Oilybob

I was down there for first time at the start of the month was really nice, the only small not so nice section being just to the north of Leicester. So much junk in water,picked up bit or sari around prop...how apt. Apart than that really pleasent.

Ah right I did not realise the bypass wipers flowed into the ground paddle outlets but that would explain why so much air was bubbling up out of them, being sucked down with the flow. I also had no issues with the size of spindles but was using a 'dual size' windlass. It would make sense that the new gate paddles are two small to cope with the inlet flow...

I noted this thread with interest as I was up and down the flight last week, and we'll if the ground paddles on lock 12 and 13 where changed during the stoppage they leak really badly. 12 was the worst and took ages to empty on the way up but where defiantly worse on the way back down. I shared the lock with two much more experienced guys on the way down and needed to keep both gate paddles wide open and took two of us to get the bottom gate open as it was not possible to do as the lock just did not want to equalise the pound and lock 13 where so full as the bottom gates on 12 where not closed by the last going up. Water level was only 2cm from top of lock walls. The metal patches on the walls did not cause any grief mind. Rob Nb Eos

Having just had a couple of weeks in a hired boat singlehanded and thourghly enjoying it, I had heard a couple of people mentioning this event during my travels, I reckon that it sounds a real good wheeze... have a good indepth poke around Brum.. Given that I dont have my own boat.... Anyone still looking for crew member to join them... I can swing a windlass(i need the excersise), make tea or at a push make bacon sarnies... If anyone would like to take me on as crew then i would like to hear.. Rob