Cheese

On the Wey there always seem to be boats moored long-term at both Farncombe and on the arm at the Wey & Arun junction. No idea if someone is turning a blind eye, or checking periodically that they are non-residential.

Link to the builder: https://formationplastics.co.uk/our-biggest-project-yet/. But no indication of whether it was actually launched.

Back from the future?

If you were playing the euphonium late at night he was only getting his own back!

Absolutely, and a first class way of getting to understand your new boat. But if you are completely a novice then the overall time needed may depend as much on other factors as Canalplan timings. Will you have made short trips beforehand, out / back to Stourport, to check everything is running smoothly? And ensured you have all the necessary tools, spares, fuel, food etc on board? Will anyone be accompanying you (as a solo boater you may be quite slow handling lines and dealing with locks etc for the first few days)? Will you be on the move from dawn to dusk, or take it more leisurely? Have you got somewhere in mind to moor when you get to London?

I wouldn't be worried about the supply / tank, but would be more concerned about whether the free end of the hose has been used to clean Elsans etc. (So would probably try to disinfect and always run some water through before inserting into boat tank).

Eh??? So they can declare they only sold 6000 tickets, and just pocket £15,000. Is that legal? (Can't see the Facebook content so taking the quote as it stands. Guess it might cost them something to process the refunds)

Other than Lock Gate Close, a few feet away...

I absolutely agree that it is daft to allow wide-beams on that stretch at all. But given that they are currently allowed, and that due notice has been given, isn't it partly the fault of the narrow boats (on the left of the picture) for being moored opposite the water point, so not allowing a wide-beam through?

I think the science of this is probably right, in that in the winter you will get more power from a vertical panel than a horizontal one - provided you are somewhere with a good view of the southern horizon. Plus the advantage of it not gathering as much snow, leaves, dirt etc. It works having them just on one side for the OP because he has a short boat that can wind almost anywhere. So worth thinking about if your boat / lifestyle / winter mooring etc fits

Agrree. The OP said "t-boned", which I took to mean running directly into the side of the boat, at an angle towards 90 degrees (certainly greater than 45). Where was the hit boat moored: outside of a bend? opposite a winding hole? opposite the junction at Wigrams or Hawkesbury? If so, then while not absolving the hirers of at least carelessness, there would seem to be some contributory negligence.

My reading is that the only thing deemed essential by that guide is an "in-water trial". Everything else in 3.3.3 is covered by the words "The handover topics may include ...." (my emphasis)

These novices seem to manage satisfactorily: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/commonwealth-games/62209370 😀

Agreed. But one positive about regular volockies (as opposed to helpful passers by) is that they usually work the same lock or flight repeatedly, and so do know the characteristics of the lock. They should also get used to how different length boats behave in that lock. So provided they acknowledge the helm, and follow instructions, i am happy to take their advice.

Perhaps look for a hire company with a number of boats with different layouts. And do a deal with them to hire 3 or 4 over successive weeks? That could give you some ideas of what suits you on that front. But it won't address the issues that don't arise much on hire boats: pump-out/cassette, battery management, maintenance, supplies, etc

And there is a YouTube video reviewing his book that indicates it is indeed somewhere on the Mon & Brec

This article http://gregoryeditions.com/a_ingham_bio.htm indicates that all the artist's paintings are "real places and .... hopefully identifiable".

I think you are on the same pound as the breach, so yes, the level will probably fall. But the stoppage was posted at 13:45, so it should already have been falling for at least 7 hours; are your lines noticeably tight? By tomorrow morning it should fall by about twice as much again - and then c&rt will put dams in place to stop it going down further

If you own a narrow boat in the UK, but live overseas, you clearly still have an insurable interest in it. I suspect the issue is that such a situation is relatively unusual. Speaking to a good broker ought to be able to sort something out.

So if burglars keep below the roof line they won't be spotted? Good of you to let us know! 😀

That doesn't give me a great deal of confidence in craftinsure. They appear to not know that 'UK' automatically includes Northern Ireland! .

Thanks for all the replies. So it probably has to be 'market value', in order to put you back in a similar position. Initially that would be purchase price but subsequently needs adjusting to current value. New build would clearly be putting you in a better position, and it is not really feasible to build a worn / pitted shell! With any sort of unique / historic boat you could argue for a full re-fitout back to the previous condition, so understand that an 'agreed value' above market value might be necessary in those cases.

What should a boat be insured for? With a house, the buildings insurance should for the rebuilding cost (including demolition / site clearance after say a fire). This can be much lower than the market value, because the latter will include the land value. With a boat, should it be for a new build cost, including fit-out, or for the current market value? The former might be rather greater than the latter.

I don't think that's right. You just have to get a court to agree a term is 'unfair'. If the court agrees then that ruling would apply to any marina using a substantially similar clause.