Jacsprat

Amazing how quickly these light-hearted posts can get a bit terse. Better end it here. Thanks for everyone's input.

I used kill switches plenty on quads, jet skis and small boats - attached to a lanyard and wrist strap, it's very phaff-free to simply slide it off your wrist leaving the engine running and you free to move about without it.

Yup - not worried about dying really, just the boat taking off without me. A wrist strap and cord for the kill switch is very easy to remove and put back on. In any case, I'm sure I wouldn't use it all the time - just on rivers perhaps.

As I'm on the Avon at the moment, my worry is more that the boat continues without me than I am worried about getting the chop from the prop. That said, If a person tries to haul themselves back onto the boat, probably best the prop isn't spinning!

She would indeed be gleeful until it came time to have her dinner...

As a newbie single-hander using rivers and canals, I've had paranoid fantasies of tumbling off the back of my boat and watching it disappear into the horizon with my dog watching gleefully from the rear. Not to mention being minced by the prop if I get caught up. Has anyone fitted a corded engine kill switch? Is it even possible? I've done a search here on the topic, but zilch comes up.

Yes, started following the Watford woes. By my calculations, I won't be there for about four weeks. Gonna take me chances!

Very encouraging - thank you. Yes, by hook or by crook, I'm boating there. I work two weeks on, two off so can always find a place to moor up (hopefully!) if there are unforseen stoppages, and get back to it on the next chunk of time off. Youtube has been brilliant for tutorials as well - I've had her out a few times on the river now and reckon I'll be just fine once I conquer my first couple of river locks.

Good to know JP! The Watford flight closure has just thrown up a new problem though!! Surely they'll be able to repair the gate in the next couple of weeks, even with restrictions in place - fingers crossed. A detour to N Kilworth via Leicester would mean more adventure than I need at the moment... I see you're at Droitwich - lovely spot. I tried to get a mooring there as Tewkesbury marina prices have skyrocketed with little on offer anyway. No space for my little boat there though.

Oh dear.

Yes, I can relate to the 'risk averse' issue. Transport overland is out of the question for price and hassle, but breakdown cover is on the cards. I expect I'll very much enjoy this trip despite getting past the Avon restrictions and having a bit of a time constraint. I can always find a temporary secure mooring along the way if I can't make it all the way to N Kilworth in one go.

True Rob - that is my back-up plan precisely. It'll add a day to my total journey and about 20 locks over the move, but still doable. Thank you!

Ye, it is a pain. I was disappointed to get that ANT email yesterday. I'm moving to a new marina in the midlands to be closer to work in three week's time and only have a limited amount of time to get there. Booking 5 locks in advance, M-F between certain hours is a big added stress (first time I'm navigating in my boat off the river - total newbie). I think the best advice is to ring ANT and feel out the situation.

Thank you for that. Hopefully we'll be up and running on the Avon without the need to pre-book - it'll be difficult for me to predict my arrivals. On the other hand, as you say, I'd have a team to help me get through them! Six of one, half a dozen of the other!

Thank you! I did wonder but was hoping I wouldn't need to check if I qualified for essential travel. By the sound of it, restrictions on the rivers and canals could drag on - surprising since CCers now have to keep moving again. I have been concerned about this! Thank you very much for the tips!!

Yes John - you are right! I AM banking on restrictions being lifted. My boat is indeed my home now, but I work as a live-in care worker two weeks of the month in Norfolk. I'm trying to save myself a bundle in Tewkesbury marina fees by moving to NK, and also trying to cut my travel time to work. Given my notice at Tewkes for July 8th. Fingers crossed. If it goes pear-shaped, I'll beg for mercy at Tewkes and stay on until we can go without hassle. Thank you VERY much for your route advice. As easy as I can make it for myself on my maiden voyage, the better.

Blimey! Good to know - thanks Matty! Journey planner gave me much longer time than that with fairly long days. Yes, the Avon got pretty trashed and a couple of locks were inoperable. I think they've got it mostly in hand now, and hopefully within another month, all will be navigable. Keeping a close eye on their website and here for first hand info.

Hello all! Hope you are cosy and warm in your boats. I'm planning to move the little boat I recently bought from Tewkesbury to North Kilworth in about a month's time. I'm a total newbie and will be single-handing for the most part. I've used CanalPlanAC to plot the route and to get an idea about total journey time. I'm presuming it's based on a boat with at least one crew. Can anyone enlighten me as to the general accuracy of this journey planner or recommend another method to calculate? Even better, has anyone done this journey or close to it and can tell me how long it took? I know it's a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' thing, but simply trying to get the big picture. I only have 11 days to get it there! Thank you, Jac

Looks like a great area - don't mind 'rough around the edges' if secure and reasonably quiet. Will have a look - thanks!

Thanks fellas! Yes, I know that 'residential' is a very grey area. I have a land-based address for mail, and have a live-in job 14 days out of 28. Looking for a leisure mooring with the option to spend quite a few nights of the other 14 in the marina if weather is too poor for cruising, or simply if I feel like doing nothing. I will be certain to clarify this with any potential marina.

Funnily enough, I visited Droitwich marina yesterday - I'm moored in Tewkesbury at the moment. Loved the proximity to the town, and the surrounding area is gorgeous. Yes, a little further than I wanted from work, but it's still doable. Unfortunately, there are no moorings for my short boat! I've put my name in though - we shall see.

Thanks Ray - like their flexible berthing scheme! How do they feel about people overnighting in their boats in the marinas?

Hello! Help needed wading through all of the mooring possibilities... I recently bought a 36ft narrowboat which is presently moored in a nice, but rather pricey marina on the Avon. I work two weeks of the month away in North Norfolk, and will spend the other two weeks on my boat and hope to do plenty of cruising. I'm looking for a basic marina - quiet but close to a decent-sized town for good re-provisioning and with a bit of charm. Plenty of cruising choices from the marina would be tops. Can anyone recommend? Happy to travel up to three hours to my Norfolk job, so plenty of flexibility! Thanks in advance, Jac

Got that mrsmelly - just clarifying for the nice people still sending me PMs.

I was a little vague here - I really mean temp marina moorings and other 'secure' moorings I find along the way.