Derek R.

https://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/boat-propeller-cavitation-vs-ventilation/

Well I'll show my further ignorance by asking; What is an anti-ventilation plate, and how does it differ from an anti-cavitation plate? Where is it fitted, what does it do? The correction needs an explanation. (At least for me it would appear).

A former contributor who was involved with THEOPHILUS for a while, sent me two images of a Swiss lake paddle boat. I failed to recall the name, maybe someone will know.

I take it you mean anti-cavitation plates. 😉

A long way from the world of narrowboats, but the machinery used in unloading has alway been challenging, from spades to clam grabs. Cleveland, Ohio, Whisky Island was where the Hulett unloaders worked. Fascinating pieces of history which are no longer there, but one of a series of videos on their working:

Thanks Gents, IanM's image of RAVEN outside the Braunston shed is how I recalled it when used as a live-aboard above Cassio. Would I be right in thinking it had an engine in what was the back cabin?

I have a vague memory that was called RAVEN, full length IIRC. Doubtful that was its original name, and that was in the mid 1980's.

I always considered the by-products of gas works was creosote, and the 'gas boats' transported it to places such as those storing wooden railway sleepers for impregnation as a preservative. Though I'm probably wrong.

No, they don't go rusty.

YARMOUTH was cut down from 70' to 62' in 1962, renamed GOLDEN VALLEY and 'launched' in 1962, but I doubt it was the first, as witnessed by the detachable, externally driven items as seen above. 2.2 litre marinised London Taxi engine, a 'Commodore'.

What is the stumbling block David? If it's logging in I would suggest saving the History & Heritage section as a 'Favourite' or 'Bookmark', then go from there.

No no, This an interesting thread.

That's scattered woodland. Might as well include most of England. How large an area are we considering - and does it have a point?

It's 15 miles North of Brum. The New Forest is about 15 miles across in total.

Looking at Google Earth images of the New Forest area in their recent images, it seems the areas of trees are far greater than those shown around the Birmingham area. Though miles of canals around Birmingham has often been stated as many more than Venice.

Agreed. Though I think we would have to go back the Elizabethan age when Britain built the 'wooden walls' of fighting ships to see the folly of not re-seeding forests. The French were more astute in that they did re-plant. Current forestal growth in the UK has largely been done by those estates keen to maximise of taxation benefits in producing thousands of acres of softwoods. And of course, our steel industries withered to overseas production. Would that we were able to reduce the political growths that have transpired this past fifty years.

In these days of elf 'n safety, many petrol stations insist on not using a mobile phone on the forecourt for risk of an explosion. Visitors to coal mines are asked to remove their battery powered watches and leave them at the pit head for the same reasons. Sounds a bit extreme, but even a six Volt battery can produce an arc if current is flowing and then contact with the conductor is broken. When I suffered a flat battery on a forecourt one dark evening, the garage proprietor was beside himself when I sought a jump start from a recovery vehicle: - "Not on my forecourt pal!" We did it anyway when he wasn't looking. No arcing occurred. All was well.

I seem to recall Jim telling me about ELIZABETH being built to take sail. https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/elizabeth

CAPELLA had an inboard engine with hydraulic drive to the stern. Don't recall the details but 'Admiral' will have them.

Windows on the past. I have no knowledge of the area or the craft that plied the waters there, but thank you David for the lessons.

Chalk was the traditional medium. Noughts & Crosses, hopscotch, LD 'loves' BJ etc. Washed away in the next rainfall. Some pavement artists were just that, pictures (some very good) on the pavement. None of which could be called 'graffiti' which is little more than a defacing of public property, largely of late (40yrs) of gangs and individuals 'marking their patch' with 'tags'.

Thank you David, a great bit of history - and a fine memorial.

@davidwheeler "I am sorry if these don't appeal to you, . . . . " What on Earth gives you that idea? As others have stated, these are of great interest to waterways enthusiasts, and your articles/comments and pictures have been of great interest. Sad though it may be that carrying by water has been eclipsed by development dereliction and disuse, such memories should never 'end'. In a topsy turvy world we now are living in, such things are threads of sanity.

Late eighties:

I don't think so David, though Sentinel and her two (I think) sisters were built to break ice, Ian will have the full story on that. They were built in the early seventies if memory serves, slightly barrel shaped down to the chine, may have carried beer in casks at one point possibly around Trent lock. Certainly an acquired taste in fore ends.