Steilsteven

The site owner would still be accountable in the circumstances you suggest, because he/she would still have to be satisfied that all equipment brought onto site was safe and suitable for purpose. It's no different to one of his employees bringing their own tools to work. This applies to ALL persons entering a place of work whether they're hirers, employees or volunteers. If you think the law is a ass because of this, I suggest you tell this to Mrs Perris. Keith

This isn't health and safety gone mad, the evidence is there, when you read the report. The item cited as the main cause of the accident was a ''Youngmans'' type working platform. These have aluminium stretchers and manufactured non slip board walkway. This was strung from the dockside to the metal gunwale of the boat. There was no handrail fitted, even though there are kits available for this purpose. No doubt, the manufacturers advise the fitting of handrails and the proper securing of the platform when mounted on metal supports such as steel scaffolding. Anyone who has used ''Youngman'' type platforms mounted on scaffolding, as I do very often at work, will tell you how dangerous they can be if not secured. All the H&E rules and guidance in the World won't stop workers from being neglectful about their own safety and I suspect this is the way that they this piece of equipment was used by them. If an inspector had visited the premises and found workers using it in this way he/she would have stopped all work until this was remedied. This may or may not have happened ( it's not unknown that safety equipment gets removed because a worker thinks it's unnecessary ) but whether it did or didn't, the ultimate responsibility rests on the shoulders of the Boss and it's no good him saying he didn't know because the information is readily available. The owner/owners of the dock had a responsibility to the hirer to ensure that the dock and all equipment hired or lent was suitable and safe to use and that the hirer was fully aware of the proper and safe use of said equipment. This they failed to do. I think they got off lightly with a fine. Keith

When I told my uncle ( who is now in his nineties and was a mechanic in his younger days ) about my involvement with the Narrow Boat Trust's boat 'Nuneaton', he asked me when she was built. When I told him 1936, he said, oh not that old then. Keith

Nuneaton & Brighton are insured with Haven Knox Johnson and they gave us a far better deal than Towergate could manage, even though we'd been with them for many years. So I don't understand what happened when you phoned them. What type of cover are you looking for? Keith

That was probably done during the raising of the boat, as well as the dent. Anyone know how the boat was raised? Keith

On the other hand, a mate of mine did a complete fit out to a wide beam insulated sail away shell within seven weeks! He did it almost entirely alone and lived on board for the duration. Keith

No. Keith Edit to say that smokeless means it makes less smoke not that it's totally free of smoke.

I'm sure that you are mistaken, these owners just spend a lot of time on their boats. Keith

No, lets keep the charges as they are but restrict narrow boats to narrow canals, perhaps then their owners would see the absurdity of charging according to size. Keith

Behave Carl Keith

I think your DB mate has got his wires crossed, DBA has been campaigning for fairer carges on the Thames for larger vessels for years and stepped up their pressure earlier this year. Also, a few years back the EA were intending to harmonise their fees throughout their navigations which would have done away with charging by area. This, unfortunately, was shelved but hasn't gone away entirely. Keith I wonder how it makes sense to you? Keith

My advice, for what it's worth, is make a list of all the costs you are likely to incur. Examples: Docking and survey. Bi annual docking ( you might be prepared to diy the blacking in the first few years but your enthusiasm for this will wain as time goes by ) Repainting ( plan to do this every five years )see www.boatpaint.co.uk for prices of paints. Boat safety inspection ( every four years ). Insurance including contents. Boat license. Gas ( allow 1 13kg bottle per month for cooking only ). Diesel ( allow 1 litre per hour for the amout of cruising you intend and 1/2 litre per hour for heating if applicable ) Smokeless fuel ( allow 2 tonnes per year if applicable ). Electricity, of course depends on what appliances you have on board but as a rough guide allow £60 per quarter. There will be those who argue that these amounts are over the top and they use much less but better to over than under estimate. Whatever boat you eventually buy, there will be things that you'll want/need to fit,change or renew such as a solid fuel stove ( if there isn't one fitted already you'll need to add in the cost of alterations to accomodate it ), inverter to provide 240 volt, solar panels or even some parts of the fit out itself. You may not think you'll need any of this now but, I promiss, you will. Coincidentally, I was 56 when I sold my house and bought my barge but never looked back, it's been seven years now and I still think it's the best thing I ever did. Keith

Yours, is the only muttering that I have heard, where did the ones you heard emerge from? Keith

Unless you're very unlucky with the weather, the river Severn route is much, much quicker. Keith

