Ewan123

My personal opinion on the length question is that 64ft is just a bit odd. >62ft and you can't do the Leeds and Liverpool canal, so at that point I feel one might as well get up to 70ft with the benefit of the space.

Interestingly (I think) there is a growing school of thought that suggests the feeding of common garden birds with feeders over winter is contributing to the decline of some of our less common species. The theory goes: 1. Garden bird feeders in place over winter 2. Only some resident species use them over winter (e.g. blue tits, great tits etc.), many of which are doing OK. 3. An unnaturally high proportion of these species (especially that year's young birds) survive the winter by using these feeders. 4. Come spring, migratory species arrive to find a much greater level of competition from these resident species for wider resources (food, nest spots etc.) and are less successful as a result. It goes similarly for the common birds that like feeders (but also compete for resources elsewhere) vs those that won't use feeders and rely on the other resources.

We use wood for our stove, normally from the fuel boats when we're on their routes. We were a couple of days short with Alton stuck in ice at Bollington this weekend and had to get what we could from the local SPAR cornershop - awful stuff. More expensive, damp, softwood that took active work to keep it going. It does make us grateful for the reliable good quality we've had from fuel boats whenever we've had them. Currently £6.95 for a net from Alton that roughly burns at 1 net per day for us - not as cheap as coal-types I assume but not bad. I've certainly heard of many people in houses paying more for their heating.

I tried to cruise yesterday, just couldn't get away from the towpath without an excessive effort. The ice was still a couple of inches thick and I got tired of breaking it with my boathook. Shame, it's fun going through ice. Had to make do with a 1.5hr round trip by bike to empty a cassette and bring back 20l of water.

That will vary, the first broker we went to encouraged us to take one out for a test drive without us even suggesting it.

This is something so variable to each case that is hardly worth asking to be honest (except in conversation with CRT when required). As Tony says, the law just says "reasonable" so there's no flat rule. Having said that, I think one case where there is a default length of "overstay" is in the case of childbirth for a liveaboard. From the CRT website: "Contact us so we can agree, in advance, for you to stay longer in one place. This is usually one month extra on either side of the birth – even if the baby decides to come a little earlier or later than planned. We can also arrange further adjustments up to 26 weeks after the birth." https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/license-your-boat/continuous-cruising/continuous-cruising-your-questions-answered

Or learn to use it appropriately and effectively, so gaining an additional skill that those who refuse to use them don't have

I don't think a large volunteer group would be allowed near in this case - given the extent/severity of the incident, the risk of a repeat incident causing further damage (and cost, insurance claims etc.), e.g. going the other side and hitting the residential properties, will mean that the Bridgewater Canal Company/Peel will want to cover their future selves as much as possible. That will mean bringing in consultants and contractors with verifiable qualifications and their own beefy liability insurance. I wouldn't be surprised if they closed and reassessed a lot of the unaffected embankment as well, from a risk/liability perspective.

I think that's because you were recording in their workplace, in a business capacity. Recording audio and video in public without consent, where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, is legal for personal use so long as you're not causing harm (e.g. stalking/harassing). I'm pretty sure at least.

I remember seeing Ivy Hotholer on the Lee a few years ago, looking rather tired. Brilliant to see it so smart now.

Good points. Our solar panels are central and narrow enough to leave a walkway on the roof and I've never had a pram hood, hadn't considered the faff involved.

Fair point

I wouldn't be surprised if brand new gates were the quicker option, looking at how much bent metal there is on those gates - they might need to make-new half the parts anyway, and then question the integrity of those that look OK to the eye.

If they had the ladder right at the stern-end of the cabin side, they wouldn't need to shuffle along the gunwale (something I prefer to avoid myself).

The wooden hooks (solid wood, not ply) were definitely more substantial than the fender hooks, they looked alright. No harm in something better though, agreed.

A half-decent carpenter would be able to make one though, most boatyards potbelly could I reckon. Not super cheap for a one-off but might be worth it. First I'd just give it a few goes of climbing up/ doing locks as things currently are anyway before getting anything new. I can get a leg up and hop straight onto the roof from the side, but another gentler method is from the side with heels on the gunwales, back to the cabin side, hands on that lip; then push up to sit on the edge and swing legs around then stand up. Just have a go at climbing all around while moored up

I've not gone through the whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating someone, but I've seen a wooden ladder (presumably custom made) that sits against the cabin side and hooks over that type of top lip. Similar to how these fender hooks do:

Yeah it is quite chunky after folding, but still much smaller than a non-folding one of equivalent strength/capacity. It's enough that I can tuck it into a couple of spaces where it wouldn't otherwise fit. Including a small car boot on the occasions that I've got a hire car and pick up fuel from from a shop if we need to.

