Mac of Cygnet
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Posts posted by Mac of Cygnet
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I'm 58ft and the heart stop times made me decide to it a day at just below Elland Basin for this part of the C&H. Was going to go up to the basin but spotted a old pub mooring (the now defunct Colliers Arms) Glad I didn't do the Basin due to the noise of M62.
Oooohhhh! Is the Colliers Arms now officially defunct? I thought it was being refurbished. It was a great wee pub before it was flooded last year. Beer at £1.35 a pint....... OK, this is now
But you should get through to Sowerby Bridge at 58ft, with a bit of shuffling around.Mac
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Mac - how long are you? Keep a close eye on the tiller-arm coming up as the stupid (IMHO) platforms you stand on for the bottom gates are just in the right place to snag you ... I had a bit of a heart-stopper with Cromwell Lock (Was it that one? It was a long day) and had to try and get a C&H Spike'd paddle down in a hurry. Which wasn't easy!
Also, and apologies if I'm teach you to suck eggs, a few of the locks round Brighouse (certainly up to Park Nook below Elland) don't have ground paddles.
As I mentioned in the OP, very short! A lot of boats have come to grief under those gate platforms, which are potentially more dangerous than any cills, but no notices of course, as H&S probably doesn't know about them. And how long are you? By now you should have met the two Salterhebble top locks, which are the shortest on the whole navigation.
Mac
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Yep.
- We're currently moored for the next two days part way down the huddersfeild narrow (east side) and plan to complete the hudderfeild canals and return to northwich via the rochdale. And as said, my also detour to Mirfeild or as far as Wakefeild depending on time and state of navigation.
We spend saturday locking not only ourselfs, but also the unbelievably slow boat infront of us, down the east flight. (dont even ask how slow slow was!!)
- But yeah, i would echo that anyone in the area (or otherwise) is more than welcome to join us in locking the ring. Its a good canal, interesting, and good fun. But more the merrier, partiularly with some of the heavier parts! Im on 078512 72nine zerothreethree while on the boat
Daniel
There is good mooring at Battyford Lock, opposite the South Pennine Boat Club, where Cygnet is residing this week. The Pear Tree Inn round the corner has changed hands and improved enormously recently, I found. I'll be returning to Cygnet on Monday for a few days taking my time solo up to Sowerby Bridge.
Mac
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Thanks Duztee! Currently, we're leaning towards doing the Caldon Canal, starting at Etruria and doing both the Froghall and Leek branches. We're planning on one week and the only hesitation we have with this plan is that we are planning on starting and ending where the Caldon branches off from the main Trent & Mersey and since there won't be more than an hour or two cruising time on the starting and ending days we will end up mooring overnight in a relatively urban area. I haven't used CanalPlannerAC yet to figure out exactly where those overnighting spots will be, but once I do I may be back to ask about the safety of the area.
I guess you'll be hiring from Black Prince, then, at Etruria. Most Hire firms start the hire at mid-afternoon, which would give you time to get to Milton (best moorings are past the bridge). You'd be best using your last full day to come right down to Etruria, and moor either ouside the museum or outside the Black Prince yard. Do't miss the Hollybush pub at Hazehurst (acess either from the Leek branch up on the aqueduct, or moor ouside the pub) If you're lucky you may see (and hear) the famous tug'o'war team practising.
Cheers
Mac
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Ooo!! If Daniel's headed my way I may be able to nab a crew to help with those pesky locks! Brilliant!
Daniel - if you're reading - which way are you headed? (Or, Mac, do you know?)
Daniel mentions in a separate topic that they are heading for a while on the Calder and Hebble and Rochdale, with a possible diversion to Wakefield. We are heading (slowly) back to our winter mooring just below Lock 1 on the Rochdale. If you are still hanging around in Huddersfield, we'd be glad to go down the Huddersfield Broad with you (It's not a particularly pleasant canal, especially for a single-hander).
