MrsM

This is another one of your 'joke' posts I presume?

Brill thank you - looks like there are lots of options.

Thank you. That's an excellent idea.

Acrylate edge sealing paint is what I need (according to Google). Thank you

A quick question: we are replacing our deck boards. What is the best way to finish the cut edges of the boards to protect them? We are using hexadeck rhino. Thinking of thinning down Danish oil with solvent and applying several coats but there may be a better way. Already ordered the boards and can't afford anything more fancy. The old boards have lasted 14 years so if I get half of that I'll be happy.

As you are so near I would thoroughly recommend the Black Country Living Museum & moorings at Dudley. This was one of my favourite stops last year.

Have a great trip. You should have no difficulty with your length or draft. Ferry bridge is very low so make sure you have nothing tall on your roof after leaving South Kyme. There is also a winding point just beyond the Bailey bridge (on the right heading towards Cobblers) that isn't in my guide book. Weed will be your enemy, but as long as you aren't in a rush ...

We had Flotex in a previous house. Great that it was washable but we found that it acted as a special type of dog-hair-attracting velcro and it was a devil to get it up.

You are much braver than me!

Getting onto the bank wasn't possible today - we'd have liked a proper look at Cobblers lock - but it would have meant wading through silt up to the thighs, given how much the barge pole sunk!

Low bridge!

Second thoughts - it is too shallow to get any further back than we did in the above photo so the only place to wind is on the right as you approach Cobblers. (This picture is after we winded, with Cobblers lock behind us.)

Mission accomplished. The winding hole is extremely silted. Managed to turn by reversing into the hole so the stern was pretty much sat on the bottom, then using the pole and the flow to bring the bow around anticlockwise. Reversing back to Cobblers lock now to see how close we can get. Wouldn't have like to attempt this in a much longer boat. Worth the trip though. D'oh reversing back we can see the proper winding hole is on the left as you approach Cobblers. We winded in a steam/drain confluence on the right. The winding point proper is much larger but equally silted.

It's very pretty and, yes, it does feel like quite an adventure! Had a decent pint in the very friendly local last night and woke up to someone sat on the bank painting the scene. Interesting walk around the village to the church and old tower. Chatting to villagers they are definitely keen to see more boats coming through. About a mile from the end now (Cobblers) so will report back on the state of the winding hole. We are 58'.

And an EXTREMELY low bridge at Heckington - probably too low for an average top box!

Met some other boaters who were thinking of taking the Sleaford Navigation. There are nice moorings at Kyme which aren't in my Nicholsons (and a couple of potential winding holes along the route). The water level is just about ok in the centre of the channel but it is extremely weedy. Lots and lots of trips down the weedhatch. Very pretty if you are not in a rush.

Bit of a nightmare isn't it. Hope your friends are not too inconvenienced. Other half was tempted to go via Trent Falls but I'm not brave enough.

Our home mooring is in Newark and I agree that the floating pontoon is the best spot for visitors. I personally wouldn't spend the night moored up alongside the park although the view of the castle is spectacular.

From the Trent Link Facebook group. 2 members telephoned CRT yesterday (Friday) and were given this information. Have you heard otherwise? Also from the Torksey lockie this morning.

Apparently Thorne lock will not by be opening on 27th May as published. CRT could not say when it will reopen but it could be delayed by another week or two. Very frustrating for those of us waiting to get through and I wish CRT would update their stoppages information.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/buy-your-boat-licence

£90k would buy a lovely NB as others have suggested. Save a healthy chunk of that by buying a cheaper used NB. Travel the system to find out whether you like the lifestyle and spy out some nice places to live. Sell your first boat and buy your next one once you have more experience under your belt (or keep it if, like us, your first boat suits your needs). A decent used NB shouldn't lose much money given today's market. Good luck.