Mike55

If you restricted your cruising to those canals that were never derelict, you'd be missing out on some gems that you nowadays take for granted. So it is with the canals currently being restored, in years to come people will just consider them as part of the network.

The coconut count from Coventry Basin to Hawkesbury Junction earlier today was 62, so about 11/mile on average.

Yes, they do keep the lights on all night in the basin, which doesn't help sleeping, especially when you're used to mooring in the countryside.

I'm not moored there, and wouldn't. Last night I asked a hire boat to move up so that they didn't have half a boat length between them & the next boat. This would have allowed me to moor without infringing that space, but also make best use of the available space. They refused. So I moored on the other side - no problem for me. Once the place had filled up later, the last boat to arrive moored to the 2 bollards in the winding hole. They shouldn't have, but I sympathise with their predicament, caused by other's inconsiderate mooring. Tonight, the hire boat has moved up, & no one is moored in the winding hole.

Well, I've learnt something today.

Currently moored in Coventry Basin. One half of the Y is taken up by the hire boat company, but the other (on right as you enter the basin) is 7 day mooring, as is one space across between the legs of the Y. Mooring prohibited (in theory) in front of shops on right. If space tight could moor between shops & Elsan block. Note, water point is outside basin. Basin seems to be an oasis, walk into city centre over ring road isn't great, but it's fine. Don't miss Cash's Hundred Houses near bridge 2 on way in. Canal is narrow & seems shallow too in places, with rubbish, including numerous coconuts. Goodness knows where they came from. It's worth the diversion from Hawkesbury Junction.

Never had a problem with Harecastle. Went through Gostly Tunnel in June (VERY narrow & low) and found the ring of light from the upward angled tunnel light very effective at picking out the roof line. I can see the advantage of an light at the back illuminating the roof, but up to now I've managed with a decent flashlight and/or an LED headlamp.

LED lights are great inside the boat and for any application when you will have them on when the engine isn't running, however they seem unnecessary for tunnel lights. I can't foresee any situation (other than testing) when I would want the tunnel light on without the engine, which will happily supply more than enough power to run it. You don't need a lot of light to see where you're going in a tunnel, so why have a really bright front light and risk blinding oncoming boaters. As the OP demonstrates, it's in your interests not to. In tunnels we always put all the cabin lights on & open all the curtains - keeps the ghosts away, and helps with seeing the tunnel sides. Our tunnel light is also angled upwards - helps to see the roof IMO.

Didn't say it was.

Laziness.

Be careful what you wish for - oddly many (well some) humans actually like to be in the company of other humans rather than just communicating via electronic means. I could work from home a lot more than I do, but I prefer to create a clear distinction between work and home life by going to the office. What would the social and mental health effects be of what you suggest? There's more than enough social isolation in this country already.

Depends on whether you think HS2 is bad or not...

Geese make excellent guard 'dogs', as they can't be silenced with food - if alarmed they're just noisy. Personally I'd never stopped feeding bread to ducks etc.

Mine came with the boat too and I've been impressed with them - even more so having read the experiences of others with the imitations. I had found versatile-flooring, but I'm fairly sure they're imitations. I'll e-mail/phone them and ask the question to be sure.

Do you know where in the UK you can get Dri-dek tiles now? I've got some and they're very good, but I want some more, but being US made, don't seem to be available in the UK. Google only seems to bring up the imitations.

You could use something like this (other brands are available): https://www.gasfm.co.uk/co-detector-tester-spray-3331-p.asp Of course it won't tell you at what concentration of CO the alarm triggers (assuming it does).

Four, one for each leg.

Or loosen the other (corroded) stud, turn the ring through 90 degrees and refit the headlight with a new (stainless steel) stud?

We did the same earlier this year. You can also print off a new paper licence with your boat's new name to display on the boat.

Not under the railway bridge, but under the footbridge on your left as you approach from Leys Junction. The mooring is then on your right, but hard to spot due to being overgrown. There are mooring rings hidden amongst the nettles. View of us moored there taken from footbridge:

Moored overnight on the (rather overgrown) visitor moorings on the offside of the Stourbridge Extension canal just round from Brockmoor Junction on the Fens Branch at the beginning of June. Had a very quiet night. The visitor moorings are supposed to be secured by a BW keyed padlock, but the gate has been carefully 'modified' to prevent any padlock being fitted (& the padlock's broken). You could use a chain if you felt the need - we didn't.

Ah! This was the bit I hadn't appreciated. Thanks for responding, and for a very useful posting.

This may just me being thick, but on the basis there's no such thing as a stupid question: If the MSC guys dangle a rope down, and you attach your centre line to that with a sheet bend, I can't see how that enables you to keep control of your boat. Even if the line is tight enough to restrain your boat initially it'll go slack as the boat rises. Or am I missing something?

Are we talking about a Dometic system here?