KenK

Might be your browser works fine on Explorer. Ken

Aston Marina at Stone can get them out of the water using a cradle and a tractor, they have a concrete ramp at the end of the marina. Seen plenty of boats craned in and out there. Alex is the marina manager. Alex Clayton AlexClayton@astonmarina.co.uk Ken

I contacted C&RT because my license renewal still showed me in Aston Marina on the T&M rather than Greenham Lock Cottage on the K&A. They replied that they were aware that I was now based on the K&A, not surprising as I had informed them. They identified my mooring as Greenham Island, for anyone who does not know the Newbury moorings there are three small marinas, Greenham Island, Greenham Lock Cottage and Ham Manor marina, all run by different owners. C&RT only have the first one on their system because it seems you do not need a license in either of the other two, Ham Manor can issue a license apparently. Really useful as I do not intend to use the boat this year, having had it repainted I intend to refurbish the interior. Sorted the boating fix though, two weeks on the Canal Du Midi on a fat boat next summer. Ken

What was most relevant was the price. Add the word boat or marine to anything and the cost promptly doubles. I actually bought a 3000W PSW for £428.00 including delivery and VAT, should be even cheaper now as the Euro rate is better. I turn the Inverter off when we go to bed, as it is supplied with a remote takes a second. The OP was buying cheap items from e bay and not happy with the result, these items are inexpensive and work. Ken

Have a look on here, I purchased one last year to replace an old Sterling model, it is made in Taiwan not China, delivered within a week and so far has outperformed the Sterling in every respect. http://www.marc-ting.com/shop//index.php?cat=c19_12V-DC-12V-to-230V-AC.html&XTCsid=tvste4dgmglr785jj5hl2it5h5 Ken

I'll be interested to see if it works when I try to renew mine. Despite sending them an e mail when we changed moorings the renewal still has us on the old mooring. Ken

The following link should take you to a speech made by John Dodwell at the London Canal Museum in October. It is not all new but there is a fair amount of information. https://app.box.com/s/5q3hzgs3prbaeaezvm08rtqmz7n8ox4o enjoy Ken

Some years ago there was a boat moored on the K&A at Reading just above County Lock. He had made a water wheel out of an old Washing Machine drum and fitted plates to the drum to turn it. It was mounted on a frame hanging over the side of the boat. The drum was connected to an alternator via a belt. There is a constant current there so the wheel turned quite quickly and the ratio between the drum and the alternator pulley was fairly high. As it was silent, running constantly and free, I imagine it was an effective method of producing electricity. Ken

You haven't said which way you are entering the K&A via the Seven or from the Thames. Either way based on this years trip, visitor moorings are the way to go. It used to be possible to moor almost anywhere using a plank but given the state of the vegetation this year I would hesitate to jump into it. Anywhere between four and six feet high at the edges, in some places the overhanging trees met the lower vegetation making the towpath into a tunnel. It might be better earlier in the year, wasn't as bad at Easter when we left the Thames. The other problem is the repaired edges using poles and mesh and then backfilling, it doesn't dry so again getting on the bank is not easy. The trick with the visitor mooring especially below the Caen Hill locks is to be out of step with the hire boats. We went down the flight on a Sunday and therefore were behind the Foxhangers boats, no problem mooring including Bradford, reached Bath on Thursday afternoon and it was deserted and this was in August. There are plenty of moorings in this section but it is the busiest. Devizes to the Thames has plenty of mooring and it is quieter again we had no problems. Definitely worth spending a few days in the Floating Harbour, we were there for the Balloon festival but even without that there is lots to see and do. Have a good trip. Ken

It is also Back to the Future day, this is the day that Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled to in the second Back to the Future movie. Ken

This according to the C&RT website is the role of the Council "While trustees are responsible for determining policy and strategy, the council has an important role in helping to shape policy, raise and debate issues, provide guidance and perspective, and act as a sounding board for trustees. It also has the responsibility of appointing and, if necessary, dismissing trustees." The council has no direct say in the day to day running of the waterways any more than do the Trustees. It is a talking shop with as many different opinions and agendas as members. I'm not surprised nothing was ever achieved and I do not care how strong a four man / woman boating lobby is or was, the rest of the council will want their own interests put forward just as much as a boaters lobby. We could give them a title "The Gang of Four". Oh that's been used already with about as much effect. It won't happen but get rid of the council and the Waterways Partnerships, elect some strong Trustees with boating connections and interests and give them the power to set the direction of C&RT and to remove the directors if they are not satisfied with the performance. Now that I would vote for. Ken

Reading council have helped run and in the main paid for the Reading Waterfest for the last 25 years, up to and including this year and there will be another next year and for the foreseeable future. I therefore would disagree that Reading council does not want visiting boats. What they do not want are boats clogging up the visitor mooring whether outside Tesco or anywhere else because that causes problems for visiting boats and probably in this case complaints from Tesco. The charge will be a first step, if it doesn't work they can no doubt find something which will. Ken

I'd be careful with this, it sounds as though different size bolts were used at different times. A 19 mm socket or spanner fits a 12 mm threaded bolt. A 17 mm socket or spanner is required for a 10 mm threaded bolt. Ken

I would recommend mooring in Aston marina, we moored there for four years and it was and is excellent. They do short term moorings and they have every facility on site. With regard to safety we moored outside the marina in Stone on several occasions never had any problem nor did I ever hear of anyone else having problems but of course idiots exist everywhere. Ken

The council as I understand it has far more members than just the four IWA members, what if anything have any of them done? Ken

Well I received the e mail but as I have absolutely no idea what, if anything, the current council has done during its time in office I really do not see the need for it. So I will not bother either supporting or voting. Ken

2 to 5 amps from a 240V AC supply is between 480 to 1200 Watts. 60 to 62 amps from a 12V DC supply is between 720 to 744 Watts. From the batteries you are not running the charger but are you running an Inverter? Is it the Inverter which cuts out? You I assume will not be running the Inverter from shore power but do you have an Inverter / Shoreline switch or is it a Combi unit with a pass through facility? Ken

Apollo Duck is a fairly big internet site which will give you a fair idea what you can get for your money. However before parting with any money have you ever hired a boat? Living on one is not for everyone, try wandering along the canal and having a chat to a few boaters ask them about the pros and the cons. Ken

If it is worse than the Rochdale nine coming out of Manchester then it must be bad because I can say for certain that is the worst I have seen or smelt. Ken

I used Fernox LS-X jointing compound. Homebase, Wicks etc. sell it, comes in a small tube. Remove the screws, check the diaphragm for splits, probably OK if it is still working, mine was. Clean the plastic on both parts of the pump run a bead of the Fernox around one side reassemble and clean off any excess. It is smelly stuff so do it outside, leave it for a while to go off, refit pump and test. Good Luck Ken

Why not simply contact C&RT local office, assuming they are the relevant authority, and ask them explaining the issue. Most people seem to find that if you do that they are very helpful. Ken

Indeed, Shurflo make exactly the same pumps for the Caravan / Motorhome market, the prices are not the same, although to be fair they do use a different coloured paint. Ken

Equally my Shurflo lasted ten years, used a smear of Fernox sealant to cure the slight leak and OK so far. I do have a current replacement also a Shurflo.

That's the first time you have let that get in the way of a good punchup Only joking Ken

No of course not but given Andy's state of health did he really need to poke the stick in the wasp nest quite so soon. Also why he continues to rely on his previous legal team without demanding they use the existing 1995 act and forget the Human Rights Legislation. I once spent two years fighting an unjust speeding case, I won but even so it wasn't something I wanted to repeat. Ken