RAB

Came through yesterday/today. Pound between Minworth & Cudworth very very low and very slow going. Were told by several CRT staff that farmer keeps extracting water, despite CRT requests for him to stop due to low water (has a license to extract apparently). We found it impossible to get near bank to moor without blocking the canal. Low water had also affected last few Cudworth locks. Stretch from Minworth to Birmingham was low as well but much more passable, although grounded at a few places. We were very very lucky as I missed the reported stoppage due to a broken lock beam on the Aston flight. We arrived just as they were locking the bottom lock. I have to say the two CRT staff were fantastic and let us through and manhandled the broken lock for us. Then met us again near the top of the flight to set the locks before finally locking the flight. Apologies but no idea of the draft of our boat (It's a share boat built by Eton Moss - Middlewich).

Any recent views (2025) on chance of mooring at Cuckoo Wharf, will be early July hopefully. If we go that way will be early afternoon arrival.

Yes aware, keeping an eye on the updates and have alternative plans!!!!

Some friends are hoping to join us for 3 to 4 days. I think, depending on water levels, we'll ideally be picking them up from the Whaley Bridge area and travelling down towards Stoke. Does anyone have any good tips on where they can park, within a short walking distance of the train station would be ideal, so they can catch the train back to their car. I've checked the local car parks but they all seem to have max 10 hr stay limits. Many thanks in hopeful anticipation.

Having never done the Peak Forest canal we're thinking of a potential trip in early July. We will probably only have 48 hrs max to moor on either the Whaley Bridge section or Bugsworth basin, before we need to leave (think most moorings in that area are 48hrs anyway?). Was wondering on views as to which are the preferred moorings by fellow boaters. Also will it be busy at that time of year and are water levels ever an issue generally (Assuming we have some rain before then!). Any other advice would be greatly received. As always, many thanks in advance. 🙂

Is there anyone in the area that can confirm that Star Lock 27 (Stone) can now be used, albiet only between 15:30 and 07:15? Actual message from CRT was; Update on 15/01/2025: Wanted to double check my understanding is correct. Lock wasn't due to open until 16:00 on Fri 31st Jan. Many thanks in advance.

Can't add much to whats already been said regarding your original question except to say views over managed syndicates vary greatly. We're in one and personally we find it good and accept not all decisions will be agreed on, and quite often the management company could do better. It's an almost take your 4 weeks and not having to worry or sort anything else out (almost!). Just for the record we have met a number of people on self managed boats which they have mostly all said works very well for them (less cost but more work/organising). You pays your money and takes your choice! I would guess thats it's more important to get on reasonably well with fellow syndicate members in a self managed group than say in ours, where we have the management company as a buffer zone (we don't really need to know the other members at all!) For Info, if you didn't already know, there is a useful web site that lists a wide range of shares available, both management companies and self managed syndicates. Link below; https://www.boatshare4u.co.uk/boatlist.asp Also if you can wait until May 2025 there is Crick boat show which has quite a few of the management companies exhibiting, which may be useful if you want to chat/compare? They also usually hold several open days themselves. Best of luck with whatever choice you make.

Sorry for not responding earlier with updates. Thanks for all the responses. The steering is generally heavier on this boat for everyone. At no, or low, speeds it's not a problem and all seems ok, but with increased speed 2 1/2 to 3 mph it gets quite heavy with any slight turn (an increase in required force with prop speed is understandable). It's just that it's a lot more than previous boat and makes it hard/uncomfortable for my partner. We do now have a platform to stand on which definately makes it a more comfortable experience and easier for both of us, although you need to remember to duck even lower under low bridges 🤣. I understand all the design issues etc but was just wondering about the advice on lifting the assembly slightly. Probably won't try it as doesn't seem worth the hassle.

Whilst having a chat with a fellow boater, about how the better half finds steering far more difficult on our current boat, compared to the past one (same size boat/engine and boat builder) he mentioned dropping a 10p coin into the cup to raise the rudder assembly slightly, which he said would help! Has anyone else done something similar and does it / could it potentially work? (I appreciate not all boats are the same or react in the same way!). If it does work what could be the negatives? Many thanks.

Does this bring a whole new meaning to Magnet fishing 🤔

The Coningsby lock was one of our favourite swimming locks as young youths, on hot summer days! Obviously frowned upon now and havent seen anyone in there for years.

Rain proof really. I guess if it falls in the cut then I've probably lost it and it's not likely to happen (famous last words!). Have a semi-trad so map book sits on one of the seats, rather than the hatch, when were not looking at it.

Looking for a waterproof cover for use with Nicholson canal map books. As there doesn't appear to be a specific applicable cover (not un-surprising, although I don't mind being proved wrong!). I was wondering what others use/recommend? Many thanks in hopeful anticipation 🙂

From the video I can't see this re-opening for quite a while. A big big job.

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." ???

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.

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).

I believe all the Carefree AGM's are now via Zoom only.

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 🤔

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.

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

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?

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.

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!