Mad Harold

Planning on doing a similar trip from Huddersfield on Saturday.Weather forecast doesn't look good for Sat and Sun,but better the following week. As for pubs,they are I think only allowing a few in at a time,and taking contact details at the door. I will take a goodly supply of beer with me.

72 hours free mooring at Aspley Wharf,and then someone will come around holding their hand out. There are facilities. Water,elsan,pump out, shower,diesel,gas etc. Because of Covid restrictions,the chandlery is only open 4-5pm .

Suggest you try climbing in and out a few times to see what its like for entry and exit. Looks to me that its not a boat for singlehanding.

At that age,the steel remaining on the hull may be rather thin. Wood tops either leak now or are going to leak shortly making the inside damp and musty.Its unpleasant getting into a damp bed.A wood top needs constant attention to keep it almost watertight,that's why wood top boats are cheap. Don't think this one is cheap though. For 15K I think you could get a very good GRP boat.Have a look at Highbridge Crusader,Norman 24,Viking,and Atlanta.

I do agree with this. Keep it simple,accessible,repairable,and live with the shortcomings that most of us endure. Having owned three boats now,I don't think that a 100% suitable boat exists for me,there is always something that I don't like,and changing that something has always caused something else I didn't like!

Had three "incidents" with anglers in the last two years.Two who didn't reel in,and I got a propfull of fishing line.I pulled in and cleared about half a mile of it,dumped it beside one of them and reminded him that he should either reel in or at least move his his rod to one side,he replied "I didn't see you". The other just sat on the bank grinning as I struggled in the middle of the canal untangling the mess.( It had stopped the engine) On another occasion I was approaching a fisher who looked as though he was asleep,so I gave a blast on the horn. "Don't blow your f-ing horn at me" At least he did reel in. I should add that I have passed dozens of fishers, and all except the ones mentioned have reeled in and waved,or reeled in and ignored me.

In that case,no,so you would have to scull around for a bit untill the lock was free.

The Huddersfield SHALLOW is my local ditch!

I think you were lucky to get away with that. Had there been a group of onlookers,you would have got very wet,and felt a right prawn!

Even shallow draught boats can not get close to the lock landings sometimes. In this case,take the bow right up to the lock gate,and secure to whatever is handy.

Locks 1E,and 9E have rather tight entrances (HNC) when you are in they are a bit wider.I am a bit reluctant to plan longish trips for fear of having to leave my little boat in some godforsaken place because of stoppages. The closed pubs are a bit of a bummer too.It was very pleasant to have a couple of days on the boat to visit nearby pubs. The Red Rooster,the Colliers Arms,the Barge and Barrel on the Calder and Hebble,the Pear Tree at Mirfield,and the Bridge on the HNC. The pity is,pubs will be closed (some perhaps permanently) for some considerable time as social distancing is impossible in a pub. I am like the OP getting a bit jaded with boating,and wonder if it is time to sell up and buy a Harley. I would probably get more use from it!

But surely Alan,the heat generated by the burner sends the CO up the flue,and also when the pilot light is on. I always turned the pilot light off at night anyway because of the gentle roar it made ,it used to keep me awake.

Had a Morco non room sealed water heater in the living/sleeping area of my last boat. As well as a CO alarm,the pilot light was always turned off when not being used. It was quite simple to click the pilot light on when hot water was required. They have a safety cut off in that if the pilot light blows out,the temperature sensor cuts the gas supply off.

My carbon monoxide alarm went off due to the battery "gassing"through overcharging.

When you get old, you will probably (like me) regret some things that you did and be quite pleased with some other things that you did but could have done better. You will though most likely regret much more things you didn't do. So go ahead and splash the cash to do what you want. My father skrimped and saved all his working life and when he retired was too infirm to enjoy the fruits of his savings. I got them!!! Cheers Dad!

Is your boat narrow beam (6-10).If it is a Freeman,they made very few narrow beams.The usual Freemans were 7-6. This may limit you to wider canals. As for spares,tools,spark plug,spare throttle cable,gears are usually a pole sticking up through the floor. The narrow beam Freemans had a weed hatch,if yours hasn't,then I don't know how you would clear the prop. Wet suit and snorkel??

lI think silicone sealer (the domestic type) will hold the feet of the panels securely enough.Removal will need a Stanley knife and rubbing the residue with your fingers.

25K sounds cheap for a 1988 46 footer with a mooring . It could be a "snip" as they say in the motor trade On the other hand; it may be anything but. If you think it is worth the survey fee (a basic hull survey would be cheaper than the full works) and probably more sensible with a cheap boat then go ahead. Best of luck.

I thought fibreglass boats were cheaper to maintain than steel! It would appear from your bill that having a steel boat overplated is not too dear.

Had a look at the pictures of Normans on their forum,and it does look like your boat is a Norman 23 MK 1.

Looks like a Norman 22 to me. Agree that 5hp is a bit small for these boats. Suggest that you google Norman Owner's Forum,and you will find lots of info and specialised knowledge of Norman boats. As well as staying on CWF of course!

That sounds interesting. Could you post some pictures please?