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Galoka

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Posts posted by Galoka

  1. 2 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

     

    You will need to move it at some point to get it blacked/ epoxied Possibly for other services too. Then you may have wished you owned a narrowboat. 

     

    If you had a narrowboat you may be more inclined to use the boat for its purpose, and who knows even enjoy moving it. If your first boat in 2024 is a widebeam your second may be a narrowboat. Disclaimer there are folk on here who love boating and living on their widebeam. 

     

     

     

     

     

    If he stays on the Anglian waterways, then that's no issue. Plenty of places on the G Ouse as well as Foxes on the Middle Level to get blacking and maintenance done

    We have a non-liveaboard narrowboat on the Great Ouse, but if I was getting a boat just to mostly live on on a permanent mooring I'd probably get a 9-10ft beam boat, a nice amount of extra space, and if you want to cruise it, a good size to cruise on the G Ouse.

    and if you don't cruise at least occasioanlly, you are missing out. It's a lovely river

     

    • Greenie 2
  2. 6 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

    Isn't the original purchase price irrelevant? Mine cost seven grand thirty years ago, but surely, for a comprehensive policy it would need to be insured for it's current replacement value and I should be paying for such, not for a policy on a boat worth 7k?

    I don't think that would buy me a decent (if old) forty footer these days.

    Yep.

    We bought a NB last year, it is  insured it with GJW on thier standard policy,  No where was how much we paid for the boat mentioned. I  was just asked to supply a value I wish the boat to be insured for, and the policy just says they will payout up to that value (which is basically what we paid for it at th emoment)

    Clealry I could say anything, but in the event of a large claim I expect them to make an assesment of the current market value of the boat

  3. On 13/06/2023 at 22:27, dmr said:

     

    So does somebody else now make the Craftmaster range?

     

    Most of the known brands of boat paint are pretty similar so Craftmaster Symphony International etc etc are the same sort of thing so use whichever you prefer.

    Rylards is perhaps a little different as it Epifanes (I think).

    Many people use various domestic paints and claim good results. Some are probably fine but I have only yesterday spent a whole day with an angle grinder correcting a long term problem relating to a previous use of a "domestic" paint.

     

    The Craftsmaster website says they are made for them by HMG Paints.

    https://www.hmgpaint.com/


     

     

  4. On 30/07/2022 at 00:28, MtB said:

     

    Yes. They have to, since finishing shutting down the Rough gas storage facility a couple of years ago. We can now apparently, buy gas from abroad on a "need it today" basis instead of storing it. 

     

    Good move, Boris, letting British Gas Storage do this.

     

     

     

     

    Yep, it always was a short sighted policy.

    They are looking to reopen it now though
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/07/21/britains-biggest-gas-storage-site-course-reopen-autumn-race/

  5. As a map addict I end up with multiples.

     

    my Favourite maps in terms of showing what’s where are the waterways routes ones.

     

    the pdf versions on iPad and old Android tablet (as well as laptops etc) I also print them out and pop in a folder.

     

    I find the maps in the Nicholson’s  guides not so easy to read, eye site not so good especially in poorer light and the blue text is harder to read. But I like how they are overlaid onto OS maps

     

    i like the Heron maps as you get the route on a fold out map , so you get a good overview. But I find the symbols fit lots of things small and unclear Less useful if looking at whilst at the helm though.

     

    if you want an overview of the network, the online CRT map is fine. And there are paper ones from Heron, Nicholson’s and Imray (among others)

     

    In find Open Canal Map ok, but lacks things like a search, the display can be clutttered and unclear

  6. Thanks Captain Birdseye, we were thinking of maybe going there.

    However things haven't gone to plan so far today. Wife and daughters were in a car accident last night. (tyre blowout it seems at 70mph, spun off the road, car is a write off, as the side smashed into a tree or post of something, the cill is bent in about a foot). They are ok, some whiplash, some bruises, various musclo-skeletal  aches and sprains. (in the context of what it might have been, they are lucky, thinking of what might have been in rather scary)). They got back from A&E a couple of hours ago, and we all need a bit of kip first before we drive up.

