alan_fincher

Whilst I think there is nothing wrong with injecting a bit of humour into this topic, I am uncomfortable that people are carrying out activities claiming to be CRT volunteers, but CRT seem not immediately able to work out either who those people are, or what they are supposed to be doing. As it is not just me that is uncomfortable about it, but also some of those encountering it, I think it is worth trying to establish what is going on, and whether it is "legit" or not. If CRT don't actually know someone is doing it, but they are "badged" as CRT, this has toi be wrong, surely?

Each to their own, and no doubt a big saving over a new price, (or a big loss to the owner that is selling it so soon), but it does seem an eye watering price for what is essentially a mid-length production line produced boat with a modern buzzy engine. Perhaps the colour may appeal to someone, but I have seen this boat, and describing as "unusual" is being kind of polite, in my view. I'd expect to buy a minimum of two boats, possibly three, for this kind of money, but we are all different, of course! I think this one was delivered and on its mooring a long while before Mr Hudson's passing, so I do find the claim it was the last very surprising, in view of how many he was turning out.

Yes, did you complete the ownership transfer form? If not, then CRT are quite clear on the point...... (A shame they can't spell licensing, though! )

It seems it depends to some extent whether you believe Haifax or whether you believe Nationwide Or so this BBC report says.

Farecla? You can certainly still buy Farecla products, though it has never occurred to me to try therm on brass - they are mostly for restoring paint. That is quite bizarre then, as I have recently been recommended to try Brasso on the boat paintwork, as the Farecla product isn't really working!

That information would appear to be out of date, even if it were ever true, and doesn't really help now. FMC steamer captains allegedly wear bowler hats, though I'm not sure that helps here either!

Telling us the engine maker, but nothing about the gearbox, means people can only give generic advice. What about giving some identification of gearbox manufacturer and type, (does it have an identification plate on it), oir even a picture.

Why is there rain where your diesel tank is, please? Is this merely a case of a leaky cruiser stern deck, or similar? It might be worth trying to fix the cause of your problem, as well as the symptom?

I'm not sure what this sentence is trying to say, but it doesn't look plain English to me as written!

There is a post on Facebook by him that seems to anticipate he was stopping at the Blue Lias, although I'm not quite sure this was his intended meaning!

You are still not tricking me into opening an NBW link!

It could be Otter, I guess. These two were moored together on the offside at Braunston a few days ago. Is it possible Mr Burge is in charge? He brought Otter to Braunston, I think!

Do they wear CRT Volunteer shirts, and say they are CRT volunteers?

With varying degrees of success - it rather depends on the type of darkening and corrosion.... Shiny Sinks Astonish Bar Keepers Friend (sometimes mixed with Astonish) Servol Autosol (expensive but effective) We have not found the oft suggested tomato ketchup to work as well as any of the above.

Oh good - let's hope it goes through without issues, because I feel Keith could really do with some good news.

It would seem not, if this answer is correct...... So it remains a mystery at present, as we are told it was neither a "mooring ranger" nor a "volunteer locky", yet they were clearly dressed and identifying themselves as a CRT volunteer. As they may be acting without any authority from CRT, can I suggest anybody else faced with this asks to see some ID, and takes their name.

Ah I wondered when the announcement would finally be. Having travelled past it several times, being at first just pulled out with surveyors marks on it, and then subsequently being blacked, it was fairly obvious the survey was OK, or the blacking would probably not have occurred! It seems strange though that I am not aware of any of the other forum members boats on sale there having yet found a buyer, (although I must admit I have not looked at Dominic's website recently, maybe some now have sold??).

Yes, I have that running as a separate query because I think it probably isn't volunteer rangers saying that, but volunteer lock keepers. Still awaiting reply. Do you have any story to tell on this topic, (sorry if I'm not fully tracking everybody involved in all these threads!).

Whilst pursuing a specific topic relating to CRT volunteers, Mathew Symmonds, CRT Boating Liaison Manager South, has just sent me the following generic information, which may be of interest, in the light of some recent threads...... Additionally, and more specifically, he tells me...... So at the moment I am unable to throw any more light on who it might be that has been reported as recording boat details there, but I will continue to try and get an answer to that question.

Whilst it is possible they would do it for others, I would say the agreement you sign up to does not require them to do it. Good that this happened for you, but I don't think people can rely on it.

Errm no..... Get your calculator out, the actual ratio implied by 4mm to the foot is neither 1:72, nor 1:80. It is actually 1:76.2. If you are genuinely talking about "00" gauge, then you are talking about models built at 4mm to the foot, but running on HO gauge track, where corresponding continental models were actually built at 3.5mm to the foot. The actual track gauge of "00" is only 16.5 mm, so actually at 4mm to the foot only represents a real life gauge of 4' 3", whereas of course British standard gauge railways are actually 4' 8.5" gauge. Hence British "OO" models look top heavy on the track, compared to the real world, as the track appears almost "half a foot" too narrow in gauge. ("Anoraks are us"!)

The normal termination conditions for a CRT mooring won at auction are usually something like this.... I have always taken that to mean you are committed to paying for 6 months, but I have heard different interpretations about termination after that. Can you give notice at 4 months, and leave at 6, without further penalty, or must you wait 6 months before giving notice at all, and are hence actually forced to 8 months? Two different calls to CRT each yielded the opposite answer, so I still don't know!

Not passing any views, I'm not qualified to! But these are extracts from the manual, (some loss of formatting, but hopefully still understandable_). and

Although I have no personal experience, I believe some of the issue may be to do with boat and/or lock being slightly banana shaped. So I think a boat that is full length may get into difficulties more easily than one that is shortened. So, if your potential shortened example isn't actually thought to be spread, or to have any known banana features, I'm thinking you are probably far less likely to face issues.