Ray T
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Posts posted by Ray T
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Hat's off to you I think I'd just have lamped the ignorant ***
Mrs T here.....
Had I been in possession of the windlass and not Ray that would have been the outcome.........
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Referring to my other post regarding novice hirers and tution. The Missus and I were helping a family visiting from Canada at Hill Morton Bottom lock on Saturday. We told them as it was their first lock to take it slowly so as to understand what they were doing and not make mistakes. A so called seasoned male boater coming the other way yelled at them "What is taking you so f*****g long". I shouted at him "This is their first canal trip and their first lock, didn't you have to start somewhere"?
Much to my surprise he immediately shut up! and seemed to shrink down into his boat.
I appologised to our visitors for his behavour. The lady kindly said " I guess he is having a bad day".
I am beginning to wonder not only are we becoming intolerent of mistakes on the cut but sadly rudeness and impatience are creeping in.
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The 2 hours quoted included getting the two hirers concerned through 3 lock sets at busy periods. We had them side by side with us so as well as lock work we could discuss boat handling techniques.
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Sorry if this is going over old ground but me and the Missus T spent 2 hours yesterday morning and a further 2 hours in the evening tutoring new hirers on the basics of boat handling, safety and working locks. Each family said at the end of the "lesson" that they had learned more from us than they got from the hirer. It was so bad with one company letting out people (some who apparently didn't speak english) that owners were seen to scatter in all directions for their own safety. One of the hirers got his trouser leg caught in the throttle and went full tilt into the bushes opposite the towpath.
Until we bought Froggy a few months ago we were hirers with one of the companies involved so it was surprising to see how lax the instruction appears to be, especially with recent events at Cropredy. I appreciate there is a responsibility attached to the hirers but we were told that they were being shuttled out as quick as possible.
Another hire company was so concerned at the level of incompetence they tried to phone the other company to tell them the hirers were a serious danger. The Missus got on this hire boat (as they had blocked the canal) and then we tutored them through 3 locks. We also got them safely moored up for the night. At some point there will be a further serious incident and H & S will have a field day to the detriment of all of us.
We have all had to start somewhere and to give the opposite point of view, we have found in the past that Wyvern, Shire, Kate Boats and Calcutt Boats do good, elementary practical training with staff on board before letting them or us loose on the cut. It's not a general whinge against hire companies, just some who want to take note as to what happens just beyond their boatyard.
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There are many young people who are extremely old farts!
We decided to go to the Coventry Basin on Thursday (as our home town) but had to run the gauntlet of stone throwing hoodies and bait hurling adults(!) between bridges 4 and 4a on the inward journey. Producing a camera on the way out seemed to provide a temporary respite. We spoke with some of the Neighbourhood Wardens who knew the kids involved. It's such a shame as the council has tried to upgrade the canal in some places but the yobbish minority prevails. Anyone else had a run in with this lot from the Foleshill area ?
Mrs T
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As well as narrowboating I occasionally sail offshore and I have one of these suits:
http://www.compass24.com/web/catalog/shop/...coastal/1547306
Overkill for the cut perhaps but it doesn't hald keep me warm and dry!
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I managed to personally test the depth of the Rochdale a couple of years ago. I was even stone cold sober. I had just worked a lock south of Todmorden for the Missus (actually she does have a name, it is Judith). She nosed the boat into the bank to pick me up. Inevatably the boat grounded! Finding the only solid bit (which was lower than the rest) in a ragged bank I started to push. The boat very obligingly began to drift out to the middle of the cut. When it reached the point I would normally have climbed aboard it dawned on me that I was somewhat lower and my "diddy" legs couldn't reach. I think I got to about 85 degrees horizontal before the inevitable happened! Fortunately I did it without an audience.
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A more reasonable comparison would be with an estate agent and when did you last see one of them come round with the hoover and the windolene?
No, I wouldn't, but the Missus knows two estate agents who, in no uncertain terms have told potential clients to clean up the pigsty if they want a quick sale (Missus's words, not the agent).
So maybe its the owners / sellers who are to blame for the state of the boats for sale, not the brokers......?I agree, but isn't there a knock-on effect to the broker if they get the reputation of having a load of neglected craft on their books ?
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is it just me or am i setting my sights to high looking at second hand boats and expecting too much like no stinky smells, electrics that work, pictures that are current on brokers websites and not taken 10 years ago when stuff was new (false advertising or wat) boats advertised as ready to go to find that the engine needs repairing maybe im being to picky and want to much for my money after all thousands of hard earned pounds grow on trees
We spent 2 years hunting for our first boat, visiting brokerages almost on a weekly basis. Perhaps the missus is too picky but she wouldn't cross the threshold on some boats because of the smell. We could tell you which brokerages we think are good and which are hopeless (but won't for obvious reasons) but very few try to sell the boat. Definitely agree with the 10 year old photo comment...seen loads of these.
