SteveE

There was a very amusing thread in 2007, 'Falling in - what's your story', which you would now be able to read with new insight. Regards Steve

Interesting method of tying up Regards Steve

Sorry to be a bit slow contributing to this thread, Madcat, but we have the converted iron boat referred to by Pete Harrison, Glenfield. The PD2 fitted in the '70s is still in it and has propelled us round the system over the last 2 years without a hitch. It's a bit smoky on start up and if revved hard after idling in a lock but otherwise has a clean exhaust and adequate 'grunt' for our needs. It is still mated to a 3:1 Parsons gearbox. Sump drainage is via a pipe fitted to the drain plug orifice. I have some pics of it but Photobucket won't work just now. Regards SteveE

Well I've come across a lot of bots in my time but this is a new one! Thanks for this advice, Lady Muck, and the particular ar*&hole (Canadian Health) who messaged me will just get deleted. SteveE

What sort of Petter, Proper Job? Not off topic because we'll be moving our boat (with its PD2) to the Stainforth and Keadby in a year's time. SteveE

It's not worth bothering about. If you're in the right, shred the notice; if you're not, move the boat. SteveE

Do other countries have the same problem (not on towpaths) and, if not, why? SteveE

I agree entirely but the real culprits in this are the lawyers and the courts. It is they who award compensation for people who fall on seaweed-covered slipways and scald themselves on water coming out of hot taps, etc, etc. The elfin safety industry is brought into play to prevent the sometimes considerable financial costs which are often incurred by those at the receiving end of this sort of bollocks thing. SteveE

If you're not first timers you could look at www.braidbarboats.co.uk. The North Macclesfield and the peak Forest canals are lovely, and no locks. SteveE

Have you found anyone suitable yet? SteveE

Ours cost £300 a foot and we wouldn't swap it for any of these regardless of available money. SteveE

So the ball ricochets into the cut and the pooch spears itself on something when it jumps in to retrieve it. So pretend to throw something but don't actually do so. The pooch will no doubt need counselling for subjective loss. So......... SteveE Just ignore it - unenforcible SteveE

We did Chester to Ellesmere Port, looked round the museum and came back to Chester in a day in October a few years ago in Middlewich's 'Holly'. It was quite dark when we arrived back in the basin and for the few miles before that and I found it quite difficult to cruise, even with the tunnel light on. It was a hired boat as well and I was concious that, if I hit anything, the shit would hit the fan. In the right circumstances I'm sure night cruising would be lovely but they would have to be very right for me. You could also check out any cases of toothache or tonsillitis with that, Carl! SteveE

Well said!! The really sad thing is that this set-up is what happens in lots of other areas of British life and there is no way of changing it. 'Most people', in my experience, do not see these strategies as being undesirable and it is they who vote the relevant ar*eholes into positions where crucial decisions are made. My own view is that one set of ar*eholes would be replaced by another similar set at any party-changing election so just laugh at it and then forget it. SteveE

This is Bingley 5-rise. The others are Pontcysyllte aqueduct, Barton swing aqueduct, Standedge tunnel, Anderton lift, Burnley embankment and the Caen Hill fight at Devizes. SteveE edited for typos

Thank you all for your info on this. Sometimes I feel that the view of the dummy (ie me) on things like this is useful because it ignores all sorts of received wisdom. The RNLI is a charity dedicated to saving lives and manned by courageous volunteers. Any sniff of authorities requiring fees, which could be charitably waived, for aspects of its activities gets my back up and I was interested in the views of more knowledgable forum members on the subject. SteveE

I know this a little peripheral to our usual preocupations and I have little knowledge of the subject but, if the figures quoted are true, you might want to consider signing this. -------Original Message------- From: Funnybits Date: 23/10/2008 14:05:14 To: Undisclosed-Recipient:, Subject: Fw: RNLI Radio Charges - Please sign!! A MUST DO ........... ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Mumford To: Richard Mumford Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 2:18 PM Subject: RNLI Radio Charges - Please sign!! RNLI and new Ofcom charges The background: (From the Telegraph..) LIFEBOAT crews fear being scuppered by crippling new charges for using their radios from Ofcom, the communications regulator. The RNLI could see the price of using its VHF emergency frequencies rise to £250,000 under plans to charge the full commercial rate. The charity, which saves hundreds of lives every year currently pays an annual £48,000 at a discounted rate of 50 per cent. It relies on donations and fears the move will have a disastrous impact on fundraising. Peter Bradley, RNLI operations staff officer, said: 'It's a lot of money when you think in terms of lifeboat days and little old ladies collecting pound coins.' 'We could buy several inshore lifeboats for the same amount.' 'The Government rely on us to provide this search-and-rescue service, at a cost of £124 million a year, but they want to charge us for doing it!' Ofcom has set out plans to bring 'market forces' into maritime and civil aviation communications in a policy it calls Administered Incentive Pricing. £250,000 represents an awful lot of charity collections, even more so in the current economic climate so, if like me you feel strongly enough about this, please sign the petition below. SteveE Lifeboat clicky Edited to give reference material.

That tractor is great! Does the steering wheel ever come of like that when you're driving it? SteveE

But does anybody have any confidence that any other party in power would behave significantly differently? I certainly don't! SteveE

Bones, I don't want to be a killjoy but why don't you tell people that you're considering pushing a 20 ton narrowboat along a canal with Weil's disease in it, using a heavy piece of scaffolding , which may injure your shoulders and puncture the canal bottom, by walking along a slippy roof, off which you may fall, with an unquantifyable risk of injury, and get them to sponsor you not to! SteveE