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We called Rodley and they seem to have fuel so going for it on Monday 🤞

Hi we are currently heading from Thorne to Skipton and hoped to fill with fuel at Castleford but no fuel to be had. We are hold up at Lemonroyd heading into Leeds Sunday and hopefully Rodley on Monday (once locks are booked). Can anyone advise places we can fill with diesel on the way over. It feels like fuel stops are few and far between, not something I had anticipated. With diesel heating we are using constantly this time of year so I am nervous when we drop below half a tank, would like to keep it topped off in case we get a cold spell. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Gerry

Hi i am on a fact finding mission, according to records and our survey our boat was shot blasted and blacked with a two pack epoxy. As of writing this the exact date of this is unclear but we believe within the last five years. It seems well adhered and generally in good condition all be it aging a little. We would like to do the next blacking with epoxy again but I can’t seem to clarify the preparation needed. On videos I have seen jet-washing when removed from the water clears the growth but can leave a white residue that I believe is lime scale. So my questions are : Do we have to shotblast the boat again to black a second time with two pack epoxy? If not what additional preservation is needed to remove the lime scale ? Any recommendations for the best epoxy products to use. thanks in advance for any advice tended.

Hi All Great run up the Trent to Keadby it was a bit windy and rough in places but sun was out all the way. Clipped the wall again getting into the lock, but all I n all not too bad. Had a leisurely two day trot up to Blue Water Marina (the Vazon rail bridge is now fixed and available anytime) we are now refuelled and tucked up on our berth. Thanks for all the words of wisdom, it was a great help and for our first voyage we could not be happier! Time to do some tinkering on the boat to make her ours then onto new canals and more exploration👍😀

Hi thanks for the feedback, the responses make perfect sense to me and is how we have been running it, I just wanted to ensure we were on the right track.

Hi We have a 12 volt battery bank with a Victron 12/2000 compact inverter charger a 3.5kw travel-pack generator and a master volt auto sensing mains source contractor. My question is should we turn the inverter to charge only or leave it on inverter/charger when running the engine and travel power unit to charge the batteries? It does indicate it has dropped into charger mode when the engine is running. The inverter charger gets plenty warm when we sit recharging and I wondered if having it set to inverter/charger would do any damage. As soon as the travel power starts you here the source contractor switch and 240volt supply is seamless. Interested to hear from anyone with a similar setup, and how they do it.

Hi Currently at West Stockwith, all went well thus far. We are booked into leave for Keadby on 9:00 am Sunday once I have completed some personal business at home. Hoping to make it through the Vazon rail bridge on the 23rd then onto Blue Water the next day. Been a great trip, identified a few repairs/alterations we want to compete then tick off some more canals 👍😀 Gerry/Carol

Hi All Good couple of days up the tidal Trent, all tucked up in West stockwith tonight. No problems, was a great trip with beautiful scenes along the way. Not the most elegant of entries to West Stockwith lock just messed it up on the final turn but we’re in 😀😀

Hi All We came up the Trent from Cromwell today and worked the engine a bit harder, seems that did the trick we have steaming hot water. Either it cleared the airlock or the issue was related to the light duty I was giving the engine? I did check the hoses obviously the were hot and I have drawn a full schematic of the water systems on the boat so all was no in vain. Thanks for all the advice.

Hi Thanks for all the info the boat is 2008 fitted out by Nantwich Narrowboat Company. No sign of system drawings or Schematics in the manual I’m afraid, I have been sketching them out for the electrics on the way up I will do the same for the plumbing in time. Not had chance to check temps on the pipes and hoses yet the colorifier is a pain to get to, I have to strip the kitchen cupboard out to get to it and the current Mrs M is not amused. It's a bit of a rats nest in there but straight forward enough see images below. After today’s 18 miles the water was tepid again so I reckon it’s likely an airlock or flow issue. it’s not the end of the world for now as we can get hot water other ways. Once again thanks for 5he help and advice.

