scoobydog

Nominal arrangement was/is red over white. The ends of the bands are Concave, in as much as the blacking "cuts into" the colours in a curve. (Some modern boats have the colour cutting into the black.) I don't know about the loaded/empty arrangement, as the counter did not go very far underwater when loaded, and could be completely out of the water when empty, unles you filled the cabin bilge with water to get some fan'old. British Waterways used Yellow and Blue Bands, with the yellow in place of the white. When the cabin colours changed to Blue and Yellow (From Yellow and Blue), the counter colours stayed the same. Later, BW dropped the Yellow, and painted everything (Oxford) Blue. (Then they stopped narrow boat carrying, and had that "sky", or Cambridge Blue for the maintenance boats. This was offset by white bits, so some ex carrying boats had white over light blue counters) To put the cat among the pidgeons, the Northwich (Yarwoods Built) boats had THREE bands on the counter (Two sets of gaurds). These were usually White, Blue, Red, from top to bottom. Best guess (as already suggested above) is White for visability. Red...who knows. I would suggest that the Crown had no input, as the individual boatman usually (unless he actually owned the boat!) had no real say about the Carrying Companies Colour Schemes! (This reminds me of the old "Salvation Army Welcome" interpretation of the practise of painting the bits between the Brass Rims on Chimneys Red! I heard that this actually statted on a pair of early Hotel Boats!)

Well... My system is as follows. 1. Using Green Scratchy scourer, together with non scratching scouring cream, clean off top layer of gunk. 2. Wipe off green muck with dry rag. 3. Using Green Scratchy scourer, together with metal polish (Carr & Day & Martin/ Brasso/ Superdrug Own Brand, etc,), polish off next layer of gunk. 4. Using clean, dry, absorbent, rags and metal polish (as above), polish to a shine. 5. Give the polished brass a good spray of Furniture Polish (Mr. Sheen, etc,), and polish with dry rags. (will give the brass a bit of a coating, making next polishing a bit easier.)

"Narrow Boat Painting" By A.J. Lewery has been re-isued as a Paper (soft) Back. They have done a more or less straight copy,(I have done a quick comparison) but given it a new name. I think it is called "The Art of the Narrow Boat Painters". It has on the cover an old photo of the boat "Gifford" at Preston Brook (by the tunnel, loking towards the junction...), which is the same photo as on "Narrow Boat Painting". "Flowers Afloat Folk Artists of the Canals" is another book By A.J. Lewery

Well, It all depends on the Inverter really! Some inverters, usually the cheap ones, have a very "square" wave form in the AC. Some Computers will NOT like this. There are basically two forms of Inverter.. "Quasi Sine Wave". These produce a "smoother" wave form, but it is still basically squared off. (Most reasonable cost). I have successfully run a desktop system using one of these inverters. (600 Watt unit. From Maplin Electronics.)(Small Lister engine, driving a 12 Volt alternator, charging a battery, running the inverter, powering the computer.) "True Sine Wave". These inverters produce the smoothest wave form. They tend to cost more than the above. I have not used one personally. You would have to test the system you are using with a suitable inverter. One thing to bear in mind, inverters do not like "inductive loads", i.e. Transformers. Computers are FULL of transformers, so you would need to over specify the inverter Wattage to take this into account. (500 watt Plated Load, at least 600 Watt CONTINUOUS Inverter.) You also need to power up all the peripherals you are going to uase at the same time as the computer, as switching something else on can "trip" the inverter, and it would need to power up again. (Not a problem with lights, etc., but it plays havoc with a computer, as it would re-boot it.) You may well get enough power from Solar panels, but there is always the 4X4's power system too... Be aware of the difference between PEAK loading, and CONTINUOUS loading, it is the CONTINUOUS loading that really counts!

For gooodness sake! Have you actually READ the thread? I do not have unlimited time. I had an idea that people MAY be interested in the petitions on No.10. They are not easy to work through, unless you have the URL. It is a LONG list! So, I thought I would make a Waterways List. BUT I ran out of time after creating the first (test) entry in the list. The whole gang then swarmed out and had their fun, did you not? (The Gang must have pounced...Original Post at 7:58 pm (I have to shut off the genny at 8:00 pm!), then 8 posts in the next 27 minutes! Then 3 more that night.) I then log back in the next evening, after working on the list, to be confronted by the previous evenings work..... (etc. The post is there to be read!) So, 1. That WAS the idea in the beginning. I ALMOST didn't bother, but after the first seemingly aggressive outbursts, I THOUGHT that I had come to an understanding.....So I posted the List. (On the 16 March!) 2. You can percieve me however you like. (I reserve the right to percieve YOU as I like too!) 3. If this is the standard on this board, I wonder why?

