rogerb

Thanks Gaggle Not much space at Appley Bridge but Crooke looks good - there is a suitable site there - Eldonian Village looks like a very suitable and needy place. Signing off now till the end of September - Romance arrives tomorrow - come and see her when you have an hour or two to spare Roger

Hello Red Star I do hope that you have forgiven me for pinching your excellent photos - will you come and do some for us after 30th June? Gaggle My understanding is that proper pump-out and toilet facilities are required at Eldonian Village and in the Appley Bridge/Crooke area - could you please confirm? - I have a meeting with NWDA on other matters in a few weeks time -I can raise this with them at the same time. Roger

Facilities have to be improved on the Wigan to Liverpool stretch of the L & L - to spend 17 million pounds on the new link and then have no proper shower facilities, no proper pump-out and no proper toilets is madness. I have been trying to make contact with MMBC without success - are you a member or does anyone reading this know of a member who has a mobile phone - if so the name and number would be helpful. BW does not have the funds to do this but the NWDA does but I need to know what is needed before I approach them. Take heart - things will improve but we only have 9 months to improve them! I like your photos - come and take some for us after 2nd July - cant say who we are as that would be advertising - does anyone know? - if so please enlighten Roger

I was unable to get to this meeting - how did it go? Roger

Have just fitted two Aquafax Viking 32 12v punps for toilet waste pump out - too early to say how effective they are. Aquafax say they are great - what else would they say? Does anybody have experience of these pumps - they should save a fortune in pump-outs if they work and don't clog. Roger

I am thinking of restoring a 54 year old wooden boat that has a current MCA licence - is Portland Basin the nearest that could do this - is there nobody in Liverpool that can do this - there is a clue to which boat this might be in this. Martin? Roger

During April we took advantage of those very warm days to visit Henley - out of season it is lovely - with lots of boating activity. We went on to visit Windsor and Richmond - as an afterthought we decided to visit Teddington Lock - if you have not been there consider moving it to the top of your list of places to go. Mind-blowing - the biggest weir I have ever seen - a lock 650ft long that can take 6 boats plus a tug - immaculately kept with a lock-keeper on site. This has got to be a must do. Roger

I have been to see the Anderton Lift a number of times but never picked a day when it was working. My favourite canal engineering work in the North West is the Barton Aquaduct - the canal being carried over the Manchester Ship Canal is absolutely stunning.

Hi Steve We will be sailing our new boat "Romance" from Monton, Eccles to Appley Bridge on Friday 22nd June providing the MCA inspections go without a hitch next week. This brings to an end a difficult and challenging build and I will be pleased to see this boat doing what she was made for - giving hundreds of people pleasure this summer. If you find yourself on this stretch of the Bridgewater that day give us a wave - there will be a 9 hour celebration party going on! Roger

Hi Pie (forgive the pun) But dont use the toilet if you dont buy a pint - they dont like it. Where is your boat Coccium moored - and where does Coccium come from? Roger

The mists have cleared I think - works on the principle of two buckets each of equal weight going over a pulley - very little effort is needed to produce movement - been onto the fipt website - fascinating. Thanks Roger

The Orwell at Wigan Pier is only a short walk from the dry dock - good food, real ales -shish kebabs to die for. The Moon on the Water in the centre of Wigan (about 10 minutes walk) has good food and about 8 real ales but it is always busy. Roger

Thanks for this - the mist is clearing - so the next question is: why did they fall out of favour - are locks a more cost-effective way of changing levels?

