Hazza

To be fair to BW (not popular here I know) there are added difficulties this year with the change in VAT. The renewal notices were sent out with VAT at 17.5% but it is due at 15%. They will offer a refund or a credit on your account. I guess this takes a fair bit longer to deal with. If you have problems blame it on Messrs Brown & Darling.

I am waiting too. Chased them last week "it is being processed". Who knows!

No problem leaving it on. Just work hard to pay for all the gas you'll use!

Go with the inboard. I have done both and wouldn't touch another petrol boat let alone an outboard. Many have said above why but I will summarise the disadvantages of the outboard option:- 1. You can't buy petrol canalside. 2. It's dangerous keeping petrol onboard particularly when you add LPG into the mix. 3. It can cause problems getting a safety cert as the regs are much tighter. 4. You don't get nearly the same charging capacity. 5. You can't heat your hot water. 6. Outboards get nicked. There have been cases where thieves have cut part of a boat away to nick a locked on outboard. 7. They don't last as long. That should persuade in favour of the deisel but I think you'd come to that conclusion anyway!

We should be careful what we say to these fishermen then....

For timings etc have a look at http://www2.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/canal.cgi?m=js;

The answer is pretty simple. Rather than attaching the rubber "protector" to the rope and thus allowing it to rub on your paint attach some form of protection to your boat so that the rope rubs on that and not the paint. You could try hanging a rubber mat or similar off the handrail.

I quite agree that something needs to be done about the state of the K&A. It's a disgrace and frankly an insult to all those who worked so hard on the restoration. It is soon to be a restoration project again if BW continue to neglect it.

I use them. Fairly standard pair of units for about £50. Really handy. I can recommend. Probably don't do the 5K distance as said above but do far enough between boat and "lockeeper". For £20 go for it.

64 shares relates to registered boats. You have to register the ownership in terms of 64ths. Therefore full ownership is 64/64 if owned jointly by two people in equal shares the registration certificate would show each owning 32 shares etc etc.

County lock is the second one up so there shouldn't be a problem. The Kennet can also run pretty fast.

I think the point is quite simple in that we all share the waterways and BW run them. BW have set the guidelines for the use of their waterways. These guidelines are quite clear in that we should all close lock gates behind us, which the majority of boaters do. I am only too aware that guidelines that are ignored soon become rules which I am sure nobody wants. If we all adhere to the guidelines there can be no argument or bad feeling. It may be inconvenient for single handers but tough. If they don't like it find some crew.

I have always been of the opinion that etiquette dictates that we should all (single handers and crewesd boats) close the gates behind us. There is nothing more frustrating than having to close gates that another boater can't be bothered to close before having to turn a lock around. Sod's Law dictates that gates are only left open at the wrong end of a lock set against you. Apart from arguments over water wastage leaving the gates open is plain selfish and wrong.

I have used them once and they were very efficient. I think they are better with diesels than petrol.

Once painted has anyone got any tips on how to get rid of the foul smell/taste of the water coming out of the tank? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.