doratheexplorer
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Posts posted by doratheexplorer
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13 hours ago, agg221 said:
OK, so assuming the river levels are OK you would be replicating our route of 1992. From memory, our moorings were:
Saturday - Stratford on Avon, on the river so no locks at the start of the next day.
Sunday - Fladbury, below the lock.
Monday - Upton on Severn.
Tuesday - Stoke Prior (having stopped for a bit in Worcester).
Wednesday - King's Norton junction (not the best place but it was tipping down with rain all the way up Tardebigge and by then we had had enough).
Thursday - Shirley Bridge No.8 (after a detour to Cadbury World and up to Gas Street Basin to wind).
Friday - Wootton Wawen having been struggling to find anywhere decent to moor for the past hour - dredging in the past 32 years may have significantly improved things, but at least the pub was nice!
Alec
If you overnight at Stratford on the river, you'll hit locks straight away the next morning whichever way you go.
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Aspley Wharf in Huddersfield sell diesel if you don't mind a detour.
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500GB one seems a far better deal. Work out about £3.50pm
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24 minutes ago, blackrose said:
I'd still have an inverter. On my boat I want different methods available to do the same thing. Backup and built-in redundancy is what it's all about in my opinion.
What about when it's pissing down with rain and all you wanted was to have a couple of slices of toast. You'd have to go outside and startup a generator. And then you find you're out of petrol... I've got a generator too but I'm certainly not going to go outside and start it up for things like that. As long as you have a battery monitor there should be no undue strain on the batteries so I really don't see the disadvantage of having an inverter, apart from the initial cost.
Why would anyone start a genny for toast? I've always made toast under the grill anyway. As I and others have already said, using electricity on any appliance which produces heat, while off-grid, is a bad idea.
I suspect, as usual, we have a lot of commenters on this thread who have never continuously cruised and lived aboard permanently through the winter. It's a very different game, and in my experience, the only way to play it, is to minimise your electricity consumption.
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1 hour ago, IanD said:
People build and install things on boats -- and everywhere else -- for lots of reasons, not just cost-benefit. Why have an expensive trad engine when you can have a cheap secondhand modern diesel? Why pay the extra for a hull from one of the premium builders and fit it out expensively when you could get something superficially similar from a cheapo builder? Why have an inverter at all when you can make do with much less electrical "stuff" on board, if that suits your lifestyle? Why have an expensive comfy sofa or bed when you could have a much cheaper one?
A modern electrical setup with things like LFP batteries/inverter/solar/big alternator+controller/generator does cost a lot more money than a "traditional" narrowboat one with a few LA batteries, but means you can treat the mains more like in a house with whatever appliances you want -- but in the end it's a matter of convenience/preference, not absolute necessity. If you don't want to do this or can't afford it, then stick with "traditional" electrics, neither approach is "wrong" or "right".
Going the whole hog with massive LFP batteries/inverter/generator just to get rid of gas for cooking really doesn't make sense on a conventional diesel boat due to the cost; the reverse is true on an electric/hybrid (like mine) where all this exists anyway as part of the propulsion system, but there are only a tiny number of boats like this on the canals today due to the very high up-front cost... 😉
It's not just about cost. If your electricity consumption is high, then for 4-6 months a year, when solar is insufficient, you're left with having to charge your battery a lot, just to replenish what you've used. However you do that is likely to be noisy, and a general nuisance to you and others. The OP suggests they'll be cruising a lot which would help, but I doubt it will be anywhere near enough to keep those batteries in good condition throughout the winter, hence my comment about wrecking batteries. Will they really be cruising 4+ hours a day 7 days a week?
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3 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:
Watch out, @nicknorman will be along to call you a Luddite because you don't need, or want, all the fripperies of a floating cottage. I agree with you. Especially the implication of getting solar before an inverter.
I'm not saying Nick's wrong, it's just that I think a newish boater would do better by going down the simple route. Nick's set up is, I'm sure very impressive, but it's also complex and requires considerable understanding to use it in the best way. It's also very expensive, and I'm not sure a cost-benefit analysis would support the necessary investment.
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Honestly, if I was doing it all again, I wouldn't bother with an inverter at all. I'd run all my regular stuff off 12v (laptops, tv, fridge etc). Don't use electricity to run anything which produces heat (so use the hob/grill for kettle and toast). I'd have a generator for the occassions when I really need to run 240v (power tools, washing machine), and that way I'd have another way to charge my batteries in case of engine issues. A reasonable quality genny is cheaper (for the same power) than a reasonable quality inverter. Doing it this was will also put less strain of your batteries, so they'll last longer, saving you even more money.
To the OP, it's not until you go cruising permanently, that you'll realise just how important it is to minimise electricity consumption. Until you do, repeatedly wrecked batteries will be the order of the day. Also, get solar panels fitted.
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18 hours ago, Markinaboat said:
apologies if this has already been quoted but only just become aware of this thread. From a reliable source a few months ago:
EXISTING Network: 1hr 30 min Euston to Brum Intl Rail Station (with option to alight/join at many stations but slightly slower NOT an option with HS2)
HS2 Total HS2 time 1hr 31 min PLUS a walk at Old Oak Common!