Carl ...WCCT = Wooden Canal Craft Trust. The Wooden Boat Society in other words.... JK... I'm well aware of the great scheme...that is, keep everyone busy so they don't notice what the politicians are REALLY doing! The Romans used "Bread, & Circuses"!

Granada Programme was Locks and Quays (Groan!), presented by "Fred the weatherman" so I am told. Waterworld is an advertisment for people to sell their houses and move onto a luxury boat or barge. That's why there is no coverage of anything "bad", like miles and miles of weed, trolleys, 'ooligans throwing bricks, etc...... Bring back "Joshua Jones"! (And "Chigley"!!!)

Hi. I don't actually support/contest any or all the petitions in general. I just looked through the list, and picked out those that were more or less waterway related. (Just a messenger really!) But here are my initial thoughts..... Members of the British Canoe Union don't have to have a BW licence...it seems they are all covered by the BCU! (I think the petition really was aimed at all the rivers that are not official navigations though.) Agree here. Yes, If you want to go fast, there is plenty of sea room, (at sea!) leave the lakes and Broads (and the cut) alone! I can see your point re taxation. Yes, get shot of the licence as such, and run more like the roads. It could even work. Since BW scrapped the Toll system, which meant they only got paid if traffic flowed, they have no incentive to keep the cut in good repair. They get paid if you move or not. (And then they want to charge even more if you move "too much"!) At the moment, BW are an effective monopoly re moorings, but do not seem to be regulated as such? So, this may be why they are raising the mooring fees so much, as a pre-emptive strike to boost their income stream ahead of a "cut" in licence income? Yep...repeat stuff is not good...it seems that they (petioners) have started a new one as the expiry date draws nearer, and the goal posts are moving! Don't get me started on the Waterways Trust! (Theme park, with stuffed and mounted boats anyone?) I know! (addressed by the taxation isue above too!) Have to laugh at the competing Anglers petition...they have a good point though. Why should canoes be able to go up every river? They do enough damage on the cut. (They make more waves than an angry Swan!) I suppose it is just a matter of time before "driving tests" come in. The BW Byelaws already state that every vessel should have at least one member of crew who is competent to handle the vessel...

OK...You win. Just a little note of caution... Do Not Assume That I am the Author of all the *&^%$ Petitions, OK? (Carl...BW may well be a bit better at enforcement Up in Oxford. I still remember when they threatened to "demolish" the residential boats in the Hythe Bridge "Arm", after a bit of "hassle" from certain groups. The outcome was "proper" residential moorings. It has now been a while since I was at Oxford, but I still have fond memories, especially of spending time at the boatyards at Jericho, and Wolvercote and Dukes Locks (not forgetting the Dukes Cut Lock!) Unfortunately, around here there are several people who have bought new boats from the proceeds of years of not paying BW anything. This despite the BW Patrol harassing licensed boats. I have no axe to grind against people who get away with not paying (It is aginst BW for apparently allowing this state of affairs); yes I wish I had the “guts” to not pay. Unfortunately for myself, I am AFRAID to go up against the “powers”, so I tend to pay for Travel Tickets, rather than “bunk” the train or whatever, and other things where there is a risk of losing my property or my liberty. I wish you well with your endeavours.)

Well...... I WAS going to put up all the waterways related petitions, but last night I ran out of time to do any but that one. I hope you all have a well paid job, or independant means. I am on the minimum wage, and personally pay around 1000 pounds per annum for boat licence and moorings(Offside/EOG whatever they are calling it this time!) to bw, and almost another 700-800 pounds to the landowner. Any BIG increase WILL make it hard to pay for my HOME! (YES, I May Well be better off NOT Working....) I thought.......welll to the skip with it then... DELETE this if you like! (Carl...I used to have a lot of friends who had old wooden boats....I used to do stuff with the WCCT! Just because you have "firewood" boats, don't think that everybody has a downer on you! Thomas Clayton and Barlows, yes? At least some people know a motor from a butty!)

