Ray T

At least Richard got out and about, to learn about canals, BCN Challange for one example. It will be interesting if the new man follows suit?

From the Beeb. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmkn7rjv7zo

Not the cut but near to where I live is a large pool. We often get mallard ducklings and baby coots and moorhens. Unfortunately in recent years they don’t last too long as maurading black backed gulls make short work of them.

As an inhabitant of Coventry it is lovely to see so many positive reviews of the basin. Recently I have noticed regular tidy up gangs from community pay back busy along parts of the five mile. If it is still there the Lithuanian grocery shop is worth a visit. Originally The City Council wanted to have the basin filled in and the “new” Cathedral built there. The only real drawback is the dreadful ring road, it left the basin somewhat isolated.

I purchased a stock hose, several lengths here: Search | Midland Chandlers

I had a flexible fuel line made to spec by Pirek, but was told by a BSC bod it would not pass a BSC exam as it was not marked. So off to Midland Chandlers to get a marked one.

I got it off eBay, not at the requested price, I made an offer which was accepted. I know the son of the above mentioned lock keeper and he told me the bronze alloy ones were made as presentation pieces. The person selling them is the cousin of the pattern maker, I believe. As mentioned previously it is very heavy, certainly not a tuck it in your trouser belt Jobbie. Original Dunton windlass have the pattern makers initials engraved in the socket. As the lock keeper and the pattern maker found it too expensive to patent the design there may be “knock off” copies around. This is a carbon fibre copy. It is not strong enough to use as I am aware of ones which have split. To be fair I was offered a refund by the maker but decided to keep it as a display piece.

It appears to be a bronze alloy, not purely brass. I have tried it out on both the Hatton locks and on the locks from Kings Bromley to Fradley return. It hasn’t bent or buckled but it is very heavy.

From information I have gleaned, Waterways at one time wanted to standardize paddle spindles. Workmen started on the Curdworth Flight by cutting off an existing spindle with an oxy-acetylene torch. The then lock keeper stopped them and asked what they were doing? They were contractors retained by BWB and explained they were to cut off large spindles such as the Ham Baker type and others and replace them with the small tapered BCN type spindle. The lock keeper reported this to his manager who said BWB were starting a standardization programme. The visit to Curdworth was to try out the best way of doing the job. As the paddle gear on the Ham Baker were and still are listed structures the programme of standardization was dropped. This eventually led to the production of the "Dunton Double" which would fit both types of spindles. The then lock keeper at Curdworth was involved with the design along with a pattern maker.

Thinking laterally, would it be of any use to fill these with sawdust? The holes would need sealing.

What salty sailors put up on a “three rag reach.” The multi coloured sail in the photo. There is also the option of a “spanker.” 😃

😁

Not many may agree but one wide boat I like is Tranquil Rose. I think Eddie Hambridge had a hand in building this boat.