Liam

Just did a google on "Friends of the working boats"... http://www.nb-president.org.uk/ Talking about President & Kildare.. did anybody catch Fred Dibnah on TV last night? He was at the Black Country Museum.. although I'm sure it's been on before.

Possibly.. but even when they give way, they don't acknowledge my thanks etc. I'm putting it down to ignorance - they don't know any better.

Richard, What's the length of your boat, what engine, gearbox and prop (size) do you have?

Didn't quite get that?

The Bridgewater may be wide and deep but it doesn't mean you don't have to slow down when passing a boat. I've got a mooring on the Bridgewater and feel very strongly about slowing down for other boats. I always do so I would expect people to slow down whilst passing me. This is obviously not the case - I was last out over the bank holiday moored up in a popular spot with lots of other boats and the hire boats, time shares and the private boats all continued to whiz past. I do normally ask people very nicely if they could slow down but I shouldn't have to, I get tired of being ignored and being abused so I just let them get on with it. There's a few cruising clubs along the bridgewater that have been very suitable renamed flying/speeding clubs. I think it would be a good idea to keep some sort of list in the back of the log book or something of all the local speeders. Fly past them the same way they fly past us and see how they like it. Going off subject a bit here, but not off topic... How many people do you actually let on to whilst passing other boats. And how many people let onto you? People used to slow down whilst passing and give you a smile or a wave, now they just throttle past you and either don't look in your direction or stare straight through you. It's the way I see it - not sure how you lot see it.

If the system is congested Onionbargee, why don't you get your boat off the cut and make room for others

If it wasn't for the working boats, you wouldn't have a canal to cruise on.

You have gone way over the top. When you use the boat to open lock gates all you're doing is damaing both the gates and the boat. I put paint on my boat for a purpose, if you want to scrape it off, that's fine but I'd prefer it if you didn't damage the gates while you were at it. Also, we all are supposed to close gates. This conserves water and it's always a pain if you have to close the gates and drop the paddes before you can set the lock. I agree with you about new boats not sharing locks, after all it is a contact sport, but I don't agree with you when you say they don't open the gate paddles. Your boat must be battered to hell and always flooded.

It better brighten up later - we're having a BBQ for my 20th bday lol.

Bit nosey aren't we? I won't say anything yet - it's upto Jon to do that

Jon, Sure thing. I'm away in 10 mins and I'll return on Monday night - Just drop me a PM or alternatively, if you have MSN, add me.. my MSN address is in my profile

The bottom lock on the Middlewhich 3 has a weir which is normally okay but it had been raining heavily and it's right across the lock entrance. 4 boats went up the lock before me, all friends so we had plenty of fun all laughing at each other. When it was my turn I went for it, and with only having a very slow revving single cylinder engine it took me a while to pick up enough revs and speed to keep a heading. I did, however, manage to get into the lock without touching the sides - all the others did - and one even went in at 45 degrees. What a bang.

Jon, It doesn't have to go! Remember, my offer still stands

I've pulled a fair few decent fish out of the cut, so have my friends who have boats.

I think piling hooks are more towpath friendly

I sometimes cycle from home to the boat which takes around 30 minutes. Along the way I pass some moorings. Even though the bank is about 20 feet wide here, I always get off and walk, pushing my bike. One day, I did the usual thing and dismounted way before I hit the moorings. A bloody little rat of a dog jumped off the boat, went straight for me and ripped a big hole, about 4 inches square out of my pants. If I would of caught the little sh*t I would of chucked it into the cut, but collecting myself and checking if it had broken the skin (which it hadn't) I made my way to the boat and gently knocked on and asked if he owned the dog which was by now lying down on the bank again. I was greeted by a rather scruffy man, so I told him my story, about how I was walking along minding my own business and told him what had happened - showed him the big rip in my pants on my calf too. He basically said that it was against the rules that I should be riding down the towpath on my bike and I deserved what I got. We argued for a while and I left it with something like.. I have your reg number and boat name and I'm going to report you and if your dog does anything like it has done to me, I'll drop kick it into the cut. Don't get me wrong, I am actually a dog lover.

Martin, There's a boat that's the spitting image of yours up on the Bridgewater Canal at Stockton Heath. It's called The Wizard - a boat specially adapted for disabled people which is used by about 2,000 people each year.

If there isn't a leak of course. There's no events in that area is there? They could of all been away attending it.

Very difficult for a post like this to stay on topic Jon, as it's a very varied subject, and one that we can go into great deal about discussing and what not - but I agree with you that it needs to stay within the lines..