TheBiscuits

You might as well carry on up the C&H and do either the Hudd or the Rochdale from there though. Although if you go up the Rochdale there are sharks, wolves, pirates, @dmr and @JimRiley!

Are you not supposed to halt in a stop lock?

There used to be a 64' boat local to here that did Wigan fairly often, but obviously could not share with another 57' boat. We shared Johnson's Hillock with him a few times on our 45'. You need to ride the tailgate going downhill, and you only get really wet when backing up to allow the gates to open. Waterproofing the engine bay is a good idea, and decent foul weather gear for the steerer is a must - you will get wet coming down many of the L&L locks - you will get much wetter doing Bingley 5 & 3 rises than on Wigan. We regularly boat the northern canals in company with a 60' boat, and there are no problem locks at that length. Don't forget that if necessary you can use a lock on your own and place the boat diagonally across the lock to gain an extra foot or so. In short, it's a great trip and you will enjoy it. As long as you keep an eye on cills that will be closer than you are used to you will be fine in the locks.

Yes. Quarter inch plate was common on the larger, later ones - 6.35mm in new money.

Try and improve the drainage if the existing deck rotted away. If it's the welldeck, consider a bit more angle for runoff and larger scuppers, and make sure you don't leave a standing seam that keeps water on the deck.

Automatic right of way at every bridge 'ole

Aye, it's grim up north! Wigan locks last Thursday: (Photo by John Shaw)

@Alan de Enfield's perennial favourite springs to mind ...

Both. The waterproof changeover switch is in a box in the cabin.

If you are unfit for duty through drinking you will end up before the mast?

For the twice a year it would get used, you might as well just replug the MC4 connectors. I know a few people that do this to get maximum voltage from the panels over winter and more shade tolerance during the rest of the year. I don't bother changing round, but then I only have one solar panel ...

It would be a rare thing indeed a good Allegro. Do you have the only good one they ever made?

The tailgates on number 11 (Lock 75) are difficult to close. This is the hardest lock to work on Wigan. Ironically, the second hardest set are the brand new tailgates only fitted last year on Top Lock (Lock 65). All the rest work quite well, although a few you might need a bit of a knack to work them best - fortunately the volunteers know the knacks for the locks and are happy to share their knowledge with you.

I'm not sure where the fear of Wigan flight comes from - it's a nice flight, and currently there are only two notably heavy locks in the 21. We do it fairly often and always enjoy it, even in the rain and sleet! There is a fantastic bunch of staff around Wigan, whether vollies, seasonals or permanent. We count quite a few of them as friends and see them at other places than Wigan.

There has been a complaint that nobody has selected Wigan. They're not my outright favourite locks on the system, but are quite a pleasant way to spend three hours and there is a nice pub at the bottom.

Duke's Lock is shut for work as well. I wouldn't worry too much though as @jonathanA only towed him 2 miles then left him, so he won't be at Adlington yet! I might be nice and tow him to Wigan when we go past him in a couple of weeks time if he is still there.

Yep. Gas systems on a liveaboard boat fall under the GSIUR gas safety regulations. Get a GasSafe registered engineer with the extra certificates for LPG on boats to fix it for you. You can either ask around for a local one or find one online by using the appropriate search filters (location + LPG + boats) on https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

I have heard of one or two boats - not all Springers - distorting on sling lift, but all the crane drivers I know all think it is down to operator error. If a boat is lifted in the wrong places it could happen, but unless the boat is completely scrap it won't snap. With a 30ft boat lifted on two 14" straps @juragirl will be fine - it's nearly sat in a hammock at that point. They will sling it inline with the aft bulkhead and just back from the forward bulkhead, and it won't even flex as it clears the water. Video it @juragirl if you will be present for the lift - it looks really cool. If you are genuinely worried, go and watch a couple of lifts at the yard before yours comes out.

You are very welcome