cuthound
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Posts posted by cuthound
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11 hours ago, MtB said:
Ever winded at Fenny Compton? There is a water tap smack opposite the winding 'ole.
I can't remember what the sign says is maximum length for winding is, but my 68ft boat used to just about get around when no-one is unhelpfully filling their water tank.
No doubt the sign says MAX LENGTH 25ft.
Is that the one opposite the Wharf Inn (previously known as the George and Dragon)?
If so no, as my boat is 60 foot so I didn't risk it.
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2 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
😂 😂I was once given that treatment, although they didn’t actually make contact but revved and swore a lot,
top of Foxton Locks,
parked up with my arse just hanging in to the hole,
two short boats made a fuss out of principle,
I think I replied with some sarcasm about turning a 50’ boat in a 70’ winding hole does take some practice.
Yes, hands up, I was in the wrong (just a bit), but still reckon 70’ boat would have managed to turn 😃
Glenn, there is a difference between slightly overhanging a winding hole and mooring slap bang in the centre of it!
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On 04/07/2025 at 15:08, koukouvagia said:
I periodically trim the foliage that obscures our local winding hole sign. Not that it helps much because thoughtless people still moor in the middle of the winding hole.
I always make a point of coming into contact with boats moored in winding holes when winding even when there is plenty of room, only gently mind you.
It often results in the owner coming out, all guns blazing, who then back down and claim they didn't realise it was a winding hole when confronted with the evidence.
Perhaps CRT should insist on a recent eye test as well and insurance and a BSS certificate before issuing a licence.
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4 hours ago, Mike Todd said:
To a large extent in 'government contracts' the government is the customer. It is the private enterprise contractor who underbid to get the work who runs over schedule! Or where the 'rules' change part way through - like requiring bat tunnels!
I've project managed a few government contracts on behalf of private contractors. Always poorly specified (great for the contractor, who combs the specification for "extra's" before quoting ans, as you say, plenty of last minute changes throughout, all of which as to the costs and timescale.
Why the government doesn't pay for a company to produce professional specifications and employ a professional to oversee the work is beyond me, it would save billions over the years.
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19 minutes ago, Machpoint005 said:
The Civil Service writes stuff (or re-writes technical stuff by People Who Know) so as to avoid loopholes. Mostly they successfully prevent know-alls from doing stupid things
Ah, so that explains why it is unknown for government contracts to finish late or go over budget... 🤣😅
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3 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:
Much lower than a share boat and some of the high millage CWDF members who do 3 to 4 engine oil changes a year.
My intension as a continuous cruiser is to clock up enough miles putting me well over what the CRT requires. Say 5 miles a week 9 months of the year and 3 miles a fortnight over the 3 winter months. 40 x 5 + 6 x 3 = 218 miles or 100 propulsion hours.
That's what many of the marina based boats manage and better than many continuous cruisers manage, although there are more than a few exceptions.
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On 04/07/2025 at 07:59, mark99 said:
Otters in my little bit of river here. Have them on trap camera a few times now.
Are you otterly sure? Stoats are stotally different but weasels are weasaly recognized... 🤣
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On 03/07/2025 at 17:24, Gybe Ho said:
Another CWDF member is clucking nervously as my re-launch date approaches and I have delayed posting this question.
Given a just purchased secondhand narrowboat boat still ashore post survey, should I repack the propshaft stern gland regardless? The boat has a standard bronze greaser and I have yet to burrow my way to the end of the engine compartment to eyeball the stern gland.
The surveyor was happy with the propshaft after inspecting it and giving it a good shove. No freeplay can be felt.
To avoid the inevitable confusion, by "repack" I mean extract the old square wax wadding and replace setting the 3 section of wadding 120 degrees apart.
My boat has about 10 years usage by engine hours and there will have been little static battery charging engine hours.
How much is an average hours usage?
Both of the share boats I co-owned averaged 1100-1200 hours a year and the boat I bought had averaged 50 hours a year when I bought it.
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On 03/07/2025 at 12:52, matty40s said:
I would normally stick a plastic bag over a boat prop going back into the water.
Not only will this keep it clean, it will also allow you to practice your weed hatch moves for when you finally cruise your boat to its brokerage for sale.
I once got a fertiliser bag stuck over the prop on our first shareboat.
Took ages to cut the ba*tard off... 🤣😅
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3 hours ago, Grassman said:
Yes it's a day when local IWA volunteers help boaters through the lock(s) and aim to make people aware of who they are and what they are about in order to try and recruit new members, as well as raising some money through sales of cakes and merchandise.
In the midlands IWA Lichfield Branch do this once a year at Barton Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal (4th August this year)
Whew, I thought CRT were trialling clockwork locks... 🤣
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Personally I would use Sikkens on the roof boxes.
I have used Sikkens on my garden gates and cratch board and it has outlasted every other finish I have tried. Over 5 years to date without recoating.
I used tung oil on my quant pole once, I put in a coat of tung oil every a day every day for a week, then a coat one a month for a year, then a coat once a year after that, but it still failed (grew some kind of fungus) after 3 years.
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8 hours ago, moe313 said:
Hello everyone,
i am fairly new to the world of canals and have recently taken up walking along the beautiful Coventry Canal near Alvecote. On one of my strolls, i came across an intriguing old structure hidden in the trees on the towpath side not far from the Alvecote pipe bridge and just before the marina.
It appears to be an abandoned loading area or platform perhaps once used for industrial or transport purposes. The entire setup looks man-made and now partially reclaimed by nature. The surrounding woodland adds to the mystery.
