mykaskin

The Driffield Navigation while purported to be a 62 foot long navigation is somewhat more generous on length than Bradshaws suggests: Victoria, 72 ft 6 in, in Snakeholme Lock, near Wansford. 68 foot keel I think would fit, but I think the locks where built so long so rudders didn't need to be folded.

I ate pie there 30 odd years ago!

Hi, I suspect all the coal boats run on the fuel in their own tanks, so we all trust the quality of fuel as if our engines fail then we are loosing money. The throughput of diesel with diesel in London is so high as should not cause a problem, and land based sources still can suffer from water and other storage issues. I trust the quality of my own fuel to the point of running often on the tidal Thames. So make of that as you will. Cheers, Mike NB. Victoria Royalty Fuels

Surely the reason bridges are often larger than the waterway dimensions is to ease passage for loaded boats. It's surprising how much a Shroppie Bridge reduces your speed as compared to a T&M or Oxford canal bridge. The Bridgewater canal bridges are well over 'gauge' so presumably was thought about very early on. Mike

Went up it after the Wolverhampton National in 2008, had little problems, but brought up various colours from the bottom. The reeds allow a narrowboat through with ease, but I wouldn't like to pass another boat. Don't turn at the winding hole, keep going to the end!!! This is why we lose these things, nambypambyness!! Mike

Passed Towcester heading South as I headed North at Stoke Hammond today:

Myself and Victoria are heading down the River Stort and Lea from Harlow all the way up to Stone for the third weekend in October, and then back to London through Birmingham... shame I couldn't do this run all winter, certainly provide an interesting and varied set of canals! Strapping in to Hardmead Lock, River Lea (picture courtesy of James Bill) Cheers, Mike

Fusedale's Last Trip to Whitwood Wharf

I think I'd want to really test the engine under strain before doing the journey. Moving a JP2 powered boat once, I had the silencer/expansion box blow a tube and water started spraying out the exhaust when having to do an emergency stop - wouldn't want that to happen on a sea voyage. Tie up in some really deep water, and run at high power for several hours, or use the journey to the tide to get some proper stress testing done. Obviously ensure you have all you need to survive should the engine fail. I'd be tempted after my experience to have a bit of pipe work available in case of such issues. If you really want to be sure, have the engine checked and serviced by a professional, but they can't catch all problems... When I picked up Victoria with her JP2, I ended up breaking ice for most of the journey back, flat out, for 12 hours a day for several days - so I knew the engine was good when I took her on the Humber later that year. By the time I'd got her within a few hours of home in London the head gasket (which I knew was on its way out) went completely! Still ran thought, and got me home, but wouldn't have liked it to do that on the tideway. Cheers, Mike

Its Ara that gets completely stuck in this lock. Archimedes was touch and go though:

Victoria heading into Limehouse tomorrow (Saturday) from Stonebridge. Gas, Deisel, and these nights are still cold, so not forgetting coal. Give me a call, text, message, or just shout if you want owt! Cheers, Mikey 07414 707 110

Hiya, It's not that tricky, use ropes, and keep both front and stern ends away from the hazards - remember you could cill your bow when you drop, or catch the rudder on a gate paddle at the bottom of the lock. Cheers, Mike

I'll be Wheaton Aston this evening - Turners are shut weekend. Cheers, Mike

1 day Keadby to Nottingham 1 day Nottingham to Huddlesford 1 easy day Huddlesford to Minworth 1 easy day into Brum I've actually done these timings myself, single handed, but I've had plenty of experience and can knock on in the deeper waters of the Trent. Need to do some long days mind - Nottingham to Huddlesford was a 16 hour day! Mike

Victoria heading up the Staffs and Worcs and down the Shroppie to Ellesmere Port for Easter. Back again after Easter. Cheers, Mikey

Narrowboat Victoria heading to Rugby tomorrow (Monday), and then back to Braunston for Tuesday, and on towards Stoke Bruerne for Thursday. Catch you around, Mike

Fit outs are for wimps - my Dad and I took Kismet around the first year without any lining, insulation or any other real facilities! Of course, I'll be at Alvecote too. Mike

When towing, especially that many boats you'd be surprised how far the prop wash goes. If you watch the arrival of Arundel and Joe at the bottom of Stoke Bruerne locks on my gravel run video you can see the effect that the wash has - you can see the water still moving backwards - and thats on a long line. The gravellers make about 8 mph loaded IIRC. Mike

Remember, just because the berths exist, it doesn't mean people will want to pay extra money to use them, when they can moor for free. This is the problem in London where many people are leaving residential moorings to CC (or not) because of the reduced expense, and often the extra convenience of being closer to work. Mike

On the first, and some degree the second butty are having to run through the prop wash of the motor, giving a greater water speed on the surface. However the rounded fore-end will produce a marked dip on the corner, and you can see this on Humber barges every day. Not sure if much power is lost this way, but them barges don't half shift, even loaded with 650 tonnes. Mike

I'd heard that the gate paddles were later additions, but this is great proof of it being so. I think everyone on the canals should sign a disclaimer stating that they are responsible for the safe navigation of their vessel, so long as CaRT are responsible for the correct operation of the waterway! Mike

Narrowboat Victoria heading up the Staffs and Worcs, and then down the Shroppie towards Market Drayton over the next week. Last time I came through here it looked like this: Cheers, Mike

When you start getting to size of prop that are feet rather than inches I suspect you are right, but the prop on Progress would still ventilate like a pig - mine does when the counter is out of the water, and the whole prop is in the water then! I would wonder if the bilges are designed to flood? Most boats looking like this are dry, no diesel or often engine, but I assume these images were with the boat ready to run? Mike