johnthebridge

Moi aussi.

Yes, that looks lovely but, if I may, if you are ever drawn to one of these, a cautionary word. She's an ex-fishing boat. I've looked at various Dutch steel ex-fishing boats in the past, mussel boats, Waddenseevaarders etc. and whilst nearly all of them had proper lines, the majority were/are really horribly knocked about and, unlike the "inland" barges, very pitted. Salt water and steel, even Dutch steel, aren't the best of friends. Obviously I can't comment about this particular one. I agree with those who find that Piper boat horrid. It is. In my opinion.....

When I was last there, one of the boats was one I really slavered over. She looked as though she'd come straight out of a 1930' photograph. Smallish luxemotor, very drab looking but immaculate paintwork, all browns and blacks, full mast and loading boom, and a lampstart single Kromhout in her. Lovely.

Yes, good luck to you. Rise above the naysayers! Hmmm-"merge CRT with Lidl" eh? I think, Moriarty, you may have the germ of a spiffing idea there! Makes a lot of sense. Seriously.

It's not called Steadman's Marina is it?

Do you feel Mr. Moore has an agenda? I felt he was merely discussing the various aspects of this particular subject, discussion, after all, being the supposed point of a forum. I also think that the C&RT might be able to "keep our canals in a navigable state" when its staff deign to consider employing far more rigorous and efficient ways of managing its income, including the collection of NAA payments. I'm afraid 185 grand is chickenfeed when compared to the enormous losses incurred and the self-induced balls-ups made in recent times by this organisation and its predecessor. Remind me-was it 35 million written off at Gloucester Quays? No-one there cares a jot, because it's not their cash they're wasting. The attitude is, "it's public money, and there's plenty more where that came from"! If I read your post correctly, you've also said that C&RT "needs to be self sufficient quite soon." Do you seriously believe that will actually happen? If so, where will the money come from to achieve that happy state?

I had this problem with a Kelvin gearwheel. I just screwed a brass cuphook in the cabin roof, adjacent to the wheel, and hung a short length of small diameter brass chain from it. My wheel had a small finger extension on it which I simply hooked the chain round at the appropriate point to stop it unwinding. Never failed and easy to release should an emergency stop be required. No finger extension? Just thread the chain through the spokes of the wheel and loop both ends back over the hook.

Not sure if I've been admitted to the hallowed halls of the dreaded GP yet, but I would have left it out. Forgive me, but I might also transpose your "had" and "have". Usual disclaimers!

Not sure if you're asking about specific accommodation there, which I'm afraid I can't help you with, but the Scheepvaartmuseum on the Kattenburgerplein (waterside, pretty central and near the main Centraal railway station) is well worth a visit. They used to do tours in English and could probably help you with boat trips and possibly accommodation. Also, if it's still going, Werf 'T Kromhout, on the Hoogte Kadijk, (again, central) was a fascinating little museum with various marine engines and artefacts. They have/had a big single which they used to start for visitors. If you get thirsty, there's a great brewery with bar (Brouwerij t'IJ) at the end of the Hoogte Kadijk, about five minutes walk from the Kromhout museum. If you're into proper boats which, as I see you own Fulbourne, I imagine you are, almost anywhere on the basins around the main station will get your juices flowing (I'm not referring to the ladies who tend to ply for trade around the station), what with the barges and yards etc. Go out a bit further, onto the Noord Zee canal and there'll be even more, plus large cruise and commercial ships. You won't know where to look next! If you fancy a run out and you've time, there's a cracking maritime museum in Sneek, in Friesland. The VVV is the Dutch tourist office, again next to the Centraal station. Hope you enjoy yourselves.

I'm obliged Bargemast. Thanks.

Nope, 'fraid not, as I haven't learnt how to do it, but it's on page 156 of this saga, just over halfway down, on February 22nd at 13.06 hours.

Mike, Did my post 3113 not answer your question?

I'm obliged. As I've said elsewhere, I actually said "a lot". Not all, just "a lot". As for presuming to patronise you, I'm uncertain as to your meaning. You, and others, keep up this pretence of me apparently thinking my views have more merit than others. Where is this evident? I merely asked you how you knew what the attitude of the "99%" was! I'm sure some have voiced their concerns here in a heart-felt manner, but others have pontificated, displaying varying levels of knowledge that, in my opinion, have done absolutely nothing to further the cause of enlightenment amongst those who are most directly concerned-the customers of this marina. Again, I have to reiterate-only my opinion. No better or no worse than others!

I was careful to say that "a lot" were, and I'm certain that you and others did not fall into that category.

Q1. None. Where did I say or imply that my "impressions (were) any more valid? I merely stated my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. Why do you think it appears to be the case that, when any person does voice an opinion on here that runs contrary to that of the common herd, that person is invariably roundly castigated? Q2. You have not posed a second question, so I cannot respond, but only agree with what you say. I repeat, my current view of this sorry affair should not be seen as any form of approval or agreement from me as to what is taking place, but rather is founded on my own view of BW/C&RT and the way in which it has been and, in my opinion continues to be, run. I'm sorry if that view does not accord with yours, but it remains my opinion. Would that my statement "concentrated their minds a little"!

But, but! Why can't people understand this? Who, exactly, takes "the financial risk"? C&RT? What "risk" do they take? As I keep saying, it's only public money. No-one there cares.

"99%"...."have a genuine concern"? Really? How do you know that? What of the remaining 1%? What do they think? "Genuine concern"? Sorry, but it seems to me that a lot of the opinions expressed on here appear to have been those of the lynch mob, baying for blood.

This is the first post I've seen that contains anywhere like a realistic view of this situation. It IS morally wrong and anyone who thought I was in some way condoning the "pragmatic" decision I had suggested earlier would be incorrect. BUT. Unfortunately, nobody here seems to have realised that C&RT aren't a business in the sense that there is a figurehead/CEO/chairman/board involved, with vested interests or ownership concerns with regard to "their" company. It's just a disparate number of people brought together by government, charged with the idea of making the best of a bad job. As history has shown, if it all goes wrong, they invariably walk away unscathed, usually accompanied by a pot of publicly funded gold. (Names withheld to avoid libel charges against me.) Just imagine the different attitudes prevailing. If this was a private company, I'm sure any MD would be moving heaven and earth to sort this problem out. IF it had ever been allowed to degenerate to the extent it has. Not the C&RT board. It's not their money, so a decision will be made, call it pragmatic or otherwise, that may not please the business purists but will have the marina up and doing ere long, regardless of who's in charge. Sorry chaps, them's me thoughts.

Perhaps it's so quiet because, after reading Alan's statement that there's going to be a pragmatic solution* to this, the amateur sleuths, the lower deck lawyers, the tax experts, the company insolvency gurus and the pure guessers have no further reason/excuse to comment? *As I tentatively suggested, but was shot down by the experts, in post 4011! For those with short memories, I'll ask again. What else can the C&RT do?

Unlike most blogs I've tried to read (admittedly not that many, due to terminal boredom), perceptive, humorous, even moving in places but, best of all, well written, with grammar and syntax to please all old farts . Good luck to you. Slainte. John Wilkinson.