Bristolfashion

We had a Rutland wind turbine on our yacht - quiet and efficient - generally the wind noise was always louder than the turbine. However, pretty hopeless where there isn't a smooth (laminar) wind flow - like almost everywhere on the inland waterways.

Yes, I use that - the replies and responses have been prompt so far.

The two of us live very comfortably on a 45' narrowboat.

Yep, saw that. At least we're trapped in a very pretty section with good walks, towns and reasonable services (would be better if the Marple elsan point opened).

Good point, I've used one to start a big, old land cruiser diesel and it was fine. As Tony says below, it's a "suck it and see", but one of the more chunky units might be the go.

Yes, those lithium booster packs are great. Get a decent one and it'll start your boat, charge pretty much anything and usually has a handy light as well. I just have a maintenance note to charge it once a quarter and that's it.

You'd consider a set of lungs devoid of particulates, together with the accompanying good health and longer lifespan "extreme"? Is chopping down just a medium amount of the rainforest better than the extreme of preserving it? And, of course, you'd rather be moderately dependant upon the vagaries of madmen in our energy market than the extreme of independence!

This figure is often quoted as "9% of mooring costs". However, since the 9% is leveled on Gross mooring capacity X rate charged, not actual fees paid (or actual occupancy ), surely for most marinas / moorings operating at less than 100% capacity, the Network Access Charge will represent more than 9%? If a marina / mooring is at 75% capacity, the charge would represent 12% The agreement says, "The annual fee payable to us is calculated by multiplying your mooring rate (the rate charged to customers mooring in your marina) by an agreed gross mooring capacity (GMC) and then taking 9% of the resultant figure. Read our code of practice for determining GMC." Or have I misunderstood the details? If I'm right, what do contributors reckon is the average / typical % occupancy of the various mooring options? Ta as ever for any insights.

These plug in panels are a great idea and allow renters and flat dwellers to benefit from the "solar revolution". When batteries are added as an option, they'll be an even more flexible solution.

I'm so strange that it's the K&A boaters that are unnerved! 😀. Last time I was crawling past moored boats in tickover and I got the "slow down you @#£&ing @#£&" treatment, I stopped and explained my situation - it turns out that that is even more annoying!

And the chances of the government slinging extra cash at canals, with all the other areas requiring money and no further tax rises. Hmm, about zero I'd say.

But, in order for the government to pay, they have to raise tax from sectors (or all) of the population - yep, pigs might fly! So your vision is a gradual decline & closures?

I know it's an old thread, but just in case my experience is useful to anyone. My brass pump was not pumping AND I couldn't get the top off to prime. The solution was to use one of those little cheapy brass hand pumps to pull oil through the fixed pump which got it primed and pumping.

Oh, I see, well I'd be happy to pay a higher licence fee to more accurately pay for my boating, I was more thinking about my monthly donation as somewhat paying for my general enjoyment and use of CRT infrastructure in the same way I support the RSPB, wildlife trusts & National Trust. One other thing I've been thinking about is the Trust building an "end of life" fund (for boats, not boaters). There are quite a lot of notifications about sunken / abandoned / "terminal" non licensed/ insured/BSS boats and they can be pretty expensive to deal with in difficult locations. I see that the total annual cost is estimated at substantial. My idea is a small first registration charge to reflect the theoretical end of life cost of a boat based on recovery / removal costs and % likelihood. Over time, a fund would build up to deal with these costs - and the additional cost for a new narrowboat would be inconsequential.

I guess that this is part of the endless and rather insoluble debate between public funding and "user pays" - theoretically, any increase in funding involves either an increase in government receipts (such as tax) or a decrease in expenditure elsewhere. Enough "few pence" a month burdens on government expenditure adds up to "several pounds"! Personally, I'm happy to pay a bit more tax for such things, but that doesn't seem a common attitude. My own view is that my licence pays for my boating & my donation for other access & a bit of general support - but only a tiny percentage of users are donors.

Yes, I did think that you'd rather missed to point of the other poster's comment. Glad to help. 😉 Not necessarily navigation, but the use of the infrastructure for leisure.

There was a picture in the paper the other day of a rather old looking man - it took a second take to realise that it was Farage. I do wonder whether he's young enough and well enough to fight a by election, a parliamentary enquiry, another by election and then a general election, particularly as he's the sole owner - and sole effective asset - of his political limited company (I was going to say "party", but it isn't constituted that way). Farage does seem much less sprightly and "out & about" these days. I guess that spruiking dodgy gold shares and doing Cameo videos amongst other things (one article suggests 14 outside jobs while he's been an MP) does spread him a bit thin - at least he's never had to worry about actually going to parliament much or doing anything for his constituency.

From my observations this season, there is an enormous use of the towpath by walkers, dog walkers, ramblers and cyclists which dwarfs any use of the system by boaters - how to extract any support for maintenance of the network from these groups is the issue. The other area I've been thinking about is the absolutely enormous wildlife reserve provided by the canals together with their unique "wildlife corridor" feature. This "nature reserve" is probably in the order of the same size as all the land owned by the wildlife trusts in England - and they raise substantial funds.

I think that the poster means a passionate, media savvy "face" for the canals, able to promote all their benefits and tie together all of the users and supporters.

Thanks Adam yep, problem solved with your help.

Hi all, we've arrived at a lock and the crew raised both paddles on the downstream lock gates (double gates, narrow lock) before realising that the gates are chained by CRT. We can't for the life of us work out how to release the mechanism to lower the paddles again! Any ideas? I'll post a photo of the mechanism in a few minutes. It's the Intogear (marked) type with a gear box. Thanks, as ever. It's Kilton lock on the Chesterfield just outside Worksop. And, yes, whilst I diligently researched the CRT assisted passage notice on Mondays & Thursdays, I then promptly forgot again - D'oh!

There are 2 day CRT visitor moorings before the Glory Hole (and Brayford Pool) when coming from Torksey. Today, there was loads of space there - but that's not always the case. The moorings just after the Glory Hole were pretty full yesterday, but lots of space further on before the lock.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gLyX6sFNbQVhmzWA7 A short video of us going through Ferry bridge https://photos.app.goo.gl/YBdwr2Yjvek1tZeA8 And the head of the navigation at Cobblers Lock. Having wandered up and measured it - that's a bit optimistic on their part - we measured it at 1.75m

We got through! We walked up from South Kyme and measured the clearance at 175cm. Our air draft is 168cm with everything off the roof. We also walked into Sleaford and, fortunately, met a couple of guys from the restoration team. On the day, we reckon we had 3 or 4cm of clearance, so maybe the water has risen a cm or so. Video / pix to follow.

Hello all, Having arrived at South Kyme on the Sleaford Navigation, SOMEONE forgot to look at the height mark for the Ferry / Halfpenny Hatch Bridge beyond South Kyme on the last lock, so we don't know if we'll fit. Does anyone either know the actual height - or have an account of a successful or unsuccessful attempt - and the boat air draft involved. Otherwise, has anyone moored in the vicinity of the new winding hole beyond South Kyme - a shorter trip on foot to check it out. Otherwise, we'll trudge up there tomorrow carrying highly sophisticated surveying equipment - boathook, tape measure & rope! As ever, thanks for any info.