Here are the Waterways Related Petitions currently on the Leisure and Culture Section... (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk) http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Canoeists/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to pass legislation to give canoeists and all other users of un-powered craft the free right to navigate all rivers and canals in England and Wales (similar to the right already enjoyed by cyclists to use bridleways, cycle tracks and roads). Access to rivers in England and Wales for canoeists and other users of un-powered craft is severely restricted, and is probably more limited than for any other region in the World. On only a very few rivers (e.g. parts of the Severn and Wye) is there a right of free navigation for canoeists. River navigations are available to un-powered craft, but only by the purchase of a licence. The majority of rivers are either only available by making an advanced booking and by paying a fee to use them during restricted periods in the Winter season (e.g. the River Usk), or have no access permitted at all (e.g. the River Test). Canoes are a form of sustainable transport, and can be used by almost all age groups. They also provide a mechanism for exercise, sport, recreation, and the study of wildlife. Access to waterways was specifically omitted from Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2002. This omission now needs to be urgently addressed. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Windermere10mph/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to remove the 10mph speed limit on Lake Windermere. Please remove the 10 mph speed limit on Lake Windermere. Since the introduction in March 2005 lake users have no where to go to water ski. Lots of families are losing out on enjoying the fun. All the local businesses are losing out and even the Lake District National park is now having to review funding options for the lake due to the restriction http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Boat-Diesel-Tax/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Reverse the decision to stop the sale of "red" diesel for pleasure craft. Pleasure craft have always been allowed to buy "red" diesel i.e. fuel dyed for identification with a lower tax status than DERV (Diesel Engined Road Vehicles). This fuel is available for off-road,agricultural and industrial uses. Canal boats and pleasure craft are non-road users of diesel fuel, often operate on a limited budget, and should not be subjected to this inappropriate taxation. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BroadsBill/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Oppose the Broads Authority Private Bill. The Broads Authority Private Bill is being promoted as a 'safety' bill, yet it promotes wakeboarding, officially rated as being a hazard. It also extends powers to further restrict or prevent navigation. In both cases this directly effects my safety and my ability to freely navigate the tidal rivers of the Broads. It must be opposed. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/LowBoatFuelTax/ Now that the EU has refused the extension of derogation of Fuel Tax for Pleasurecraft, there is no justification for setting the tax at the same level as at Filling Stations. Boats obviously do not use roads, thus we should not be charged for their upkeep. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/HUCKNALLANGLERS/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to REPEAL THE CLOSED SEASON FOR ANGLING ON ALL INLAND WATERWAYS EXCLUDING SSSI's. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/saveourships/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Take immediate steps to halt the decline of the national heritage fleet. Whilst much money is available for the preservation and conservation of old buildings and 'monuments' there is none available for the maintenance of the extensive and diverse UK heritage fleet of traditional vessels. Many of these vessels are run by charities or voluntary organisations in order to provide water based activities for young people (of all abilities). Please take action now to halt this decline thus ensuring that future generations get to enjoy these irreplaceable vessels. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/diesel/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to state to the European Union that the UK as a sovereign state has the right to set it's own taxation levels. Then to continue the derogation on Marine diesel for leisure use. The european union has decided despite vigrous argument by many interested parties in the UK to force the UK to set tax's at a level consistant with the rest of europe. I believe this is a further undermining of UK independence which will seriously damage the UK marine industry. This industry is vital for jobs and export income to the UK. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/waterways-museum/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to take urgent action to provide new funding for the National Waterways Musuem at Gloucester Docks, Ellesmere Port and Stoke Bruerne. The National Waterways Museum holds the internationally important inland waterways collection. New funding would enable the Museum to offer free entry for all at each of its three sites. Free entry is vital for the survival of the National Waterways Museum. Free entry would help the Museum to expand its education programme, conserve the collection, improve access and support 140 jobs in the local economy. With free entry the Museum will be able to thrive, increase visitor numbers and generate new income essential for its long-term sustainability. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licencedodgers/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Ensure that the British Waterways Board use all its powers to pursue the owners of the large amount of unlicensed boats that are on the waterways they administer and thereby recover the thousands of pounds of revenue that are being lost each year. "British Waterways", the body that administers the bulk of Britain’s inland waterways (canals and river navigations), have recently been subject to a cut in grant aid by DEFRA. This cut has prompted job cuts, cuts in maintenance of the waterways, and the promise of large increases in the fees paid by boaters to have their boats on the waterways. There are a large amount of boats that escape payment, and it appears that little has been done to ensure that all boats are "Licensed". On average, most boats cost about £900 - £1000 per year to Licence. That is a large amount of revenue that is lost EACH YEAR! British Waterways have powers that include the removal from their waters of unlicensed boats, but there are areas where boats have been moored for many years, with no licence, or other payment being made, with no action by BW. British Waterways should ensure all boats are licensed BEFORE forcing the boaters that pay their way to pay large increases. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/No2Canoes/ Canoeists and un-powered craft users are seeking the right to roam on English and Welsh rivers. This is without consultation with landowners. This, in our view, will be detrimental to river systems and will spoil the enjoyment of the rivers for anglers. Angling clubs already pay rent to landowners for using the rivers as well as anglers paying national rod license fees. The canoeists want the right to spoil our enjoyment for free! http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/motorboats/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make people who buy motor or speed boats take a basic course. there are many accidents, mostly serious, caused by people who buy pleasure boats of one kind or another, new or second hand, who do not know water safety whether it means "rules of the road" or the carrying and using of safety equipment such as life jackets,flares and radios. These people cause accidents by reckless driving and are a danger to themselves as well as other water users especially in the coastal waters. They also cost the RNLI many thousands of pounds every year to rescue all involved. Make people take courses, have certificates or licences as well as insurance and carry them at all times as if they were on a road in a car. It is often more dangerous to have an accident in the sea than on a road as not only can they have serious injuries or drown but they can suffer from hypothermia if in the water for as little as 30mins, more often a combination of 2 or more noted. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/water-craft/ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Reverse decision that personal water craft do not have to obey rules of the sea. A lot of people who have one of these are sensible users as they are serious about their sport. But a also there are some of people who have a personal water craft do not obey even the minimal of rules like water speed and cause accidents by reckless driving and are a danger to themselves as well as other water users especially in the coastal waters. They also cost the RNLI many thousands of pounds every year to rescue all involved. Make people take courses, have certificates or licences as well as insurance and carry them at all times as if they were on a road in a car. It is often more dangerous to have an accident in the sea than on a road as not only can they have serious injuries or drown but they can suffer from hypothermia if in the water for as little as 30mins, more often a combination of 2 or more noted.

