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RAB

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Everything posted by RAB

  1. From the video I can't see this re-opening for quite a while. A big big job.
  2. Was planning to go this way in late March. The stoppage notice sounds quite ominous, in terms of potential timescales for rectification. "Due to heavy rainfall, a significant landslip on an 18m high cutting has completely blocked the canal and towpath. We're working with our contractors to develop a plan to start to clear the large trees and debris from the canal. Unfortunately these works are in an awkward location, meaning it could take longer to resolve. Taking into account the popularity of the North Oxford Canal, as recently noted by our lockage reports, our priority is to re-open navigation as soon as possible. We'll aim to provide a further update on Friday 23rd February, once our contractors have assessed the situation." Just wondered if anyone had any photos / updates and or guesstimates on corrective timescales. I know CRT will hopefully update on Friday but interested in members views. Especially given their statement "Taking into account the popularity of the North Oxford Canal, as recently noted by our lockage reports, our priority is to re-open navigation as soon as possible." ???
  3. We sometimes used Hydrogen as a fuel on Industrial gas Turbines. Like Tracy said "a pig to contain". We were working at 30 bar pressure so it can be done (all St.St pipework and fittings with seals having improved surface finishes etc. One positive, if (when) it does leak, is that's it's lighter than air, so wouldn't collect in bilges etc. Although needs venting obviously.
  4. Have a few days on the boat in a few weeks and planning a short trip down the Grand Union from Braunston. Question is which route. We've never done the Northampton Arm having been slightly put off by summer tales of weed and water issues. I'm assuming at this time of year, and after all the rain this isn't a problem at the moment? In addition what is mooring like near the bottom of the flight (we would wind here and then head back)? Our other option is to go through Blisworth tunnel to Stoke Bruern and then wind and come back (I'm aware the canal is closed at the top lock, but assume access to just above this is OK).
  5. I believe all the Carefree AGM's are now via Zoom only.
  6. We went on a non RYA helmsman course, guessing 12 years ago. Won't mention any names but the chap was excellent, but I believe, wasn't RYA approved as he refused to only teach the approved RYA method of mooring (i.e. bow first, crew get off the bow, tie up the bow, then slow forward to pull the stern in), think I've got that right! His view was how many people really do that, especially as a lot may be operating single handed and if your about to enter a lock someone has to go back through the boat to close the bow doors. He therefore believed they should also be taught how to moor by being able to step off the stern first. Regards the RYA training bit is this true/false (or has it changed?) does anyone know? Anyway bottom line, in my view, is that good experience is better than bad practice from a training book. PS the training doesn't stop me from making a right hash of mooring up occasionally 🤔
  7. We're members! It all seems to work well for us. Yes sometimes syndicate members complain, about the management, but overall they do a very good job considering all the different views of a syndicate. AGM's seem 100% better now they are done via live meetings, and voting issues (such as paint or curtain colours!) seem to be resolved reasonably quickly via e-mail voting, at least for our syndicate. Also more syndicate members are present at the AGM's now which I think helps. We been in two different syndicates and the range of members inputs varies considerably from those that are prepared to get their hands dirty to those that just want to turn up and have a pristine boat ready for them to use for four weeks,or even those that are happy just to go with the flow and contribute no real input. In my view thats one of the good points, lots of different views. It is clearly more expensive than a privately managed syndicate, and some of the costs for doing minor work does wind some members up but overall we believe it's worth it and they do a good job.
  8. Dramatic local news headline "Man found on Ledge of High street bridge". Also seems a bit of over-reaction by emergency services (if speculation is right - two fire engines, four divers, water rescue, at least 8 police and high street closed. Admittedly help was needed to get chap and boat out of there. I guess good practice for everyone. Based on all the journalistic detail (link below) my own speculation, at this point in time, was boat couldn't make headway due to fast flow (can be wild through there) or engine issues, so chap tied up and moved onto ledge to get attention or ponder course of action (also probably because he had too much clutter on the bow to get to the front 🤔). Interesting to find out the full facts at some stage. On a serious note hope the chap and boat are all well. https://mylocal.co.uk/lincolnshire/feed/138992
