. I use magnolia ...

Hmm. Does that mean you would suggest a larger fuse than the expected load, for example a 350A fuse on a circuit that might surge to 300A occasionally? Like I did a page back (Obviously the cables need to be able to carry more current than the fuse, but for an inverter installation you want thick cable to avoid voltage drop efficiency problems.)

Added: Crossed posts with @dmr. I think we are both saying the same thing - you will fit if you are both clever and patient! The critical technique is being able to tuck behind a closed gate going up, as that gives you an extra 2 feet or so, but all the Rufford locks are wide so it's fine. You will get wet going down though - make sure you don't let too much water in the back of your boat! Going down, just take your time. The cills are rounded not straight, so you need to to have the bow in a corner and the stern in the middle, but without snagging on anything. If in doubt, close the paddles! For what it's worth, I would do it in a 63ft boat, and if you are doing it before the middle of May drop me a PM and I will come and help if needed.

Rubbish! A local boater used to have a 64ft boat and regularly did Wigan on it. They have been known to ask you to skip a position in the queue if they can share two 57ft boats on the flight, but you will get the next slot or you will share with a (much) shorter boat. To be honest on Wigan Flight there is rarely a boat to share with unless you wait a day or two, so you would be fine. On the Rufford Branch, I have only shared once in all the times I have done it. It is not a busy waterway! At 62ft6in you will need to go in through one open gate and tuck behind the other closed gate, but that is not a complicated thing to do. The published limits are generous for those that don't know the more advanced techniques, so they can just come and go without thinking it through. We have shared a 60ft boat and a 45ft boat up the Calder & Hebble where everyone says you can't get more than 57ft through the locks. I think there were 2 locks we couldn't quite share.

The larger rated fuses will fit in the holder when it blows. Your Sunshine should have internal fusing - mine does!

BY ORDER OF THE DIRECTOR OF CLAYMOORE NARROWBOATS LIMITED PENDING LIQUIDATION ONLINE AUCTION NARROW BOATS, MAINTENANCE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Narrowboats Gryphon – 2008 36ft Seated Day Boat constructed by Liverpool Boats, Steel Hull, Thorneycroft T95 Engine Mock Turtle – 2000 36ft Day Boat constructed by Liverpool Boats, Steel Hull, Thorneycroft T95 Engine Beeston Castle – 2004 56ft, 6 Berth constructed by Liverpool Boats, Steel Hull, Beta 43 KC 175A Engine (1,914 hours), Hydraulic Drive Norton Priory – 2000 65ft, 8 Berth Constructed by Liverpool Boats, Steel Hull, Beta 43 KC 175A Engine Consall Forge – 2005 66ft 6in, 10 Berth, Steel Hull, Thorneycroft T95 Engine Tools and Equipment Karcher HDS7/10 4M Pressure Washer Kipor KDE 6700T Diesel Generator 5kVA Dewalt DW706E Mitre Saw, 240v Metabo Elektra Bekum HC260 Planer Thicknesser Metabo Elektra Bekum TKHS 315 Table Saw Power Ring Trade Charger 55T Battery Starter Osaki 24Ltr Compressor Quantity of Tools, Parts, Spares & Accessories View Lots & Bid General Notes Conditions of Sale ••••••• AUCTION VENUE: THE WHARF, PRESTON BROOK, WARRINGTON, WA4 4BA Viewing: Tuesday 26th March 11am – 2pm (By Appointment Only) Closes: Thursday 28th March from 10am Collection: From Tuesday 2nd April 0345 257 2533 View Lots & Bid PLEASE NOTE - WE NO LONGER ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS