monkeyhanger

Company contact addresses : RN House Granthams Bridge Boat Services The Locks Rugby Warwickshire CV21 4PP

On ebay it says the engine is in Northants. Hillmorton is in Warwicks.

Plumbers merchants will have a selection of o-rings. That's where i get mine from. Costs me all of 10p.

Roger Alsop often does BSCs on the Lea. He's based in Hemel Hemstead but doesn't charge travelling expenses. 07956 656 063

Try Ralph Kitts at Bridgewater basin. He may be able to help. 07956 333 892

If you time it correctly, you can arrive at Limehouse at slack water, which makes getting into the lock cut easier. The problem then is you'll have to sit on the floating pontoon until the tide comes in, so that there's enough water over the sill to let you in, probably for an hour or so. This can be a bit bumpy with the wash from passing vessels. Keep your back doors shut!. OR you could continue downstream on the ebb for a while, turn around at slack water, and return upstream on the rising tide. The view at Greenwich is stunning ( even better on the way upstream) and is only 25mins further than Limehouse. Some say it's the best view in London. OR you could continue past the O2 to the Thames barrier at Woolwich depending on the time of low water. Getting into Limehouse on a strong flood tide is almost as bad as on a strong ebb. Travelling through London on the Thames is not to be missed, believe me!

Speak to Jonathan Hewitt at Union Canal Carriers. He's just finished rebuilding my JP2. One of my main bearings looked like that big end! See the post "I don't like the look of this" in the Lister section.

The engine work was excellent. I cannot recommend Jonathan at UCC highly enough! Jack

I've just found this post today. I walked past your boat yesterday, and noticed someone was aboard. The Mr Bunbury name rang a bell. I wondered if I'd read the name on here, or I seen the boat on my travels. I decided against going out, as the ice was thick and I was concerned for my blacking! Thanks very much for the offer of help, anyway.

I've just had my engine rebuilt and was going to take it for a short shake down cruise. I decided that adding reblacking to the (already large) bill would be a bit over the top, so I ran the engine up while the boat was still moored. I did have a walk along to your boat at about 1 o'clock to say thank you for the info, but there didn't seem to be anyone in. Thanks anyway.

That's great. Should be OK for a short "out and back" about midday then.Thanks for the info everyone!

Tomorrow, (Wednesday)I need to move my boat which is at the bottom of Braunston locks at the moment. I don't want to drive 80 miles only to find it iced in. Is anyone in the area able to tell me if the canal is clear of ice along the puddle banks, please? Thanks

Thanks very much for those answers, everyone. I know which way to go now. Jack

I've just had my boats engine rebuilt at Braunston, and I need to take it for a test run.Braunston bottom lock to Braunston turn and back is not far enough for what I need, so I will have to go either up the North Oxford canal, or along the G.U./ Oxford towards Napton. However, I don't want to have to go for miles and miles to find a winding hole. Where is the place closest to Braunston where I can wind a 70ft. boat, please?

On the Regents Canal there are signs at every towpath access point similar to the one shown, stating that "pedestrians have priority, considerate cycling welcomed", or words to that effect. Of course, a great number of cyclists ARE considerate......but not all, which is the problem.

I have a washing machine outlet hose on mine. Easy to bend to fit and also to form an anti siphon loop.

Yes, I remember it as being Lamprey, too, Why was it there? Don't remember.

I posted this ad. in the Spares for sale section a week or two ago, but got no replies, so I thought it may be time to put it in the Lister section in case people missed it. For Sale:- JP4 block in good condition. Also 4 cylinder heads, and various other JP stuff. Will sell outright or trade for Blackstone gearbox spares. I'm looking for a set of planetary gears. These items can be collected from Braunston. Jack

Giffard Park.......I stopped to use the boaters facilities at Giffard Park last summer and decided to moor up for the night. I had a couple of drinks and ate dinner in the pub there, and I was very impressed. The menu was typical pub-chain food, but extremely reasonable priced, and I could buy two pints of beer for less than one would cost me in London. There did seem to be a sort of dress code however... it would help if you were wearing track suit bottoms and trainers. And if you are able to display a tattoo or three, that would help! Seriously though, incredible value place and if it fits your timetable, I'd certainly recommend it.

Report it to the police immediately. If they should arrest someone there is still time to do a breath test.

Bumped to publicise this event.

It looks to me that this is the section of water that goes from Bow flyover down towards Three Mills and Tesco. I'm not exactly sure that this particular section IS the river Lea. I suspect that it may be the "Lea Navigation", which is separate from the river at this point. This, if correct, would alter the situation regarding riparian rights, but I'm happy to be corrected on the point. My feeling is that the river Lea is a couple of hundred yards to the east of this section.

I'm assuming these would be second hand.

We now have the bearings required to rebuild the engine, so that at least, can go ahead. However, it appears now that the gearbox is in very poor condition. It desperately needs a set of planetary gears, and the man who is rebuilding the engine has exhausted his list of suppliers. The gearbox COULD go back together as it was, but how long it would last, and how noisy it would be would be anybody's guess. To my mind, that would not be a sensible thing to do. If anyone out there knows where I might track down some gears, new or second hand, or even a complete gearbox, I'd be eternally grateful. Also, I've been told that the gears from a 3G gearbox ( I think that's the one- the next size up from mine) could be used, after a bit of machining. Any thoughts?

Canals in Hackney User Group (CHUG) will be holding its annual Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 6th in Kingsland Basin on the Regents Canal from 12-5pm. Seasonal food, drinks, music, craft stalls, Santa boat trips and plenty more. Proceeds go to a Hackney homeless project. Everyone welcome. Please come and support this worthwhile event.