JoeC

CRT sent an email out about this ... From: Canal & River Trust [mailto:energygranthelp@canalrivertrust.org.uk] Sent: 08 September 2023 18:00 Subject: Energy support voucher - redemption error message Continuous cruisers voucher redemption error message Hello, Whilst many users have successfully redeemed their vouchers without any problems, we are aware that some recipients have experienced an issue when attempting to redeem their voucher via online banking, and received an error message at the end of the process. You can re-attempt this payment by using the original link again, but if the voucher now shows as "This payment has no balance or has expired" your payment is not affected. You will receive your payment into your designated account within one working day (i.e. excluding weekends). If you have received this error message, please first check your bank account to see if you have received the payment. If you have not received the payment by one working day from when you attempted to redeem the voucher, please contact ebssaf-cc@energysecurity.gov.uk as soon as possible. If you have already contacted ebssaf-cc@energysecurity.gov.uk on this issue (before one working day has elapsed), please regard this email as a response to your query. We will follow up with you if you experience any further issues. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by receiving this error message. We are working with our supplier to ensure all payments are made promptly so you can access your funds. We are aware that people have experienced difficulties in redemption where their vouchers do not match the name on their bank account. Please can we remind continuous cruisers that the name details provided to the Trust for licencing need to match their bank account, and if this is not currently the case, that they should update the details the Trust hold urgently. Voucher redemption explainer For those unsure about the redemption process, you will find a step-by-step guide online on how to redeem your voucher online. For any issues or assistance on voucher redemption not covered by this guide, please contact ebssaf-cc@energysecurity.gov.uk as soon as possible. Fraud and scam prevention The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero are aware that some individuals may have received a fraudulent email asking individuals to send their personal information via email, such as name, date of birth, bank account and card details to claim their energy bills support. If you receive a communication, allegedly from the government, asking you to provide your card, bank account, or other personal details, in order to receive the payment, it is a scam. There are currently no government energy affordability schemes running that require you to make an application. Please treat these emails as scams and do not respond. Canal & River Trust

Just read this posting - sorry I could not help.

What is the best way to fill a greaser? I need to fill mine for the first time soon. I have a tub of grease with no plate and hole in the top of it to push the plunger down onto to fill. I was going to use a spoon to top it up.

I asked CRT why their online maps do not show all winding holes. The response was that not all winding holes are 'official' CRT ones and as such they cannot put these on their online maps. However, they did say to please continue to make them aware of missing ones or any other missing services on their maps using their online map correction tool located here ... Customer Service Facility - Map Updates (jotformeu.com)

Have applied some Polytrol to one side of my boat. I have a mainly red coloured boat and the sun's UV has got to it since it was painted by the previous owners in 2017 and, although I have used polish on it previously, I thought it could look a bit better. The pictures below are of the same area before applying the Polytrol and after application using a cloth. I did not use a cloth to rub it off after 15 or so minutes and was left slight streaks but nothing major. The weather was hot, my arms were aching and I could not be bothered to polish it off. No comments on my stance nor of the banana growing out of my hand! PS I also gave the bow a coating. As I was wearing shorts and no gloves when clambering onto it applying Polytrol I think the grease/sweat from hands and knees were left behind as it now has marks all over it. I have given it a second coating today so will see what happens. Two more pictures showing areas pre and post use of Owatrol Polytrol.

I think with Milton you can use the tank without rinsing once you have put the tablet/liquid in the water and then drained it off. Other brands you then have to rinse the tank once or twice. But as GUMPY says, it does leave an aroma albeit still drinkable. Think baby bottles etc. - you leave them to soak and then use them straight out of the Milton dilution.

Copy of a Facebook posting from Venetian Hire Boats and Chandlery on the Middlewich Canal. 'To all my Fabulous customers, guest and Friends I want to say a heartfelt thank you for all your support over the last few years and to let you know that, with a heavy heart, some tears and not through my own choice, that Venetian Hireboats and Chandlery will no longer be trading as such from Venetian Marina. We will be here until end of October but I hope to see some of you around the canal system. Thank you all once again'. Their lease has been terminated but it does not state why. Sue and the team were always polite and very helpful.

I bought some Polytrol for my boat but instructions say to wash it and leave it to dry for 12 hours before applying Polytrol. The washing I can do but the dry bit is not gonna happen here in the Peak District as the rain is just so intermittent on/off! Gonna have to watch the weather forecast and do some planning.

I think something has to be at least 40 years old to be vintage - if that helps 😉

I used Bullet 365 and it was a lot of effort and lasted not even a handful of months. Won't use it again.

I know a couple of people who have had zip out windows on their canopies (not necessarily Titan) and said that they are pain to zip in. Wish they had gone for the clips that twist - don't know their proper name.

I was speaking to a CRT person last Wednesday in Bugsworth Basin on the Peak Forest Canal and he mentioned that the basin is now managed by CRT as the Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust closed/stopped/folded in December and he does not know why. The BBHT website is still active but does not mention anything about it being no more. Has anybody heard anything about this? Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust Cheers Joe

Nav Light ... as mentioned earlier you just undo the three screws and carefully prise the light off the boat. Mine had a gasket around it so be careful. I also changed the bulbs to LED but cannot remember the model number - sorry. I happened to be moored next to a Midland Chandler shop at the time and they had the LED bulbs as standard stock but presume you can get them off the net etc.

The trouble with all of these paints is that they are suitable for wood stoves but mine is made of metal.

White paint has no colour pigment so this product would not improve the looks of your cream paint. The blurb on the Owatrol site mentions this.

I'll let you be the guinea pig then!

I have not asked a shop or dealer but as I don't have a gelcoat on my boat I was thinking Polytrol.

I'm just got on the other side and happy to be locked in for a while. If the bridge is going to be OOA for a good while then hoping they may relax the 48hr mooring in Bugsworth Basin as there is only so many times that you can cruise from there to the winding hole in New Mills!

I was thinking of using Owatrol Polytrol rather than the Gel Coat restorer version on my narrowboat. The sun's UV has got to the red paint and it has faded. Polytrol | Colour restorer for faded surfaces | Owatrol Direct

If you are near Whaley Bridge then call the wood yard below - they are opposite the Transhipment building road entrance. I spoke to them about a year ago and they can get Buffalo / Hexagrip in for you. They can also cut it to size.

If anybody uses the CRT map and finds things wrong or missing stuff then please use the CRT Map Correction form to let them know. Thanks. Customer Service Facility - Map Updates (jotformeu.com)

Another provider of EE is Utility Warehouse - currently £20 per month. Additional sims at £13. Not as cheap as some other companies mentioned here but another option for you. Mobile from UW

I had an RCR engineer service my engine and he was quite happy for me to do it and him watch and tell me what to do. I did not take him up on this but watched him do it to learn that way. Next service I will do myself.

A boater told me that he used this on his PVC covers to them supple. Autoglym | Bumper & Trim Gel

Thought I would give an update as it may help others. I drained the flush water out of the system (still coming out blue) and I'm still getting about 15 litres out. As people have mentioned there could be a mixture of reasons why no more water is coming out - pipes not fully downward pointing to the drain point, bow end where the drain plug is being higher than the back of the boat, fresh water tank not full so bow sticks upwards, small bore pipes, calorifier laying horizontally and many more. I think there is a 'drain' mode in the Webasto via engineer tools and software (which I don't have) which would give a full drain but I'm OK with the way I'm doing it, albeit taking longer to do but I have the time. I will do one more flush and then take radiators off as I also want to put foil behind them so the heat goes into the boat and not into the canal. Then I will fill with anti-freeze and deionised water and call it a day. Hope this helps others.