CIEL

A town house with mooring on the pontoon out front. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144826232#/?channel=RES_BUY On our private marina off the River Great Ouse a few hundred metres upstream of Eaton Socon Lock. EA navigation. (Takes me a leisurely fortnight to get to Gayton Junction via Middle Level and River Nene.) Floating pontoon hinged against concrete capped piling and part way along so rises safely when River is in flood. Water and power on service bollard. Water is drained down during winter months. No residential boats. Pontoon is 10 metres so will take NB up to 17metre (55') or so (less for widebeam). Green NB in pictures is 36' . Berth is on a lease, with no ground rent, tied to the property, they can't be sold separately. Annual service charge for marina upkeep and berth is £437 this year plus extra for car court and estate upkeep. Residents control the management companies by electing resident directors.

Yeah, good point Tony, I was just singing the praises of the companies. I was having problems with a Beta 35 with Aquadrive, which is nothing to do with the subject of this thread.

Over the years that I have had CIEL I have had excellent service from both TW Marine and Clements Engineering. TW Marine went so far as to let me have the use of their tools, large size spanners/sockets etc. and a berth in their marina whilst I changed drive plate and engine mounts. Clements, who are only just up the road from us spent time in discussing different prop options and provided a really quick turn around on the job whilst the boat was out for blacking.

And me. Caldwells frame was screwed through to battens originally as OP says. Used ordinary ally with steel shank pop rivets after I had successfully found the breaking point of the glass in the window and had to replace it! Was done back in 2007 and I think it was butyl tape I used as well. Do remember some of the holes were very close to the edge of the cut-out in the steel plate. Have had no problems with corrosion or leaks since. Taking up the rivets slowly in turn tended to smoothe out distortion in the steel. Chris

Could well be, I don't claim to be an expert. The memory of the bridge episode brought on a smile or two. Chris

Is that a "Pedro"? Quite popular on the River Great Ouse - there is one at the OVRC in St Neots. We were well entertained, a good few years ago, waiting whilst it was coaxed through the road bridge at Offord Lock on it's delivery trip from Buckden Marina. This is what Jones has on them - https://www.jonesboatyard.co.uk/boat-sales/pedro-30-boats-for-sale.html Chris

There's a problem with the third picture, General Eliott, it's not loading for me.

Agree with everything Scholar Gypsy says plus On the Great Ouse the only lock that might give you a problem is St Ives which is quoted at 10' 11" on this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-great-ouse-bridge-heights-locks-and-facilities#river-great-ouse-locks The downstream approach to the gates is "kinked" which happened when they put strengthening sheet piling in some years ago. You are probably short enough to be able to wriggle thru! Chris

Lived for twenty years from 1975 in South Anston just over the brow of the hill of the road passing the houses in the distance at top middle of first picture. Had many a pint in "The Station"

River Great Ouse at Eaton Socon part of plot that was assumed to be common land by locals (Councillors). Turned out they were wrong! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130802501#/?channel=COM_BUY Only problem is that it is a short way downstream of the weir (and lock) and is regularly flooded half way back to the cricket ground! There were/are half a dozen plots either side of the footbridge this is the last one to be sold.

Clements Engineering is where my prop was fettled. A short taxi ride from Eaton Socon Lock on the River Great Ouse. Or use carriers Phone: +44 (0)1234 378814 Email: sales@clementsmarine.co.uk Clements Engineering Ltd, Unit 120, The Industrial Park, Little Staughton, Bedford. MK44 2BN Chris

This is a panoramic photo on Google Maps showing double gates that appear to be in the South West corner of the property:- https://maps.app.goo.gl/11FvMxZND9AF7EQg7

Yes, I was unsure and debated with myself about it for a while. Being brought up in Yiewsley, Middx. on the Southern Grand Union and started my boating there in late 60s early 70s and subsequently on to Thorne and Yorkshire waterways before returning South and ending up on the River Great Ouse I had to overcome the "it's not traditional" mindset. For this latter environment Great Ouse and tributaries, Middle Levels and Nene it is a great boon shielding against the wide open skies and apart from the ML not too many bridges to worry about. It also works to an extent against fairly heavy rain , intense downpours result in a mist being forced through the fabric. There is no appreciable handling differences in cross winds but there is no protection against horizontal sleet and hail. Also it helps to disguise me as cruiser on the river as I am no bigger than the larger Sheerlines. The plastic brigade try to look down their noses at us steel tubes! I have found no problem in it getting caught coming out through lower gates on narrow locks, although I prefer to work narrow locks with it down as it restricts the ability to see anything going on above head level. Chris

The painting is SWMBOs interpretation of our local water tower! Another pic without all the distractions - this time half way up the Northampton arm.

This mine, has been in use since 2009. As someone has said they are available in different widths, number of hoops and therefore lengths. A couple of bungee cords un hook from the stern rail so dropping is simple and almost instantaneous. Photo taken at Bedford river festival in 2018. ( I do stern to mooring!) Chris

Welcome to the forum. Presumably you bought this one? https://www.boatsforsale.co.uk/boats/motor-boats/inland-cruiser/leisure-line-24-cabin-cruiser-brand-new-canopy-for-sale-118116.html So now the thread has a picture or two to reference and a name. Chris

Yes same here, my semi trad stern has a cover which prevents rain getting in there but between the rudder post and the back doors there is a hinged hatch directly above and just a little larger than the weed hatch. This hatch sits in a steel channel which has a relatively small dia pipe welded in and runs down and out through the side walls. In torrential rain, or if I have not cleared the muck out of the channel, the little drain pipe is overwhelmed, the channel overflows directly down on to the stern gland in the bilge. If you have got that much water/oil down there why has the bilge pump not done it's thing? Chris

To add to your collection of Willow Wren Hire Boats out of Rugby - here is Plover in late July 1967 at Foxton. The water tap is behind the bollard at the entrance to the bottom lock.

Yep, that's what I would have said.

On this day 2012 - Hemingford Meadow River Great Ouse - clouds are just like that now! On this day 2014 on the GU north of Gayton. This day in 2017 - North Oxford just short of Hawkesbury Junction.

On this day in 2011 - L&L down Wigan Flight then Leigh Branch overnight

On this day in 2013. Then at Great Barford in 2016

On this day 2008 River Great Ouse. On this day 2011 L&L

Since 2001 the Bedford Milton Keynes waterway people persuaded the EA to dredge, no I mean reprofile, the gravel bottom to make a channel for their trip boat! I was briefly involved in doing some river bed surveys and measuring the width before they finalised the specs for "John Bunyan". Chris

These Sancerres are very popular on the River Great Ouse - understand they were originally built for the Broads. https://www.jonesboatyard.co.uk/boat-sales/sancerre-33-boat-for-sale-7430.html You may well find a "project" one at the boatyard at Roxton under the A1 trunk road bridge - Kelpie Marine. It seems to have been sitting there for years gradually deteriorating. The name "Starting Ova" comes to mind. 11ft beam and relatively low air draught for 33 ft length. Hydraulic drive. Chris