Link to article "Sticky fuel update RCR says change winter fuel storage strategy In a bid to reduce the number of cases of sticky fuel, River Canal Rescue is advising boaters to change their winter fuel storage strategies. Sticky fuel is unrelated to the usual fuel contaminants and causes injection pump racks to seize, fuel injector and filter head plungers to fail, and return lines to block. RCR says a common denominator in all reported cases is the use of fuel treatments. They in themselves are not at fault; but surmise there may be a link with fuel and chemical breakdown when they’ve been stored for a while. With fuel suppliers advising diesel only has a shelf life of around six months and chemicals starting to break down after this time, RCR is urging boaters to take notice of this new information and take the following action. Managing director, Stephanie Horton, comments: ” Over winter, where previously I would advise to fill tanks to prevent condensation build-up, best practice now is to leave them empty and upon return, drain off any water build-up, treat the remaining fuel and then add fresh. “If using a fuel treatment, given we know chemicals start to breakdown within six months and we believe this is one of the contributing factors, use it within six to 12 months of purchase.” Identifying sticky fuel To help boaters identify a sticky fuel problem, Stephanie suggests they take a fuel sample and leave it in a clear glass jar on a window cill in the light. Initially, the fuel will be clear, but after a couple of days, if it is affected, it will go from clear to cloudy. She continues: “If you are worried about your fuel or have symptoms consistent with sticky fuel, doing this test first may prevent you from having to dump what’s in your tank.” cloudy sticky fuel (right) next to uncontaminated red and white diesel Fuel removal If there is an issue, RCR recommends fuel removal and disposal, using a franchise company that removes the ‘wrong fuel’ from vehicles, such as Fuel Doctor or Wrong Fuel etc. These companies have large containers in vans, long hoses and can attend the same day. The cost is £150-£180, with 20 litres of fuel delivered, and more can be requested. If accessibility is a problem, RCR suggests using a boat yard facility to pump it out. Stephanie concludes: “Once the tank’s refilled with fresh fuel, leave any treatments for a while as fresh fuel appears to clean any residue in the fuel system. Winns injector cleaner is also good at clearing signs of sticky fuel in the system, however in most cases, the fuel will still need to be removed.” Background In December 2020, River Canal Rescue reported a rise in the number of call-outs across the UK for fuel-related issues, unrelated to the usual fuel contaminants. Engineers found cases of seized injection pump racks with blocked nozzles, fuel injector and filter head plunger failures. The culprit was fuel that had left a syrupy and sticky residue in the fuel system, clogging components. RCR said it was ‘contamination not seen before’, and fuel samples taken from boats were sent away for analysis. Bafflingly the samples were clear - it appears the only indication of contamination is a smell of turps/paint thinners. This is due to any residue in the fuel being so small it is not able to be collected. Engine distributor Barrus also confirmed the samples it sent off were returned with no issues. Over the past four years, RCR has been working to identify solutions to this protracted residue build-up, to prevent it clogging up engine components. RCR engineers have however, seen fuel related call-outs (injectors/pumps/contamination etc) continue to rise and believe it’s directly attributed to sticky fuel related issues. Be in the know • Sticky fuel occurs in all types of engines, anywhere in the country and with boaters using a range of different fuel suppliers; local fuel supply is not the problem. • Do not store fuel for more than six months • Do not store/use fuel treatments for more than a year • Leave your tank empty over winter • If there are issues with the engine running and no clear cause – treat with Winns injector treatment to clear suspected signs of sticky fuel Sticky fuel v contaminated fuel Sticky fuel looks clear, has no signs of contamination, the filters are clean but injectors and injection pumps collect a sticky residue that stops them operating correctly, producing similar symptoms to contaminated fuel. It can also affect other elements such as return lines, filter plungers and lift pumps. Contaminated fuel is typically diesel bug, but also water, rust and debris in the fuel. The fuel will look cloudy and have clear signs of contamination causing filters, pipes and pumps to block, and engines to run rough or cut-out, causing vibration and smoke."

We use that trolley for shopping, it does get some looks in Tesco

I strongly recommend this one. It handles heavy stuff easily and the pneumatic wheels are really the best thing for uneven terrain - they make it so much easier to push/pull over bumps when it's loaded. We've had one for maybe 3 years now and it's still great, just replaced the tyres as they'd worn out but spares are available. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-Folding-Truck-120KG-Yellow-SXWTD-FT520/dp/B01N75Z0WV?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE It's not as small or lightweight as some, but it's so worth it in my view.

We take the cards received last year and cut along the seam, disposing of the back side and leaving us with a blank Christmas postcard to send! I don't think think anyone has had their card returned to them yet.

I just like an excuse to switch on the pretty coloured lights. Maybe it would reassure the oncoming boat where the edge of mine is?

I'm sure I've heard him refer to the situation a few times.

If those kind of advertising leaflet inserts don't work, I doubt so many businesses/ charities would still use them. I'd be inclined to toss too, but lots of people are different to me, so I expect some would pay attention.