MrsM

Exactly! Makes total sense to me, but each to their own. I think the convenience would more than compensate for the money saved by pretending to CC. But others have made it work, so it is clearly doable I guess.

Not wanting to rain on your parade Gybe Ho, but I agree with MtB's comment above.

Are there many professional independent boat builders operating from the public towpath, pretending to be continually cruising?

You are embarking on a very expensive (10s of 1000s of £s) and time-consuming hobby - building a boat. Can I respectfully suggest that you don't risk alienating people like BSS inspectors (who work to pretty lean profit margins as it is) by trying to save yourself a few quid. It might be better to try and build positive working relationships with them. I know the saying "look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves" but there is a limit.

We spent 3-4 weeks on the canal & arms in late May/early June and it wasn't bad at all. Lots of moorings in the Llangollen basin. Yes there were many hire boats but I always enjoyed meeting them because they are excited and happy to be on their holidays.

I agree being afloat is lovely but you won't be enjoying the waterways from a liveable boat for ages. Instead you will be up to your eyeballs in dust and oil and paint etc, while having to move regularly to comply with your licence conditions. Anyway I admire your determination and hope it works out.

Another vote for the Montgomery - it is spectacularly beautiful. Think you needed to book a couple of days in advance when we went. There should be info on the CRT website.

If the main requirement for a CC licence is to navigate around the system I struggle to see how this is realistically compatible with all the work involved with fitting out a boat. Although I fully accept that it is not impossible and others may have done this successfully. ETA I'm not having a dig, I genuinely don't know how anyone could do it. Just the logistics of getting materials, using power tools, storing everything needed while working etc. I get that not paying for a mooring saves several thousand pounds (that can instead be spent on the boat) but the inconvenience of navigating while carrying out major work would be way beyond what I could imagine.

No impact on mooring that I can recall.

Moorhen chicks are sooooo gorgeous aren't they! Little black pom-poms on long legs.

It is a beautiful canal and quite easy to cruise. It's a bit weird getting used to the flow (as it is used to transport water) which is especially noticeable through bridges etc. Also I found the bywash on some locks quite strong. The main bit that needs some consideration is the narrows. In an ideal world you would send someone ahead to check for oncoming craft. Goes without saying that the aqueducts present some of the most special boating you could ever imagine. I'm generally quite scared of heights but somehow it didn't seem a problem when steering the boat. Enjoy!

If you are planning to fit out your shell on the public towpath will you be doing this from a mooring? Asking as I can't see how it would be possible to cc a shell while you are doing it?

Please send him my very best wishes for a quick recovery.

I have spent quite a lot of time and energy pub campaigning and succession planning is a real problem for independent landlords who care about what happens to their pub once they have retired.

I do hope not, she hasn't been back since yesterday morning

Thanks for the warning Tony (while hastily rewriting the wetsuit scenes) 😄

Just googled - very nice. We used to have two pet kunekune pigs. They used to play with our dog and would sit on command. One day one of them got out of the orchard and into the doctors surgery next door - they were none too thrilled I can tell you! Lovely animals and exceptionally clean - we never once had to clean out their shelter as they would take any straw outside as soon as it got dirty.

I wonder if this behaviour is typical of many forums. I have only just come across the CAMRA forum, Discourse, as one of my pub campaigning chums is standing for the upcoming NE elections. There is a small core group of some nasty types on there from what I've been told by other CAMRA members.

To change the subject, I've just read the thread in question and have learnt that our Jen was a caver! Harking back to a topic from a while ago (student documentary project) I propose a Hollywood blockbuster staring CWDF's very own Cagney and Lacey - aka LadyG and Jen-in-Wellies! I volunteer to make the costumes and of course the handsome buck Tony1 can be the male star. Anyone up for a crowdfund?

@KezzerN I'm so sorry you are feeling like this 😔. Please hang on in there as, by and large, this is a wonderful place with so many kind and helpful people. We all have bad days and people that, in the real world, we might not necessarily get on with and I guess it's the same here. I hope you have already had lots of help that shows you just how supportive it can be. The vast majority of us make no claim to be experts (unless we are talking about sewing, in which case I'm your gal!). Some of us (not me, I hasten to add) have an immense store of knowledge and know-how about all things boat. Hang on on there. From the reading of your threads it sounds like you've already achieved so much since you got your boat. Best, Marianne

Gararrrrge as in Farage for me, but Garidge as in carriage for MrM (I still married him despite this)

Pl-ass-tic and sc-onn but bar-th not ba-th 😄

If it helps, ours was very easy to work on, parts were easily available and affordable. My o'h (a design engineer) describes it as a pretty bomb-proof, well-marinised, solid lump. The stirrup pump for oil changes was effective and clean and the thermostat adaptation was perfect. The pulley belts for power generation were easy to change and access. We wouldn't hesitate to buy another boat with the same engine.

Do you have any idea of how it has been maintained or how many hours it has done?

What do you want to ask?