Philip

For some people a canal boat may be the only affordable way to live and not necessarily through their own poor choices. On the other hand, does the retired couple really need a great long 57ft-65ft boat to go boating with, with the massively oversized engine? If the license fee was to go up, it should be looking at this kind of situation, rather than forcing young liveaboards off the canals.

The cost of the upkeep can be reduced by not replacing lock gates so frequently; try to get 40 years out of the wooden ones rather than 20 and don't replace steel gates unless they're beyond repair.

That's very judgemental and quite crass, you're in no place to presume or comment as you have done on why someone might be drinking or eating by themselves in a pub.

Any increase would have to be based per the length (per foot). It wouldn't be fair for someone with a 30ft boat to be paying the same license cost as someone with a 60ft boat. So if £5000 is the starting point, those with a long boat would be paying around £10000...probably enough to push most people away who aren't rich...

What are the respective queues like now here both uphill and downhill?

Such as these?

I like the look of these ones: https://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/small-panels/victron-90w-mono-solar-panel https://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/small-panels/12v-bimble-100w These are both rigid aren't they? They do look a bit cheap for 90w/100w, are victron and bimble solar panels known for being 'cheap and cheerful'?

Thanks for the link, I have come across similar to this and it looks like a quality product, but the cost is a bit out of range and there isn't enough clear roof space to accommodate the length; there is about 26 inches by 54 inches spare to play with. Ah, so not the most secure arrangement.

Also I have seen this one - https://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/small-panels/70w-mipv-flexi This is CIGS, is this an amorphous type? Any pros or cons to this type?

Is the solar panel in the link an amorphous fully flexible type panel? https://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/small-panels/80W-folding-portable-12V-solar-panel I'm looking around for a new panel, having just removed a semi-flexible stick on monocrystalline variety (patch of rust underneath one of the corners). I use the boat for trips out rather than living on, with an 800 watt inverter and 2 x 110a leisure batteries; I think the D2 Eberspacher heater is the biggest consumer. I think a 50 watt panel would do for this, but I want to balance avoiding corrosion issues and cracking/damage from being regularly walked over, with one which is good in low light (as I've read the amorphous ones are) and not likely to get in the way of the centre rope. I have also seen this bracket mounting arrangement: https://www.bimblesolar.com/extras/mounting/solar-abs-mount-kit, it looks good for avoiding ropes catching and might persuade me towards a 50-80 watt rigid panel.

This redevelopment is papering over the cracks; there are still a lot of problems. If people ask about a secure mooring in this area then the best advice is the locked basin. Why consign it to the history books? Other towns and city councils have invested and worked hard on the their canal front to make it a pleasant and safe place to visit and stay for both gongoozlers and boaters; Manchester Council haven't done much within this area since the Castlefield regeneration 30 years ago, so it is still much less pleasant than a lot of other urban areas.

I would disagree that Manchester is canal or boater-friendly. Many other cities have much better mooring facilities for visiting boats in both the city centres and suburbs; Birmingham, London, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield are all better. Castlefield isn't even a particularly great part of the city nowadays like it used to be; even if I could grab a mooring, I wouldn't feel very comfortable leaving the boat in the vicinity for the day to go and visit attractions. Beyond Castlefield, there are compromised secure moorings like the little basin off the start of the Ashton Canal which require a key/code to exit on foot - not ideal! Going the other way, Worsley or Sale are probably the first decent moorings out of the city centre, yet these are 6 or 7 miles away and limited in the case of Sale. It's a shame because with a bit of effort it could become a great place to visit by boat, but as it stands it isn't, although the PCSO presence around Castlefield is a positive step to be fair.

It's funny how, within the canal community, what are really very trivial matters seem to be dramatized by some into being an outrageous act worthy of shouting and fierce criticism. This includes boats going a little faster than 'normal' past moored boats even if they're not disturbing their ropes; opening top gate paddles too quickly for others' liking even if it's perfectly safe to do so; accidentally leaving a lock gate open even if no danger of the pound emptying. There are probably other examples but these are off the top of my head. There is a distinction between the above examples and just being selfish; the fierce criticism is more justified if the boater is being selfish, ie. they go tearing past moored boats and can see they are knocking them all over the place but still don't back off.

Interesting, so it seems like it may have been dismantled sometime between 1995 and 1999? Still seems far too recent to be knocking down original bridges of listed status, but what remains of the side of the bridge still looks in good condition, so this suggests it was still being maintained until relatively recently.

I'm having a look through a 1995 edition of the Nicholson guide book and have noticed that bridge 10 'Prescott Bridge' on the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch appears on the map; I seem to recall the 2000 edition also showing it. It is the awkward 'narrows on an angle' bit just north east of the aqueduct over the Weaver; bridge removed, however the evidence of the bridge is still clear and it does look like it was removed relatively recently. Sorry it is a bit obscure but does anyone remember this bridge still standing within the last 20-30 years or even better have any photos of it? Also, I'd have thought that by 95 these sort of structures would have been protected by listed status, so seems odd that it appears to have been demolished since then, possibly even within the last 20 years.

To answer a question, no pets. I'm quite happy doing my own thing when boating and doing it single handed is good in that you can decide where you want to stop and go at your own pace. But I suppose there are times when it can be a bit lonely, more so when you go for a miles without seeing anyone, along with going for meals and drinks by yourself in the pub!

Up until 18 months ago at least I think south through Harecastle tunnel had a later last passage than northbound. It was around 2-3pm going north but going south an hour or so later. I don't know if this is still the same or not. The ground paddles on the locks from Wheelock to Red Bull are not a problem if wound slowly and carefully; just wind a few turns and check how the boat is behaving. In the clockwise direction you also get the grotty bit of the Shropshire Union out of the way first; after the first couple of miles past Autherley Junction the canal is glorious right through to Nantwich.

Yes. But the fierce by-washes mentioned are on the Shropshire Union locks and these will be downhill if going in the clockwise direction.

Basically what the title says. I do a lot of single-handed boating and whilst there are many aspects of the canal scene that I continue to enjoy, it can get a little boring (and dare I say it lonely!) after a while; especially on long stretches between locks which I have done many times before. For people who do the same, do you find this? And for those who don't single-hand, could you imagine feeling a bit bored and fed up after a while?

I find it the complete opposite; difficult going up especially if there's a lot of water, not a problem going downhill. From Middlewich clockwise is better; if you get delayed at Harecastle tunnel you can make up the time if going clockwise way round, if delayed doing anti-clockwise you could end up late getting back to Andersen.

Not strictly related to the paddle gear, but I went through Gas No.1 lock on the Grand Union in Berkhamsted a couple of weeks ago and it had brand new top gates. The interesting thing was that no baffles had been fitted to the gate paddle sluices; the difference in water ferocity was noticeable compared to the others which had grilles over them and the lock filled up quicker.

Thanks for this

Thanks both, so considering this and the high tide time, perhaps arrange with the keepers for 12:30 through Teddington lock and then 13:45-14:00 for Brentford (to allow for the 5 mile cruise)?

I'm planning to travel from Teddington lock to Brentford lock and into the Grand Union Canal next Monday 7th. I've just looked at the high tide time for this day and it says 13:00, so based on this can I ask please what time would be a good time to lock down into the tideway, and what time subsequently to book Brentford lock passage?

Thanks. I was looking at the Danforth anchor as an option. If the Thames is 10ft deep or more then I doubt there will be room on the boat to store a 30-50ft chain!