I understand that there is an inclined plane at Foxton that is being restored - how do these work? Are the boats pulled up them by an engine with rollers underneath it in a similar way to a big dipper getting to the top of its run? Apparantly there are a number of these working in Europe but I don't know of a working one in the UK. Roger

I know a couple who would love to live on a boat especially during the summer months. What size is your boat - how many berths - how old is it - where is it moored? Roger

Before we fly our company flag on the ex-British Legion flagpole at Appley Bridge are there any senior ex-servicemen who wish to object - we dont really want to upset any potential customers! Ex-servicemen over 80 get free beer - apply now while the offer stands. Roger

Hello Martin It pays to invest early on with a new business - one boating enthusiast is worth 40 ordinary customers in terms of positive referal power. You are welcome on Romance anytime you wish to visit without charge. Regards Roger

Hi Casper The food on Cassoulet is hard to beat and the couple who run it are very friendly - my advice would be to start with Cassoulet and visit all the others in turn when you have a special occasion - we had a great time last year doing this. All of the boats can be privately chartered but it gets quite expensive if you have a small party. Roger

Dear Redstar I didn't know who to ask about using these photographs, however, they are so good I would like to continue using them if you don't mind. By way of compensation I would like to offer you two £30 evening cruises when we get started or the cash equivalent if you prefer. I will be taking my own photos when we have a boat to photograph! Roger

Hi Caspar Did some market research on restaurant boats in the North of England last year this is my verdict: Cassoulet, Sowerby Bridge - Very good food but can only seat 12 - windows very high up so you cant see out as you cruise along. The Dalesman, Skipton (Pennine Cruisers) - long established, well run, good food, good service, recommended Bronte Boats, Hebden Bridge (Verdopolis) - New boat, good food, well run, different cuisine on certain nights, recommended L S Lowry, Manchester (city centre cruises) - long established, good food, good staff, recommended Leu'T'Cuisine, Chester (mill hotel,Chester website) - My favourite - lovely boat, good food, good staff, highly recommended The boat at Leeds is called The Kirkstall Flyer and is up for sale - it is a trip boat that can provide a buffet so does not fall into the restaurant boat category in my opinion. Our Restaurant Boat based at Appley Bridge, Wigan starts 1st July - reputation yet to be established - but if we can meet the standards set by the above I will be happy. I cant give you details of our website, etc as that would be advertising and I might be drummed out of the forum,however, if someone reading this knows these details please feel free to enlighten Roger

Which day this week do you travel in convoy along the Mersey to arrive at Albert Dock? What time to you set off and arrive? I will try to be there to wave you in. Roger

Hello Adam Liverpool to Wigan maximum size 70ft x 14ft Wigan to Leeds 60ft x 14ft (although 62ft boats have managed it by diagonal alignment in the lock) We went for 58ft for safety reasons (extra margin to avoid the cills) and 12ft to allow displaced water to pass easily on each side of the boat in locks As we will be operating at night we have gone for maximum safety features with this boat. Roger

Having read some disparaging remarks about this operation in the forum I decided to road test Yellow Duck Marine when I had time on my hands this week. These are World War 2 amphibious landing craft that do a half hour tour of the city by road to show you the sights followed by a half hour cruise of the South Docks - the highlight of the trip is when you go down the slipway at about 25 mph and hit the water - exciting no matter what age you are. Amusing commentary by the tour guide - full boats and people waiting for the next one - a professional, well run operation Not cheap at £12 per adult but well worth it. Marks 10/10 Roger

Hi Noah Our boat "Romance" was due for delivery to the Waters Edge mooring at Appley Bridge on 31st March - due to technical problems with the build it will not be delivered now until the end of June - you can imagine our frustration with this but I console myself with the thought that this boat will be around for 30 years so we may as well get things right while it is in the workshop. It is a beauty - 58ft long and 12ft wide - state of the art - I hassle the boatfitters twice a week about the delay but they carry on at their normal pace - I have seen snails move faster than this! I am thinking of setting up my own boatfitting outfit as anyone who can build a good boat on time and within budget will dominate the market - late deliveries are the norm with boatfitters. The industry is full of good craftsmen but there are no managers and no forward planning - things like windows are ordered when they notice that there are holes in the superstructure that need to be filled. Sorry if I sound bitter and twisted but it helps to put this into writing and hopefully my boatfitter will read this! We will be very careful about canoeists at Appley Bridge. Regards Roger