Euston to Old Oak Common 28 mins (quickest)
Walk
Old Oak Common to new Curzon St Station/hub approx 48 mins
THEN 15 min walk to Brum Intl Rail Station
From HS2 site:
The first HS2 services will run between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common in London between 2029 and 2033 and expand as new sections of the network are built.
Are you sure you mean Birmingham International? Perhaps you mean Birmingham New Street?
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1 hour ago, IanD said:
But that would mean a direct connection for through traffic between HS2 and HS1, and of course there isn't one -- in fact the chances of HS2 even getting to Euston are looking slim, what's the private sector going to get in return in they invest billions in this?
On top of that, you can't put slower freight trains on the high-speed lines without killing the HS speeds and schedules.
If only we had a joined-up transport infrastructure policy, with a government that realised that investment in this pays off in the long term, and that providing basic services and building/maintaining national infrastructure is the job of government not the profit-driven private sector... 😞
I vaguely remember HS2 originally being promoted along the lines of being able to step onto a train in Birmingham or Manchester and stepping off it in Paris. Even if it gets to London, not linking with HS1 is just daft. Stopping some way short of London will negate any time saving, but not to worry because apparently the main reason for HS2 is capacity. If that's really true, why not raise all the rail bridges on the West Coast Mainline and give us double decker trains - hey presto: capacity doubled.
Right now I'd just settle for having a rail system which provided me with any confidence that my train won't be cancelled for no apparent reason. The last couple of years rail travel has become such a lottery than I'm considering abandoning it altogether in favour of the Megabus.
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I don't know if this has been answered already, but I assume 4 days actually means, pick up Friday afternoon, return first thing monday morning? If I'm wrong and you've somehow got 4 full days cruising, my advice would be totally different.
Assuming it's the former and given that you've implied you've done the Shroppie north of Nantwich, I'd narrowly go in favour of the Llangollen Canal, but don't assume you'll get any further than Whitchurch. The trouble is, you'll struggle to get further than the top of Hurlston on the first afternoon, then see how far you get on the second day, but delays at Grindley Brook will impact that.
Your other suggestion of south on the Shroppie would involve a lot of locks so you probably wouldn't actually get very far.
If it were me, I'd head down the Middlewich branch, unless you've already done that.
40 minutes ago, robtheplod said:Love the Llangollen, you get to experience everything on one canal - bridges/lift bridges/tunnels/aqueducts/narrow bits/locks etc....
I really doubt they'll see any aqueducts or tunnels.
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21 hours ago, agg221 said:
Yes, but most pubs say yes if asked, or if they say no you have other options for parking in the vicinity.
Alec
If by 'most' you mean about 60/40 in favour, then I'd agree. But in my experience, quite a lot of pubs say no. I remember Olive's daughter (Elaine?) at the Anchor, High Offley being very firm about this, despite having loads of space and nowhere else nearby to park.
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Creighton 32s are older GRPs, from the 60s/70s. Not sure if they made any after that. They were very well made, which is why there's still quite a few about. The thickness and quality is a notable step up from Normans/Shetlands etc. (not that theres anything wrong with them). The 32 with the centre cockpit is big enough to be a liveaboard and even has a clever hidden shower just behind the cockpit. If I was buying one, I'd look for one with an inboard diesel, but also a standard drive/propellor. Some have been fitted with Z-drives which are notoriously unreliable.
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1 minute ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
yes, similar thoughts.
But there’s no longer winding at top of Tyrely, so perhaps the furthest they could go is Goldstone Wharf.
There's a winding hole on the offside just above the top lock. What's happened to it?
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1 hour ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
I’ll second this one, mainly for the pubs and keeping it simple,It’s a favourite stretch of mine at the moment heading North from Autherley Junction,
pretty scenery, relaxing, plenty of places to stop over with some great pubs and good local shops,
also some lovely spots to moor up in the country away from anyone else,
It works really nicely for a Friday to monday hire period.
Friday: Pick up boat and cruise north to Wheaton Aston (pub right next to the canal).
Saturday: Continue north and finish at one of three places - 1. Top of Tyrley Locks and walk down to the Four Alls Inn (10 minutes away). 2. Goldstone Wharf and go the the Wharf Tavern next to the canal. 3. High Offley and go to the Anchor (no food but one of the most famous canalside pubs).
Sunday: Head south to Brewood (4 pubs in the village I think?)
Monday: return to Autherley.
And there are other options for nice places with pubs including Gnosall and Norbury Junction.
The surrounding countryside is really pretty and there's some canal interest too, especially Woodseaves Cutting.
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11 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
For a short break I would suggest the Droitwich ring, it includes narrow canals and locks, broad canals and locks, a river section with river locks, swing bridges, a stair case lock and 3 locks with working side ponds and a short low tunnel. It passes through Worcester and Droitwich for the pub fix. I know of nowhere where you can experience so much in 4 days.
I wouldn't say that fits the bill of not too many locks, or not going through a city.
I'd recommend hiring from Napton Narrowboats at Autherley Junction and heading north. Plenty of pubs, and probably only 2 locks, depending on how far you get.
