Liam

Approaching Castlefield from the south and Potato wharf is on your left immediately before the water/elsan point. After that, with Dukes 92 lock ahead you have the YHA (Staffordshire) arms to your left and the old coal wharf arm to your right.

The Bridgewater Canal Co has had a long running problem on the Bridgewater with enforcement so they have tackled the problem of over stayers in Castlefield with offering them a mooring. This has been on a "winter moorings" (6 months) basis recently at a cost of £250 per month which includes a Bridgewater license. Due to this going reasonably well they have given 6 boats in Castlefield a permanent private mooring. This is in the old coal wharf arm. Bridgewater Canal Co have hinted that if this appears to be popular more moorings may be made available to the point of making the old coal wharf arm private. The toilet block in Castlefield by Potato wharf was closed for a considerable amount of time last year and has now reopened with access limited to these moorers on it's own key (not a Waterways key like all the others). The othet arm near the YHA is a different kettle of fish entirely. These boats were evicted from Potato Wharf when the development began years ago by Urban Splash, with Peel promising they could return once the development was completed. Because of problems with the development (credit crunch or whatever) it's still not been completed and Peel have never put anything down in writing to them regarding the future of their Potato wharf mooring or offering any other spot in the area, so because of that they've remained where they are and Bridgewater Canal Co have turned a blind eye. The enforcement officer, Sonny Smith is also the manager of Preston Brook Marina, along with his wife Gill. He has appeared to have quite an impact on a number of people along the canal, but having not dealt with him myself won't comment any further on it. There is a constant stream of rumour and speculation up and down the canal, most of which I ignore until confirmed by a reliable source. Bridgewater Canal Co are currently in discussions with CRT in changing the reciprocal agreement in that it will be 7 days free of charge as in the past, and where, in the past there has been no restrictions in the return time, it's now being put down to 28 days. This will apply to CRT on BW and BW to CRT and has the IWA's backing. This has been put forward by Bridgewater to stop people hopping up and down Dukes 92 lock constantly, dodging CRT and BW enforcement.

The moorings in Castlefield as mentioned are being sold as winter moorings. However due to the success they are being made permanent private moorings, currently for 6 boats.

Yes but you may have to drop the lid over the back end.

Richard, £2.50 delivered

It's supposed to be enforced by the enforcement officer!

The enforcement officer provided incorrect information unfortunately, there is no mention of any "no return" time frame written down in any canal rules, byelaws, license terms and conditions or user guides. CRT boats are allowed upto 7 consecutive days, and can return at any time. Just like Bridgewater licensed boats are able to spend 7 consecutive days with no return restrictions. Mooring along the whole length of towpath is restricted to 24hrs as mentioned earlier, apart from when signposted such as in Lymm, The Old No 3, Castlefield etc. Liam

Thanks

Thanks both. Would there be any perceivable problems with putting connecting the spill rail to the fuel filter to drop unused fuel back into the system or does it need it's own connection back from the spill rail to the tank? Cheers Liam

As per the above, the spill pipe on my HA2 is weeping at the external joint where the spill pipe connects to the copper pipe which returns fuel to the tank. This is due to a bent nipple on a metal to metal joint not sealing properly. Off the top of your head does anybody know what size and type the thread is? Cheers Liam

The Bridgewater has only 3 residential sites, those are at Preston Brook Marina, Stretford Marina and Bridgewater Marina in Boothstown. The onyl one with available residential berths is Preston Brook Marina and the contact details can be found on the Bridgewater Canal website. http://www.bridgewatercanal.co.uk

Thanks for all the replies so far. I've heard from various sources that the newer Squirrel stoves don't seem to be of the same quality as the older versions. The current stove is 19 years old so you can't grumble at that but I'd rather not go down the route of a replacement Squirrel if it's going to need replacement in a few years. The Boatman stove is a great little stove and my parents have one in their back cabin but for the main cabin a stove with a larger firebox is required. The stoves on the market at the moment for boats seem all to be cast so it looks like steel options are a bit limited. And as far as doors go, a separate ash can door would be preferable but not a necessity. Thanks all

A bargee must have two buckets. And one must not confuse the one which is used to shit in with the one used to wash in.

As in the title, I'm sure the opinions will differ greatly in what people think is the best mild steel stove but just wondering if there's a majority of people who prefer one type of stove. My parents have a Morso Squirrel which was installed on the boat when it was fitted out in 1997 and unfortunately is now showing signs of bulging on the left hand side. I noticed it the other day when lighting but who knows how long its been like that for and also how much longer it may last before "popping". And so on that note I'd like to try and find a suitable replacement for when the time comes. The current stove has a back boiler which heats 2 radiators and also the calorifier and so the new stove will need a back boiler fitted or have the option of being fitted with one? I have thought about the popular Boatman stove but would ideally like a bigger firebox similar to the Squirrel. Thanks in advance for suggestions. Liam.

Are you residential?

Chaining it to piling a short distance from the boat makes sense to me, or a convenient mooring ring if present. But you'd have to be careful that by moving it away from your boat you don't stock it next to somebody elses boat/window/hatch whatever.

I'm sure Greenlaw has been sold, recall seeing it on Chris' (previous owners) Facebook page.

Hi Andy, If you need hosting for the AMModels website, get in touch as I'm sure we can work something out

Have you tried Hesford marine on the Bridgewater near Lymm? A complete DIY yard with lots of facilities for boaters to use. Have you tried Hesford marine on the Bridgewater near Lymm? A complete DIY yard with lots of facilities for boaters to use.

Have the container next to you, use one of your feet to "stand" on the container thereby holding it still with the hose in.

I'll join you Mike, been boating since 1996 and haven't been in yet!

Have a look at the new "Tomlow" stove, built by Steve Priest of Brinklow Boat Services and mostly made of mild steel and so doesn't suffer the problems that you get with a cast equivalent. They are sold through Midland Chandlers.

The fire damage was more than 2/3 years ago. It's been in the same spot just north of Great Haywood marina for at least 5 years that I know of. There's a "back cabin" shape under a tarp but what condition it is in I don't know. It's a lovely looking boat and hopefully progress can be made at some point to bring it back to it's former glory.