I have just had the BSS Examiner in. The new extinguishers (Pyramid Dry Powder) I bought from the local caravan place had CE marks, and the TUV certification. (If you shop at Aldi or the like, you will be aware that most Aldi stuff is TUV certified! Even the Solar Panel is TUV Certified!) The examiner could not find the TUV mark in his book, and had to call for assistance. (They were out.) He later called me to tell me that the BSS say that these extinguishers are no use! So, I now need to get ANOTHER set of extinguishers! Why does BSS not look at the internet? This is what I found in seconds! http://www.tuv-sud.jp/english/corp/index.html Do you know the TÜV SÜD mark(TÜV mark)? This mark, born in Germany and approved globally, knows all about the safety standards of the world and also quality and environmental management systems. Therefore, this mark alone conveys the value-added of your products and provides visible communication not achieved with other marks. Affixing the globally-known TÜV SÜD mark(TÜV mark) announces the high safety and quality of your products. In Japan, TÜV SÜD Japan provides customers with the TÜV mark to prove high reliability and quality and also with various certification services from the TÜV SÜD Group. Independence Independent third-party testing and certification organization born in Germany TÜV is the acronym of Technischer Überwachungs - Verein, meaning technical examination association in Germany. This third-party testing and certification organization born in Germany is independent of the government. In Germany, people are highly conscious of product safety certification by a third-party organization. The ratio of consumers "selecting products or goods with certification marking" is 34%, 24% of whom purchase because of the TÜV mark. The TÜV SÜD Group is a third-party testing and certification organization representing Germany. Safety Protecting people since the 1860s, starting from boiler inspection The TÜV SÜD Group started out testing the safety of boiler facilities in the 1860s. Ever since, the Group has been committed to protecting people by testing and certifying the safety of various products, not only boilers. As a third-party testing and certification organization, the Group has issued certificates for more than 25,000 products, an achievement that proves the value of TÜV SÜD mark(TÜV mark). So, what now? EDIT... The BSS Website is not available now! What is going on?

Oh, and I thought his VISION was to double revenue extracted from visitors to the canals, my mistake! Any news on the rapid reaction squads for unlicensed boats?

Well. Yes BW is overdoing the charging thing. You may be aware that they have powers under the Transport Act 1968 which, basically, allow the board to charge for any service or facility they may provide, and to deliver the level of service or facility that the board sees fit. Yes, they can charge you for anything, and do nothing in return, and it is Legal! By the way, that was how the "end of garden moorings" got started! One charge that has been thought about was a "landing stage" licence. This was thought to be a way of ensuring all landing stages were maintained to a standard. All landing stages or piers would have to have a licence. This seems to have gone "on the back burner" for now!

Diesel Electric boats are not illegal. The only thing is, you cannot get the "Electric Boat" discount. There are already Diesel Electric boats on the waterways, and it is nothing new! The LNER had a Diesel Electric Paddle "Steamer" in Scotland, it was named "Talisman". The clever bit would be to have a diesel generator that charged batteries, (Which would power an electric motor for propulsion, and other Low voltage things.) as well as running power requirements, lights, etc. As there would be no direct connection between the diesel engine and propulsion, I wonder how that would fair re: BW Licensing? Regards Sarah