Mac of Cygnet
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Posts posted by Mac of Cygnet
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Spot the oxymoron
Yes, that is a bit urbanocentric, but the Old Forge is very inaccessible to 99.9999% of the UK population.
(The 9s were carefully counted)Mac
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Despite the replies above I cannot for the life of me see how they can be anything but a danger. Going up in a 60'er they cannot prevent surging forward to hit the top gate or back to hit the bottom, unless the centre line is held very tight and tightened repeateldly as the boat rises. Going down they will very likely hang up the boat.
I single handed up Tardebigge a few weeks ago and was not in the least tempted to use a middle bollard or, for that matter any other.
Nick
Yes, I did say that my boat is only 27ft. Without being tied up somewhere in the middle, it can get quite a bit of speed up before hitting the front or back gates while going up a lock. With a 60ft boat I wouldn't use this method. As for hanging up, well you get to estimate quite well how much slack to leave (hope this isn't inviting disaster - I haven't hung up yet!). Of course in wide locks centre bollards are even more use to me, especially with the unpredictable filling patterns on the C&H locks, but they haven't made their appearance much round here yet.
Mac
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I`m off to the warmth and comfort of Rannoch Moor for the holiday. So - Merry whatever you choose to celebrate - and as good and happy a new year as the powers that be allow ! They`ve put a bloody speed camera in Glencoe...............
Merry Christmas
Phil
We'll give you a wave as we cross the Moor on our way to the Most Remote Pub in Britain (See Guiness Book of Records). We're staying with our son, next door to it. Are you staying at the Kings House?
Mac
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Never use them, wife does as a handy seat while waiting for the lock to fill
I must be one of the very few people who actually use centre bollards if available. When single-handed, it is very handy to drop one of the loops of my centre rope over a suitably-placed bollard (I have two centre ropes, one normal and one with two spaced loops) and know that my 27ft boat isn't going to be either pushed under the waterfall coming over the top gate or (less likely) shoved back against the bottom V.
I'm definitely not trying to start a debate on locking technique here: I just know what works for me. I can do without centre bollards, but they are handy - I have on occasion (shhhh.......) dropped my loop over a better-placed ladder.
Mac
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I have already started this subject when I introduced myself yesterday but incase it gets missed I will put my ideas in this section as well.
We are planning a boating holiday next year, Anderton to Chester and back early May. After advise from other forum users I have found the canal plan web site and I think this route is feasable in the ten days we have alocated. I know how far I can walk in a day, and its about the same speed but you dont have to do many lock drills on my walks.
We are thinking of using" UK Boat Hire". There location at Anderton and the discounts look quite apealing so far. I am shure there must be horror stories about every hire company but I hope not too many with these people.
As I mentioned earlier I was brough up on the banks of the Huddersfield Narrow, Upermill. I would recomend you stop off there if going up the canal. There is a basin at the back of the museum just off high st. The shops pubs ect are within site of the museum. Be warned Whit Friday is Band Contest day. Not to be missed but it is a very bussy day and you usualy have to que to get in the pubs.
Looking foward to coments or sugestions,
Went through all these places this summer. Chester seems to have got a bit of a poor reputation for overnight mooring trouble, wherever you choose, but as usual we heard conflicting reports. We spoke to a local councillor patrolling his patch at the staircase, and he was well aware of the problem, blaming it on druggies coming in from surrounding towns. But Chester is well worth it - we caught both the quinquennial Mystery Plays and the Mayor's Parade.
The stretch past Chester is rather maligned, but we moored twice at Stoak - on a quiet stretch past the motorways, a ten minute walk to a really good pub and buses to both Ellesmere Port and Chester.
I agree about Uppermill - one of the pleasantest places I've had to spend several days (broken down/waiting for tunnel booking).
Mac
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Hose-pipe; I have always favoured the 'roll flat type' yes they are a bit more trouble but the neatness and tiny size when coiled makes up for a little inconvenience.. What makes things a little easier, I always had a long one (60ft) and a short one (30ft) with a 3/4 BSP I think adaptor to join them together when required, I found this combination worked very well under almost all circumstances.
Can anyone point me to somewhere where I can just buy the 'roll-flat' hose, preferably by the metre? My reel is fine, but the hose now envelopes the whole area in a fine spray from several holes. I can buy a repacement kit (hose, reel, fittings) but at an extortionate price. (Tried Googling 'lay-flat hose' and its variants, to no avail)
Mac
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Hello all,
A few weeks ago I brought a video from a charity shop called The Bargee, This is a question for anyone who has seen it, do you know where it was filmed. Hears a brief description of the film for those of you that havnt seen it.
What a terrific cast list!! A roll call of many of our most loved British actors and actresses, past and present.
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Just out of intrest what have you all dropped into the cut hears my list.
Lock windlass
Map
Broom (fished it out though
)& a sandwitch!
Floated and rescued: Hat, towel, cafetiere, chair
Retrieved by seasearcher: spike hammer, windlass (but a different one came up)
Self-rescued: Dog (just above an open paddle - a near thing!)
Mac
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Does any one know if oozells loop is open at each end? or does it only have one entrance & exit, also can you moor in the loop as a visitor.
Thanks
Aaahhhh! Oozels Street Loop. Our first ever canal trip began and ended there (Brummagem Boats - remember them?) about 1980.
Mac
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I think it shows the ones to which you've contributed.
Edit - yes - the icon has now got the 'L' now that I've just posted.
