frahkn

My boat is 70'6" plus fenders and I was not able to wind it below Harecastle a few years ago. The tunnel keeper was not surprised.

No, alas I was at Sutton stop which I suppose may be historic but hardly proper waters.

Perhaps a cheeky question but will anyone admit to a having a proper boat and b a proper windlass and c boasting about those 'facts'? I did see the name of the said boat, while the steerer was telling my wife about the above attributes of his craft, a couple of days ago but would prefer not to mention it on the forum.

Totally agree, at least one of the steerers is an idiot!

Are there any issues to watch for when mooring on the Trent by the council house in Nottingham? Can you moor by the park on the other side also? Thanks.

I moor at Aston and have never been bothered by the noise.

Well thanks - you learn something every day! I am 71 and have never seen this, though I know about ducks eating slugs so perhaps I should not have been so surprised.

Yesterday I passed a mallard duck which was eating a small fish. The fish was in its beak/bill, longways, head first and I saw the duck swallow it. The fish was not moving so may have already been dead when the duck picked it up. I have never seen this before and found it hard to believe even as I watched. But perhaps it's quite common. Does anyone know?

I always use 'view new content' when accessing the forum; but then I find it impossible to miss reading all the posts provided (a bit ACD I suppose). As I have no one on 'ignore' - on principle, so I do end up reading some rubbish. The thing is not to join in.

Exactly! Mine shows no indication of being smart but its fine for calls and these new-fangled texts. Has good battery life as I don't switch it on unless I'm about to use it. I think it has a camera (it has what might be a lens on the front); I've never used it because I have a camera.

I don't have gps on my mobile phone (or, I think, anywhere else) but I do keep a log of my moorings, distance and locks between them and a couple of other things. This is for my own interest but CART are welcome to have a look if they wish. I do about 500 miles per year without difficulty despite spending only 6 months or so on the boat.

If you are taking electricity without the employers permission - i.e. stealing it - there could not be a tax liability.

Alas I think that, on the evidence of this thread, our technical savvy members are drowning under a tide of idiots. When I joined (17 year ago) there were plenty of arguments, some quite heated, but there was not the degree of unmitigated stupidity that you find now.

I don't involve myself in these type of threads but I must point out that this (while nicely democratic) is wrong. Incorrect advice remains incorrect no matter how many people vote for it. Just saying.

As Cuthound mentioned above, my boat is a 70' Orion "tug". Happy to answer any specific questions on here or by PM but I need to know what you want to know. I only spend about half of each year on the boat, so not strictly "living" on it.

While I was moored at Alvecote we had two trips to Snarestone. Each took us about ten days (each way) - I'm not one to rush!

All true alas!

My Orion has a modern engine (a Beta) but in an engine room which itself is forward of a boatman's cabin. Access from the rear is fine as long as you don't put your hand on the stove (in winter) as you step down. Personally I don't think the engine room wastes space, we store quite a lot in there. But I may be a bit eccentric about space; it's a 70' boat with 12' of tug deck. About 50% of people tell me that is a waste of space.

He is fine, I saw him in Stone this summer. I posted about it and he replied.

I buy my Vactan in 1 litre containers and use less than this in a year (which is roughly its shel life). I would try say 2 litres and see how it goes, I certainly would not consider 20 litres, it goes a long way.

I was 71 a couple of weeks ago, this proves nothing but it does at least suggest that alcohol in heroic quantities is not always a life shortener. I think it's more the worrying about drinking too much than the actual deed. Course I may be dead in the morning!

I relined my (previously MDF) doors and hatches with oak. I made the linings at home, where I have tools, and took them to the boat one or two at a time. I then replaced each lining as the old ones fell off became too tatty. I bought the timber on-line. If you want a supplier recommendation just pm me.

I had a boat share with Owenerships for 11 years, including 2 years after the original organiser had died. Enjoyed the experience enormously and felt that it was very good value for the cost. I never went to a single 'owners meeting' (held annually) because I had no interest in a) my fellow owners, and b) long discussions about trivialities. But if your inclinations are the opposite, there are many that think the same.

If you are visiting Aston it's little extra effort to pop in to Great Heywood in the same trip - in my view it will not take long to see which marina looks better.