    Middlewich Narrowboats have said if we arrive too late to go out someone will be there to get us on the boat and we  can stay overnight on the base and head off in the morning.

    So, a change of plan might be in order. Doing the Cheshire Locks up to Hardcastle tomorrow might not be  a good plan with half the crew a bit out of action. Maybe head up the Shropshire Union towards Barbridge (5 locks in 10 miles) and see how we go.  Dunno. Gonna have some breakfast,  load up the car ready to go, then have a bit of kip

  7. 44 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

    I'm surprised no-one has mentioned pirate costumes and a big pirate flag. It's the wheeze that never gets old - how everyone laughs as yet another boat load of pirates hoves into view. I believe quite a lot of folk on here frequently moor close to hire bases on turn around day just to enjoy the spectacle. Who can blame them?

    ;):D

    Surreptitiously removes outfit from suitcase........

    Doesn't that mean I can't get the kids to walk the plank when they misbehave? Isn't that what that board I see on the roof of boats is for?

    • Greenie 1
  8. 2 hours ago, ronnietucker said:

     

    Unless I become 'that guy' who gets on the train with a bicycle.  :D

    That's the sensible option. a 30 minute walk becomes a 10 minute or so cycle. A   folding bike is handy for commuting and could be easily stashed on the boat. Maybe useful then when crusing

    • Greenie 1
  9. 6 minutes ago, system 4-50 said:

    Sun glasses. For the steerer. The reflection off the water can be a nuisance. Or the roof.

    Photochromic lenses :-)

    Actually, I have a nice pair of prescription polarising sunglasses that are good for driving, would be good for the boat, but they seem to ahve gone AWOL over the winter :-(

    7 minutes ago, Machpoint005 said:

    The 16-y-o will be fine. The 12-y-o might not have acquired a palate yet?

    The 16 yo has already done the too much drink makes you ill thing :-) She has the odd drink with us though.

    12yo isn't impressed with it though no

  10. 4 minutes ago, Athy said:

    I trust that you're joking.

    Mrs. Athy and I have been boat owners for 20 years now, we both love "a" drink but we don't have one until we're moored up. For people not used to narrowboats, I'd say that drinking alcohol while under way would be unwise - I know it only goes at 4 mph, but it weighs 15 tons or so, and places like locks are fraught with danger if you haven't got a clear head.

    That said, I realise that the O.P.s are adults and have the right to make their own minds up.

    It'sa good point.

    We aren't actually big drinkers and wouldn't be drinking whilst cruising. I like to sit back and relax and enjoy it. Though I suppose the chance of a lucntime pub pint is more likely

    better keep an eye on the 16 and 12 yo though :-)

  11. 2 minutes ago, Dave Payne said:

    What if the spare beer runs out!!!

    Get a map, might sell them at the hire base, a proper one, not those silly ones they make, shows the pubs and shops, in case you run out of beer.

    This is just the intial beer supply, should last ok until we can restock :-) We can always just moor near a pub and not move.

    Have various guides, canal maps, OS maps, paper maps, digital maps, GPS for a bit of geocaching :-)

  12. Thanks for the suggestions.

    Walkies talkies is a good idea, youngest daughter has a set if we can find them

    Will pack in holdalls, so storing those isn't a problem on the boat.

    WE will do a fair bit of self catering rather than eating in pubs all the time, so already have a shopping order booked for collection on the way.  For the basics stuff and the first couple of days meals. Including beer and gin :-)

  13. As in my other thread, we are heading off on a hired narrowboat on Friday, and I'm sorting and packing some of our stuff.

    Anything useful that  should pack that I might not have thought of. Don't want to take unneccessary stuff, but since often camp it doesn't feel like we are taking that much :-)

     Would camping chairs be useful for sitting out on the towpath? (SWMBO has a dodgy hip and doesn't like sitting on the ground much anymore.