You're right! How observant of you.
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Some of the 'suitcase' topic status symbols on the left of the topic titles have a reverse 'L' shaped bit cut out of them. Ca't find it in the key. What does it mean, please?
Mac
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The mink traps are out again,Mr browning loaded and ready.The hairy hoodies are back with vengance and running amuck around the boatyard.Wondered why the dog wasnt too keen to wander to far at night.She is not to keen after a face to face encounter with one.They seem to be getting bigger or is it me.
We had a 'nest' of them under the caravan (2 big 'uns, 3 little 'uns). When the dogs eventually flushed them out, the chaos and screaming that ensued very nearly had the neighbours calling the police. Haven't seen another one in the several years since, but there are now otters back on the river, so perhaps that is significant.
Mac
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I have a justified grievance
You whinge
He doesn't half go on
We say that something should be done
You are an unpleasant bunch of moaners
They just haven't a clue
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Just to add another query about this - I have one of the common CAV pre-filters (although I have used all sorts of elements, whatever the nearest boatyard or (much cheaper) motorspares place has in stock). But the water drain plug at the bottom is plastic. I am told that this is a fail for the BSC. Is it possible to get a substitute metal one, or will I have to get a whole new filter housing?
Mac
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Brilliant view of it here (Southern Scotland) just as Venus emerged. I happened to look out of the front door abour 5.30, and I'd never seen anything quite like it. Then they started talking about it on Radio 4 - saved me having to ask elswhere what this peculiar light next to the moon was.
Mac
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Can anyone recommend a pair of decent gloves for a spot of winter boating? Our hands frooooooooze yesterday. Oh and so did our feet!
If you're feeling flush you could get a pair of
I've asked for a pair for Christmas. Hope my hands don't freeze before then!
Mac
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If you pay by Direct Debit you cannot receive the Prompt payment discount.
Eh? Several other organisations actually give a discount for paying by direct debit - it's the only reason I pay my electricity and phone bills this way. Is it beyond the wit of BW to take the payment promptly? Oooohhhh, sorry I asked......
Mac
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I'm now on the boat at Sowerby Bridge, and a serious amount of work is going on! (Not by me). Knocking down, building, turf laying, new cobbles. The money must be coming from somewhere. Perhaps it's not coincidence that a couple of closures for lock refurbishment near here have recently been cancelled. If only we could interest him in taking a boat trip.......
Mac
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I live in Scotland and absolutely love the country but I wouldn't keep my boat here even if it were free. I'll now have Ann Street coming down on me like a ton of bricks.
Mac
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My boat had a red and white ring. Then it failed the BSS because it was the wrong colour and I had to swap it for an orange one.
Really? Mine's painted in my boat colours (maroon & yellow), as are many others I've seen. Where in the BSS does it say it has to be orange? Yet another thing to see to before next spring!
Mac
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Above all, avoid Thetford green. Its disgusting!
Neil
Yes, it's a bit odd that the people who make the cassette toilets don't seem to be able to make a green fluid that works. We always use the green stuff because it's not supposed to contain formaldehyde (horrible stuff - a fellow biologist's hands were almost destroyed by over-frequent contact with the stuff - how does Damien Hirst cope?). The best and cheapest that we've found seems to be mainly available in caravan centres and is made by Blue Diamond (but the green version) - about half the price of Elsan and Aquakem, etc, but just as effective.
About a year ago I spent some time on the internet trying to find out exactly what biocide was used in the green stuff, but all the manufacturers seemed extremely reticent about this. Eventually a friend who sterilises cruise ships for a living came up with the answer, but it was so unmemorable that I promply forgot it. I expect someone here will know - they usually do.
Mac
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Mind you, the water from the boat tank is likely to be a lot more gritty than the house mains.
Ha! Depends where you live. Our house supply (from the hill) has a mesh filter followed by a sediment filter like yours (goes deep brown within a week of changing) followed by a UV tube. Our boat supply, on the other hand, is always crystal clear (rigid plastic tank, sterilised once a year). Still don't drink it , though (can't stand the stuff), but the wife does, with no apparent ill effects.
Mac
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Something of an academic discussion surely.. Who in their right minds would want to go to Scotland, in my youth I would be compelled to spend a lot of time on the wrong side of that damned border, disgusting food, could never find a descent hotel, every bar has got it's own Jimmy who will proceed to sponge drinks of you as you walk in and get aggressive when you decline, Americans all over the place in summer and snow in winter.
The God forsaken place didn't even have a canal.
Jeez! What a wind-up merchant! You should have stepped outside Cowdenbeath to see something different. Plenty of descent hotels near the ski slopes now.
I'll not even bother to correct the canal comment.Cheers
Mac
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And what part do you think that Alex Salmond has played in creating an anti-Scottish sentiment amongst people in England?
Considerably less than the part Maggie Thatcher played in creating anti-English sentiment in Scotland - still hated 20 years later.
Mac
How do you use the Bollards?
in Boat Handling
Posted · Edited by Mac of Cygnet
I presume you are talking about going up a lock. This, for me at least, would involve pulling the boat alongside the ladder, climbing down again, setting the throttle, and climbing up again, while at the same time looking out for the rope coming back from the centre, not to get knocked off the ladder. Also, at least with my short boat, it will definitely not stay alongside unless the tiller is tied straight. One ladder-climb is more than enough. As I said before, centre bollards work for me, and failng that the ladder itself. I'm not saying what anyone else should be doing.
Mac