MrsM

I'm sorry you feel that way. I don't agree that the forum is a tiny irrelevance. We travelled widely over our 4 years of boat ownership and met many people I recognised from the forum - normally by their boat names. Had lots of lovely chats and felt that the link with the forum added to the sense of community. Whether you like it or not, you will come across lots of people from the forum and how much nicer for you if meetings are convivial rather than combative. I wish you could be a bit more self-aware about how you are coming across on here. No doubt you are a smashing chap in real life and you are simply not doing yourself any favours. Wishing you well.

What a superb and thoughtful post. Mr Ho please reread and digest it. Surely you want to be happy and get along with people now that you are a canal boat owner? Yet you seem hell bent on isolating yourself. I've said it before, but all the people you repeatedly berate on here would bend over backwards to help you, should you need it. Please have a bit of a reset and I'm sure you will be better for it.

Apologies - my mistake.

Weren't/aren't Viking hulls built in Poland? We had a Polish-built boat and the quality of our steelwork was excellent. OP if you like it and can afford it, then go for it (pending survey of course). Would you be gutted if someone else bought it? Good luck.

Thank you for representing the nicer face of boaters. I used to love meeting and chatting with hirers. As you and Dogless point out, they are always in happy holiday mood and are pleased to pull their weight at locks.

Hope you feel better soon. Marianne x

Haha. We did comment a few times how dull it would be to have a boat on a loch when one is used to traveling around a network. I genuinely am puzzled - he is definitely talking about doing work on a steel hull. Is this not on a narrowboat?

That's really useful! What a font of knowledge this place is. 😊

Now I am really puzzled! Been away in the Outer Hebrides and feel I've landed back in a alternative reality.

Waited near one of the bridges on the Monty a few years ago as there were fresh otter tracks in the mud there, but didn't manage to see one. Perhaps you might be luckier.

Haven't been following the forum closely recently. Pleased to hear you got yourself a boat @Gybe Ho. What is it? How much work do you have to do on it? Are you still planning on electric propulsion? Piccies please.

I feel for you - I used to love my Go Windlass.

Last time we did the Fossdyke I found the number of dead deer rather upsetting. It was during a very hot spell and I presumed they had come down to drink, fallen in and were not able to clamber out due to the steep, high sides. At the time I thought the number and condition of deer ramps were inadequate. Also thought it would have been nice to have drinking troughs available so they didn't have to put themselves at risk.

Absolutely agree. That is horrible and I hope CRT take action.