mykaskin

Not completely related to the question, but note that while my 28x16 was perfect on Victoria unloaded, it was too overpropped for loaded work and towing. It's now 27x16 and spot on, though still too big in diameter as it chews through the crud on the bottom of the canal too often. Remember that an inch on the diameter is worth around 200 rpm, and two inches on the pitch. Also, a lot of prop calculators are designed for deep water, and not canal use, or leisure use, where over propping to reduce revs has it's advantages. Mike

Royalties were built to 6'11" wide, 4'11.75" hull sides, with a distance of 3'3" (1m) from Uxter to skeg. 71.5 ft long nominally though I've not actually measures that on Vicky. JP2 's are easy to start by hand due to the large flywheel. I've started and actually worked on Duke's JP and it works fine. Also has a 'string' start! Goes very nicely, with huge cabin height, but only Center doors for main cabin.

Hi Folks, A video of yesterdays fun and games getting the Danny up a rather shallow bit of the Weaver: Cheers, Mike

Apologies for the sound, my JP was quite a bit more noisey than the 5L2...

A sad day for all. It was probably the Jam Ole Run in 2004 that I first met him, and caught up with him now and again as I could. You could alway tell his passion for the canals, and enjoyed telling stories and techniques about how it was. Glad to have met the man, and boated with him too. Here is a video I did from 2006 of him and Fabian Hiscock giving a group an experience on the Narrowboat Trust pair: May your memory live on. Rest in peace David. Mike

I've just uploaded the fun filled opening of Town Lock back in 1996. We needed the police in attendance, as the then owner of the house next to lock was against the restoration and tried to claim the lock side as part of his garden! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HwGbPmKqSflC8T7jAzl9PGGkJDXEIMw Enjoy, Mike

Hi all, Had a nice day in Driffield on Sunday with the Driffield Navigation Amenities Association: Cheers, Mike

I find Vicky's man enough

You might want to check this one out too! Mike

A cleaner version of the Canal Life 1960's: Good find on the BCN film. Mike

When 200+ narrowboats descend on the Manchester Ship Canal chaos and fun ensues! First the fleet assemble from Liverpool and Ellesmere Port before running in convoy with two ex-Manchester Ship Canal Tugs and Chris Coburn fresh from a sea journey around Wales! This was for the 1998 Salford Quays national. Note, at this time the Anderton Boat Lift was out of action, and so the only way to get on the Weaver was from the Ship Canal. Some people may have seen this before as I've cleaned up an old Holiday video that I'd previously uploaded. Crossing the Mersey: Up the Ship Canal Enjoy, Mike

Thats Rose of Yorkshire following behind (yellow cabin), and I was onboard, with my sister and parents, aged nearly 6!

I was 'that boat behind' and perhaps the original poster won't see this as he obviously has some problems with a serious and sedate conversation due to the daily problems of boating. First off, I'd like to set some truths in the situations and locations. I first met the boat in question while I was waiting for my delivery next to the water point near the Ash Tree. If I saw him the previous day, I don't recall. He went past the water point, and then decided to reverse back to it (bumping my boat and causing a following boat to stop after coming around the bend from the bridge). Eventually my gas turned up, loaded, and as I went to pay the calorman the OP decided to set off again. By the time I dropped my lines I could see I was going to catch them up shortly, and did so as I passed the Plum Tree. The tunnel/narrows there isn't a first come first served tunnel, if there is a boat in it coming the opposite direction you let it through, but even though there was a boat waiting at the other end (didn't know that BTW, you can't see) I continued to follow the OP into the narrows as normal operation dictates. The OP had several places he could have pulled into the bank safely and easily but decided not to do so. I followed at about 70-90 foot, about my stopping distance at tick-over but we were going faster, maybe about 3.4 mph. A boat came the other direction in the narrow section before the sharp turn before Armitage Shanks, and the OP went to close to the bank hitting the bottom. He slammed it in reverse, and not having the space to maneuver due to the oncoming boat shouted for him to keep going. It's hard to communicate verbally over distance without it sounding angry, but if I swore I didn't mean too, and at worse would have been a 'bloody' just to push home how important it was otherwise I'd bump the boat up the backside. He obviously heard, and started moving forwards again. I wasn't expecting to be able to overtake until reaching the deeper and wider bit near Shank's, so hung back. However the OP cut the corning into the bridge, and went straight on. I couldn't see that he hadn't made the corner, and again he was in reverse. Again I shouted, probably very likely with swear words this time, as I was already committed to going around the outside of the bend, and going astern would beach me on the shallow hard bottom on the outside of the bend. I continued my corner, and the OP put power on to complete the turn and move out of my way. He pulled over once through the bridge, and I shouted (as it's all you can do to communicate over engines) that none of this would have happened if he'd let me in front when he first noticed me, and not to bloody cut corners especially into blind bridge holes (as seems to be the want these days). People, please line up for bridges as soon as possible to make it far easier to get through, and even more important to get a good sightline! I stopped to do diesel to a boat at Kings Bromley, and the OP passed again. I caught him back up at Wood End, as there is a paddle out queues were building quickly. I had lunch while waiting, but it seemed like there was no rush from anyone and went back to the lock to get it ready for myself. The OP left the lock, and I lifted the single gate paddle expecting the people from that boat to pull the gates shut. I had walked down to the other end of the lock before they made a move, but were quite happy to shout and scream that this CRT lady was counting boats for water usage, I explained that water was quite happily running down the bywash, and it would speed things up as the queue was now 4 boats, with room for two on the moorings as someone else decided it would be a good place to moor up. The gates did not bang about as the flow was not great, though appeared impressive from the gate. Again, if I swore I apologise, but you really didn't help matters at all. Mike

I'm up in Brum this weekend heading for the Black Country Living Museum:

Richard still owns it, and it occasionally gets moved about as he gets work for it. I'm not sure if he has a permanent mooring for it or where if so. Mike

Thought people might be interested in this unique setup on the Marple locks: Separate tunnels for both horse and boatman, seems a little too much, but perhaps it's because the bridge had been widened in years past? Cheers, Mike

It used to have a R6, but Tim replaced it with a 4LW to provide more cabin space. Here is a video of Kennet under Tim's command around Liverpool Docks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qah2uG7IoWc

Hi Folks, Thought some might be interested in this old video I recently put up on youtube of a Paddlewheel narrowboat leaving Denham Deep Lock. It's normally moored just above Uxbridge Lock - first time I've seen this one moving, but of course seen Jethro Tull many a time splashing along. Cheers, Mike

I use Adobe Premiere Elements for editing. Cheers.

Hi Folks, I've put together a little video of a part of my trip to the North East in 2014. It covers Boston (including a trip up the stump), the lower tidal trent, including the Keadby Road and Railway bridge, and the Vazon sliding bridge (with added trains for good measure!). Enjoy, Mike

It was a good fit, not loads of room but enough. Of course one end looses 5 or so foot because of the original deck - that's where the pumps stand.

...it's even more weird when you are trying to make it sink. Have a watch of this video of Brinklow Boat Services floating dry dock flooding: Cheers, Mike

I'm guessing there is a slight delay between the fuel being injected and it igniting. The extra heat will make it ignite quicker. I'm not sure how timing is set (can't be bothered to look at the book), but I assume it's just before TDC. Mike

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02126sx/episodes/player is the series, but I think it's disapearing off iplayer so I guess it was a while ago.

Some canal shots from 1963, includes boats moored at Stoke Bruerne, Horse boating, BWB tugs on the Regents at Islington, and Waterbus Zoo trips from Little Venice. It also includes a shot of Three Bridges, Hanwell.