mykaskin

It was plenty deep enough in 2011 for fully loaded boats on the offside, probably better now that the gravel barges aren't pushing it all up the side. Mike

Ah, but if you're in a boat you can go upstream!

I think, but don't know but there seems to be some water control at the end of the arm - I'm guessing there is a weir to hold a level higher than the canal allowing some feed - however it was probably important not to limit the flow, or normally mix the waters maybe even, on the stream for people who used the water downstream...

Wonder no more:

If I've not got my rally's mixed up - it was at Brentford that there were some large 'dinner plate' plaques, and my Dad bought one - don't think I've a picture of it however. There was also a ring plaque to go around the IWA one for people who did the London ring!

Hi Folks, I've had the chance to edit together some video recorded from the 1995 Jam Ole run. It's proper Bolinder porn as Captain Ron Whithey gives it plenty of beans, and of course Trevor Maggs can be seen with Corona. It's two hours long, but worth watching through as you can really see how the canal has changed over the last years. Watch here: YouTube Link Cheers, Mike

A flight up a flight! Enjoy the views over Marsworth locks, and reservoirs. https://youtu.be/72OPhBfo5hQ Cheers, Mike

I think it's Lenny (as in Little Lenny). The engine is something like a 2.2 litre 4 pot modern lump, generating in the region of 50-60 HP. The boat is all swim, and looks like two backends of a square sturned narrowboat back to back under water. I also think that Paul wasn't using the overload pawl...

Hi all, I've been out with my camera again, and filmed some of the events at the Ricky Fest, a nice friendly playlist with all my videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HwGbPmKqSfEiY2pLCXq7ZA7vRTavYiw Cheers, Mike

This picture also shows my parents boat Rose of Yorkshire following behind. Is it OK if I put it up on my Facebook page please Laurence? That will surprise my Dad!

Hi Guys, A little video of views over Ellesmere Port. I didn't want to get too close due to the general public being on site. Cheers, Mike

A videos from my time working on tugs at great haywood. Just some random moments really: Smaller the boat, greater the fun - so just imagine the fun you can have in a canal tug boat! I happened to be involved with dredging operations at Great Haywood in early 2015. While I was there, I did some filming of the operations. Some of it is a bit shaky as I was concentrating on steering rather than filming! Two tugs were employed on the job. Plover had an ex-Genset HRW3 in her. Thor was IIRC powered by a 3-pot Perkins. The crashing about in ice was the only way to get the flat fronted tug through the thick ice. By setting up a wave ahead to break it first, and then using the bow wave to break the ice into smaller manageable bits. It was a bit rough and ready, but did the job.

A little taste of winter boating: In other news, the Tring summit was well watered, and after a bit of filling had plenty of water down the flight. Even had plenty of water through Berko for a change.

Well, after to speaking with Trevor this weekend about the incident, it went like this. His mate, Nick got off at the junction and went ahead to get the lock ready, Trevor found the top gates still closed, but as he was about to pull in they opened. He navigated in, but had more pace than he had thought (mentioned it's not always easy to judge speed by looking forwards, and looking sideways might be a better way). The boat didn't stop in time, and as I suspected he was wanting to trap the fore-end in the gates so as not to loose it, hence the late breaking. Nothing unusual, just one of them day to day mistakes people make when boating. Cheers, Mike

I've done it with my Dad's 50ft boat before now, but it's not so problematic to stop it where you want!

The audio was recorded from the Ipad I was using to control the drone on top of my slide - the video from the drone is silence. Careful editing adjusting volume level has made it sound like it's at distance when the drone view was. The original audio sounds just like this video for example: Cheers, Mike

Hours of my JP on my other videos - please enjoy to hearts content.

It appears people driving historic boats can't now make mistakes. I occasionally (some might say often) make a mistake, misjudge the stopping distance, or have problems with stuff around the blade or shallow water. It happens to everybody, young or old. When it comes to hitting infrastructure, you will notice that in places where it might happen (or even designed to happen) there are metal plates which spread the load across the gate. The gates in this instance are under several tonnes of pressure already, so a shock load of a boat hitting doesn't do any damage other than perhaps superficial. When entering a lock with a full length working boat, it is usually advisable to place the fore-end on the gates to hold it in place while a second boat joins. Where it is windy, with an unloaded boat it can be difficult, and might result in the need to bring the boat in faster. A light touch of the gate is preferred as then it doesn't spring the back end out again, but this isn't always easy to do. Strapping in with ropes is not always possible due to removal of correct lock infrastructure, so we have to do our best with what is available. I've been through several lines because of poor positioning of ladders, bollards, and getting it trapped on concrete and wooden posts. Using the engine to stop the boat usually results in being in the middle of the lock due to the amount of water needing to be moved. A problem not normally found with modern light and highly responsive and powerful vessels, now found on the canal. Trevor has run his boat commercially since the late 1960's first delivering loose coal (bagging on the way), and then once full time coal boaters appeared providing bulk moving services. He had a commercial licence until recently where it was un-economic to continue. In the picture above he was carrying a load up to Braunston for Hills and Sons for transfer to a coal boat, I believe he didn't charge for it. If it wasn't Trevor steering, then someone unfamiliar with the boat made a mistake, if it was Trevor, then he just made a mistake. Case closed.

A trip from Bourne End, to just shy of Marlow from the air. Cheers, Mike

It is possible that the bottom end of the river is a free navigation, and there is free access from the Mersey to the river, but I haven't found any information online about it yet. I do know that the Manchester Ship Canal is responsible for keeping at navigable depth on the river (after it removed the tides that would have kept it clear), but have reneged on this.

Hi Guys, Some videos from the air of boats on the Weaver:

I'm not sure they can do this as I believe the Aire and Calder Navigation have a right to access to the river - presumably written into the Act of Parliament. Mike

Been done - Dusty and Merchant both modern boats. Both look like new boats, and not historic ones, and presumably drive like new boats too. Where would be the fun in that.

I'll be that way on the 12/13th August if it helps.