Lady M

I wasn't concerned about costs, though believe there will be some. I was thinking about the potential disruption to other users of that canal who may have to adjust their cruising plan with little notice. Having to wait until 9.00 am to enter the tunnel is a bit different from having to wait until 11.00 am, especially now when daylight is quite short.

Absolutely not.

Thank you. I'd assumed it was the 'both ways' nature of this one that made it so much longer than usual.

Original message in CRT stoppage email: Blisworth tunnel will be closed to traffic from 07:30, possibly until 11:00 on Thursday 4th January for the passage of four widebeam boats travelling from Blisworth to Stoke Bruerne and one travelling from Stoke Bruerne to Blisworth. Boats may enter the tunnel if directed to do so by a Trust representative at the tunnel portal or after 10:00 if no representative is present. This seems a bit much to me. Perhaps I am over-reacting....

Interesting, thank you. I thought we probably had not received anything as we only provide our postal address to CRT. I am planning to give them a call this week as their website says the voting packs will be sent out by email or post this time.

Thank you, Ian. This is a positive and sensible change from earlier elections.

Does CRT have an email address for you?

Interesting, thank you. I recall that, in the past, there were some issues with the business or private boater constitutencies. This affected people who rented canalside property from CRT but also had privately licensed boats, who were categorised as business boaters when their preferred candidate was often in the private boater category. Hopefully they too can now vote in both constituencies.

I'm not sure that any individual is invited to vote in more than one 'constituency'.

Also the steerer is not holding the tiller. Dane may be waiting for a traffic jam ahead to clear.

Looking at the Beta Marine marquee, I'm wondering if the picture on the jigsaw is from one of the Braunston boat shows that pre-date the historic gatherings.

The amount of ventilation required will depend on the equipment installed. This may explain why your shell builder has provided the potential for more vents. The BSS examiner usually calculates total ventilation required then applies 50% to each type of ventilation.

My boat insurance policy includes a no claims discount.

Guidance on duty rates for HVO used in boats will presumably have to come from HMRC.

Some of it will, I believe, be down to the underwater shape of the boat. So always best to have a test drive as part of a purchase process. My 25ft boat handled far worse than my 20ft one, the latter had a slightly V-hull and very long swims; the base plate was shaped like an eye. I suggest the OP look at boats around 50ft long, and strongly recommend having a fixed main berth.

I think this is why the surcharge approach should not have been adopted.

Is it possible CRT haven't realised how some CC boaters use paid for moorings? This approach will make it more difficult for them to suggest that a CC boater with a major issue preventing movement for some time take up a mooring.

We use the area under our front cratch cover like this, makes sense given that the main entrance in there.

Whereas I'd say the opposite! I also wonder if different types of usage may, at least to some extent, be best suited by different layouts.

Sole traders often use a personal bank account.

This would have been a more workable approach.