Jonkx

I'm my case they used local ish engineers, ie one had driven about 40 miles, from other companies/boatyards to come out and look at the boat. I guess it depends how quickly you need to move. If you can wait and find an engineer and don't mind stopping a bit, then maybe fine to find your own engineer. If you're on a pressing iteniary and need to get to certain places, maybe having the definite call out, whether or not they over charge you, is more important. I towed the boat myself to the next bridge half a mile away and through a lock to wait for an engineer I arranged myself. Guess I could have asked RCR to just do that, but then probably would have had to wait longer for it.

I agree completely with this. The one time I needed it, they were no use and the excuse they gave seemed tenuous to me. They more or less said take it or leave it. In the end, other boaters in the area were able to recommend me an engineer, and he was almost a tenth of the cost RCR were quoting. I won't be bothering with them again. I don't think the Free Replacement Parts policy is sustainable, I don't think they can afford to back it. Too good to be true maybe? Either way, it seems to be thay they try to wriggle out of it. So it's not much of an insurance policy in my opinion.

They said because it was a bolt on the flange between the gearbox and the aquadrive that had failed/come off, and the bolt/flange wasn't covered.

I had them for my first two years cruising. First time I needed them, when my Aquadrive broke, they came out but couldn't fix it. Another engineer visited the boat and he couldn't fix it. Finally they said they needed to take the gearbox and Aquadrive off the boat, send them off for repair or replacement, and they estimated the cost as £2,000 as they didn't believe it was covered - even though the free parts replacement policy lists both gearboxes and aquadrives as covered. I tried arguing with them but they were having none of it. In the end I found a local recommended engineer who fixed it for £300 and haven't had any problems since. I didn't renew with RCR and wouldn't recommend them to anyone else.

As well as Lynn, which we thought was very nice with good pubs, we moored in central Manchester in Castlefield and enjoyed it. Probably less so the other night, allegedly, according to reports on BBC of boats being at risk of being "washed away"... I'm not sure where you get washed away to on the Bridgewater mind. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-49149281

It's just awful isn't it.

When I first went through there in 2014 we thought of mooring in the park, as was recommended in Nicholsons. It just looked like there might be a few teenagers around who might cause trouble, so we went half a mile further to the next bridge (8 I think) and moored there overnight without problems. The next time I went through in 2017 I moored overnight both ways by the Limekilns and new residential developments a bit further on, maybe near Bridge 9. We had no significant problems, although on the last night a loud group of boaters went past quite late, looked like they were having a party. I confess to curtain twitching as they went past, and got shouted it and they thumped the side of the boat in reply.

Thanks alot. So far, so good it seems. Keeping an eye on river levels website below. Seems levels at Harlow Mill went up 137mm since lunchtime, not alot but will keep watching. https://riverlevels.uk/stort-sawbridgeworth-harlow-mill#.XQFAzFPTU0M

Sounds pretty bad in the East Midlands. I'm keeping an eye on the Stort as I'm moored there currently near Harlow. So far, so good it seems. Anyone else aware of any issues there?

Hi Bizzard, thanks, sorry I didn't know that and that there was an issue. Already moored up above lock 2. Will be mindful, not alot I can do to help now, hopefully in the next week or so the situation will get better. Best wishes, Jon

Just contacted the crt re the above, they said it was a temporary stoppage applied by the local team over the recent Bank Holiday weekend, and had now been lifted and the canal was now open. As it was short term, it didn't make it into the online notices.

Thanks for advice, appears it costs even more then. Does anyone know of any good cheaper alternatives? I know there are sometimes smaller handheld vacuum cleaners but I'm not sure they'd be powerful enough. I would charge it at home, assuming its rechargeable.

Hi, really helpful post, been studying it for same purpose. Not having 240 volts on my boat or an inverter, can anyone recommend a cordless ie battery powered wet and dry vac for this? Don't know alot about wet and dry vacuum cleaners. Found this Bosch one for £98 which looks alright, wondered if anyone could recommend a cheaper one (or just comment on this - so I don't spend £98 and regret it). Thanks, Jon https://www.cnspowertools.co.uk/bosch-gas18v-10l-professional-cordless-wet-dry-18v-vacuum-body-only?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_r3nBRDxARIsAJljleGxjLf9yqV_TlKviOdmM3n2Zn0U0Pjes7-ASFNnLxMPuxPOxM4kfpQaAq2qEALw_wcB

Does anyone have any information about the present closure (as of 27/05/2019 - lock 1 presently chained closed with low water levels above that). Can't seem to find it under stoppages on crt website. Any ideas when it will reopen?

I went down it in 2017, limit of Navigation was just past Maesbury, after the lifting bridge. I really liked it. We just did two days, out and back. Booked passage on crt website. We had a good meal at the pub in Maesbury and enjoyed the ales too.

Anyone know anything about this one, and how long likely closed? Guess it's just short term, but if anyone knows anything would be interested to hear. Notice Alert Lee Navigation Starts At: Lock 17, Tottenham Lock, Eastern Side Ends At: Lock 17, Tottenham Lock, Western Side Friday 22 March 2019 21:15 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Repair Original message: Navigation is closed until further notice at Tottenham locks 17 eastern and western side due to a pollution incident. Work is under way to contain and clear the pollution You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/14835/tottenham-locks-17-east-side-and-west-side You can find all notices at the url below: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

It looks good to me, and I quite like the layout, personal preferences. Subject to survey not showing any issues. Could you put the stove opposite the sink drainer? If that wouldn't make it uncomfortably warm using the sink?

I moored just below the aqueduct, Ashton side of the retained cutting/former tunnel for a week in Summer 2017. Have also moored near the junction with the Macc, when there's space, which is convenient for Marple, and further along on the Upper Peak Forest though it does get shallow and you have to find spots where you can moor.

And the news according to the Winsford and Middlewich Guardian, it should be open today. https://www.winsfordguardian.co.uk/news/17312094.middlewich-canal-reopened-after-3-million-repairs/

I seem to be slowly transitioning from just accepting these things happen and that's life to getting slightly annoyed. It's the inconvenience of it all, and having to go to and forth getting new batteries, lost weekends etc.

Ouch, and it's going to cost me £300 - £400. Out of interest, would anyone bother claiming on the insurance? Taking account the loss of no claims, increased premiums etc.

They were Platinum Leisure Plus domestic batteries and a Platinum Excel starter battery as per attached photo.

Thanks Tree Monkey, yes I've reported it to the police using their online forms. Awaiting a response but will mention it when they do. Sounds significant.

Don't know if it's significant but there weren't any boats moored that near me. Guess that proves the old adage that it's better to moor in the company of others. (that said it seemed like such a quiet, rural spot!) Possibly the moorings at the top are safer?

I'm a cruiser stern so I'm afraid it's easy to get in an nab the batteries. So some form of increased security, locking deck panels etc, is next on the list. As well as new batteries...