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

Hi I'm sure that none of us would like to post anything that would damage this forum, we get a huge amount from the benefits that it does provide, even if we may wish for further benefits. Some of these postings would be well placed in the suggestions section. I believe that we should find a way to express our experiences of all aspects of boating, and that that should reasonably include the consumer experience- which, sadly, sometimes can feel like quite a dominant aspect of boating given the issues of buying a boat, moorings fees, fuel, etc etc . The site could consider a disclaimer. If I have something to say about a business, I would be happy to defend that if challenged in law, or, if not, then I would keep my opinion to myself. Consumer information is what keeps markets honest and competitive. E-bay is an illustration of a market where there is almost complete consumer knowledge. Who doesnt check a seller's feedback before parting with their money? Someone honestly describing their experience of a boat builder, or marina, or fitter etc, would not be deformation, slander or actionable. Someone dishonestly doing so would be open to a legal consequence, and so they should be. We are looking to buy a new car. I have spent a lot of time on Whatcar site, reading the feedback from other consumers of their experiences of both specific models and of the car companies themselves. I have not heard of any of these postings resulting in legal action. I wish it could be done for the Canal world, as it is for almost every other domestic market, from fridges to motor cars, but if this forum wishes not to be the place where that happens, then fair enough.

Great! Thanks............... I have a prop that sings, very annoying because it is at my favourite cruising revs, a bit like wheels that need ballancing on a car, go 68 mph and the steering wheel shakes, but 75mph and it's fine (honest officer - that's the only reason I was over the limit) So, if I have understood correctly, it would be worth me attempting to raise the weed hatch a fraction with a suitable water tight washer? I would be so glad to be rid of this noise. Cant wait now to give it a go. Many thanks Martin

Fair enough John, but what do the other bits think? We all know that when buying something as personal and complicated as a boat that things can and probably will go wrong. The sign of a good craftsman is how they deal with mistakes. It's unlikely that any craftsman, builder, car manufacturer etc etc, will produce perfection every time. A good business accounts for this in their plan, and resolves issues as they arise. People freely share their experiences and opinions about their cars, the quality of the product, aftersales service, dealer service etc. It's a market, the better the level of consumer information, the more competative the market is, without the exchange of reliable information consumers have only limited knowledge of the market, which not only effects price, but also quality. I wish I was in an industry where my customers were encouraged not to name my mistakes. This forum is clearly not intended to be a consumer organisation, but as it happends the majority of posters are consumers of canal services, from Marinas, to British Waterways, to canalside pubs etc. If they talk freely, it is in the nature of discussion that opinions and preferences will be shared. In my view, disclosing horror and success stories, about canal based businesses would be a useful discussion topic. Perhaps in a different subject category, with a right to reply, and a reader ranking score such as you find on many other sites (e.g. what car, Amazon, Screen select).

Our local tree surgeon delivers a truck-load that lasts us all winter for £65! It was a bit of a shock when he turned up first time. Good thing is that the wood is all seasoned. Newly felled trees dont burn so well. We bought an electric saw from B&Q with a rough blade attachment, for about £15. You will see a lot of boats with various fallen branches on their roofs, ours included. I let them dry out, then cut them up when I have a moment and store them in the POD that we have on the roof for that purpose. Forraging for these logs in woods that we pass is a great pleasure. Martin

Hi We have two full size bikes, and keep them on the roof. I'm sick of seeing them, spoiling the view and threatening the paintwork. But They have big wheels, and great panniers, and they are ready whenever needed. Big wheels on bumpy towpaths, feels safer, and more comfortable. Between the two of us we can carry a weeks food from the supermarket, even if it is an out of town one, and I've coped with a crate of beer on top of the bag rack Equally, big wheels, on tarmac roads, often at speed (down hill) are clearly the most efficient option. We've also gone for loads of gears, making even the steepest climb, with shopping, possible. I struggled with form over function, and decided that I needed to use the bike as a major source of transport. The folding bikes have the clear advantage with storage, but when living aboard, we find that our full sized, bikes do the job that we need them to do, daily, and with a minimum of fuss. So, I'm resigned to seeing them in my way, and protecting my paint with pads. Martin

Hi I met a stockbroker (at first I thought he was a frank pornographer when he told me that he dealt in "wet futures!) on his boat that he lives aboard and permanently cruises on as we went down the Hatton flight. His new boat was a beauty, and had something if the nimrod about it, given that it was bristling with gadgets, aerials, and thrusters. He had broadband satellite that meant that he could buy and sell his stocks (our futures wet or otherwise) wherever he was. I was quite prepared to resent him, I tried for a while, but as we worked those stupid heavy paddle gears in the pouring rain, and chatted about the stuff that we all chat about, the view, the wildlife, the weather, our destination, boats and boaters etc etc, I realised that I just envied him Ironically it was the cost of boating that drew us to our wish to live-aboard, no way could we hire a boat for the holidays, it was too expensive, and somehow it would never quite hit the spot, so our only option was to commit in a much bigger way. I wonder if this has been a factor in other people's decisions? It is also clear that expensive though it is, boat ownership for the second holiday home class, is still much cheaper (and more varied and flexible) than buying a country cottage. Martin.

I enjoyed cancelling my RAC membership last year They tried the hard sell, but had nowhere to turn when I gave them the details of my latest vehicle!

How complicated is this? You pay your fee (like road tax) it lets you use the waterway (like a road). You can park your vehicle (a boat) anywhere you like, except in designated areas, some of which are private, and some are publically owned (like a car park), if you "park" in these places you will have to pay a fee (like rent). The only aditional complicated bit is that there is an extra rule, and that is that you can not park your vehicle in any one locality for longer than 2 weeks (unless there are exceptional circumstances) unless you use a morring site for which you will pay a rental fee (like a car park see above). In fact, if you fail to license your car, and park it anywhere, you will be fined, and you could have your vehicle towed away............. perhaps this should be considered on the waterways.

Thank you John and Richard It's reassuring to hear what you say. We wouldnt want to alientate any of our fellow boaters, especially since we realise the wealth of common sense and experience that people have to offer. Our experience has always been one of a classless fellowship on the cut, but all the vitriol that this issue seems to hint at on this site and others gave me pause for thought. Cant wait now to get on with it! I'm sure that when reality sinks in we will be in need of the sort of help and company that this forum offers. Martin.