[LED Bulb Recommendations]

12 hours ago, Richard T said:

Another supplier is Aten Lighting https://www.atenlighting.co.uk/boat-lighting

I've found them helpful in the past.

Thanks they look very good too - similar to bedazzled but a bit more competitive on postage etc. Shame neither firms give a discount for large orders. I didn't physically count the number of fittings on our boat but I recall there were quite a lot! Hopefully taking over the boat this weekend so will see.

[LED Bulb Recommendations]

Thanks this is good advice both.

 

I hadn't really considered that getting such a broad voltage range (10-30) was as important as it clearly is. I'd have probably just bought domestic 12v G4 bulbs and regretted it.

 

Bedazzled look good. I confess I was taken aback by their prices at first but then realised I was buying something rather more sophisticated than the standard spec. In fact they're pretty competitive on that basis.

 

As regards sizes, that's my next dilemma. Should I buy the 'tower' version or the round  'lollipop' shaped ones. The fittings need side pin bulbs so either should theoretically fit, they have no glass lens so I'm thinking the tower ones. On the other hand a boat we hired earlier this year used the other sort (I think) and they seemed excellent. Think I'll do as Tractor suggests and make myself some templates. Might also photo the fittings and send a picture to Bedazzled for their advice. 

[LED Bulb Recommendations]

We're just in the process of buying our first boat and one of the things I want to do early on is upgrade to LED lighting.

 

The current lighting setup uses a large number of 12v 10w G4 halogen bulbs which I'm hoping I can simply swap for an LED equivalent (around 1.5w). Can someone who has similar lighting advise me on a reliable bulb to buy? I'm aware they will need a to be able to cope with the fluctuating voltage inherent in the 12v circuit.

 

The range of G4 bulbs available is mind boggling and general reliability is not always good reading reviews. Branded names don't necessarily seem to mean 'quality' either. I was looking with interest at Osram this morning until I read the reviews which were pretty dreadful.

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

On 16/08/2021 at 18:01, nb Innisfree said:

I was given a few to try, advised to slowly heat the water to send them to sleep, more humane he said. OK, so gas on lowest setting, after a while they started trying to climb out of the pan, aarrgh, what to do, prob already brain damaged, turn up the heat.

Poor buggers, I still feel bad about it, never again ☹️

Yep, since starting this thread and reading all of the various comments along the way I've definitely gone off the idea of having anything to do with Signal Crayfish. It's been an education that's for sure. 🙂

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

26 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

@Withywindle, beware. The Environment Agency was taken over by Signal Crayfish while many of the human employees were on furlough, or working from home. This is why they don't issue any licenses to catch signal crayfish, If you apply for one though, the crayfish now have your name and address. Don't answer the front door to any one showing an EA identity card. Especially if you can see visible antennae. Run out the back door and head for the wilds. It is your only chance.

OMG he's just turned up! 😟

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

42 minutes ago, Jerra said:

As I understand it the licence is a backhanded way of gathering data about prevalance, distribution, etc

You may well be right, I have to say it was a pretty detailed application. 

 

The two main thrusts being that proper grid references were required of where you would be fishing. This was apparently to ensure you were not operating in conservation areas known to still contain white claw crayfish but I also suspect it was, as you say to monitor the invasive signal crayfish population. The other was to ensure the trap was the correct size, they wanted mesh size, overall dimensions but most most crucially the aperture diameter so otters would not get trapped. There have been horror stories where otters have been found stuck in home made traps with half their faces eaten by the already captured crayfish. 

 

I suspect the IA find it difficult in the present climate to issue licences because it’s not just an emailed licence, they also issue special licence tags to attach to nets etc. This would clearly be difficult to do with staff working at home but surely it’s an aspect that could dispense with until the pandemic issues ease and in the meantime email out licences once they were satisfied with the above mentioned criteria. The IA seem to be a pretty tech savvy bunch. As an example I even had to add my digital signature to the application form, it was pretty well designed in technical terms I have to say.

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

Just now, matty40s said:

Quite right, just dont take the letter with you when you go catching nice to eat things....

Lol, indeed!

 

To be honest I'm rather going off the idea for some reason. Perhaps I'll just get a pack of sausages from Sainsbury's and BBQ them.

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

4 hours ago, tree monkey said:

I'm not suggesting the OP is an idiot, just pointing out the licence system was created with all the right intentions 

Which is precisely why I made a proper formal application with all the considerable detail required rather than ignoring the system. I just feel a little easing of the restrictions right now would be sensible for all concerned.

 

Glad you don't think I'm an idiot BTW. 🤨

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

2 minutes ago, BWM said:

Do you fish? If so, you could lower a baited drop net for minnows 'to use as bait' but when you pull it up, bursting with crayfish, you will be unable to legally release them...all perfectly legit!

I do.... and I've been thinking of trying Minnows for Perch. 😉

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

1 hour ago, Athy said:

Yep.

In any case he's DDT (Done the Decent Thing and the EA's incompetence is not his fault), if I were him I'd just get on with it.

Thanks, you're right and I might do just that. The irony is that if I hadn't applied I could have pleaded ignorance, now (like a prat), I've got myself a formal enforcement letter! 🙄 Just shows, keeping your head down and getting on with things in this life is usually the best bet!

[It's a great time to be a Signal Crayfish]

I fancied a go at trapping a few invasive American Signal Crayfish for the BBQ.

 

Rather than just going ahead and putting a trap out as most people seem to do, I duly downloaded and completed a licence application from the Environment Agency. No mean feat to complete this baby as anyone who's tried will testify!

 

After five weeks waiting I got this reply back today, Wish I hadn't bothered!

 

If they don't have the the staff perhaps an amnesty period on fishing for this species would be more sensible? Their numbers are already exploding out of control to the detriment of our native crayfish.

 

Oh well I'll have to stick to my Grey Squirrel casserole and pan fried Japanese Knotweed. 😆

 

 

[Competent Surveyor Needed - Covering Cheshire]

21 hours ago, Tracy D'arth said:

Mike Carter of Marine Surveys.   Very thorough and conscientious.

Thanks for the recommendation Tracy. Unfortunately Mike is booked solid for 7 weeks plus and isn't taking any more work right now. I guess that endorses what you say - he must be good!

[Competent Surveyor Needed - Covering Cheshire]

After 20 years of regular hiring my wife and I have just taken the plunge and are in the process of buying our first narrowboat - a 2005 Colecraft 50 footer.

 

I now need to engage my surveyor (full survey) and need recommendations for a good surveyor in the Cheshire area.

 

Ideally I want to be there myself for at least part of the survey, so someone who doesn't mind that and would be happy to discuss their findings with me 'on site' as well as providing a formal report would be good.

 

Some names I've already been given are...

 

Steve Hand

Mike Carter

John Crompton

Peter Tindall

Ricky Tropman

 

Endorsements for any of these would be very welcome together with any other names forum members can recommend?

 

 

[Viking Narrowboats - Build Quality]

Hi everyone. I’m new to the forum and my wife and I are currently looking to buy our first boat having been hiring regularly for the last twenty odd years. 

This week the search continues we’re hoping to look at a 57’ cruiser stern built by Viking Narrowboats, not to be confused with Viking Afloat the hire company. I haven’t been able to find out much about them other than they they started up in 2007 and are based in Chelmsford but all of their boats are Polish Built. 

Does anyone own or know of someone who owns one who can give me advice about the build quality etc? I know Aqualine are built in Poland and are very well thought of. I’m hoping Viking are of the same quality.