Hi Thanks all good info! Made it to Cromwell today, tied up on the visitor pontoon so got topside of the upcoming closure. Had a chat with the lock keeper we go on Monday to Torksey then Tuesday to West Stockwith where we will hold until I have completed my commitments then hopefully go to Kedby on the 19th conditions permitting. Been a great trip up to now looking forward to Sunday off then back at it. Still hoping to be at Bluewater Marina later that week, and I have collated a few jobs on the boat that need to be done. Smokelss fuel is the next challenge on our last bag tomorrow may have to despatch the son to meet us with some 😀

Hi We are into the first week of owning our Narrowboat and we have done some reasonably long days heading north to our mooring however we have noticed there is little hot water produced by the engine it is no more than tepid. The webasto heats it up great but not the engine. Coolant levels look good and I wondered if it can get air locked? Had a look round the colorifier and it looks ok there are a couple of valves on the engine circuit but up to now I have held off fiddling. Anyone experienced this and have a fix? thanks in advance

Hi Hoping to come off at West Stockwith after Torksey for a couple of days, I have some business and is close to our home in Chesterfield then a final leg up to Keadby. All depends on the timing really and when we can get going, if we leave Cromwell early next week we may be able to do the three legs consecutively if there are delays we may need to split them to accommodate commitments. Definitely not keen on getting caught in the dark, I can’t see in the daylight 😂😂 Been good so far though when we were stuck at Shardlow I felt we would miss the nether lock closure for sure. Carol approves of the push button locks👍

Apologies this is tide times or Monday the 8th

Hi. Made it to Gunthorpe today so on track to get through nether lock tomorrow or Sunday. Been doing a bit of homework based on the advice from here and would like some second opinions. The sketch below Is based on Friday the 12th, heading for neaps however assuming we set of from Cromwell after the flow has turned it only gives me 3 hours to torksey before dark where we will over night first. Couple of questions: Do my calculation look OK Is three hours enough for 16 miles we don’t seem to be moving as fast as you guys predict however there could be a degree of faffing on my part also no locks to contend with on this bit. Obviously we have the ebb current to assist too. would love to hear your thoughts

Well we finally got out of Shardlow today after three days hold due to flow, then short hold at Sawley for lunch (emptied Elsan at last) then the lights went green and we had a good run up to Nottingham. Trent was good, running with the flow and we feel much more confident now. We are going to press on and see if we can beat the stoppage at Nether lock if we can get topside of that over this weekend we can then regroup at Cromwell for the tidal bit. Thanks again for all the advice I will be sitting down to digest it all before we venture forward on the tidal bit.

Thanks for all the good advice it is greatly appreciated! We have found a spot above the Derwent lock but after the flood lock and are waiting it out here for now. Will watch for the river levels to fall and go green before venturing forward. The stoppage at Newark will surely confound us so all we can do is creep forward when its safe to do so, I have no intention of loosing the boat or crew to some misguided sense of urgency. Another possibly dumb question, are there decent moorings we can hold up on the non tidal side of Cromwell, or Newark, if we get stuck behind the repair work or would we need to stay in the Beeston & Nottingham section until the way ahead was clear? Once again many thanks for the help ad advice!

Hi all I am looking for some advice. We are new to narrowboats but have some boating experience on the sea. Following delays in the purchase of our boat we find ourselves needing to get to Bluewater marine on the Stainforth Keadby canal travelling from Mercia Marina on the Trent and Mersey canal in autumn. I always knew the tidal Trent above Cromwell would be a challenge but having made it to Shardlow I find the way ahead blocked by flood warnings and advice not to proceed. Whilst these warnings may subside I am now concerned About adverse weather once I am on the Trent and how it may affect us. I had hoped to be able to make it to Cromwell then hold there for favourable conditions. I would be greatfull for any advice and suggestions from more experienced boaters. Thanks in advance.