Movin' on

As per the set up on our last boat (Zulu) - the BEST set up we ever had - keep the pump in an easily accessible position for annual cleaning .............

We have moored on that bit a good few times as the dogs love it and its definitely a weir stream - can't say where though.

RN are very much in existence - and making DM2's to order ........not all spares are available off the shelf, most can be obtained relatively easily and I'm pretty sure they can make anything. The DM1 is a great little engine used by a number of narrow boaters not members here though. 62ft might be a bit of a stretch but it depends what it is More detail would help or PM me if you want to - clearly factors such as age and weight are as important as length. Contact Dave Bixter at Granthams Bridge Boat Services (Hillmorton flight)- 01788 578661 might be an old number - he owns RN! Have fun Just found a 60ftr in London on the duck with a DM1 - is that it - it looks a lighter build and not too heavy a fit out so might be OK - a chat with Dave is your best bet.

Lots to learn - enjoy it.............

Looks VG well done you .................

Thats the one I was talking about but I couldn't remember where I'd seen it - IMHO it really looks good

Its a trade off - IMHO trad boats should have potholes - with others its a matter of taste but windows aren't anything like as safe if you leave your boat on the towpath. SWMBO fell out of love with "Auriga" within 3 months of ownership - she was a lovely boat but we sold her solely because she had big windows and didn't feel safe. With Persia we modified her to add front windows on to the tug deck to compensate for the gloom - not everyone liked it but it changed the experience - big pigeon boxes are the real solution here but good ones are very expensive and again need to be made secure. I agree portholes can be gloomy on the average UK day which is why we now have a river boat with big windows and a general sense of brightness ? J

Agreed - I've seen these in use with unpainted stainless (Roundhead - Allen Key) screws as a fixing and they have a "marmite" look - but I really like them but then I like industrial tugs.............better than welds and filler which you will always see.

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I think Bluewater are probably worth a mention here also the guys in Warwick near Kate boats? however Paul Barber would be my choice...........but again there was/is a very nice pre-owned one of his for sale recently?? Just checked and "Mirage"is still available on the duck I have bought new boats and would definitely go pre - owned. J

I'm not quite sure what your point is here as I agree with all you have said above - it IS all about consideration for others and appropriate behaviour - a wide beam on the North Oxford fits neither of these nor does a wide beam going through Braunston or Blisworth tunnels without CRT involvement endangering all/any users - that's my point. I may not like wide beams on the GU north of Gayton Junction but they are now a fact of life we all have to live with or go elsewhere - at least for the most part the GU can cope.

....................that would be the New Boat Company ...................who spotted a gap in the market for floating flats on the Thames and London many many years ago

I have no problem with wide beam boats per sey and never have had - I suppose deep down for me the problem is the fact that the term "wide beam" is even used - its a boat and on an appropriate waterway there is no problem and no issue or need to distinguish it from any other boat. BUT - there is undoubtedly a breed of "wide beam" owner who wants to prove they are entitled to go anywhere where physical restrictions just about allow usage without any application of common sense - the Northern Oxford being the best example I know - these are the people I have a problem with not their boats.

That would be great on the North Oxford ??

As MANY of us have said many times - you, your boat and the way you use it are the exception which puts wide beams in a good light Carry on cruising - my beef has only ever been with those types who think cruising a wide beam through Braunston (incl the tunnel) and up the Northern Oxford is acceptable because they are "entitled" to! They are not boaters, never will be, and aren't part of any community I want to be part of - rant over. Great pictures BTW ?

YES...................... but ............ I suggest you don't ask too many more questions about "what ifs" otherwise you will lose all sense of adventure and exploring which is half the fun - you have your direction you know to avoid overnighting in Kiddy but do use it for VG/easy shopping - now look forward your chosen adventure "Countrywide" is a good choice

NO it doesn't

Why?? What is the point you are trying to make by doing it Dark Grey satin would be much better - similar look not prone to attract moulds lichen etc - if that's really what you want to do - PLEASE do consider how hot the steel will be to the touch on hot days Kurust is a good rust treatment but last time I used it it didn't like paint on top of it

South to Stourport every time for me - IMHO Kidderminster isn't worth the stop - so stop at The Lock at Wolverley pub just before and then do Stourport in one go the next day stopping just outside at the pub (The Bird in Hand ) if you run out of time to make it all the way - Stourport IS worth a stop One of our favourite runs in the country

Wot ............. in the canal................? And cyclists to get through pesky barriers and access loos etc - it is after open and free to all - except us of course!

Cloth'd up fronts are also VERY useful - more than you now know - as you haven't used it yet ?

This topic is interesting and worthy of debate but I don't understand why you have started another one when your other thread/topic was covering this issue well I'm not trying to be funny just saying there might be more value (to you) to keeping them as one (the mods will help you do this if you want to) IMHO you should try to keep it as original in looks as possible as it was/is a great boat which I have known for decades BUT move with the time in terms of materials and methods - others will feel differently I'm sure...........

and.............if you do find anything - don't talk about it on here!??

Make sure your breather is not the issue before you take the thing apart - we had a boat in the past where the breather was the issue and we fitted an in line charcoal filter available from Lee San at the time - if the breather is on the roof it will be less likely but on the boat I'm referring to it was at gunwale height and the smells never got away also we used Daz Bio washing liquid in the tank and that helped a lot (but opinions are really divided on this point) - typically a 500ml - 1L per tank use.