Canal Cuttings

What was the notice on the scrappy pieces of paper on the balance bars?

May I suggest that instead of just extending the rear edge of the top, you cut off the last 8" or so and move it back by 6" and then fill in the resulting gap? You won't have to remake the more complicated rear edge. Apologies if you intended to do this anyway.

11.58m is 38 feet, to save everyone working it out. Jackpot?

You, sir, are seriously weird. I thoroughly approve; if only more were like you.

Just to change the "centre of balance" of this discussion: I live in a house, and hopefully always will. I have no ambitions to be a CC'er or live in a marina. I am part of a boat consortium and enjoy my allocated weeks on the water, and I'm sure many others will feel the same as me. It's nice to have a broad spectrum of Forum users.

A boat covered in mould has probably been disused or neglected, or both. Not a promising sign. I don't think it is a problem in itself, like internal mould definitely is.

I wondered that, but you wouldn't really "put it around" the armco and then moor on it would you? And as for "goat chain", that's a whole new layer of confusion for me to deal with!

What's a goat hook? Is that the same as the thing we call a "safety pin"? I've even googled it but nothing related to boating!

Yes, it does sound odd, but once we had eliminated the very niche restaurants, the ones offering everything "triple cooked" or "drizzled with garnish" and the just plain expensive, we were happy to try the impressive looking Wetherspoons. I've never been before, thinking it was a place for teens or harrased salesmen, but it offered a fantastic steak at a very good price, although you didn't get much service from the hardworking staff. I texted my son "Gone 'Spoons", but apparently Wetherspoons is now old hat amongst teens and I was sadly out of date with my teen talk.

We were delighted with the Saltisford Arm last Autumn - a lovely spot. Quite short, so don't go beyond the brick shop/clubhouse as the winding point is only just beyond it, and then there is a short dead end that would be a *** to get stuck in! We were invited to breast up with a boat whose owner was abroad at the time. There is a small but pleasant garden and then a gate in the wall to the "real world" that operates with the standard BW key. Warwick is around 15 minutes walk up the hill. There's the Castle to visit if you take out a new mortgage, or just admire the buildings especially the medieval "hospital". A large town square has a wide choice of eateries; we braved the Wetherspoons and found it excellent value, if very busy.

I can't see who would buy these welded plate windlasses. The Midland Chandlers site advertises: (Nasty cheap looking) WINDLASS NOVA LONG NEW TYPE £17.90 (Nice traditional one-piece) WINDLASS ALUMINIUM LONG UNPOLISHED £19.99 Who needs to save £2 that desperately? Mind you, I think an extra £12 for a polished one is gilding the lily a little!

Very useful info, as with my Lister engine the tickover is around 1mph. It's so slow that people come out of their boats and give me a hard stare because I am loitering. It's a stupid campaign to mention tickover, when this is a mechanical thing that varies from boat to boat.

Just for your info, in case you try to look the engine up online: the name of the supplier is spelt Thornycroft, as in the famous shipbuilders, and the big pre-war lorries. (Different companies, same founder). They used to convert and supply BMC/Leyland engines, and now sell canalboat engines based on a Mitsubishi.

True, Andrew, but in this case you needed a prehensile tail to reach the greaser. Whichever way you approached it, it was frustratingly 3" - 4" beyond easy grasp. The ladies, who are shorter, could never reach it without climbing into the engine bay and stomping all over the motor, its pipes, wires etc.

My wife arrived home unexpectedly by taxi instead of in her car. She said she had called out the AA to look at the car, but was confident the engine was flooded. I asked her how she suddenly had enough mechanical knowledge to diagnose a flooded engine, and she replied, "Well, it certainly looked that way when they dragged it out of the bloody canal!".

Anyway, it's a big step forward from this: That's an unfeasibly long way down unless you're Spiderman and can hang from your toes.

If the pipe fails, I'd be quite happy to fix it myself, but I didn't want the problems of drilling the original holes. I expect you could open out the deck hole quite easily now, to take a reinforced hose.

Just a follow-up to the earlier posting: The work is completed, and although it may be pricier than doing it yourself, and the tubing is only standard quality, we now have a very neat installation that can actually be used without employing a contortionist. We can also replace the grease very easily. Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Thanks everyone for your answers. It seems as if the initial phase of saving canals is virtually dead - even canals like the Cotswold Canals mentioned above seem to have a thriving rescue group. Now is the time to support existing canals that need maintenance.

After watching a recent programme about the foundation of the IWA, I realised that although its original policy of "fighting for every mile of canal" must have seemed ludicrous at the time, it has more-or-less come to pass. Most remaining derelict canals have an enthusiastic society working to restore them, clear plans on how to do so, and large budgets to help them succeed. Every local authority seems keen to have a waterway promoting tourism and business in its area. So, what is left to seriously campaign for? I'm thinking about waterways that are forgotten about, those where restoration is just treading water and not really getting anywhere, or worthy/picturesque links that really should be restored but no-one seems to care. Any suggestions?

After 4 pages of discussion, I'm very disappointed that no-one has suggested that the original poster knew he had Duck tape because of the size of the bill... I'll get my coat.

I've only just come across this conversation. For reference, my default position is that pointless safety interventions should be avoided, ancient monuments should be respected, but I am also scared of heights, suffer some vertigo, and am very clumsy! Anyway, I looked up some recent photos and a Youtube video of Marple Aqueduct and was pretty taken aback that there was no clear indication that you should not get off the boat on the off-side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbZ2xSbiNg0 Looks like a substantial towpath on both sides to me! The notice and fence/gate at the start and end of the aqueduct should stop pedestrians, but if the boater misses that he/she has no way of knowing. I showed my wife the video and asked which side she thought she could get off (she is risk-averse) and she confidently said "Both!". If, as seems to be commonly agreed, no-one should be on that side of the aqueduct, then some use of colour, texture, painted symbols (or as my wife suggested, plants) should back this up, while avoiding a trip hazard. Maybe the simple phrase "Do not get off here" could be painted on the edge...

Ahem.. Going back to the original discussion, there can be discussions about whether it is duct or duck tape, but I have heard (and believe) that the name actually comes from the Dutch for linen canvas - "doek". The linen was treated (rubberised??) to make it waterproof and later it became a type of tape - you may have noticed that duck tape has a woven interior which gives it strength. The "canvas duck" name lives on in the name for car hoods. For older cars, you are usually offered vinyl, double duck, or mohair finish, depending on your budget. Double duck is two layers of black linen canvas.

I've been on the canal up to Bishop's Stortford and it was very pleasant. Hertford is also a nice if unremarkable town. A warning - you could be standing right in front of "Hertford Castle" and not see it, as it is just a large pile of earth in the middle of town. If you know or read up on Norman motte & bailey castles, it is probably a fascinating site, but not for the casual visitor. An impressive medieval gatehouse still survives and is used for weddings and events. The site has a modern theatre / indie cinema / cafe and there may be something on there that you can visit.

Just an update: We've had the quote for the work, and it was very close to the above estimate. Parts £25 Labour; 2 hours @ £45.00 per hour £90.00 - total £115. We're going ahead. Expect this is something we could do ourselves, but no-one is willing to make the trip in winter or risk breaking their drill.