I am curious,does anyone know what this place used to be? Was it part of an old industry or transport route? And is there a known name for the woods in that area?
I do be grateful for any historical context or insights.
If you mean the brick lined bit between the towpath and the woods near the winding hole, it is an old transhipment basin.
If you walk along the path towards the WCML you can follow the remains of the railway line embankment that used to serve Amington Colliery and see the remains of the brick support for railway bridge where the canal narrows.
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20 minutes ago, Markle said:
Thanks Tony. It's a reservoir/expansion setup, so I don't anticipate needing a pump. Good shout about the antifreeze/water mix - I've heard people say 40%, which seems on the high side to me!
I initially refilled my Webasto system with 50% mix. The radiators refused to get hot.
I drained it and remixed it to a 25% solution and all worked well.
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56 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:
Now that’s a company I’ve heard poor things about, with regards to the quality of boats they broker. Based at Fradley Junction.
They used to be called Great Haywood Boat Sales and I have heard many people say bad things about them.
I bought my boat from them, simply because they had the boat I wanted at the price I wanted and found them thoroughly professional.
I guess all brokers can have good and bad days. It really depends on the sales person you are dealing with.
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3 hours ago, Lily Rose said:
We went there 10 years ago as a stop-off on the way to our first viewing elsewhere which also turned out to be the one we bought. I didn't want to buy the first boat we saw and going via Whilton enabled us to easily and quickly view 4 or 5 other boats first. I would not have ruled out going back to buy one of them, had we really liked any, but we didn't. It was a different story when we saw Lily Rose at a different broker and we knew straight away we wanted it. Going to Whilton on the way had helped us make the decision to buy and we have never regretted it.
Price had nothing to do with it as all boats viewed were in the same price bracket and at least one or two we saw at Whilton were dearer than the one we bought elsewhere. That was also with a much-derided broker, one whose name has since been changed and it no longer uses initials beginning with a G.
Oddly enough I bought my boat from the unmentionable broker.
They had the boat I wanted at the right price (after negotiation) so despite the comments on here I bought it. They were professional and I have never regretted my decision.
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15 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:
Oh dear Gybe, one reply does not a stampede make. I think you find many of these threads have a response advising going to Whilton as they have plenty of stock and give you the keys. Actually come to think of it when someone suggested that recently you caused a “stampede” (of one) criticised them and pointed out others marinas do this too.
Indeed, Myself and many others have recommended them simply because unlike most brokers you can ask for the keys to several boats and peruse them at your leisure.
It helps people decide which features they like or not, this helping them to decide what is important for them when choosing their boat.
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42 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
today,
Kings Norton Jn,
I have a feeling that that unofficial sign will disappear before the week’s over 🥸
I'd be surprised if many people take their boat out of the water to maintain it there... 🤣
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20 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:
Its a lovely boat and you will notice a marked improvement compared to the stock you viewed this weekend at Whilton. No one would put a cherished boat on brokerage at Whilton.
When I began looking for a boat in 2013 I visited Whilton so that my wife could get a feel for different sterns, layouts etc before we bought.
Much to my surprise Whilton had a Steve Hudson boat, "Lechi Da", for sale at £90,000. It was in very good condition. However the vast majority of the boats for sale there are at the middle and lower price bracket.
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3 hours ago, MtB said:
I suspect the physical size of them in a space-restricted narrowboat is another issue. Also, I think motorhome units go in the roof, and people might be reluctant to cut big holes in 4 or 5mm steel roofs. Also if they go on the outside, air-draft for gtting under low bridges on the cut becomes a problem.
Terry Darlington had an air conditioning unit fitted to "Phyllis May" when taking his narrowboat to the Indian River in the US, but of course he was cruising longish days to avoid the power issues. Not sure how many low bridges there are on the Indian River. I can't seem to find it in any of my Nicholson's guides...
As an aside, does anyone know why so many boats are called a girl's name followed by May? Just what is it that these girls may do?
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4 hours ago, Russ T said:
Erm, I think that was the Borg. The Vogons had constructor ships
Typical, any thread discussing boats always ends up in a discussion about borgs...
Pumpout, cassette or composting, whatever floats your boat.
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46 minutes ago, AJLElectronics said:
Your rust spots may be in the surface paint from stray metal particles rather than coming in from the hull.
Many moons ago I had a Citroen BX, which used composite materials for the bonnet, roof and tailgate to save weight.
A few days after returning from a hire boat holiday I noticed tiny rust patches appearing on the parts made from the composite material. I guess that someone at the boatyard had done some angle grinding near my car and the hot metal particles had melted their way into my composite panels and begun to rust after it next rained!
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56 minutes ago, GUMPY said:
Only just realised that😱
No that is what it was generally known as in the early 70's 🤣
53 minutes ago, Mike Tee said:Worthington White Shield - delish!
Back in the early 70's I used to brew my own beer. White Shield and bottled Guinness were both live ales from which I cultured my yeast.
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On 27/06/2025 at 13:50, dogless said:
"Blackening" ?
Do you to pay to insult and demean your boat ?
Rog
That word, increasingly used by new boaters, especially those who make YouTube videos really grates with me too.
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1 hour ago, pearley said:
You forgot Double Diamond.
And Whitbread Tankard (that name made a wonderful spoonerism
)
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Birmingham & Fazeley Water Levels
in General Boating
Posted
Can't CRT revoke his licence and Section 8 him?