nine9feet

I did wonder at whom this article was aimed. I was suspecting that it is there to convince some people that it is far easier and cheaper simply to buy a boat from Whilton rather than fitting out your own shell. Another point is that costs surely depend on the standard and quality of the fit out you wish to achieve (assuming within your diy capabilities). Like the point raised by RayT about inverters. I didn't get from the article what level they were pricing for other than the general "mid level".

I thought this was interesting Whilton Marina have an article on their blog today with the title "Fitting Out A Liveaboard We Tell You How And The Costs Involved". It begins "Have you ever wondered how much it would cost to fit out a narrowboat? Well we have put a pricing example together to give you a rough guideline of what it would cost." There then follows detailed costings for a 57ft boat. I haven't much of an idea how reasonable these figures are. Would be interested to hear from those with experience of fitting out there own boat. http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/Narrowboat-Blog/Fitting-Out-A-Liveaboard-We-Tell-You-How-And-The-Costs-Involved/

You can't go south from Stone as there are two stoppages in progress for the same dates: Hoo Mill Lock 23 Sandon Lock 25 03/11/2014 - 28/11/2014 Must type faster!

Maybe I have been lucky as I have not yet had any problems with cyclists on the towpath. However, I have just seen a thread on a (commuter) cycling forum and am rather bemused : How to avoid running over animals whilst cycling on a canal at night?

It looks worse now that for some reason the lock has filled! http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Canal-boat-stuck-lock-Kennet-Avon-Canal-Widcombe/story-23949092-detail/story.html

Did I not read on the forum somewhere recently that CRT are purchasing a new bespoke system to replace the existing process? Expected to be in use sometime next year?

This is, of course, good news. However, the cynic in me sees that spin is alive and well. CRT and the IWA say : "The Government’s decision to move the line away from the canal is welcome news for the waterways, for visitors and for the local economy. It represents a growing recognition of the waterways’ unique environment and heritage, and the important role they play as antidotes to the stresses and pressures of modern life." It would be nice if that were really true. I have my doubts because : "Hyder’s report set out a feasible and preferable alternative alignment largely avoiding the canal, substantially reducing embankment heights, noise and visual intrusion, and potentially saving the project millions of pounds." I think the saving of "millions of pounds" was by far the stronger driver for the change in the route. (Well, I said I was cynical!)

Some info about lock helpers was covered in this thread http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=66182&view=findpost&p=1297437 :-)

Do you have the Victron User Manual? If not, I can supply a pdf.

If you are heading south on the T&M, best stop before bridge 172 and moor on the rings (and if heading north, after the bridge :-) ). Walk back a few yards and up the steps at the trees and through small housing estate. Cross dual carriageway and head left to the High Street - you will see a Tesco Express. Turn right up the High Street a hundred yards or so and Tesco is up the steps on the left. Sounds a lot but it is less distance than the walk from by Wardle lock. Middlewich is the only place I have been so far that has a full Tesco and a Tesco Express next to each other!

Just in case this comment above gives the wrong idea, I will say that Julynian has been on the livingonanarrowboat forum for quite some time and so has his blog - long before the spat on here that it appears caused him to decide to leave.

The info on 3 boats was provided by one of the lockies who specifically asked me how far I was going. When I told him I was going to have a recce into the flash he tried to warn me off by telling of the 3 boats - one he said was an "elderly couple" and another he said had ventured to the far end where it was stuck! Did that include sampling at the Red Lion? :-)

Had seen this and also the leaflet available at the lift booking office window. However, when I went to explore the flash I couldn't work out where all these boats are going to moor. I don't think they will expect any to venture much into the flash as 3 narrowboats have already got stuck in the flash this last week and the lockies were at pains to point out that CRT can't help as their jurisdiction ends just past the Red Lion. I wonder if Junior will be the 4th

To be pedantic, it's free if you turn up on spec and wait for a free slot. Alternatively you can book your slot ahead and pay £5. I wonder how many book ahead.

The clue is in the original message, viz: "I have a Petter PH2W raw water cooled engine that heats the calorifier" ETA: Oh dear, must learn to type faster

If there is no space on the VMs and you intend going down the lift first thing, I suggest you tie up on the lift holding area just past the VMs and immediately before the lift basin.

Yes. Been to Weston Point this afternoon. Last two miles scenery is, erm, "interesting"! Now back at Sutton (Frodsham) Bridge. Probably Northwich/Winnington tomorrow.

Have you booked the Anderton Lift (£5) or are you turning up on spec for a free slot? How long do you plan being on the Weaver? I went into Winsford Flash yesterday - that was fun!

Saw that but decided to refrain from mentioning it up front. My response was just the same as yours

I have read a lot about the dangers of speeding cyclists on the towpaths and it is supposed to be particularly bad on the Regents Canal. So I was interested to see this article in the Islington Gazette about tidying up the towpath and installing chicanes to slow cyclists down : http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2014/sep/towpath-clean-way-%E2%80%98lawless%E2%80%99-regent%E2%80%99s-canal-chicanes-are-brought-slow-down-speeding-cyc "THE towpath at Regent’s Canal, which has become a dumping ground for rubbish, is to be cleaned by Islington Council in a landmark agreement revealed this week. And a series of chicane structures are to be installed along the towpath between Angel and Hackney to slow down speeding commuter cyclists, who have turned the stretch into a “no-go” area for walkers" Note that the chicanes are to be installed by the council, not CRT. Will they work, I wonder?

"Living in London usually costs a fortune - but not for teenager Charlotte Tindle. Instead of paying for pricey digs, the 18-year-old student will spend her three years at university in the capital living on a narrowboat. Charlotte, of Syston, and her family have refurbished a six-bed narrowboat, making it into a comfortable home for her to live in while she studies for her degree. The trio set off tomorrow on the 160-mile journey from Leicester Marina, in Thurmaston, to London, which they expect to take nine to 10 days." Read more at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-student-avoids-massive-rental-bills/story-22893731-detail/story.html#DP7ETdoufRRfvZta.99 At first I thought it was expected to be cheap because she would be ccing. But then I read this : “I would be more worried about Charlotte in a bedsit in a dodgy area of London on her own than living in a lovely marina." I wonder where this lovely (cheap) marina is in London? :-)

Info has been given out about where mooring will be allowed: Available mooring spaces going northwards will be marked out by CRT and are as follows: Br 46-47 11 boats Br 47-48 2 boats Br 48-49 1 boat Br 49-50 11 boats Br 50-51 2 boats Br 51-52 12 boats Br 52-53 8 boats + 6 breasted up I have no idea how that compares with previous years. I assume these places will be taken by working/historic boats, so where do ordinary boaters moor? Perhaps booking a mooring is the only way to find out the impact of the restrictions.

Now this is interesting to me as I started hiring back in 1970 and I don't remember those sorts of problems. This may well be because the canals I frequented were either in a better condition to begin with or were actually better maintained. Mostly midland narrow camals : T&M, SU, Cov, S&W, Macc, Llangollen, Oxford, B&F and even BCN.