noddyboater

It amuses me when people have a shell built with all the bells and whistles, sometimes including a removable lid on the engine room, but have a modern lump buzzing away under the back deck. There's always going to be a call for vintage engines for new builds, but Steve Hudson most have been the last volume builder to use them. There have also- in my opinion- been some new boats built in recent times with engines they don't deserve. If you're going to spend a small fortune on a rebuilt classic at least go to a boat builder that knows what he's doing.

That's the thing isn't it. I'm amazed this hasn't gone yet as I've sold industrial 3's for more than this that needed marinising. But most of these went to our friend from Glascote no longer with us.. They're great engines but if you've already got one do you need a spare?

Did you ever get any nearer to importing that Gardner VT twin from Argentina?

It would be a shame if it mysteriously caught fire one day. It's a quiet spot but there's a lane nearby, and we all know that where there's a road there's a scrote. Having said that, the Tamworth towpath wouldn't be my first choice to leave the wooden motor Dane, but it seems to be surviving unscathed.

Does anyone know the owner of a 45' ish trad called Capella (not the working boat) seemingly abandoned on the Coventry? It's near Hademoor Farm bridge, or it was at the weekend, listing badly with all the doors open flapping in the wind. Mind you, lots of things were flapping in the wind when we passed on Sunday!

Tree down blocking canal between Fazeley and Hopwas. CRT alerted yesterday evening so may be sorted now. I did manage to get through after cutting through the trunk but it isn't easy unless you're in a Springer.

It certainly can do. A friend of mine paid over three times what an old Dutch barge had cost him to have it cut up and taken away. It all depends on where it is, and what’s in it that’s considered hazardous.

No doubt it’ll be down to them to get it back to it’s mooring though, I can’t imagine it moves under it’s own power anymore. Imagine meeting that drifting broadside across the river on a misty morning!

I could live with the Kelvin, I’ve got a Gardner that’s too big for canals but great on rivers which is where a lot of my boating is done. I quite like the display of burning carbon from the tall pipe on a winters evening! The fitout is ok too, but I could never live with that steelwork. I bet it doesn’t swim half as well as your CTS shell did.

I can see why you declined his offer now.

Yes that’s the one owned by (or previously owned by) Tony Dunkley, who is the guru of navigation knowledge on the river. So it should be fine.

Doesn’t our old friend Mr Dunkley keep his “large craft” below Hazelford lock? I do hope it’s not that!

A different little birdie told me that the Josher with the 9hp Bolinder in it might be up for sale soon.

Boats shouldn’t be left unattended in short pounds, v bottomed or otherwise. You have to drain a lot of water from a long pound to put anyone on the bottom. If there’s someone on a boat nearby tell them your intentions and they’ll probably do it for you. Life is full of “could” problems but sometimes it’s just better to get on with it.

Why? It could be a 10 mile pound.

Are you confusing your upstream and down south again? Last time I boated that way Stoke Bardolph was definitely below Holme Lock.

This one?

Do you go up to Cromwell from Nottingham then? Is that because it’s “up North”? I always think that it’s down (stream).

One other thing to watch is the road bridge after Shardlow (pub at side) lock. It’s the lowest on that section so could catch you out if you have a chimney on.

As said by Matty beware Stenson lock as it’s particularly deep. You’re likely to be “assisted” by volunteers here but not at the following locks down to Shardlow. You may want to lift the lower paddles quicker than they advise once you’re on your own, even if you are taking things steady! There’s a narrow section with hidden underwater stone shelf after Swarkstone but a sign warns you of that, and obviously take care on the river if it’s still high.

I’d argue that the most common type of new livaboard boaters are very visible, unfortunately. His presence is known in advance (it’s usually a He), by floating debris escaping from overflowing bin bags on the back deck, and oily scum in the water. They’ll be various crap on the towpath or leaning on the hedge and quite often a convenient gap into the field behind to dump more unsavoury stuff out of sight. The boat itself will be listing badly, with black windows either from years of filth or stick on film. It doesn’t matter, as long as you can’t see in. Stuff is piled up in the bow against the padlocked door, the hull will have last been blacked in 1987, and you’ll pity the poor bugger that did a safety cert on it. The occupant can be an elusive breed, rarely rising in daylight during winter months, but can be identified by dreadlocks, clothing that’s all various shades of black, a coat proudly emblazoned with a company name (that he’s DEFINITELY never worked for), and of course a can of strong lager in his hand. You’re very unlikely to ever see them on the move of course, which is a good thing. To be down wind of one for hours at 4mph isn’t going to be pleasant.