KenK

True in my son's case but not in my wife's, the person driving the vehicle just does the recording, the decision is made by someone else. Ken

Be careful what you wish for. My wife was driving in Bournemouth going to see my daughter, she stopped to allow a car approaching her to pass a line of parked cars, she was on double yellow lines but obviously waiting for the car to pass. The car she waited for was a parking enforcement vehicle with a video camera, a week or so later she received a parking fine. We obviously challenged it, the video showed her stopped but clearly visible in the vehicle but it went to the Parking Tribunal before Bournemouth Council gave up. My son received one for parking when the camera evidence supplied by the enforcement officer clearly showed him loading his vehicle, something which he was allowed to do. Again it was dismissed. Somewhat off topic but it does show it is not only C&RT who employ people whose grasp of common sense is sadly lacking. Ken

That's two of us Ken

I do not know about Chinese inverters but I purchased a 3000Watt PSW inverter from a company in Taiwan, cost me £428.00 including Tax and delivery about a year ago, ordered and arrived within a week. Before installing it I had a good look at the way it was manufactured, I am an electronics engineer, and I couldn't fault it. It works perfectly, takes far less out of the batteries than its predecessor, a Sterling 3000 Watt PSW one of the large yellow ones, and it operates my wife's hair dryer on full power without needing to run the engine. The Sterling couldn't do that even with the engine running. I worked in the semiconductor industry for over 15 years virtually all the manufacturing moved to the far east years ago, what is left in Europe is design and research. I suspect you will find both Victron and Mastervolt source their components from the far east, possibly assembling in Europe. Ken

I can't speak for C&RT but the K&A Trust volunteers are covered under the Trust's insurance. Whomever is in charge of the volunteer group is responsible for the actions of the group and must be a K&A Trust member. Obviously everyone taking part should and would have had training. The trip boats for example work under MCA rules and are subject to the same regulations. Ken

Hi Dan, There are only two companies operating near Devizes White Horse Boats 01380 728504 Foxhangers 01380 828795 White Horse boats only have one boat but it does operate from Devizes Wharf. Foxhangers is much larger but they operate from below the Caen Hill locks. If you are not desperate to see that section of canal there are a host of other options Bradford on Avon, Bath, Newbury, Aldermaston all have hire boat companies. Ken

I shouted slow down at a racing scull, which was rapidly overtaking us, on the River Avon stretch of the K&A a couple of weeks ago. He shouted back bol**cks, then crashed straight into the fallen tree. Ken

For some reason I seem to be on ABC's mailing list, although I haven't hired from them in years. No idea if anyone on the forum is interested in doing this but here is the information if you are. Ken Family filming daysWe are looking for a family who might like to be the stars of our new promotional video that we will use on our website and social media. Ideally we are looking for an extended family who will be happy to arrive early on Tuesday 1st September for a long day of filming demonstrating the facilities on the brand new Goose Class. Weather allowing we will then ask the family to move the boat on Wednesday 2nd September down the Tardebigge flight near to Astwood Locks ready for filming on Thursday 3rd demonstrating going through a lock, cruising and mooring up at a canalside pub. We are looking for a family of 5/6 people who are experienced boaters. The family will then be able to keep the boat and return to Alvechurch marina Saturday morning. In return for assisting us with this you will receive a complimentary short break for 2016 up to the value of £1200. Anyone interested please contact our office info@abclg.com

There was one on the K&A at Newbury last month, the lady living on the boat was blind and had just lost her husband. C&RT not only put the notice on the boat they created a reserved mooring on the 24 hour mooring above Newbury lock until she could resolve her circumstances. Ken

Or on the Dark Side Ken

That's the one, it was still manual operation at Easter when we last came through. Ken

There is one on the South Oxford which would be extremely difficult if not impossible single handed, near Lower Heyford. There is nothing to hold the bridge open once it is lifted, there is a chain but nothing to attach it to. The bridge is too heavy to lift from the towpath side so the Banbury stick technique wouldn't work. A couple of times we have come along to find a single hander or in one case older boaters waiting for help. Ken

As it is only busy areas when breasting up is required there are usually other boaters available to lend a hand. You'll find boaters generally very friendly and willing to help. Ken

Conversation is always your friend in these cases, tell each other your plans for the next or subsequent days prior to mooring up and then arrange the boats to suit. Jiggling your boat out is straightforward enough if you have a crew to help bit more difficult if you are on your own. Ken

There are a few boats in our current marina which are in a very poor state and talking to a couple of people, who live full time on their boats, the owners never visit. I suppose at some point a decision is made to sell up and as they have lost all interest they sell as is and hope for the best. Ken

Really, the Thames is where we acquired our "welcome to moor alongside" stickers from one of the lock keepers. Anyway if only one boat is moored to the bank is it not impeding them? Ken

They must have done a lot of work since we last boated it about two years ago. Then every bridge hole and there are lots of them were very overgrown and as for Congleton I have never seen a more overgrown towpath. Very shallow in places as well. To be fair it wasn't all bad, Poynton was nice and the few locks well maintained. Ken

Section 43 (3) of the 1962 Transport Act allows C&RT to charge for their services and facilities and to set whatever terms and conditions they wish as to the use of those services and facilities. So they could state that visitor moorings are a facility or a service over and above the standard casual mooring along the rest of the canal and charge for it. They need to be careful because they use that specific section of the act as a catch all for their licence terms and conditions. Therefore if they apply it as it should be only to services and facilities they have shot themselves in the foot with regard to a general use. The act also covers the railways board of the time and that section applies or applied to them in exactly the same way but it was never used as a catch all but may be why the railway station car park is or can be subject to a charge. Please note that last bit is conjecture but it is feasible. Ken

I hate to disagree but having spent the last five weekends, cleaning, de-rusting and finally painting the engine hole, I can honestly tell you it is the worst job you can do on a boat. Compared to it cleaning and repainting the water tank is a doddle. Whoops didn't see all the later posts before I replied to yours. Ken

I'd give Aston Marina 10 out of 10, moored there for three years couldn't fault it. Ken

Well very soon I'll be wandering gently down the K&A to Bristol and back. I doubt I'll receive a letter but if I do I'll tell them where to put it. As far as the license requirements in the 1995 Act, I have a home mooring, I do not need to satisfy the board in respect of Bona Fide navigation. I'm not even sure they would get away with using Sec 43 (3) of the 62 Transport Act as the basis of their terms and conditions. That section sets out their right to apply charges for services and facilities and allows them to set terms and conditions for the use of those services and facilities. I doubt if it was ever intended to be used as it is today, especially as it applied equally to the Railway Authority. I can understand them not liking so called Ghost Moorings but if they are not satisfied that a mooring on the license application is valid then they can refuse the license. Ken

Which section of the current terms and conditions require you to return to your marina if you are not cruising a wide range? I have read them from front to back and as far as I'm concerned nothing has changed from the old ones if you have a home mooring. Ken

Last year C&RT introduced a trial down there which would allow your friend to do just that and remain within the rules. Alas, as far as I understand, C&RT decided it had not worked as a number of boaters did not conform to very limited movement requirements, so it is back to the normal requirements, whatever you believe they are. As the Davies case was lost and he was covering the same area, please lets not rehash the case, I suspect C&RT would say CCing in that limited area would not comply. Ken

The reason for this charge, as I see it, is to try to prevent boaters overstaying. If it works without the need for court action then all well and good, if not then at some point C&RT will either have to bring a test case or think again. Selfish boaters do not cause C&RT problems but they do to other boaters. Ken

It is of course not our decision, it would be for the court to decide and they might feel that overstaying is the same however or wherever it happened. Ken