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alan_fincher

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Everything posted by alan_fincher

  1. So who is thinking of going to the Braunston Historic Narrow Boat Rally next weekend, (Saturday June 27th and Sunday June 28th)? We are very much hoping to have both our historic narrow boats, "Sickle" and "Flamingo" there, despite "Flamingo" being very much "work in progress". Braunston Marina's dtails for the rally here. Last prediction I heard was for around 80 historic narrow boats to attend - if so that is a good number, still making it easily the largest turn out of the calendar, without the complete chaos that has ensued in years where the numbers attending have exceeded 100. Anyway, if you do go, please try and find us on either "Sickle" or "Flamingo", (which I suspect are likely to end up moored together), and introduce yourselves, if we have not met so far. Alan, Cath & Odin.
  2. ASM have a yard between Kings Langley and Nash Mills, though I have never used them, I'm told others have weighed batteries in there. However, whilst "as the crow flies" it is very near to the canal, I suspect carting a load of lead filled batteries from the nearest road bridge over the cut might be considerably less appealing!
  3. Does your bag of coal have a pair of expensive specs with it, though? And do you have the legacy of a completely knackered and very painful shoulder caused by "placing" them there?
  4. I think you must be if you are advocating use of Windows 3.1!
  5. The article clearly states it is a feeder to the canal that has overflowed, so it seems not the canal itself. If the amount of water is unable to get through the feeder fast enough, and into the canal, then going over lock gates, or weirs at locks doesn't really enter into it. I guess it depends how much water, how fast, and whether something was partially blocking its intended route into the canal, as Julian suggests.
  6. The latest acquired boat, (and hence the latest acquired HA!), came with an original book.... "Lister Air Cooled Diesel Engines Types HA & HB 2 & 3 Cylinders Instruction Book & Parts List" (Published 1963, price 10/-) I have scoured this, and although the "Starting & Running faults" section has entries for "Loss of Oil Pressure", at no point elsewhere in this publication can I find any references to hat ranges they think oil pressure lie in, and hence there are no clues about what constitutes "low oil pressure". The "Lubrication" section does actually make some reference to use of Mutigrades, as it states..... "Supplement 1" appears to be a supplement to Ministry of Defence specs 2101C or MIL-L-2104, but at this point I'm totally out of my depth, I'll freely admit. No recommended oils listed in this document are mutigrades.
  7. The two who in their time spoke out most strongly, (apart from me of course! ), were the two CC-ers, both of whom stepped down. Had we still got either, (or preferably both!), I would be far happier with the make up of the group. I would dearly like another one to take up the challenge, particularly if people are going to suggest that those of us with a home mooring cannot properly support the position of those who do not, (although in practice I continue to have a damn good try to!).
  8. Yes, Of course you make a valid point, and given that one is really committing to serving a year or two on such a group, anybody who is going to be based at one end of the canal network now, but at the other in (say) 6 months time, is probably not really the best candidate to serve on a group that is specific to one CRT region. That said, I believe we have one of the highest overall numbers of CC-ers of any region, and the honest reality is that a very large proportion of them venture only rarely off the waterways of this region, if at all. Many limit their CC-ing to a corridor of the GU, for instance, that is well served by railway stations all the way from about Watford (Herts) to Northampton and Long Buckby. The CRT Milton Keynes office, the usual venue for sub-group meetings, is actually in the same building as Milton Keynes station, so this has to be one of the very easiest of venues to get to from many parts of the GU. Also people in the group are not averse to providing lifts from canals in the region. I have availed myself of this when I'm boating, rather than at home.
  9. Better do it on foot, not by boat though..... Alledgedly if you go by boat, you are unlikely to be able to moor up near any of the pubs!
  10. If you want to find the man you might do better at the "Three Locks"! EDIT: Serious question John...... Anybody can see that you have very much "lost the faith" on trying to work pro-actively with CRT, after your enormous optimism early on in the process. I can understand that, and more and more can see the same in other early supporters who now feel regularly frustrated. So what do you think we should do? Do we simply stop trying to influence them at all, or, (assuming we are not completely worn down by the process, and are prepared to try), do we keep chipping away at it by whatever corridors of communication we still have. As I say, serious, honest, open question - I don't know the answer myself, but the one thing I personally genuinely believe is that if they wear us all down to the point we all withdraw, it certainly isn't going to be good for inland boaters and boating generally.
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  12. No, Unfortunately these groups are not open to being observed by those not members of them. I recall that it was asked in the past if people could observe the main partnership meetings, and it seemed that overall CRT were not minded to allow it. Someone may be able to find the thread where the whole idea was mooted? I imagine CRT's attitude towards a partnership sub-group would bbe no different from the main partnership meetings, but you could always try asking them.
