starman

I think the National Union of Boat Brokers wouldn't approve of one brother member commenting on the merits or otherwise of another brother member's sale! The members of the Association of ApolloDuck Tyrekickers (amongst which I count myself) seem agreed that -- on paper -- it looks an interesting proposition.

And I don't blame him. After a lifetime in journalism I know that solicitors can play hardball on libel. And you can't just rely on the evidence of one party (however honest they may appear to be) before taking the risk of publishing. Any journalist worth his salt would do some serious research to back up their claims -- and then have the story 'legalled' before going ahead. If there is a story in this (and it sounds like there is) then Josn & Sabrina should give it to Watchdog or the News of the World who have the resources to research this stuff -- and the clout to stand up against legal threats.

Problems arise even with BMF contracts I'm afraid if the builder hasn't used your stage payments as the contract specified to pay suppliers of elements of your boat (eg shell, engine). Until they've been paid for, they legally belong to the suppliers. You need Trading Standards asap to find out about his trading history but any half-decent solicitor should be able to deal with the contract law -- stage payments are familiar in many industries not just boats. If the boat is in the water you may need, as a last resort, to do what others here have done and tow it away when he isn't looking. Not strictly legal but leave him to do the arguing whille you have possession.

Er, didn't she deregulate the British banks?

Bit of an old story isn't it - but rather amusing when you look back with the benefit of nine years' hindsight: "The Independent on Sunday (5 March 2000) has learned that the Treasury is putting together a Public Private Partnership to redevelop a chunk of the agency's £250m land and property portfolio, which covers 3,800 acres. "the Treasury is putting together a Public Private Partnership to redevelop a chunk of the agency's £250m land and property portfolio, which covers 3,800 acres... Well-placed sources last week predicted that if it were fully developed, British Waterways could end up jointly owning a commercial property portfolio worth more than £1bn.." Or not!!!

You're right; it did change a couple of years back (we finishing claiming a piece of land just before the change). I can't recall the details but I know the reason for the change was to make successful adverse possession ("squatter's rights") type claims harder. My sympathies with your case; the whole business of establishing ownership and rights to pieces of land can be a nightmare. To call something 'common land' is a common misunderstanding; we're talking 'common rights' - of walking, grazing etc - which is why land with those rights can't be fenced off. As you say, bar room lawyers have been at work here!

I'm not sure you're right. This from the Partnerships for Renewables website: "How We Work Each PfR project begins with identifying sites that are right for development. Because we cover all of the development costs ourselves and want to deliver well sited and well designed projects, we take great care screening potential sites and only develop the sites we believe to be appropriate for renewable energy development."

So long as BW isn't funding it then what's the problem? I think desperate measures will be called for in the next few years to fund the waterways (and much else besides!).

In fact defending the need for a professional approach to pricing and selling boats actually suggests a pretty good boat broker...

To be fair, I think his general point is reasonable. In most markets (cars, houses, boats, antiques) costs of restoration are rarely recovered in selling price because perfectionism and passion drive the renovator more than the pounds and pence. Only in a fast rising bubble type market or when something's truly rare are sellers likely get back the cost of their work. Also the more esoteric and away from mainstream tastes something is, the less it's likely to recover its build price. Exotic cars plunge in value once the next exotic hits the headlines; one-off house designs are hard to shift; ditto (I'm assuming) in boats. On the other hand, I saw that beautiful but proven and classic Braidbar's 2008 Crick show boat sold secondhand within a couple of weeks recently seemingly at well over £100k.

We're about to go through the test. We're away from the main system on the Middle Level. Anyone recommend from personal experience a Nb tester in that neck of the woods?

I recall it's been asked before but are these BSS approved? If so, race you to Lidl!

My only point was that IMHO even in black it was possible to see the difference between Craftmaster and a cheaper trade paint - believe me we would have gone for the cheap stuff otherwise! It has become a fashion to gloss-up the upper hull sides which is fine (it improves the visual lines of many boats) so long as you're prepared to accept the scrapes and maintain it. Trouble is that some of these fashionistas who've forked out for costly paint jobs don't accept the scrapes!

I hate to disagree with the immensely knowledgeable Tony but when repainting the cabin sides of our boat last year we tried one panel in a 'regular' trade black and a similar panel in Craftmaster black - same prep on both. The Craftmaster had a very apparent fuller and richer depth of colour. So much so that even though it was just simple black rather than a more specialist narrowboat colour we damned the expense and used it. But whether to use expensive gloss finishes on vulnerable hull sides is a whole other question. Blacking or a cheap gloss makes more sense there.