Mac
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Cygnet and I have just emerged blinking into the light after almost 3 hours traversing Standedge Tunnel under our own power. They didn't let me drive, or even go on deck, but at least I could stand at the open front doors listening to 'Subterranean Homesick Blues', wincing at the odd crunch and wondering why it was taking so long. In fact, this was because the convoy was behind us, and we had to stop at every emergency adit to make sure everyone kept in touch. Normally, a boat under its own power could do it in just over half that time. Fred, who normally drives the electric tug, was at the tiller, with an extra man in the stairwell lighting up the critical bits. BW are operating a series of pilot traverses this season in preparation for adopting this method from next April, using various sizes and shapes of boat, and Cygnet drew the short straw, being short.
Waiting down at Dobcross for the Friday slot is 'Emily Anne'. Daniel's grandfather Tom gave me a guided tour of her engine room yesterday; I was open-mouthed throughout, never having been surrounded by such a collection of hissing, steaming, whirring, spurting, clattering machinery. It remains to be seen whether BW have the nerve to pilot her through under her own steam.
Altogether a memorable return to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal (and that's not even counting the two breakdowns and completely defeating the efforts of a River Canal Rescue engineer)
Off to the pub now. I really need that pint.
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Unfortunately, although this is a mildly diverting activity when you've got nothing better to do, the results can hardly be described as 'treasure'. Real treasure - nonferrous metals and alloys - gold, silver, brass, etc. won't stick to a magnet, and I'm not sure how well metal detectors work under water, or whether they can distinguish between different metals or how you'd fish the stuff out. There must be something valuable down there, though. Draining a pound would work, but seems a bit extreme.
Mac
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We are, I think, about to decide that the Grand Tour cannot include the Lancaster.
Theodora is 60' long and has a BMC 1.5 engine. I did a speed trial on the Bridgewater Leigh arm where it is really nice and deep and has concrete sides and found that we averaged 3.9mph at the highest non flat out speed that I was happy to run the engine. Forgot to read the rev counter but it would not have been much help because it reads differently with the new alternator.
The engine has days when it does a bit of smoking but generally it seems to be in reasonably good order and runs for hours and hours without a wisp of smoke. I will enquire about that on boat maintenance, though.
What do people think?
Nick
The Skippers Guide issued with the application form says that your boat should be able to 'comfortably' achieve 5 knots (6MPH). It's all booked up for July, by the way.
Mac
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Worksop could be doing with being moved several miles away from the Chesterfield Canal, which is otherwise very pleasant. The best moorings IMO are at Clayworth, where the Retford and Worksop Boat Club make visitors very welcome. Shireoaks is OK, but a bit bleak, with only one erratically-opening pub left. If you go right up to the top, be sure to walk up through the woods in the middle of the flight to Thorpe Salvin, a beautiful village with an excellent pub. Retford is a pleasant enough place, and very good shopping, but Forest Locks a couple of miles up is a better and quieter mooring. (I was marooned for several weeks on the Chesterfield by the flooded Trent last summer, and I think I exhausted all the possibilities).
Mac
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I'm probably a bit slow, but I've got halfway across the Leeds & Liverpool and just realised that the lock numbers are going up while the bridge numbers are going down. Any reason for this confusing state of affairs? I've never really noticed, but I think most of the waterways I've been on have the bridges and locks (where numbered) numbered from the same end.
Mac
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I have never found any of the Ashton locks hard, but then I haven't been down the locks so far this year, so some of them must have got stiffer.
Now, the Huddersfield Narrow, on the other hand - I snapped a windlass in half trying to open a paddle on one lock in Slaithwaite last week!
Nothing to do with the Ashton paddle gear (although several weren't working), simply the bottom gates/ paddles were leaking so much that I couldn't shift the top gates against the flow - had to tie the boat to one beam and use full reverse to help me.
BTW, my trip included a double traverse of your pride and joy, the Huddersfield Narrow, and I enjoyed it so much I joined the Society. (All this because I chickened out of going up the Rochdale single-handed).
Mac
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I went down and up the Ashton last September single-handed on successive days (yes, I know, but it's a complicated story), and the most dangerous thing that happened was a lump of metal bouncing off the boat roof a few inches in front of me, having been carelessly dropped from the top of one of the construction sites near Piccadilly. The site safety officer was apologetic, but I would wear a hard hat going past there again. The only attention I got from the locals was a few cheery waves. A couple of the locks were really hard, though.
