brentles

Thank you all for your replies, I appreciate it. A friend suggested letting half a bucket of water out of the coolest radiator, while the pump was turned on, as he suggested there was an airlock in that rad. So I opened the bleed hole and let an amount of water out, and could hear the header tank trickling water back in. It hasn't really helped but what I did notice is that the water was brown, and didn't appear to have any anti freeze in it. So I'll try the draining of the system and filling with a 25% mix. For someone who has lno experience of this, what is the best way of draining the system (without flooding the carpet!) and once I've removed the rads and flushed out and re-attached, do I fill the system again by pouring the 25/75 mix directly into the header tank, and how will I know when it's sufficiently full?

Hi, I've got Webasto diesel heated radiators, and they are definitely not as warm as they were a few months ago. I've bled them, but doesn't seem to work. They are warmer at the top of the radiator, but cooler at the bottom. Any suggestions?

Great, thanks John and Mark.

Thanks for posting this; invaluable information Yep, I agree, no point in being impatient, and risking my boat! Great, thanks mark99; will keep an eye out for the shiny modern sculpture; roughly how tall/wide is it?

Thank you, everyone for your valuable input. I've turned onto the Oxford Canal from Napton, and immediately lost my internet signal in my EE My-Fi device, so apologies for not replying earlier. It sounds like, as much as I would love to do the Limehouse (and see all the sights on the lower Thames), I don't yet have enough experience (or a VHF licence). Getting off at Brentford sounds challenging enough! Now I have internet I will click on all the links that you have generously provided to read up more on what is required (and buy an anchor). I'm going slowly as I'm leap-frogging my car; so only travelling about 10 miles a day as cycling along the towpath on the Oxford is hard going; so the Thames section is a little while off yet. If I have more questions I will post them here. Again, many thanks to everyone who has provided information.

Hi, I'm moving my narrowboat from 'oop North" to Bishops Stortford (or anywhere on the Stort) and really was hoping to get onto the Thames at Oxford (I'm currently at Napton). Looking at the maps, I would go along the Thames, into London, and get off at Limehouse; however I've had a few boaters I've mentioned this to take a sharp intake of breath and say it is particularly difficult, and to look at other options; then others have said they have done it; it's tricky but a real buzz. I would appreciate comments from anyone who has done this route?

Mrs Trackman, thank you, I will start a new thread about boating on the Thames; and yes, the pub is called The Kings Arms - I agree, Heron's Nest is a better name!

Thanks Mike, I will check out that option, though I was really looking forwards to the photo op under Tower Bridge!

Thank you everyone for your input; I spent 4 nights at Catherine de Barnes; really liked the village and it was very close to Solihull, where I got shopping and 'city' stuff done. I then moored at Knowle locks for a night and shared the locks the next day with another solo boater. Spent the next night ide the Heron's Nest pub, followed by a night near The Navigation at Kingswood Junction and a night at the top of Hatton locks. I was lucky enough to bump into a volunteer lock operator at Hatton who stayed with me all through the locks. Tonight I'm at Sydenham (just after Leamington Spa) and will be spending the next few days cruising towards Fenny Compton. My ultimate destination is Bishops Stortford; my kids live in Sweden so I want to be close to Stansted Airport. I might be mad but I'm hoping to enter the Thames from Oxford and get off at Lime Basin.

Thanks all; I did moor by the White Horse as Kendal suggested, and was lucky that my cousin came down for the day after and helped me power through the Brum locks. Had no trouble, but not sure how I would have single-handedly got through the first Camp Hill lock (I think it's the first; a sharp left turn and straight into the lock, with a set of brick stairs on the right and nowhere to tie too while operating the lock. Anyway; enjoyable day, seeing all the industrial heritage ~ it seems about 90% of the old factories and warehouses are derelict; all the manufacturing gone overseas in the last hundred years? I'm now moored at Catherine de Barnes and had a good meal and a pint at The Boat last night.

Thanks Karlos, that was the way I was going; any suggestions?

Thanks very much Peter, Dave & Ian; I'm leaving Fazeley today and plan to make Curdworth top lock by the end of the day; I heard there's a pub just past the top lock that is good for mooring. Anyone know if there are volunteer lock attendants on any of the flights? Cruising in this weather is gorgeous; though have to keep my hat on to avoid the solar powered sex panel from burning

Hi there; I've recently become the proud owner of a 62' narrowboat having moved here from Australia last month. So far I've travelled from Barton Turns and am now at Fazeley, and intend on getting into the Solihull area in the next week. I've been speaking to a few of the other boaters moored near me and have been told to be careful in certain parts of Birmingham. In looking at the maps I have the option of the Aston locks or the Garrison locks; and although there are fewer locks the Garrison option (I'm a solo boater so fewer locks appear better) I've heard it can be troublesome that route. I also heard there maybe volunteer lock attendants on some stretches? One other thing; I'm travelling only about 4 hours a day, then cycling back on the towpath to collect my car and driving it to near where the boat is moored. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. So far I've met very friendly and helpful boaters in my limited time living afloat, which has helped tremendously in the transition from Sydney city living to living on a narrowboat!