Martin44

Thank you for reply, Yes, I have now found Boat safety scheme website, which gives all the information I need. Regards Martin

Thanks Tony, thought these are the same or may act in the same role.

Hi guys, could anyone recommend a surveyor for my upcoming boat safety inspection in East Anglia area, please. Thanks a lot Martin

Locking down from Ely Ouse onto Off-cut channel at Denver complex. Whether Great Ouse is still a river in proper sense at that point is a question though.

FWIW, a year ago I was thinking of stretching my 45' boat and here were my calculations: 10 ft of stretching = £10000 haulage fees = £1500 new section fit out with electrician and gas man involved + materials = £3000 Let's say 15000 all together. Money I would get after selling (realistically) 30000-32000 If I wanted to buy a boat of this length, which is in the same category of quality, builder etc. I would be looking at spending around 50000 according to my search what was available then. Plus I would need to have at least £2000 ready after paying for the new boat if anything goes wrong as it possibly can with relatively unknown boat and another 1000 for survey and craning out. Another reason why I was seriously considering the option of stretching was that I live on my boat and cannot simply put it into brokerage waiting for sell and waiting then for the right boat to come onto market. Stretching takes 1 month, which I would manage somehow, selling and buying can take much longer. I think that at worst I would break even.

Interestingly, in the latest GOBA magazine on p. 5, under the heading EA's sustainable business plan, Welches Dam lock appears to have allocated money for rebuilding. It says: ' ...2 locks [...] will cost £8 million to rebuild and are on the Middle level, Welches Dam being one of them.' edited to say: this is pre-covid news

Actually, I might be the NIMBY here too ( very much liking the 'backwateredness' (new word alert) of East Anglian rivers)? I believe that with increased demand, facilities would improve and multiply perhaps. Though it took EA 2 years to fix moorings in Prickwillow. If I was to bet which of the new projects could materialize, it would be rather the Fens waterway link between Nene and Boston as to my best knowledge it does not require any expensive structures in place.

Actually, that is precisely why I have two minds about this link. On one hand it would be great to have shorter journey to access the canal network, on the other though, the infrastructure is not here. Moorings are already sparse, let alone water points or pumpouts etc.

Needs to be more as they plan it to be a link for wide beams as well?

Yes, you are right. It's the hill. Now I remember.

Thanks, Matty. Last time I was reading on that, possibly on the website which I linked to, there were plans for Falkirk style lift or such.

Good to see something is happening, but unless there is a tangible plan to cross the M1, it is still just a pipe dream.

Hi, you might have this info already, but here is link to the official website for this project http://www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk/ Somebody else might have of course some 'insider' information.

That was certainly my case. When I bought my boat, the engine started overheating when going down the Nene, so I did have an external pipe fitted to the swim in Fox Marina. When the two holes for the pipes were drilled, my heart sunk. Still, it was a good decision as engine now happy and the capacity of cooling is 50% up. Also, I cannot see any problems with steering or reversing. The pipe might not be the most elegant solution, but it works and Foxes fit it to all their boats.

Here in a quiet corner of East Anglia there were no boats whatsoever even if the pub at the end of the line is now open.

Could not resist and drove there to have a look. You are right, not floating, but nice ones which could last forever.

There are http://middlelevelwatermensclub.com/ moorings in March, which need to be booked in advance, but it is an alternative.

Cannot open the pictures to have a better look, but could it be floating pontoons?

Excellent! (my moan did not last long then?)

Update: Isleham lock open again. Hopefully, EA will tackle now the moorings in Prickwillow, as it was shut over 2 years due to asbestos in the railings.

Thanks for that. Very informative! I remember, last time I was crossing from Salter's to Denver, I was keeping well to the left of the sand bank, but still had to power through as the baseplate hit its edges. Perhaps, it was on low tide though.

Might be mistaken, but isn't there a plan to restore the navigation from horseway lock towards Earith via Old Bedford River?

Are there any new developments on opening the Horseway lock? It could be very relevant in the future as according to the link below, the crossing between Denver and Salter's lode might be getting quite tricky. https://teamup.com/ks7f3fcbc3e94ed8f0/events/579619671

No. I don't think you missed one. The only way from Salter's lode is through Upwell, but then you can divert and take longer routes which will connect you back to the main link. Sorry, if I was not clear in my previous post

Yes, you are right. Didn't realise that.