Mac
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I bought Cygnet from Calcutt in February 2 years back. After expressing an interest, I went back a week later. Not only had they made sure the batteries were charged up and the seacock open (It had lain unsold since the previous August), but had actually lit the stove to provide a welcome. I was given the keys and lent a centre rope to work up the locks single-handed, and told to take it as far as I liked. I had a great afternoon, and made an offer on the spot, which after a little negotiation was accepted. Extra work ordered and done promptly. All this for a boat costing less than £20K. And yet I had previously heard the company slated by more than one person.
People's perceptions of a company can be very different according to circumstances.
Mac
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Its that time again,engine service required.I have a Vetus M4.15 which I believe is based on a Miitsubishi
does anybody know the generic part numbers for
Oil Filter STM0051
Fuel Filter STM3690
as surely they have got to be cheaper than Vetus's own
Thanks
Ian
Can I revive this thread to make another appeal for the same info? This question has been asked before (I searched), and someone said they could come up with details of generic equivalents if we could give the part numbers, but the thread stopped there. I used to have a site which listed all the equivalents from different manufacturers, but it's lost in the depths of a defunct computer.
Cheers
Mac
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We're wondering about including the Chesterfield Canal in our wandering itinerary this year, but we wouldn't be able to get there until early July. What would be the state of the weed around then? Would the canal be passable or would we be better to wait until the following spring?
I was stuck on the Chesterfield for six weeks last summer due to floods and other factors, and went up and down it twice. The Retford and Worksop Boat Club at Clayworth were very welcoming ( l left the boat there twice for a few days), and the pub in the village excellent (the first one you come to - can't remember the name). The first section from West Stockwith to Drakeholes is a little shallow, but I was OK with a draft of just over 2ft. There was very little problem with weed. Excellent quiet moorings at Forest Locks. Pity about Worksop - could do with being moved a few miles east, out of the way of the canal. The main problem is timing your arrival at West Stockwith to get in - it can be a little fraught if the tide is running much.
Mac
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cost = 46.49
total ex vat = 38.35
total vat = 8.14
total postage = 5.70
total inc vat & postage = 52.19
how is it wrong?
This not only wrong but very confusing. The 17.5% VAT on a purchase costing £38.35 (ex VAT) should be £6.71, not £8.14 What you have done I think is deduct 17.5% of the VAT inclusive price to get the total ex-VAT. This is incorrect, and gives what appears to be a 21% VAT level.
Not only that, but you may be aware that you should be charging VAT on the postage, and this is not mentioned. I would be reluctant to buy anything which approached its pricing in such an amateurish way, and I haven't even looked at the site.
Mac
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Apologies if this has appeared elsewhere, but the Irish Government has apparently announced its solution to collecting the extra tax on diesel from boaters:
"..... the owner of the craft used for private pleasure navigation shall, not later than the first day of March following the calendar year in which the marked gas oil was purchased for such use, deliver to an officer:(a) a return, in such form as the Commissioners may require, of the quantity in litres of marked gas oil purchased in that calendar year, and (
payment of an amount of mineral oil tax calculated at the rate of 32.069 cent per litre (which is the difference between the mineral oil tax rate for marked gas oil and the rate for heavy oil used for private pleasure navigation) on such quantity.Record of purchases(3) The owner referred to in subsection (2) shall, together with vouched receipts for all purchases of the marked gas oil concerned, maintain a record of such purchases, in such form as the Commissioners may require."So, in effect, boaters will buy their green diesel as normal, and at the end of the year send off the extra tax to the government, having kept all the invoices.I'm afraid I laughed out loud when I read this. Do you think the same arrangement will be followed here?
Mac
I've no idea where that smiley came from. It was a (b ) in the original, but apparently gets changed into (
(Edited to amend weird smiley effects and quotes.)
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There are several websites dealing with this subject. This is one of the clearest: vegoil motoring
Mac
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Or if you think you need a bit of security, you can moor in the little marina just under the bridge at the junction.