If you're in a hurry, you'll need someone on a bike for the length of the Kennet to set the locks and bridges. Newbury to the Thames takes 10 hours this way. Kennet mouth to the Wey takes 13-14 hours. Keith

Yes, quite often and it's not too difficult, easier than many narrow boats in fact. Having wide side decks and knowing the rudder will remain in position means I can walk from one end to the other and drop a line over a bollard to use as a spring. I then return to the wheelhouse and give a bit of forward with the rudder turned which brigs her into the side. Once she's alongside she'll stay put, as long as she's still in gear, and I can casually go about mooring up or setting a lock etc. Keith

I pronouce it turning place Keith

There's a very good system of email alerts for the Thames, I've been getting 5 or 6 updates per day just lately. Keith

Yes, they're still in business. Keith

To me, it is CaRT and always will be. No matter how it's said, whether it's CaRT, C&RT or Canals and Rivers Trust, the sarky headlines, should there be any, will always contain the word cart. A bit unfortunate but there you are. Hopefully, the trustees will come up with cartloads of great ideas and find cartloads of new funding and perhaps then, the critics will be carted off. Keith

Of course this is only a one-of example, and no warranty that all other barges age like this one, I've seen many barges that looked more like a piece of patch work art, with lots of doubling plates everywhere, and for me those are the ones to avoid, and not even touch them with the well known barge pole. Peter. There's nothing wrong with over plating, provided that it's done properly, and it's accepted practice in Netherlands. When PETRA was surveyed we cut out some sections of over plating to enable an accurate reading of the thickess of the original, this was found to be in excess of 5 mm. This was along the chines on each side where one would expect the most wear. Keith

Hi Sandysoo, I had my barge surveyed by Balliol Fowden, Balliol@angloeuromarine.com. and thoroughly recomend him as a surveyor of Dutch barges. He will provide all the info you require. As for insurance, either GJW or Haven Knox Johnson, both of which specialise in insurance for Dutch barges. They will expect a survey every seven years. When buying in The Netherlands, you should first agree with the vendor a minimum hull thickness of 4mm to the water line and that anything below that thickness will be remedied at the vendor's expence. This agreement should be set out in a formal contract between you and the vendor prior to the survey and is when you hand over your deposit. The vendor or the broker will be able to suggest a notary who will, probably, act for both of you in the transference of ownership ( this is quite normal )to take place on an agreed date. You will also need an interpreter on the day because the legal transaction will be entirely carried out in Dutch. Be sure to join DBA, not least because it will entitle you to many discounts icluding insurance. Keith

I believe, Trevor is refering to the mooring by Queens Road car park, downstream of High Bridge ( Duke Street Bridge as it's more commonly known locally ). Keith

This thread reminnds me of an episode of One Foot in The Grave when Victor Meldrew sees someone throw litter from their car. He later sees what he thought was the same open topped sports car and retaliates by emptying the contents of a dustbin bag into it. Needless to say, it turns out to be a different car and owner. Keith

Watched the whole programme from start to finish and, although the event was fantastic in itself, the coverage was very disappointing. When I tuned in at 1.30 I expected to see and hear something about the boats and the preparations for the event but no, just a lot of waffle about what the other presenters were doing which were nothing to do with the Pageant. Eventually, the subject was raised and we were told the order that the vessels would be travelling in, via a cartoon presentation of the Thames ( this, we would be shown a number of times over the next 4 hours and not once could the commentator keep up with it ). The coverage of the Queen and Royal Family arriving and their journey was ample, as it should be, but there was far too much concentration on the man powered boats at the expense of all other vessels. The camera shots were far too short so that the commentary, such as it was, was unable to keep pace, to the extent that very often it was difficult to know which boat was being talked about. I didn't expect a complete run down on the history of every vessel participating but I did expect an accurate over view of each section. Instead of this there would be a cut to a pair of idiots in a studio talking rubbish or someone attempting to make food in the pouring rain. Time and time again, we were told about The Avenue of Sail but did we ever get to see it? Only as a misty back drop through a studio window and only one vessel being mentioned. Speaking as one who applied, was accepted but unfortunately had to withdraw from the event, I can say that it wasn't easy to be approved and certain criteria had to be met. To say ( as has been said in this thread ) that it wasn't intended for boaty anoraks is verging on insult to all that took part. I'm sure that many of them will be disappointed when they get to see what B.B.C. did with all their efforts. Keith