enigma

Which is the most difficult lock entrance? Here is Gloucester Lock entrance from the River Severn. The river flows down stream towards the lock then turns right just before the entrance. If the gates are closed you have to stop the boat when travelling down stream then tie up on the left hand wall. Not an easy task. Does anyone know a more difficult lock entry?

What arrangments are there for visiting boats?

Have a look at: http://www.rbbi.com/folders/cemark/cemark.htm Rod Fox

Mike When the river is in flood it runs at some speed. The question is, will your boat make any headway against the current? 30 miles at one mile per hour is a long time. Near the locks there will be no flow so there're no problem locking. Getting off the river into the canal entrance is a challenge. When the flow is 5 mph and you are making 6mph on a good day, and the entrance being only 15 feet wide. If you are heading down-stream, doing a "U" turn will take many boat lengths to achieve. Don't "U" turn up-stream of a bridge! Going down-stream in the current you cannot stop!! You may not be insured. Some companies will say that you ignored the advice of BW and therefore you are not insured. Boats do travel on the river in flood, BW get you to sign a disclaimer. Rod

Mark Having looked at the site I see its for canoeists, I just use the telephone number. I think the River Call Service may be for fishermen, is that correct? I tried to get the EA to add the river current speed on to the telephone information but they were not impressed with the idea saying people would not be interested. Rod.

Ring the River Call Information Service number it will tell you the current levels and what the trend is for both the Severn and Avon and other rivers in the country. Tel; 09066197744 The River Severn will be in flood for a few days yet. BW staff will try to dissuade you from going on the Severn but they cannot stop you, you are asked to sign a disclaimer. More info: The Environment Agency's Rivercall service You hear a menu of river names and press the appropriate number, then you get levels in metres above summer level. The readings are taken at 00:01 and recorded. These recordings are played back when you phone up this line. North East Area - 0906 6197722 (1) Tyne, (2) Tees & Wear, (3) Swale & Ure, (4) Nidd & Wharfe, (5) Ouse & Derwent, (6) Aire & Calder, (7) Don & Dern North Tyne and other rivers in Northern England Another Flowphone Number is: 0930 107701. You want the North Tyne at Reaverhill. As an indicator, don't bother below 30cm. You really want 60cm though. (Info taken from guidebook entry to the North Tyne). Ure - On 22/10/02 we had a steady 1.53m at Kilgram and a rising 1.15m at Westlock. It was fast-flowing but the play-waves were not fully formed. Ouse - On 22/10/02 the reading was 3.18m and rising quickly at Skelton. The playwave at Linton Lock was fantastic that afternoon. However, on 15/11/02 had a better level, 3.43 and rising, but by afternoon the playwave was small though working. North West Area - 0906 6197733 1 - Eden 2 - Lune, Ribble 3 - Irwell, Goyt (Marple), Weaver, Dane Midlands Area - 0906 6187744 1 - Severn 2 - Trent 3 - Derwent, Soar 4 - Tame, Dan?? 5 - Avon? Teme 6 - Vyrnwy River Severn Catchment - 0906 6197744 Gary Mascall writes "this is an EA water info line for the River Severn catchment, this includes the Rivers Teme and Vyrnwy too plus the Avon and a couple of others, but annoyingly not the Clewedog. It gives levels at 00.01 every day, plus info as to whether the levels are rising, falling or steady. As a guide, for the Teme, levels 1 metre above normal and rising are start of medium levels, and above 3 metres are a good flood level. For the Vyrnwy, there is no point going unless the levels are said to be rising, as the levels fall very fast. Levels below 1 metre are a scrape, but above this and when rising can be good. If it's above 2.5 metres, the gorge can get interesting, as the eddies become boils, and the last drop can hold trees" Clywedog and Vyrnwy Mick Wood writes: The river level information number is 0906 619 7744, there is a whole host of info on the number but to shortcut directly to river info for the Clywedog and Vyrnwy press '6'. It is updated daily between 1.00am-2.00am. There is also the control room for Clywedog dam 01686 413207 (24hrs a day) but with the new information that number is now deprecated. Alternative Vyrnwy information Control Room at the Dam tel: 01691 870615 Ray Goodwin writes: "Water is released on a week by week and sometimes even on a hour by hour basis. If you phone the dam they can tell you if a release is going on. However they do not either plan or control the releases. they get a phone call from Severn Trent and told to turn on or off. If you call please be very nice. They have no obligation to give us information. The full release is 405 mega litres which seems to equate to 7 cumecs. If the water is pouring over the dam everything changes big time. By the time you get to the Dolanog gorge everythink will be getting very interesting. A second plea. Unusually every one I ever meet whilst paddling here has been friendly. Farmers, locals, landowners etc. We should be working hard to keep this going. Be considerate. Lets not mess this situation up. Welsh Area - 0906 6197755 For info on Wye, Teif, Usk & Tawe South West Area - 0906 6197766 WCA Access Information Line 0906 477 7779 National Flood Warnings www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/ - You can find some quickdial numbers for your area here. Scottish Flood Warnings www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/warnings - Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Swale Floodline 0845 988 1188 - Quickdial: Swale 021211 Linton Lock Floodline 0845 988 1188 - Quickdial: Linton Lock 0212451 The link to this page is: http://www.yucc.org.uk/jay/Links-Water_Levels/ This is a good site but not widely known about, its for fishermen apparently!! Rod Fox

