Mad Harold

I do agree. Even a quick scan of Facebook groups 'Living On a Narrowboat' or Single Solo boaters, there are literally dozens of posts from people who are,a, thinking of living on a boat because of unaffordable rents, or,b, thinking of selling their house to buy a boat.The questions asked are usually about CC ing or marina living, how to register with a doctor, a postal address etc. There are experienced people on these sites that give good advice, eg. Don't sell up your house, and living on a boat is not always cheaper than renting, but most of the queries I guess come from people who have watched too many You Tube videos and TV progs that rather glamourise canal boating. They will be I think easy prey for sellers of "classic" Springers and overpriced (and probably overplated) boats with brilliant white interiors. The key word when advertising a boat for sale seems to be, "Liveaboard. Saw one ad for a 18ft grp boat advertised as a "Liveaboard" I suppose that will be suitable for someone who is currently sleeping in a shop doorway.

It's not only large aircraft that have a delay between control input and the response. Quite a few little aircraft are the same.When I was flying it was known as PIO. (Pilot induced oscillation)

Ah, but has Laurenen sold her soul to the Devil as the Flying Dutchman did? Might be worth a try.😰

I have used Ronseal shed and fence treatment.Water based and in various colours, it goes on easily and although a matt finish, it doesn't look too bad.It's also very durable. I am not so bothered about looks, I prefer practicality.

Hope that the gates are not too leaky. A Spanish windlass or ratchet strap on that beam would probably snap it.

They are not the only ones. Cruising along quite happily one day in my (thankfully very maneuverable) yoghurt pot, on the Calder and Hebble, a Shire Cruisers boat was coming towards me on his left side of the canal. I moved to my right and expected him to do the same.He didn't but kept coming towards me.When it became obvious that he wasn't going to alter course, a burst of throttle and I shot across his bow to pass right to right. I did mention when passing that we are supposed to pass port to port. He said "oh right, thank you very much"and moved to the right and proceeded on his way on his right hand side of the canal!

Are CRT breaking their own rules? ie. fibreglass boats are not allowed to use the Standedge Tunnel. Perhaps they are only using steel canoes.

I too am full of admiration of Wayne's skill and determination. I think his posts describing his projects are essential reading for anyone considering taking on a project. I recommend seriously that you forget about a cantilever deck extension.You will knacker the boat, and render it unsellable, and let yourself into expensive and frustrating work. I would leave the structure as Norman designed it and work with that, or buy a bigger boat.

Aspley is a good Marina.It's the location that is not good. A lift bridge and nine locks on the Broad to get to the C+H, forty two locks on the Narrow to get to Standedge. Plus you have to book lock 1E on the narrow 48 hours in advance. Aspley is fine if you don't move too often.

I get this red flag most times I try access CWF.It does work ok sometimes,and when it doesn't I go onto Thunderboat where they are still kicking poor old Tony Dunkley's arse, or Facebook, where there are more " experts" than you can shake a stick at. It's only social media, after all.😝

Sounds like standard 6/8 standard rootie toot rhythm, shall we have a competition to see who can write the rudest lyrics about CRT.

Glad to see there are still some optimists around. 😄

But hopefully Arthur, we should get another couple of years before this decline becomes too awful to be enjoyable any more.

Having cruised past several times, I thought would be a good place for me to moor as I live in Huddersfield. However I was put off joining the club as I once moored up opposite and went across to have a look, but someone stopped me at the gate and refused to let me in even though I told him I was a boater. I think I have mentioned this before, and as I don't know if this bloke had some position in the club, I carried on walking to the Pear Tree for a pint. I will apply for membership.

Also you could get your boating "fix" rather cheaper with a small,trailerable sailing boat or dingy on inland lakes and reservoirs. Don't know what club membership fees are, but Probably a lot less than £15K.

That may be acceptable to some of the people that live on their boats, but not to hobby boaters (except wealthy ones) Housing is expensive and if you live on land (renting or buying) a £15K licence fee will push most hobby boaters off the canals and I would guess a great many live aboards too, unless they moor in expensive areas of the country. I would be interested to see if a straw poll of CWF members would be prepared to pay a £15K licence fee to keep the canals maintained. Such an increase would I think would result in the canals being used by the better off, and people on benefits who get their licence fee paid as housing benefit.

Er, what's a "Swift Block"? A sort of mudweight? A ballast weight? A block of birdboxes for Swifts? A boxing defensive move? I give up. 🐴

Quite interesting, but didn't tell us anything we don't already know. Mr.Parry said the same things; a cut in funding in real terms, and the possibility of having to close some canals, above inflation licence and mooring fees and the same statement from DEFRA that there will be no increased funding from them. GLOOM! 😞