For example, if you go to buy a second hand car from a dealer or non franchised garage, you will find the car has been cleaned out, has been washed regularly (and in some cases polished). In other words it looks presentable. Go to some brokerages and you will find boats full of leaves, rotting plants in tatty pots, torn cratch covers which may as well be taken off as they won't keep the rain out and frayed ropes. All they need is a little TLC...
We took good friends out in Frogmoore yesterday. They last saw her when she was for sale months ago when the paintwork looked dull but we have cleaned and polished her, applied a bit of hammerite on the gunwhales and they thought it was a different boat. Perhaps I should rent out the missus as the canal's version of "House Doctor" ? She wields a pretty mean duster and bottle of industrial strength Flash when we are on board.....
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Thanks for all your replies. I like the tube into a bucket one.
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I have just spent a very smelly and unpleasant hour dismantleing, unblocking and cleaning the kitchen sink U bend of Frogmoore. The gunge I got out of it would have made the bottom of the cut look clean! Whilst I will be able to do similar with the bathroom hand basin I don't think I can do likewise with the bath. The U bend is rather awkward to reach. Does anyone know of a ecological drain unblocker I can use?
Thank you.
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Got a bit further than MK, reached Leighton Buzzard.
The boat performed well apart from a frayed earth wire which caused the glow plugs to stay on and flatten the starter battery.
Not being a genius with wiring on a boat I called out RCR and they were brilliant, found out the cause and fixed the problem.
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Coming back home on Saturday, got to the Braunston flight and at lock 3 we met a "stag cruise" with 9 young men on board going south.
They had hired the boat from Braunston. I was asked if I had any spare beer as they had run out!! Goodness knows what happened to them.
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And highly recommended they are, too!
Mrs T here.....
Definitely - we phoned at 9pm last Thursday as we had discovered the starter battery was dead as the dodo but asked for a call out the following day. They were there at 0930 and found the cause - frayed wiring - and they do a very thorough job. Don't ask me for the tekky details - him indoors territory - I was busy painting the boat as we trolled along the GU.......
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We finally have Frogmoore III ready for our first cruise! We are off up (do canals have the same nonemclature as railways? ie "up to London") the GU towards Milton Keynes. If any CW members see us, give us a wave.
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Be careful, or the pedants will advise you that Buckby Cans are only those that were sold at the (now Closed) shop next to Buckby top lock. Identical items sold elsewhere are merely Water Cans,
I bought my can nearly forty years ago from a shop on the Farmer's Bridge flight, so I suppose I could call it a Farmer's Can.
Actually it came from Whilton chandlery so does that make it a "carpet can"?
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Or, as Eddie Izzard put it, a fine line between Cool and Looking Like A Dick Head!
I'm going to clamber into my flak-jacket, steel helmet, and lock the door to the Anderson Shelter before saying this next one ..
Never really 'get' Buckby/Water Cans unless they are on an older boat that looks like it would have had one for proper use.
[edit four spulung]
Oh dear, I've just retired and my work collegues bought me a Buckby can for Frogmoore. Dare I put it on the roof or will it have to remain below in obscurity??
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A NB sat nav!
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There is a comment on the Alvechurch "Bulbous bow" in August 2009 "Waterways world" page 102.
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Is your boat an Alvechurch one? As I believe the bow shape is peculiar to them.
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Whilst going up the Rochdale at Todmorden - little old lady " I've lived all my life by the canal but I don't know how a lock works". Explained the workings as gently as possible.
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We get a few, but generally speaking around here we get the waistcoats and red neckerchief brigade ......... equally irritating
Don't forget their pooches with red neckerchief's!
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After today's short excursion on the Grand Union with several other boaters, the missus says we should rename ours "Oh, so youve bought THAT have you".
We were informed by some worthy notables in the vicinity of Calcutt that our boat had been up for sale from any period from 1 to 3 years. The missus is waiting for the next wag to inform us it was last seen on Mount Ararat.
She is informing all local skeptics that the survey has shown there is nothing wrong with our bottom !!!!!
AND she is threatening to wield (with a vengeance) the paintbrush very shortly to rename the boat as "Lord Lucan". Before anyone asks about quickly painted boats (in view of recent delicate correspondence), ours is a Reeves hull........
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Boots, your research is indeed excellent. The Missus and I have just bought our first boat, a 45 footer, after 10 years of hiring. We spent about 18 months to 2 years looking at pre used narrrow boats - got a bit tedious at times but worth it in the end. If you can afford it I would highly recommend you have a professional survey - gave us great peace of mind. We had the services of Eddie Freeman 01604 891481 or 07775 852308. He did a very thorough job - he was quite happy for us to be with him and he gave a running commentary as he went along.
You will never find the "perfect" boat on the second hand market! but at some point you will have to pluck up your courage and put your hands in your pocket. Once you have done this the thrill of owning your own boat is something to savour.
Best wishes.
Hire Companies Responsibility
in General Boating
Posted
We strongly advised the two crews we helped to moor up safely at the next lock and go to watch how it is done before attempting it themselves, if necessary in a double lock to ask to pair up with another boat and ask for advice.
Mrs T