mykaskin

Have you ever wondered how to climb over the Anderton Boat lift without getting into bother? Well, now you can, with a great and informative tour at the top of one of the great canal icons. See https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/museums-and-attractions/anderton-boat-lift/top-of-the-world-tour for more info. However, if you don't like heights, or can't wait, here is a video showing the fun to be had: Enjoy, Mike

Last Thursday's trip to the Trout Inn, Wansford, for the DNAA Christmas lunch. Enjoy, Mike

You have to remember that a lot more water was coming down the rivers in those days, so there would be quite a rise on the river even without the locks. I assume the flash locks were placed downstream of shallow shoals, so would only raise a couple of foot, especially as once opened the upper level would drop, and lower level increase. Mike

One of the main reason he would be using the back end line is that most of the strapping posts suitable for use off the dollies or anser have vanished, so normally not worth the risk... I know strapping on the gate is common on narrow locks, but I've never seen anyone really use it on the wide canals - however I often use lines to shut gates when single handing. Mike

Yeah, could have been. Not sure of the date of recording, and that year I went up and down that stretch quite a bit...

Hi Folks, In case you are missing your boating fix in these dark and cold days, here's a video I made, aboard Victoria, last summer boating up the North Oxford: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOsv7Vu2A6U Hope you enjoy, Mike

It was common once to see (and hear) pairs of boats coming up and down the Marsworth Flight. The Bollinder's single hot bulb engines in the early motor boats needed to be reversed to give any braking effort. Since sometimes the engine would go out on the change, especially when running cold in locks, it was a wiser choice to strap the boats in. Often even boats with gearboxes would use this method as it's quicker, and gets the steerer on the side of the lock where they need to be.

Driffield Navigation the other side of Brigham Bridge is fairly quiet. Perhaps 50 boats a year on a good year!

Highline at Northolt have smokeless, though only open certain days.

While sound rather daft to say why not open both gates, on some stop locks that is indeed possible. Not so much with the Hall Green one as the difference is too large.

Several acts where created to improve river navigations, so I assume this allows charges to be levied on boats using them. May be its because the boat in question isn't actually using the navigation (I have no knowledge of the basis of this case), though one could then argue that the river weirs are maintained for navigation allowing the vessel to be safe on the river.

Lock wheeling is a real bugbear for me. Few people seem to do it when they should, and when they do, they tend not to do it incorrectly. Some rules in no particular order: - Working down hill 1. ideally the next lock should be filling before bottom paddles are drawn. Especially important on short pounds as the excess water can cause other issues, see next rule. 2. When following a boat down hill on canals where excess water goes through the lock - the Grand Junction for example - do not start emptying your lock until at least the bottom gates are open on the next as the excess water runs into the lock making it hard or impossible to open them. You have nowhere to go once you're through as you will have to wait for the lock to refill. 3. Don't set too far ahead, remember that if you are setting even only two locks ahead that you need to know if there is a boat two locks below coming up that could have used that empty lock. If locks are full from an up hill boat, you don't need to go any further than one lock ahead. - working up hill 1. Never work more than 1 lock ahead, see rule 1 above for reasons. 2. Not normally a problem with engined boats on a shallow draft, but when following another boat up hill, it's best not to start filling your lock until the boat ahead is in theirs. Very important for loaded boats who need every inch of water. - any lock wheeling 1. Where possible have good comes with the boat so you can let them know a boat is coming down so they can leave the gate open. - any lock working 1. Check other boats can't use the turning lock first, and if turning a lock on someone make sure you can get your boat in and at least emptying before they need to use the lock if water isn't an issue. I've had locks turned and then ended up waiting for them to get their boat to the lock! 2. If gates are open check someone else hasn't set ahead and gone back to the previous lock or to get their boat. 3. When leaving a mooring near a lock flight, send someone ahead to get the lock ready rather than motoring up to the bottom of the lock with all crew aboard. That's just good sense. - duel locks (Cheshire Locks, Hilmorton, Brentford) 1. It's nice to help others by doing the lock wheeling for them, or by helping boats in front by closing gates. Normally however don't help to the point that you are hindering your own boats progress as in some cases when you get a single lock they are then waiting for you to get through it. - any lock 1. If you are the lock wheeler or just a boat that's caught someone else up. Offer to do the current lock so the crew can already be aboard when the boat leaves or frees them up to send someone ahead - this normally needs to be suggested as most never think to go ahead themselves. Closing gates is particularly helpful for a single hander, so if you see someone ahead let them know to leave the gates open and then you can shut up after them when you're lock wheeling ahead. probably missed a few things there. But I think I've got the basics.

Haha I like it, wish I'd thought of that! I managed to spell Thriller twice in the YouTube text wrong, but at least I got it right on the video itself!

Could have been an awesome duet: https://youtu.be/ZB0Dozg-SOw Publish and be damned, but where?! I picked only dry bits to play, and the tunnel was empty so you couldn't hear the drone of an engine! I had to keep starting the engine to get a little speed up, then stop, get it nicely running the side, then start playing again! Or try this link here! Mike

Trick or Treat?

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