alan_fincher
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Posts posted by alan_fincher
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I think think this rather charming and very distinctive boat has probably had a substantial reduction in the asking price.
(That said, I don't keep a record of prices being asked for, so I may be wrong).
https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/narrow-boats-traditional-for-sale/793421
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5 minutes ago, MtB said:
And will probably sound like a dumper truck unless a decent silencer is devised.
Its water cooled, so perhaps might sound a bit less "dumper truck like"
Here is a video of one for sale on eBay.
(But note if you bid i would be coming from Mumbai!)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWng9RkcFDg?rel=0 -
Seems to only be 10HP, so I suggest really only suitable for quite a small narrow boat.
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3 hours ago, Siduller17 said:
The current bathroom set up is very basic, with a sea toilet going straight into the canal due to the boat previously being moored on the thames, i think making it legal.
I don't think that can be correct.
When I worked as part time labour for one of the Grand Union Canal hire boat firms right back in the early 1970s each narrow boat had a sea toilet. Back then it was allowed on canals.
However if the boat was going out for a passage on the Thames then the sea toilet had to be disabled, and a basic Elsan Bristol "Bucket and chuck it" loo was squeezed into the bathroom.
So I would say on the non tidal thames sea toilets were outlawed even before the 1970s.-
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On 21/08/2025 at 10:14, Arthur Marshall said:
That's an old Villager Puffin stove, same as mine. Just thought I'd mention it.
You may mention it, but what is pictured is surely a Villager Heron rather than a Villager Puffin?
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I really don't understand why Basic Boat insurance will not cover you.
I would have thought that there have been very many people in exactly your situation who have switched to Basic Boat
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31 minutes ago, MtB said:
Indeed. This is the whole raison d'être for Basic-Boat insurance to exist in the first place!
Actually that's not quite the whole raison d'etre for basic cover. Some owners who could go fully comp if they wanted to chose instead to "self insure". OK, thee is a degree of gambling in doing that, but if nothing bad happens you can save a great deal of money over your ownership of the boat.
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22 minutes ago, nicknorman said:
Looks to me like it says “canal burscough” near the bottom.
The bridge looks a slightly different shape but the building behind is identical…
Excellent detective work!
Well done Nick! -
14 hours ago, jonathanA said:
Certainly worth going for 19kg bottles if you can cope with the extra height.
How widely available are 19kg bottles at convenient canalside locations, (or from fuel boats)?
Obviously I have never been actively looking for them, but equally I can't recall seeing them. -
3 minutes ago, Dorlan said:
Calcutt's stop planks at the ready!
Is that really enough?
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There is much about how CRT run things that I am regularly unhappy with.
None the less I believe it is the prolonged periods of very very little rain that has lead to the current situation, rather it being driven by CRT mismanagement.-
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17 hours ago, Flibbertigibbet said:
As predicted, the CRT now prefer the lazy method of "water management", which is close first, ask questions later.
In ten years time, the canal system as we know it simply won't exist.
If you know the magic answer to the question "How do you conjure up water when there is none?" I suggest you urgently tell CRT.
You'd be doing us all a big favour!-
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3 hours ago, SLC said:
No surprise. We grounded our prop on the entrance to the marina. Level dropped at least 25mm in the last week. Weed growth on Northampton arm looks much worse than usual but that is subjective.
Well 25mm (i.e. about 1") would not normally make a huge difference!
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1 hour ago, blackrose said:
Is it supposed to be room sealed only, or can you fit non -room sealed too?
You can theoretically fit either but the flue arrangements on the room sealed are not consistent with passing under low bridges. The non room sealed is a much more practical arrangement
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The broker is wrong. You may replace one. More than that you may fit a new one where none was fitted previously.
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45 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
I am sure someone on here can give an approximate age for reg 65517
Not really, as it is one of the several original series, which despite being listed as 1980/1981, really means 1980/81 or any date earlier.
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On 03/08/2025 at 07:23, magnetman said:
Classy Boat that. One I always did like.
Yes, but assuming it has not changed ownership since 2014, I wish any new prospective purchaser.
I hope the seller is actually prepared to sell once you think you have struck a bargain.
Back in 2014 he wasted a good 6 months of our time, during which other possible candidate boats for us had come and gone.More detail in this blog post....
https://sickleandflamingo.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-ones-that-got-away-number-2-ajax.html
4 minutes ago, Tonka said:You are correct.
Weired because it worked the other day
If it is the same owner as in 2014 he might very well have changed his mind and deleted the advert!
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On 03/08/2025 at 07:12, Admiral said:
Ajax on the duck
AjaxI'm not sure why, but your link is only taking me to blank pages.
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Are both boats of a broadly similar length?
If "no", which boat is pointed in the direction you wish to go, (the longer one or the shorter one). -
14 hours ago, Mike Tee said:
Good place to be stuck, right next to the ice cream shop!
I'm not so sure - I'd probably end up spending a fortune on painted "canalware"!
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5 minutes ago, GUMPY said:
Thats good news
Who is running it these days?
Pete and Mandy, (so OH tells me).
They seem to be doing OK..... Well, until they managed to start a kitchen fire that quickly made its way up into the roof! -
On 01/08/2025 at 21:47, GUMPY said:
Is The Ship the thatched one near the Red Lion at Maffers?
I didn't think you were old enough to remember that 😨
Talking of which the Red Lion appears to have had a fire, hope it reopens.
Reopening on Wednesday, apparently.
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3 hours ago, IanM said:
I'm not entirely convinced that will last particularly long!
1 hour ago, matty40s said:Well, theres at least 20 more similar balance beams on the GU between Brentford and Stoke Bruerne so give it a chance.
Quite:
Every single lock on the Marsworth flight had one of these last time I walked down the flight.I'm not convinced Tim's picture is the real problem.
This is what has been claimed elsewhere, and seems far more consistent with a very nasty boat impact.
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I think they want you to stay on board at Tuel Lane
In fact they may do so at other locks that require you to manage your mooring ropes by passing them behind those taut steel cables that stretch vertically up the lock side walls.
Historic Boats for sale online
in History & Heritage
Posted
I first encountered this boat probably about 11 years ago.
We were making a descent from the Etruria summit on the Trent and Mersey, and Sarah was the next boat in the queue behind us.
It may well be that its accommodation was not the most practical, but as Paul suggests it was more livable than a working boat back cabin.
As for practicalities of navigation and working locks there didn't appear to be any great issues.
Personally though in a boat claimed to be 1850s, (is it really?), I would prefer an engine a bit less modern than that Lister Petter unit, though it is unclear it there is space to fit something more interesting. A Sabb, possibly???