£3 overnight, less if you're making a short stop and, you're right, he won't miss you. On the other hand we left our boat there for a several days a year or two back and he kept an eye on it, checked the lines were okay against river level changes etc etc so I'm happy to pay. The pub's a bit posh for my taste, though the food is excellent - it does have a v. nice little 'snug' around the side for ordinary folk too as well.

We did it clockwise in our little 44 footer last summer and though it was a bit of a plod to Teddington on a day when strong winds counter-acted the tide we had no real problems. As I recall it took us eight days from Brentford Dock to Oxford. As a big-river novice I felt comfortable going up-river, not having to worry about being carried past moorings on the flow etc. And there was quite a flow on it after a lot of recent rain even in summer with 'stream increasing' warning boards on some locks. We rarely struggled to find mooring spots on the river, though you inevitably have to pay. Barely touch the bank at Henley and someone will be aboard to lift £6 off you while in Cliveden Reach the National Trust man even rows out to the little islands to get his money! On the other hand, before Doctor Bones interjects, Abingdon is free. Contrary to other opinions, we found the Oxford could be tricky to moor in places - there are a lot of overgrown banks so people tend to congregate on the publicised mooring spots which therefore fill up. On the other hand if you don't mind a bit of weed bashing... Coming down the GU was great; there were always people to pair up with through locks. The further we went south of Watford, the fewer the desirable mooring spots and decent pubs (others may disagree of course.)

There's a shortage of moorings on the Nene so any new ones will be gratefully received. A reasonable bit of bankside to bang a couple of spikes into is all we need though some places have permanent posts provided. A lot also depends on the depth of the river at the bank -- if it's shallow then you might need a simple jetty -- scaffold poles banged into the river bed seem to be the basis for many. They also let boats ride up and down with changes in river levels. Fresh water tap might be nice if it's easy to provide but not essential. Pub moorings on the Nene tend to be free - some are patrons only; others work on the usually accurate principle that good beer will magnetically attract boaters! Fotheringhay is the biggest provider of regular bankside moorings on the river - just posts, no services and it's £3 a night. The Kings Head at Wadenhoe has some nice free moorings with space for boats to breast up alongside each other so more can get in -- sneak down there for a pint and a spy. If you're up and running in May we'll drop in on our trip upriver.

Well, I was dubious too until I tried it -- I have a number in the house and they're all fine, have been for several years now. I'm careful not to over-tighten when first fitting and tweak up slowly if there's a driip. Speedfit says it's an ok practice too. I still only use them for in-line valves and the rare occasion I need to go from plastic to copper pipe.

Probably just worth adding that you can use normal brass compression fittings, standard compression fit in-line valves etc, with plastic pipe or to join plastic to copper. Just don't forget those inserts.

Definitely join GOBA (Great Ouse Boating Association) which gives you access to many good mooring spots they have created on the Ouse network.There are decent EA 48 hour moorings around too. The bottom end of the Ouse between Denver Sluice and Ely is wide and a bit straight but the tributaries – Little Ouse, Lark, Wissey are pretty and well worth exploring. Ely itself has excellent moorings along the city centre riverside and much to see. Above Ely the river splits to the Cam which is easy down to Cambridge but can be busy with rowers at the city end and the Old West River which will take you to Hermitage lock where there is the tidal New Bedford link back to Denver Sluice - you'll need to take advice on using this as it can get shallow. Apart from Cambridge, which can be busy, there's plenty of mooring and the whole area is rarely crowded -- easily do-able in the time you have. It might be tempting to buzz down the New Bedord as a shortcut to the Cam but, personally, I think Ely, the Wissey and the Lark with its little steam engine museum at Prickwillow are highlights not to miss.

I've used both straight and coiled and found the 3m straight lengths much easier. The coils are an absolute pain and never get truly straight -- even when held in clips they are under tension. The straight lengths can also be bent a little by hand (and stay bent) to ease past obstructions and you can get special clamps to hold them in longer curves. I wouldn't have any worries about jointing 3m lengths if needed - I plumbed a whole house, underfloor heating, h&c water etc, with Speedfit connectors and only had one leak which was where I hadn't pushed the pipe right home. A far higher success rate than my soldered copper joints and much faster too. Just use proper pipe cutters and remember the inserts.

I recall that Peterborough Yacht Club (www.peterboroughyachtclub.com) has a slipway as well as other facilities. Might be worth enquiring (or joining).