Trravelling Man

Apologies if I offended anyone with my posting, it really was just meant as humour (or humor!!!!). I have to say I was a little shocked at some of the comments directed at Challenger owners - albeit a really small minority. I do however have no problem being called Challenged - I'm financially challenged else I'd have my own boat and not just 5' 5" of one (which in my case is probably the toilet) !!! I have to agree with Andy on one point - we're all boaters!

Andy - FYI Humour or humor (see spelling differences) is the ability or quality of people, objects, or situations to evoke feelings of amusement in other people. The term encompasses a form of entertainment or human communication which evokes such feelings, or which makes people laugh or feel happy. The origin of the term derives from the humoral medicine of the ancient Greeks, which stated that a mix of fluids known as humours (Greek: χυμός, chymos, literally: juice or sap, metaphorically: flavour) controlled human health and emotion. A sense of humour is the ability to experience humour, a quality which all people share, although the extent to which an individual will personally find something humorous depends on a host of absolute and relative variables, including geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, intelligence, and context. For example, young children (of any background) may possibly favour slapstick, such as Punch and Judy puppet shows or cartoons e.g. Tom and Jerry. Satire may rely more on understanding the target of the humour, and thus tends to appeal to more mature audiences. Non-satirical humour can be specifically termed "recreational drollery".[1][2]

I am a "former" Challenger shareholder, in light of the current situation I came and had a look at this site to see if any advice or suggestions had been posted here. I have since found another site that had been set up to provide us with all of the info that we need to continue our syndicates. I did however learn a few things as I was browsing through the site so thought I'd ask the advice of some of you proper boaters on a few issues I've got. I reference the following thread: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...p;hl=challenger[/url] I'm having problems getting my boat up to full waterskiing speed. This is a problem as my wife gets a bit bored whilst cruising long pounds and is an excellent waterskier. Has anyone tried to fit hydrofoils to their narrowboat, and have they found it sucessful? There are of course safety issues to consider. Is it compulsory to have a "spotter" on the counter to monitor the skier? I've checked our licence and Waterscape but there is no mention of it. Also could you advise if there is a commercially available prop-shield in case the skier is not able to stop as fast as the boat. Could some proper boaters also suggest a suitable pound for skiing? All of my tests have been carried out on the Sutton Stop to Hilmorton locks pound but I keep coming unstuck when the footbridge is closed at Rose Narrowboats. I hear the Bridgewater may be more suitable. I would also like to ask some proper boaters if they know of a School of Arrogance in which I can enrol. I've tried but nothing in my expensive public school education taught me how to be a fully fledged nasty stuck-up p**k, no matter how hard I try. Perhaps a proper boater could also offer some advice on running a boat, I don't believe our syndicate's combined 178 years boating experience is really going to be enough to "do the arranging" by ourselves and would hate to pass you at full skiing speed whilst looking haggared. Finally, can anyone help with a secure gun case I can keep on the roof to repel boarders? Leaving my Remington 700 LVSF vermin rifle on the roof is probably a bit irresponsibe, I realise that a lot of us Chellenger owners do it but I agree it could endanger life if not secured properly. Sorry for so many questions but my 23 years service in the Royal Navy has clearly not prepared me for the rigours of the inland waterways mastered by you proper boaters.