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17 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
It is still very close.
The Power of a passport is worked out using many variables and gives an International rating for each countries passports.
The EU countries are = Between 177 & 174
The UK = 174
And the Uk still 'better" than the USA which has a power of 172
The most 'powerful' passport in the world is the UAE
The UK passport still makes the world your Oyster !
Not really a valid comparison. The score is based on visa requirements (or lack of). The point is was making wasn't about that. It used to be that UK passport holders could remain in any EU country indefinitely. Not any more. The passport 'score' takes no account of that loss.
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3 hours ago, Jerra said:
Also I can't offer anything other than opinion but spend 5 or 6 years in the UK become a citizen and then the world is your oyster.
Is it? It used to be the Europe was your oyster. Not any more.
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6 hours ago, rusty69 said:
My forecast pension age has already changed about 3 times. The closer I get, the further apart the goal posts get. I have resigned myself to the fact that there probably won't be a state pension by the time I do get there, or it will be means tested. I certainly don't think the perks that today's pensioners receive will be available. I suspect they will pillage the funds to pay for the broken roads, the knackered NHS, the politicians expenses or something else instead.
I understand the negativity but given the amount of resistance even to dropping the triple lock, I expect the state pension to still be around when I retire in 20+ years time. By the time I retire I will have paid NI contributions for nigh on 50 years, in that time, the only thing I've had back was 3 months of basic rate jobseekers allowance a couple of decades ago. If the state pension is scrapped or means tested, I will be rioting, along with, I expect, millions of others. I would consider it theft and would expect to have my NI contributions reimbursed to me.
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1 hour ago, MtB said:
It does seem perverse of the Planning Committee though, refusing change of use to resi. Given the row of houses just along the lane and the general nature of the location.
I wonder if there are some old scores being settled here. Or something.
Or failure of the brown envelopes to materialise that are sometimes needed, apparently.
Except that both applications were appealed and both times the inspector agreed with the refusal.
43 minutes ago, MtB said:More curious than ever then. One wonders what on earth the planning policy says, that makes such an apparently suitable site for residential use, unsuitable!
The inspector's reports are availble online to read. For starters, it's green belt.
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5 minutes ago, jonathanA said:
yes but the mooring seems to have residential planning permission...
300k seems a snip compared to that one at 1.2M in that there london. i know which i'd sooner have.
The residential status of the mooring was established in an earlier application (2006) for a certificate of lawfulness: https://planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk/applicationdetails.aspx?pr=07/0005P&query=93ae35cd-38bc-408b-a01b-d662c9b531fe
This application is quite interesting. The applicant was asserting that, because a residential boat had been moored there for over ten years, it made the whole site residential. The Council disagreed and only gave residential status to the mooring itself, not the adjoining land. That's why they started submitting applications for new dwellings, which were then refused. Then the owners have tried to find a loophole by using the permitted development regs to put up warehouse/storage buildings with a view to converting them to resi later. I suspect they've been advised that the conversion to resi will be refused, so they've decided to sell to an unsuspecting mug who thinks they can build a house there.
Bear in mind that even if conversion to resi is accepted, that's only an approved for a change of use of the existing warehouse building, which, if you look at the plans is a horrible ugly thing and not at all desirable as a house. If they try to build something new to live in, it will need full planning permission, which would almost certainly be refused.
It's in a conservation area and in the green belt.
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1 minute ago, David Mack said:
Residential use refused on appeal in 2008/9 and again in 2010. Use of the wharf as domestic curtilage (I.e. garden - presumably for the adjacent residential mooring) refused in 2011.
Lawful development certificate acknowledges use as a builders yard (only) subject to conditions.
Exactly. Twice refused for resi, but the estate agent's blurb says:
"This plot currently has the benefit of a certificate of lawfulness for the construction of a warehouse/storage unit which later could be transferred under permitted development for residential."
This is misleading. There is no guarantee of transfer to resi, the change would need a prior approval application.
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7 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
I note CRT were not consulted that I can see
Because that's not a planning application. It's an application for a certificate of lawfulness. Basically, the development is looking for something in writing from the Council to prove that no planning permission is required.
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It's worth trying to find out what specifically caused the pitting in the first place. For example, if the boat is fairly new or has been looked after well by regular blacking, use of a galvanic isolator etc. and it's still badly pitted then I'd be pretty concerned that either the steel is poor quality or that there are significant issues with the electrical set up of the boat. Either way you can look forward to ongoing problems with corrosion.
On the other hand, if the boat is old, perhaps been neglected, maybe has been stuck in a marina for years on a hook-up, with no galvanic isolator, or maybe even kept in brackish water, then pits down to 4mm would seem perfectly reasonable and it would therefore be reasonably to presume that looking after the boat well in future would prevent significant further corrosion.
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1 minute ago, IanD said:
Just like mobile -- which is why I said "almost everywhere"... 😉
I've never had difficulties with mobile coverage under trees. Is this unusual?
Red Diesel
in New to Boating?
Posted
Like this?
http://diesel.afmm.org.uk/