Cygnet spent several days at Portland Basin Marina last September, with and without me. Guy, the owner, and his wife are very friendly and helpful. The exterior moorings there are fairly secure, with an adjacent liveaboard, but you'll have to pay of course. A couple of hundred yards up the Peak forest is usually ok.
The museum opposite is interesting and free. There is a dearth of decent pubs within walking distance. Ashton Market is well-known, but a bit of a trek from Portland Basin.
Mac
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All,
Further to this topic I recently raised, I see many of you seem to be lovers of burning wood !. How is that most of the marina's I am looking at seem to have wood burning outlawed ?
Regards
Tony.
I really have no idea. Many towpath walkers, on passing us, have commented favourably on the smell of woodsmoke. I can only guess that the marinas of which you speak are looking for shiny respectable boats, and that wood burning has a taint of the 'gypsy'.
Mac
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I don't think the majority of solid fuel stove users find their stoves to be a real pain - they accept that they will have to empty coal bags into scuttles and deal with a bit of dust around the fire. Apart from adjustable vents, solid fuel stoves have no moving parts; with an annual sweep & clean there are no small pipes & nothing to get clogged or blocked, and they can also be electricity free even with rads coming off a backboiler.
I entirely agree, and go even further by burning only wood at home and on the boat - I bought the boat with a load of coal on board and gave most of it away to helpful neighbours. For those who burn coal - Cygnet has a very deep front locker down to interior floor level, with a hatch next to the stove through which coal could be accessed. So an exterior coal bunker (taking 6x25Kg bags) with interior access - no shovelling coal into scuttles etc. Haven't seen this arrangement anywhere else.
Anyway, however clever that is, I don't burn coal so converted the bunker into a multi-tiered locker. Back to burning wood - I understand wood, having heated our house for the past 30 years with wood-burning stoves. I don't trust coal not to poison me with carbon monoxide; wood would produce a very smoky atmosphere before dangerous levels of CO (yes, I do also have a CO detector, but these things can malfunction). And wood is free! Now it has been pointed out to me that collecting wood by the cut could be said to stealing, but of course we only use dead wood. Only once have we encountered a problem, when a chap in a lock cottage, seeing the logs on our roof, gave us a friendly warning against collecting any locally, implying that the local landowner was a bit paranoid about this sort of thing. Never have we failed to find enough wood for our needs. A can see that a liveaboard not moving much in winter would have to resort to coal, though.
Mac
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I may be being a bit silly, but you haven't got the water intake and outlet the wrong way round, have you? The intake should be low down on the calorifier and the outlet as high up as possible (so that the heated water will rise up to it and stay there until you use it, and won't be mixed with cold water coming in).
Mac
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So where will you be drinking in Sowerby Bridge now the Puzzle is shut? WHAT! I have sent you a message enquiring about this appalling news.
Mac
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Charge them accordingly for the image, that you have created!!
Unfortunately I don't own the image, only the boat. Trevor, the guy who appears in the picture on the back of his nearby boat, has made strenuous attempts to find out who took the picture, in order to get a copy, but has met with a complete blank from the 'Customer Service Department' of Northern Trains.
Mac
But you should get through to Sowerby Bridge at 58ft, with a bit of shuffling around.
payment of an amount of mineral oil tax calculated at the rate of 32.069 cent per litre (which is the difference between the mineral oil tax rate for marked gas oil and the rate for heavy oil used for private pleasure navigation) on such quantity.Record of purchases(3) The owner referred to in subsection (2) shall, together with vouched receipts for all purchases of the marked gas oil concerned, maintain a record of such purchases, in such form as the Commissioners may require."
So where will you be drinking in Sowerby Bridge now the Puzzle is shut?
WHAT! I have sent you a message enquiring about this appalling news.
English National Concessionary Scheme (Bus Pass)
in Living Afloat
Posted
Have any CCers out there managed to get an English National Bus Pass? I have a Scottish one, but can't use it in England. I cruise all Summer, but have a winter mooring at Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, where I spend a fair amount of time on the boat, but of course have no Council Tax or Utility bills as proof of residence. I thought of producing my (quarterly) mooring invoices as a (rather dubious) proof of residence in West Yorkshire. Continuous cruisers wouldn't even have this of course. Any experiences?
Mac