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Unfortunately the rot had already started. The Union has not been properly dredged and has overgrown so much that in some places only one boat at a time can pass through. When large areas of weed have become detached from the bank we've had cases of hire boats 'running aground' on them. SC have a complete monopoly on moorings which are few and far between and have made it almost impossible to moor on other parts of the canal. The few guys still working on the canal try their best but have no backing from the management. I think it will be an uphill battle but it's got to be worth a try

Attached is the letter sent by the chairman of the LCA. As David Mack has quite rightly pointed out a straight cut and paste will probably be ignored by the powers that be so it is more about providing salient points for your own letters Point to note: Scottish Canals annual income including £10m grant from Government is around £19m but only £3m is allocated to maintenance. LCA complaint to Parliament (1).docx

Totally agree. Just e-mailed Graeme to check he's happy for it to be shared

They represent the interest of all the boaters on F&C and Union Canals There's no membership fee. It's all voluntary

Ronnie, have mailed you the letter. Just adapt it for personal use Go on the LCA website and apply from there Allan. There will hopefully be a dedicated Facebook page soon

Cheers Haggis, I'e mailed Ronnie the letter

In hand, if you fancy ranting to your local MSP that would be great

Cheers Ronnie, I'll pass on all suggestions

For anybody who's not a member of the Lowland Canals Association A concerted effort has started to force/embarrass Scottish Canals and Parliament into taking action. A Twitter campaign (whatever that is) has started to all MSP's, news agencies etc Anybody with any suggestions of who would be worth contacting put them here, or indeed any useful suggestions of any sort Time to stop sitting around tutting and do something about it Please share. Scottish Canals have closed the Forth Clyde canal to navigable craft since they have failed to adequately maintain two key bridges. This is one of the oldest man made sea to sea crossings in the world. They have subsequently failed in their statutory duty. Evidence attached. Please help us firstly raise this issue publicly and secondly perhaps help us crowd fund to challenge legally. As anyone can. www.legislation.gov.uk LEGISLATION.GOV.UK

So far not too bad, I've only done about 40 hours so far. Have just had a big service done as previous service history was a bit sketchy. I'd read mixed reviews so was a bit iffy but liked the boat so took a bit of a chance Seems to run ok and about average for fuel when I compare it to other boaters I've spoken to I'm going to start doing my own servicing so I'll see how I get on sourcing parts etc If I remember Ill update at the end of this year when(hopefully) I'll have clocked up a good number of hours

I've got a blue one, but it is a Barrus Shanks so does one cancel out the other???

New boat requirements for Forth & Clyde, Ronnie I'll go halves with you

Point 6 from the minutes of the September 2017 Scottish Canals board meeting . Cash Contingency briefing paper The Board discussed the appropriateness of the contingency held in cash for funding emergency expenditure on canal infrastructure in accordance with Scottish Canals Framework Document with the Scottish Government as well as protecting against unforeseen cash flow demands. The Board noted that the scale and nature of emergency expenditure on canal infrastructure had exceeded the contingency and in every circumstance where there had been an emergency or critical asset failure Scottish Government had provided the necessary financial support to fund the works. The Board agreed that, in accordance with the responsible management of public money, it was not appropriate to maintain a ring-fenced contingency in cash as it was not the best use of public funds and not in the public interest. It was agreed that the Chair and Chief Executive would discuss this Board recommendation with the sponsor team with a view to revising the wording of Scottish Canals Framework Document to retain a liquidity requirement and report back to the next meeting. Well that worked out well

Was just reading that. Will be interesting to see what happens next

Fair enough. Thanks for that

What do folks use for rust treatment. I've been told Fertan is good stuff

Out of interest where did that info come from

Problem is Haggis anybody reading that article would think 50 boats a year is not worth worrying about, as Alan de pointed out. In reality we know that's not the full story but it suits SC to play it down

I think that Scottish Canals are using slight of hand. There are probably only 50 'sea to sea' transits (Grangemouth to Glasgow) but I think there are considerably more boat movements up and down the canal. It's a sad reflection of their priorities

News article from the Scotsman https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/unsafe-bridges-force-indefinite-forth-clyde-canal-closure-1-4679741 Quote '“The restrictions will only temporarily impact our transiting customers, of which there are around 50 per year. "The vast majority of canal users, from runners and walkers to cyclists and kayakers, will be completely unaffected".

Just to offer a possibly cynical point of view Scottish Canals asks the Scottish Parliament for more money Scottish Parliament says no Scottish Canals says it has no money and closes 40% of the Lowland Canal system forcing Scottish Parliament into a corner Scottish Parliament stumps up or Scottish Canals faces the possibility of going under Carillion anyone?

And they're so well organised their own passenger boat is now stuck!!!!

Apparently the road bridges at Bonnybridge and Twechar are about to be closed for the foreseeable future so the only way out for a lift will be Grangemouth. If you need a dry dock there is one on the Falkirk Linear, it was owned by Capercaillie cruises (not sure who owns it now) I used A Adamsons for a survey, they were recommended and were pretty good, but quite expensive

Thanks for the replies and reinforces what I thought. Will be sure to avoid the Calcareous Coating Menace

When I bought my narrowboat last year the survey stated that the Anodes on the hull had hardly any corrosion (from what I can see that still looks the case) However the surveyor pointed out that the rudder didn't have an anode and should have one Now I've maybe not been looking hard enough but I don't think I've seen a narrowboat with an Anode fitted to the rudder. I'm blacking the hull in April, should I be putting an Anode on the rudder at the same time or is it a pointless exercise