Continuous cruising can be difficult in winter because of bad weather and canal maintenance closures. British Waterways have started making some temporary residential moorings available over the winter, continuous cruisers can stay in one place through the winter, then cruise from spring to autumn. These are not usually advertised, the towpath telegraph plus experience seems to provide information. Skipton and other places allow long stays in the winter.

It is indeed!! Rod Fox

The Canal Boatbuilders Association produce a book, "How to Buy a Boat" I think its free! Telephone number 01952 813572 Rod Fox

Michael Stimpson, by far the best. Rod Fox

Buy the best shell you can afford. You can change the interior but not the shell.

I have a Nanni engine. I am looking for a CD recording of a vintage engine to play whilst travelling. The best of both worlds? Rod Fox

Perhaps there should be a thread: Where are all the shopping trollies?

I have uploaded a picture of the graveyard that dor mentioned at the Flashes. Look at: gallery/waterways/NB Graveyard, Flashes. Rod Fox

I give in as well! Rod Fox

I don't want to argue with Shell! I will however stick to my statements above. Auto diesel (DERV) is made to BS EN590 and Gas Oil is made to BS 2869. The web page below has the full product specification of the two: http://www.cplpetroleum.co.uk/products.htm Click on the links for DERV and Gas Oil Rod Fox

Don't know what the other site discussed but here's my bit on fuel quality. If it's red its gas-oil, if it's white/yellow its derv (diesel for road vehicles). That’s the case now, it may not have been years ago. Derv duty is paid when it's made and it is not then economic to colour it red because the extra duty paid over gas-oil would have to be reclaimed. If you compare the two with petrol, then derv is 4* and gas oil is 2* Eberspacher heaters are made to run on derv and they are not happy on gas-oil (because of the lower cetane rating or equivalent petrol * rating). Fuel Set is an additive which they say alters the cetane number of gas-oil to make it more like derv. Fuel Set also allows water in the fuel to be "burnt" and no doubt does other things as well (so they say). I use it, but may be wasting my money, I don't know. Rod Fox

After much research I insured with Michael Stimpson, (Tel 01923 770425). His policy was a little more expensive to start with but gives a starter discount if you have been insured before. The no claim bonus rises to 40%. Anyone is insured to helm, with or without me on board, if they have my permission. Rod Fox

As a starting point have a look at: http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/guide.htm I have not made the passage but hope to before too long. Rod Fox

Our children have been helming boats since they were nearly tall enough. No fear and bags of confidence. On a formal note you might ask your insurance company what they think of children steering, I think they may say 16 years of age.

The RYA's Inland Waterways Helmsman's Course syllabus does not include techniques for single handed boating. All RYA Training Centres are inspected, assessed and accredited by the RYA, but they have freedom to build a course content as they wish. This partly depends where the Centre is based and what an individual Centre wishes to teach, not forgetting what the student wishes to learn and how much confidence they have. The standard of students varies tremendously. Even at the end of a course some students cannot helm the boat down the canal; some are very competent and can learn the techniques of single handed boating. You can quickly assess what standard they are going to reach and adjust the course accordingly. The techniques as described by David Schweizer are acceptable and common. If you have a 70 feet narrow boat in a narrow lock and single handed its the way to do it - with care, knowing the potential problems. Rod Fox

Also, There is a book "The Fender Book" by Colin R Jones, ISBN No. 0 9528387 0 2, price £9.99 enigma

I've been looking for animated knots for some time now, great! - Out of interest, the bowline on the animated knots site is a "real" bowline. The bowline on the tollesburysc site is a Dutch marine bowline. Just being picky!