CIEL

Didn't The Swan at Fradley have a machine for clients to use at one time - seem to remember making use of it a few years back? We used to have the Aylesbury boat club list with us it proved to be a good investment. Chris

The width for Cardington Lock is given as 3.15m on this EA map https://www.visitanglianwaterways.org/maps But I understand that the real problem is that the lock is banana shaped and so this represents the useable width. Doesn't affect CIEL as we are normal "narrow" boat. However, if Bridge Boats say the Elysian won't get through I wouldn't question them as they have been around long enough to be absolutely certain. Chris

The marina section is a very small part of the operation. This affects the camping grounds the "pods" and all the park home areas of the site. We were not impressed with the marina facilities latterly either. We only ever stopped off there long enough to do our washing in the laundromat. (Or pick up fish and chips from the on site concession) (Our boat was fitted out by Eastern Caravans and Narrowboats who fitted the fleet of hire boats that used to operate out of there.) Chris

That's exactly my set up. It's been that way on both of the boats I've had since 2001. A word of caution is to make sure you allow enough cable for when you open the hatch! DAMHIK. Chris

Tel: 01442 872985 try Hemel Marina/Dry Dock - they might have on the spot info. Chris

Whilst talking of the River Great Ouse, West View Marina at Earith might be an option. Lock free access to/from The Wash and across to Boston on the Nene. Access by road might be tight as there is a tight bend in the track from road to hard standing area. Crane is rated at 32 tonnes. https://www.westviewmarina.co.uk/ I have no connection other than being a satisfied customer with my 36ft narrow beam. Chris

The reference to Pisces in the Wyvern topic brought back memories from my yuuf. In my late teens I seem to remember being "volunteered" to help work on the boat as it was being prepared for use by Hillingdon. The involvement was probably either through the Methodist Church Youth Club in Yiewsley or the 1st Stockley Scout Group, can't remember which. The "work" involved cleaning, rubbing down and painting which I was not too enamoured with. The association with the boat didn't last very long as at that time I had no interest in the canal which had always "just been there" as I grew up. I had no further direct connection with Pisces after that. It was only after joining a group of youth leaders from another church in 1967 for a week on a hire boat from Willow Wren at Rugby (see my avatar) where I met the girl who was to become my wife in 1969 that won me over. In 1971 we bought a 17ft 6 Shetland based at Iver boat yard and then Denham Yacht Station. All distant memories now. Chris A picture of Pisces from the Hillingdon NarrowBoats Association can be found here: https://hillingdon-narrowboats.org.uk/index.php/en/about-us/history.html

Is that the same Pisces that became the Hillingdon Borough Community Youth boat?

It's one of our regular stops. Off topic - what is the status of the five mile from anywhere? Last I know is it was up for sale. Another of our regulars going out and back. Chris

Don't ask! Moral, don't leave lightweight stuff on pontoon in gusty weather, it wasn't going to be for long! It travelled a long way once underwater and required two boathooks taped together. Chris

It was 12th July 2011 according to my abbreviated log. West Stockwith to Thorne, 8 hrs cruising (1611.4 on the engine hour counter), 23.7 miles over the ground and 3 locks. Chris

I think it must have been Victoria Plum we watched being put into it's end on mooring at Stanilands Marina at Thorne Lock back in 2011 or 12. A younger relative was stood on the roof in the middle using the remote control - gave him excellent all round vision and he didn't touch the boats to either side. Chris

I just assumed that they had been over zealous with the varnishing! With the resultant crinkle effect where it got a little warm. Chris

My 1950s Ford Pop - E93A (?). Had a DIY job of blanking plate on the radiator with a 6" dia hose running back into the footwell, might have had a fan as well. Front screen heater was an mini electric bar heater on suction cups, Rear screen heater was a stick on jobby. I remember a wooden clothes peg was an essential piece of kit but not sure what for!

Don't know where this picture went.

We shared Naburn Lock with Syntan 24th July 2011

Yes the EA have subcontractors who hand pick from a dinghy twice a year. Although this year on the first trip they were using a spray as well for the first time that I have noticed. Cheerful bunch of guys up for a bit of banter! There seems to be more of a problem on the River Cam where the EA have not kept on top of it below the Cam Conservators jurisdiction. Chris

Does the Spalding Water Taxi count for a forty minute trip? Not sure how far up the River Welland it is. https://www.spaldingwatertaxi.co.uk/ Chris

But Ciel is a 36 ft narrowboat and the on board supplies were running low towards the end of our boys weekend away. So it happened.

Have, over the twenty two years that I have been on the River Great Ouse system, fairly regularly deployed the anchor when a suitable bankside mooring has not been available or wanted to moor "stern on". The only "emergency" I can recall was when there was no mooring space at "The Anchor" at Great Barford. Had to anchor out of the navigation channel just down stream of the road bridge and use the tender in order to get to the bar! It was fortunate that we (son-in-law, grandson and self) had thought to take the dinghy along. Given that the Great Ouse is fairly gentle it is no big deal to stop for lunch or to sit and watch a King fisher at it's nest or something else that warrants dallying a while. Ciel is 36 ft and it's predecessor in the early years was a 25 ft Spirecraft. The only test that the danforth has really had was when I joined a group of cruisers anchored for lunch in the weir pool at Brampton weir. It must have held, motored up close to the weir, dropped the anchor and chain then paid (?) out the warp as I drifted back to the (GRP) river cruisers. In that position the ground was scoured packed gravel. No problem recovering either, motored slowly toward the anchor taking in the warp and chain and then holding position while lifting the anchor vertically. Does require crew at the tiller who knows what they are doing. Chris

Yes, that's my preferred method with a piece of dowel notched at every inch between full and nearly empty. Chris

I don't think I have bought any. The oldest cast one was found in the yard where my "project" boat was acquired in 1975. The alloy casting someone gave me, don't use it much, the green one was picked up, the cast one with a plastic handle came from a mate who left it behind and couldn't be bothered to fetch it. The Great Ouse/Middle level with the plastic handle was given to me for doing someone a favour and the last one was spotted at the bottom of a lock and retrieved with the magnet. I have lost a couple as well along the way.

Just had a tidy of one of the lockers on the back deck when I remembered that someone recently discussed how many lock windlasses they had. I seem to be a collector and I expect if I really looked I might find a couple more. The Sea searcher magnet was only responsible for the white one. The green one was found in the long grass beside a lock and looks home made. How many have you got? Chris

There was a short-lived hire company - Admiral Line - based in the Packet Boat Lane stabling area now known as The Turning Point at Cowley on the GU, late 1960s early 70s. They built and fitted there own hire craft from very thin (by today's standards) steel. Probably 3/16ths with a very shallow V hull with two fin keels to retain directional stability as they had very little draught. The other innovation was that the power plants were BMC A series converted to LPG and driving an outdrive similar to the Enfield. The engine, outdrive and gas bottles were in a separate self contained flat bottomed tank that floated up to and was bolted to the accommodation module. So on turnaround days if an engine needed attention the tank was unbolted and a spare attached. I put an air-cooled twin lister, SR2 maybe, in with power take off on the camshaft to a heavy duty chain and toothed gear arrangement to drive initially an Outjet unit - not a success- so replaced the Outjet with an Enfield leg. Some more pics.

OK deal done and Paloma has gone to a new home. Pictures of it and the original project. Chris