  9. I might be wrong but not sure which managed share syndicates will be able to give you 2 blocks of 2 weeks for a four week share. You should almost always get one two week slot but the other weeks will be individual with at least one in the winter. Would be interested to hear if there is a managed syndicate out there that will guarantee 2 x 2 weeks. Guess a private syndicate might do it?
  10. Topic peaked my interest , mainly due to a past life having to use a hydraulic drive systems as a starter for large engines. I quickly googled pros/cons on using hydraulic drives on narrowboats and the following previous thread came up, which you may find useful (not fully read it myself yet). Also I apologise as not sure how to put a direct link to the thread🤔. If you use the search feature you may well find other similar topics.
  11. Intrigued by the red and white paddles! Understand you open the red and then the white but do you have to wait for the water to reach a certain level before opening the white paddle , or a time, or just straight after? Also is it exactly the same whether your ascending or descending? Never been on that part of the Grand union and saw a u-tube blog, but it wasn't clear. so my inquisitive mind is now pondering how it all works with the side pounds. I did a quick search but didn't find anything directly answering my pondering's!
  12. Suspect our planned trip to Oxford next week is scuppered! Does anyone have a more detailed idea of when the repairs to Lock 29 (Banbury) may be completed? All C&RT state is "Repairs are in progress". Also Lock 10 (Napton) was closed briefly this week for an inspection (blown cill, I think), no update from C&RT yet. Does anyone have any updates? Is it likely to close shortly? Many thanks in advance 😁
  13. Apologies for not being clear. Yes entrance above the lock. Many thanks for all your replies.
  14. In next few weeks planning to travel down the South Oxford and spend a day in Oxford before heading upstream on the Thames. Potentially hoping to moor downstream of Osney Bridge, heard reasonable things about mooring there. Question is can you wind a 58' narrow boat at the entrance to Osney Mill Marina or do you need to go through the lock? Any other mooring advice in the area welcome. Many thanks for any guidance given.
  15. For those that know or have heard of Ray’s achievements /record keeping. Well earned I’d say. https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2023/03/man-given-lifetime-award-for-rescuing-worlds-oldest-steam-excavator/
  16. Thanks to all the replies. Managed it today but had to initially get close to the Indian chief to achieve it (failed twice from further away!)
  17. Anyone know the max length that can turn at the water point outside the Boat Inn (opposite the museum) at the top of the locks (assuming no boats mored at the water point or opposite). It's not marked as turning point but I will be coming through the tunnel and staying the night before turning round. Rather than reversing back it would be nice to wind here and fill with water. As always many thanks in advance.
  18. Just made it out the marina in time, thankfully we turned left! This was 14:50 last Sat (4/6)
  19. Hope I've not making myself look an idiot here but when selecting the canals you wants notices, stoppage updates for, quite often the main name of the canal is broken into sections that you can select rather than the whole canal. Is there a map somewhere that shows how C&RT have split the canal up? Some are obvious but not all, at least to me! As always many thanks in advance.
  20. I had seen from stoppage notices but many thanks anyway. Will have to plan a different trip 😀 thankyou everyone for the replies.
  21. Planning trip up the Grand Union to Market Harborough end Feb / early March. Time may be a little tight so just wondering what the typical delays are whilst waiting for the flights to be your favour. I appreciate its a bit like how long is a piece of string, but just trying to get a feel for peoples experiences. Many thanks in advance.
  22. C&RT Emergency team are on to it, so it will be sorted in no time at all 🤔 If not, it will mess up all those hire boaters racing around the ring in a week. Of course it could mess up the fortnight ones as well - Us next week!!!!
  23. RAB

    Walkie talkies

    Snap. Also saves certain one or two fingered hand signals from the boss when I'm trying to explain things in a non patronising way from a distance!!!!
  24. We going to do the Warwickshire ring (Clockwise) and looking for advice please (A bit more specific than previous threads, I have looked....honest). We're not going into central Birmingham so will be heading up the Grand Union and turning right at Bordesley Junction up the Birmingham and Warwick before joining the B&F. We're planning to stop for lunch at Catherine-de-Barnes, hopefully to meet some friends at The Boat! However I'd quite like to push on a little bit in the afternoon, for an hour or so, to help shorten the next day ideally so we can get well past Star City (although I'm not adverse to stoping there, if space allows). I seem to remember an awful lot of the bank heading up to Boardsley Junction, where you may wish to moor, is solid concrete / paving and is very difficult to moor too. Is my memory right? If there are any reasonable / recommended mooring spots on this stretch your advice would be most welcome. We've plenty of time so don't really wish, or need, to cruise lots of hrs a day. As always many thanks in advance for all useful replies 😁
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