    Thanks

  14. On 11/07/2017 at 12:20, cuthound said:

    If you are going to do a ring, make sure you change your plans early. Once you are more than half way are round a ring it is quicker to continue than go back.

    Unexpected delays, such as a b. WE coreakdown or a broken lock can put a lot of pressure on you if they occur when doing the second half of a ring. Best to allow an extra day,  as a contingency and have an extra days cruising near to base if you don't use it. 

    Yes, of course. If we made good time up the locks from Wheelock to  Hardcastle we might consider it. We can continue down the T&M for a bit before finally deciding.

    But I doubt it. There doesn't really feel like any slack time and we will probably want to do some other things off the canal rather than crusing all the time. Take in a museum or two in Stoke etc.

    Thanks again folks

  15. On 07/07/2017 at 22:55, zenataomm said:

    I believe it really doesn't matter how, when or where.

    You, your family and its ability to have fun and enjoy new places will make it a success.

    Stop planning and worrying about the things that matter to one bunch of people but not the next lot.

    Get on board, cast off and go, take each day as it comes and make it up as you go along.

    You'll have a great time.

    Thanks zenataomn, 

    Yes, I',m sure we will have fun whatever, but for me the planning of what we might do before hand is part of the fun :-)

     

    23 hours ago, cuthound said:

    Lots of locks, right from the start up to the Harecastle tunnel on that route, but once onto the Calden it is lovely, as is the Macclesfield.

    If you want fewer locks, you could go to Chester, via the Middlewich branch, or for a virtually lock free holiday, head north up the T&M and onto the Bridgewater canal to Worsley to see the birthplace of the British canal system.


    Locks are fine, keep the kids busy and I figure by the time we get to Harecastle we will be dab hands :-)

    If I wanted lock free I could cruise my local waterways, we live a few miles from the Great Ouse in Cambs.

    As it happens Chester is where we went on our canal holiday when I was about 14. Where we had an exciting time going down the triple staircase locks there. I driving the boat and was in the middle lock when I realised I had got to the bottom (literally, the boat was resting on the bottom of the lock). Details are rather hazy now, but there was another boat waiting to go up and they were helping , I think they left the bottom paddles open on the bottom lock at some point and we didn't realise.

    Anyway thanks for all your comments again :-)
     

  16. Thank you for all your suggestions, it's all useful.

    After some pondering, playing with potential routes etc. and in part dependent on boat availability and price we have hired a boat from Middlewich Narrowboats (Via Latelink for a good price, thanks for the tip Timx).

    We are a bit undecided at the moment (got a week to go to weigh them up) but am planning on heading south down the T&M and then either up the Macclesfield Canal or down to Stoke and up the Caldon Canal. Pros and cons for both the options for us.

    I appreciate the potential of going to Brum, but we would like to go to a bit of the country we haven't really visited before. And the things around Brum we might visit off the canal we have been to at least once already.

    Thanks for you help folks. I'm sure where ever we go we will have a good time

  17. 30 minutes ago, OldGoat said:

    Hobby horse -

    Something around Birmingham? Lots of things to see and do and a change from the wilds of Cambridgeshire. Pretty it's not (but youngsters don't appreciate views).

     

    Thanks OldGoat,

    Am considering around Brum. But have visited there a few times, so have done quite a few things. But yes, we do like it there.

    Toying with the Stratford-on-Avon Canal (which does skirt Brum I guess), Never been to S-o-A, and there are various boat possibilities aroudn there.

    But all suggestions welcome, it all helps :-)

    (And actually, eldest daughter likes scenery as she likes landscape photography :-) )



     

  18. Thanks for the comments.

    I'm not expecting a definitive answer (not that there can be such a thing):-) I'm just looking for suggestions from people who know the canal network of areas to consider, to short circuit the process of deciding really, since I've limited time and want to book soon.

    There still seem to be quite a few boats available, especially from the bigger companies, i'm sure they will do us fine.

    So what put the Macclesfield high up the list?

    Thanks

     

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