LEO

Hi, Long term annual theme - it was the same each year during the 90's when I was in there. Leo.

Hi P, My boat, 'Albion Mills' with it's previous owner Sid White, was the first boat up a newly opened section of the Chesterfield Canal a few years back. I have some good pics of it on some of the lock flights - someday I will master loading pics on the site. Have fun Leo.

Another wet one? Leo.

Hi, Grove at Leighton B. as far as I am aware, below the lock. Leo

Ice at moorings on canal at Cowroast, but lock/winding hole ice free at the moment. Cannot speak highly enough of the Kabola/eco fan - runs continuously with no problems on tickover to keep boat warm without the need to switch the circulation pump on. Leo

Hi, A friend had a Fox boat - 'March Hare', all metal,with the usual distinctive front, built in 1973, it was reviewed in WW around that time. Great engine cooling system - a 22mm pipe running round the inside of the boat very innovative. Have seen it around the system a couple of times since. Leo

A very understanding wife! or is that you operating the equipment?. Leo

Hi, Having run a similar engine for a number of years and looked at the pics of your engine I think it could have reached the stage where it desperately needs some in 'depth TLC', works which are beyond the scope of someone with only basic fitting skills. Raw water cooled engines have a very limited life span and it sounds as if your engine needs a thorough 'flush through' to begin with. I don't like the raw water inlet pipe looks too small and plumbed in incorrectly. You could be throwing good money after bad, I would recommend seeking specialist advice and consider a reconditioned engine - correctly 'plumbed' in. Leo.

Hi, I have a similar pump to KooKoo's and it did need priming each time when I bought the boat, but I tightened all the nuts and got the joints properly sealed, now it does take some 'action' with the handle to draw the diesel up from the tank before some reistance is felt and then she 'pumps like a good 'un'. As an aside we had these pumps to pump water in a house when I was young, it became defective and my brother and I 'overhauled' it - the pump incorporated a leather washer which the dog ate - took us a few days following the dog round - but we got the washer back - nice and supple if I remember right. Leo.

Hi, I'm thinking of getting a ladder fitted close to the boat on the linear mooring I rent from BW. I fell in a couple of weeks ago, during the last cold/frosty snap. Water was cold!, but it proved virtually impossible to get out (canal both sides has steel/concrete piling). Fortunately my neighbour came with a ladder, otherwise............ Water was about 4ft deep and crystal clear. Second 'ducking' in 35 years, hope things don't come in threes. Leo

Brilliant, great camera work....................................................... Leo.

Hi, Renewal December - after the probs with VAT, phoned up Watford, they gave me details of the new amount, paid for it there and then over the 'blower'. Qualified for PPD. Leo.

Hi, I suspect this is a relatively modern works where sewage is pre-heated to improve/speed up treatment. This is a huge treatment works treating sewage form a large 'catchment' area. Leo.

There were 2 applications in recently, at Grove/Ivinghoe. Leo

, Yes and no, BW support them because they get a 'stonkingly' high connection fee and future revenues from each one. BW hope it will clear the canal of linear moorings (which can be a bit tedious to pass at times). No - because moorings charges are much too high and there are too many berths available, many of which remain unfilled. Marinas are expensive to develop which is possibly one reason for the high charges. Prospective owners feel they are an easy way to make money, but in reality marinas are the golf clubs courses of the 1990's, which saw the market flooded with courses and prices for joining/playing fell quickly, so much so that many are now struggling financially. In some instances these sporting/leisure facilities are a good way to 'launder' money. The boating 'bubble' will burst soon as owners just do not have the spare cash available to own and run a canal boat - unless charges are pegged and made more reasonable, especially on the moorings front. I am on a BW linear mooring at £30 a metre p.an (PPDis), no facilities and no maintenance from BW!!. The marinas currently being developed are really huge boat parks, filled with floating cottages (few of the boats move far), it would be preferable if the size of marinas could be limited to say 100 boats which would have less of an impact on the environment, but as developers genarally try to 'cash in' by adding residential units and associated leisure facilities anything less than 300 berths may not be considered viable. It's going to be an interesting few years watching how things develop, I would loved to see the feasibility studies the developers on the marinas incorporated into their original development plans and there must be some worried Bankers around who have helped fund these expensive 'puddles'. BW have put on hold plans to develop 2 marinas on the Southern GU. Leo

Hi, It's Christmas, life's too short, I try to be a narrowboater, not a narrow minded boater. It's great that someone young is getting on the water. You can only get a true perspective in life if you listen to everyone's opinion, then disregard them and form your own if you want. Have a good holiday. Leo.

Hi, Have a good trip, all the best for Christmas and the New Year. Leo.

Hi, Interesting, but I am sure it was not anglers who left the large yellow topped battery with oddly positioned terminal posts, the used 13.5kg Gas cylinder and the large blue polypropylene drum and rubbish in the hedge on the Tring summit over recent months. We are all grateful for the unsafe, rusting scaffold landing stage which another boater erected as a mooring on the towpath of the Wendover Arm which still remains athough he has sold his boat. Leo s

Shouldn't think you will find too many problems, quality of plumbing looks excellent, some exceptional pipe bending, shame it may have to be hidden away. LEO.

Hi, Hope it does not sink - as there is every chance that an insurance claim would not be accepted. All policies require the insured to mitigate loss and under these circumstances you outline you would not have done this. In these difficult times Insurance companies will do all they can to avoid meeting claims, possibly even down to reading the entries on this Forum to assist them in reaching a decision. Leo.

Geoff, Hope you are well, I was a PParts one, He has replaced it with a Fuel lock type. Hope that helps, have a good Christmas Leo.

Hi, I have a small safety 'chain' on mine, which stops it falling over and damaging the blades/spindle. They do make a difference and are a good investment. I seem to remember a similar thread at the beginning of the year. I thought you should position them so that the air was drawn from the flue of the fire, but mine is on top of a Kabola which runs on a low setting, heat circulation through the boat (including galley, bathroom, engine room and boatman's) is excellent. Leo.