  13. John, I not disagreeing with your thoughts, but would point out that there has been an advertised vacancy on this sub-group specifically for someone who cruises without a home mooring for many months now. If someone were recruited, (and I suspect it could be two people, as there were initially two CC-ers on the sub-group), then there is a very good chance that they will either be in the category of having purchased a winter mooring themselves, or at least being in regular contact with many who have. I have actively pursued personally a couple of recommendations of people that others had said, (and I agreed), would be good CC-er members, but unfortunately in each case their personal circumstances have changed, and, although living aboard, they are now on permanent moorings, so don't meet the CC-er criterion. Both the SE Partnership chair, and the current chair of the sub-group are keen to improve CC-er representation, but nobody I am aware of has applied. It would be great if someone suitable would come forward - is there any "qualifying" person reading this prepared to apply ? As it happens, I don't think I'm expecting more than a possible "state of play" update on the topic of winter moorings. I don't think the sub-group has any remit in what I would expect to be national decisions. Anyway the feedback I have heard is that the final decisions about 2015/2016 are not going to be taken for a while yet - is that your understanding, please? You may be surprised to learn that there is strong support within the sub-group the winter moorings be retained in much last years form though, from people not always supportive of the CC-ers cause. The fact that winter moorings have generated significant revenue for CRT is seen as a very strong positive, and seems to go some way to placate those who seem to feel that CC-ers are "getting for nothing what we have to pay for". (I stress the latter is not a view I can ever get my brain around, but, as you know, it is a regularly stated opinion).
  14. There has been some comment on CWDF that people do not know what is being discussed in this sub-group. This is the agenda I have recently received for the meeting next Monday. (Before anybody asks, I don't yet know what "Trade Boat Exemption" refers to - perhaps someone can enlighten me before the meeting?) AGENDA Title: South East Boating Sub-Group Date: 22nd June 2015 Attendees Members – John Best (JB), Lynda Payton (LP), James Griffin (JG), Alan Wildman (AW), Alan Fincher (AF), David Daines (DD) CRT Staff - Matthew Symonds (MS), Vicky Martin (VM), Hannah Roe (HR), Sam Anderson-Brown (SA) Apologies David Cook (DC), Judy Clegg (JC) 1. Welcome and introductions – Vicky Martin, David Cook & Cathy Court (joining in September) LP 2. Declarations of Interest 3. Vicky Martin – an opportunity to meet the new South East Waterway Manager VM 4. Notes from the previous meeting/Matters arising LP 5. Trade Boat Exemption SA 6. South East Waterway 10 Year Plan JB/VM 7. Visitor Moorings updates MS - Existing sites (Thrupp, Foxton Locks, Stoke Bruerne) - New sites (Oxford, Banbury) - Other sites being monitored (Batchworth, Berkhamsted, Braunston, Cowroast, Marsworth) - Changes to trade boat conditions - Soulbury Three Locks 8. Giffard Park Quiet Zone Proposal MS 9. Winter Mooring 2015/16 MS 10. Customer Service Standard Update VM 11. AOB All 12. Dates for future meetings:
  15. But on most boats don't the wooden gunwales just bolt on to steel/iron angles on the top of the hull-sides that project inwards nearly as much as the width of the gunwales? I genuinely don't think you could accommodate a pod that was significantly wider below gunwale level, even if you went to all the rigmarole of taking the wood off, and reinstating it - a massive jub, I would have thought! Quite!
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  17. Some more pictures of our busy weekend in our blog post here. (Note: There will be duplication with some pictures already seen on CWDF).
  18. Morris Oils can often be bought significantly cheaper if you don't but them direct from Morris. EDIT: Classic Oils of Aylesbury has been one members recommendation, though I have not yet used them personally.
  19. Can we assume you are referring to the tragic accident with Drum Major ?
  20. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  21. I can't help with pictures, but have a couple of snippets about this as a carrying butty with the GUCCCo. Cowley lock keeper records show that in 1946 it was paired with "Letchworth", a boat we now own, (although it is currently carrying it's later Willow Wren name of "Flamingo"). On 9th Feb 1946 it was carrying grain from Brentford to New Ground on the Tring summit. On 21st Nov 1946 it was carrying beer from Park Royal to Sampson Road, Birmingham. Perhaps somebody can confirm if that is likely to be the famous "Guinness run"? Steerers names are not recorded in these records.
  22. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  23. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  24. Yes, my understanding is that this is the Dykes family who I believe still own Fenny, and used to own Cow Roast until they somehow managed to sell it to BWML for £££silly£££. I have not heard any recent updates about status.
  25. Not the one pictured in this thread, I think..... That would look decidedly odd under sheets!
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