Dr Bob

In Liverpool in the late 50's, we had Underground stations. Maybe I called them underground train stations but then I was only 5. We certainly didn't call them 'tube' stations. Tube was a name that came from the softies darn sawf.

The Cape visitor mooring are 48 hrs. From Hatton Bottom lock there is towpath mooring to the Saltisford arm. After bridge 51 the towpath has a lot of concrete and I'm not sure you would get pins in. Between bride 50A and 50 the towpath is not good (getting pins in) apart from one small section of armco - about 2 boats can get in. This has no signs so is likely to be 14 day. From bridge 50 to the cape pub is the visitor mooring which are 48 hrs. We were up there last week and there were a couple of boats moored between Cape top and bottom lock. There were also quiet a few boats moored between the cape bottom lock towards bridges 49A and 49.

I think the question is are they trained in "Colregs"? Anyone doing a professional skippers job (ie getting paid for skippering) should know the colregs. Afterall these are the 'rules of the road' for boats and all the instances in the the original post would be covered by this. We are the only country that dont require any skippers to have qualifications. To sail in France, Spain, Italy etc, you need a reasonable level of training (and not far of the RYA Yachhtmaster qualification if you want to sail a seagoing yacht). Surely our professional skippers are to that standard?

Did it break anyone's arm (male or female)?

Is that a male or female swan?

Ah, thanks. I hadnt realised the canal swung back on the north side of town. Very near.

..but we wanted to watch a good side..... No seriously, being based nr Napton I had been looking at Wasps, Leicester or Saints but Worcester is also an idea. I think Six Ways is quite a way from the cut. We have been living in Cardiff so have been starved of good rugby (!!) so I spent all last season watching the Eng Premiership on telly. Now we are on the boat we can take in some real games. Newcastle may also be a challenge! Thanks for the info. It starts to sound a good idea to go to the basin.

Priceless! Love the Psychic Bob tab too.

......but what about the poor swans? They don't have access to social media. Even if they could afford an eye phone, how the heck could they use it when they spend all their time trying to break Men's arms, which now we are led to believe they cannot do. Bit unfair I think.

No we would be on board. We will give it a go and visit the basin and look to spend a night there. Thanks for the input. SWMBO wants also to go to Decathlon so that suits both of us. Hi Ray, thanks for the link. It gives a good image of the canal there!.

Thanks for that Richard. I figured getting tickets for tigers home games would be pretty difficult given the crowds they get. It always looks full on the telly which is why I was focussing on the Ricoh. I'll check out the fixture list and try and plan a trip up before Christmas. Is it possible to get tickets for the big ones although the 2 you mention are not until the end of the season? Maybe try one of the european games.

No that's not right. How can the sea wee? That's impossible. ....how about.... Cos he saw the salad dressing.

No problem....and thanks for the additional info. As you know the area well, would you leave your boat overnight on the Longford VMs? As a newcomer to canals, I find it difficult to judge where is safe and where is not safe in the 'city' areas so your input would be very valuable.

I think the other one is winning. .........it's a slow night.

The limited info on the link says it is a 'finish' paint, i.e. To be used over a primer. If used on its own it needs a good surface. For the application you need a rust and moisture tolerant primer and an oil and water resistant top coat......or a good 2 pack one coat coal tar epoxy.

That's right Dave. Red lead was kicked out late 70's (or was it early 80's?). Zinc is ok but not nearly as good.

.......by the way, the swans are probably the best footy team in Wales. Is it possible for a swan to break a mans arm?

Our Springer spaniel could open all the doors in our house ........but he was ok with swans.

The tech data sheet on Danboline says that it should be applied over a primed steel surface. STEEL Prime with Yacht Primer or Interprotect. Not sure if it has any tolerance to rusty surfaces. You certainly need a surface tolerant paint as the steel surface will be be a lower temp than the ambient air temp so condensation could put moisture on the surface as well as the rust. Red Owatrol is a tolerant coating (red oxide) so will be similar to red lead paint which is perhaps the best coating ever made. Shame it is now banned.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm? Of course I will be influenced by the 4 or 5 threads that give the impression the run down to the basin is not the best experience in the world. That's why I posted, to get some more info. I was asking if the top end of the leg down to basin is a good place to stop overnight. In the 4 or 5 threads, no-one discriminated between any of the individual sections. I have never been there. Others that might respond may have. In that case I would like to hear some first hand experience. I will then make my own mind up based on the responses. I can see a point in doing that. Apologies if you can not see the point. Similarly, with a 63' boat and limited experience, I would prefer to turn in winding holes that will enable me to turn reasonably easily. The guides/maps show the one at Judd's lane being a 'full' length turn but from google maps it doesnt seem to be that big. Frank above says he doesnt fancy it - and that is exactly the response I was looking for. This confirms that I will struggle to turn there. If I had been to these places, I would not be asking the questions. Because I havent been there, I was trying to find some first hand experience. That is the point. This forum is full of people with a large amount of information - and to tap into that is invaluable - and dis-information. I think I can work out what is useful and what is not given enough inputs. It is useful to hear that you have done the trip many times and not have any problems. As you live near the location, I value your judgement .....but maybe not the first sentance of your response!

Thanks Nipper, didnt realise Hawksbury was so near. That seems the best solution.

Now that is a thought. Moor in the basin and get public transport. Thanks! A fall back was to park up somewhere near hawkesbury junct and get a taxi there and back!

Froggy, we have the same problem as you on our newly purchased 2002 nb. I was thinking of starting the same job this week but instead started on the rusty bits on the outside instead using Fertan. The instructions on the Fertan say wash off with water after 24 hrs and my experience is that that is needed to get rid of the black 'dust' that is formed from reaction of the fertan with the rust. Therefore I would insert this task in your list - but then you have to mop it out and dry it again before painting. I think I would also use a 'tolerant' primer - someone is bound to chip in with their recommendations. Given the amount of rust in ours, it must have been underwater for a lot of its life so a coating designed for water immersion would be best - so a 2 pack epoxy would be good - but again I am sure there will be some good recommendations given. I have not had the experience with Fertan yet to say how much rust needs to be scraped off, but for best performance you should remove all loose stuff - ie any thing that comes off with a sharp scraper. Ultrasonic thickness testing is usually quite accurate and your surveyor should have tested that area - but I seriously doubt a 20 year old boat with 10mm steel plate would have corroded through from the inside. Scrape it as best you can then treat it. That is what I will be doing.

Thanks Frank, The basin did sound interesting so I think we may give it a go. I guess it will be in Oct/Nov when there will be an interesting match on at the Ricoh. Thanks for the heads up on it being shallow - I shan't try and wind at Judd's lane.

Seeking the wisdom of the forum. Now we have got our boat, I thought it would be a good idea to go and park up next to the Ricoh area to watch a rugby match. Looking at the guides, there are VM's at Longford Bridge (no 10). Is this a safe part of the cut to moor the boat for a few nights (SWMBO also wants to go to Decathlon)? I am probably the only one daft enough to be cruising and watching rugby so guess there wont be any demand for mooring here when there is a big match on (ie one of the European matches)? The next question though is where to wind to go back to the Oxford (or up the Ashby). The map shows a winding hole at Judd's Lane bridge (no 9) but looking at google maps (sattelite view) it doesnt look big enough for a 63' boat. The next one is down at bridge 6A. I've been a bit put off going too far down towards the Basin from all the posts on here about the stuff floating in the canal. Quite fancy doing the same for Northampton and Leicester - but I guess you need tickets for their matches.