Incentive

Hi We are just about to set off from the Shropshire Union Canal to head down to new moorings at Bidford On Avon. Big venture for us as we have not moored on a River before and I'll admit to being a bit apprehensive about flooding etc. [hope to take a trip down the new Droitwhich on our way] I wondered if there are many River Avon Boaters on the forum, and whether you have any tips about the peculiarities of river mooring, local knowledge of the Avon etc etc.. In particular I was thinking about where to get diesel and boat sundries. Grinding to a halt for some reason on a canal may be inconvenient, but there you stay, and there is always a tow path. Are there any seasoned river narrow boaters with wise words that might help us get up to speed with mooring and staying on the Avon? All thoughts appreciated Cheers Martin.

Thanks Tim Boy that was quick! Looks like just the thing I was after. Cheers Martin

Hi Can someone point me in the right direction for tracking down some of the traditional songs of the canals and waterways? A CD would be ideal. Many thanks Martin

I think that is a great idea. Maybe just a section on the forum to list parking spots by canal. When we continuously cruised we developed a good relationship with an agent for a national car hire firm, that worked really well. We find that you can usually get to wherever you have left your car and back again in half a day. Making the cost of hiring a car around £25 which is usually cheaper and much quicker than public transport.

We are proud owners of their 2004 exhibition boat and have so far enjoyed five years of fault free cruising. I'm really shocked to hear that Mike has died he was a fine man.

Hi Just to confirm what others have already said. I have heard back from the company, and they confirm that they are working to different freaquencies. They have a European branch, but the only device that they sell covers a range of 500 m2 which would probably cook the occupants of the boat! Hey ho back to the head in the porthole

Hi Nick There is nothing like an expert for deflating my enthusiasm! I have copied some of the spec in the hope that you or some other contributor that understands this sort of language might be able to immediately see if these frequencies are compatible in the UK. I have read mixed reviews, but some at least claim great benifit from this device, and I have to say that it is because I am sick of trailing wires, putting bits of kit in plastic bags, sitting in doorways and trying to have conversations with my head in a porthole that I am looking for a solution Frequency: TX: 824-849 MHz 1850-1910 MHz RX: 869-894 MHz 1930-1990 MHz Gain: Up to 43 dB Output Power: DL: +10 dBm UL: +20 dBm Modulation: CDMA, GSM, EVDO, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, TDMA, 1xRTT, HSDPA and AMPS. Power Source: 12 V adaptor

Hi I wondered if anyone has any experience with using a Wi-Ex zBoost YX230 In-Vehicle Kit? their website I think this may be a good answer for us. It looks as if it effectively brings the mobile signal into a closed space, so in theory you could roam anywhere inside the boat using a mobile, and at the same time use a data card on a laptop anywhere inside the boat. I am currently a happy user of an external ariel, but I get frustrated by having to connect either the phone or the data card, and also that I am limited to using it trailing the cable. If this works, then I would use the phone and the laptop "normally". I have asked the company to tell me what the power use is, and whether they have examples of it being used on a 60 ft faraday cage.

Hi Thanks Marc That little programme does the trick nicely I have done some looking around and it looks as if the simplest thing to do would be to put a suitable webcam on to the roof at the front of the boat, and to download a programme that will instruct the camera to take a photo every 5 or so seconds. I found such a programme free on a site called Lab rat, which has a timelapse photo booth programme. This will take photos from a connected web cam at a time interval set by the user. Windows movie maker will allow you to put these into a film. I have just made an incredibly boring time lapse video of myself sitting here doing this, so I know it works! here is the link My questions are:- is this what people do? What equipment do they use? What time lapse have they found is best at narrowboat speed? I have always had trouble with the discipline of keeping a log, this strikes me as potentially a more entertaining record of our trips. Cheers Martin

Hi I have done a search on this but got so many hits I couldn't find what I was looking for, so please forgive me if this is old hat. I have thoroughly enjoyed some of the U-Tube submissions of peoples time-lapse photography of their cruises, and I wondered if anyone has a starters guide to the best way of setting up this sort of kit. There are clearly a number of ways of doing this, maybe someone has some tips on the best set up to get me started? Thanks Martin

Hi UKJohn.... Put the boat on a low loader, and you might as well have a caravan. "Sailing" it may even be a possibility this time of year, but I would recommend using an engine (or a horse). Lucky man, best possible introduction to your boat is to make a purposeful first trip, - one way. You'll get to know her well, you'll also get to know the canals well, and you will find plenty of help and adventure on the way. Plan your route with Canal Plan, buy the appropriate guide books, then speak with the area office of BW once you know your route to check which of the stoppages they will have listed on their site might pose you a problem. Go for it, that's what it is all about. On the one level we can tune into the feelings of a great adventure, whilst still being aware that we speak the language it's made of steel, so not too fragile the water is only a few feet deep, and land never far away most people you meet will be pleased to help you out if you get a problem Good luck

I wonder if you have been to Oxford recently? I must say that I was very disappointed, but maybe that's my problem. No dreaming spires to be seen from the canal, and not as many turning circles as I expected. Thrup was the last really nice part I remember, but no turning circle between thrup and the river in Oxford. There are dozens of residential boats in Oxford, many of them seem practically derelict. I understand that the local authority ended up paying the mooring fees for a lot of the boats because otherwise they would have a duty to house the residents, and basically it worked out cheaper for them to pay B.W. I would take a stroll down there and talk with some of the locals. Good luck

Thanks for the replies I've done a bit more research, and, by chance met someone who has done it quite recently. It seems that there are no steel boats for hire. I see the point about swell etc. Perhaps a cannoe is an interesting option, but I can't see Laura doing it!! Another alternative might be a cruise on board a dutch barge that works as a hotel boat. I'll keep scheming and dreaming. Cheers Martin

Dear All Laura and I really fancy a trip through the Caledonian Canal. I (we) resent considering hiring a boat, it seems almost disloyal to 'Incentive'. In our dreams, someone with a narrow boat on the Caledonian Canal may want to agree a swap for a couple of weeks. We have looked at the hire companies up there, and wether it's prejudice or not I am not spending any time on a plastic boat! Does anyone have any experiences of this canal? Does anyone know of a narrowboat or dutch barge owner who may consider a two week swap? Is anyone aware of a hire company that lets out steel boats on this canal? Has anyone had a holiday recently up there? Any tips advice, suggestions would be welcome. Thanks Martin