adam1uk

https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/98615-13102018-major-outage/

There used to be a boundary, because for some reason right up to Foxton was part of the South East. But under the new structure, the whole of the Leicester Line is part of the East Midlands -- so now they only have to ask themselves to send more water down (which you'd think would make it easier...) When we were at Foxton back in May, just as the structure change happened, they were running loads of water down after the Foxton flight had closed.

It seems like a sensible plan to me. We had a share before we bought our own boat; you have to accept that there are some frustrations such as other owners moving everything in all the cupboards each time they're on board (!) but it's a cost effective way of getting several weeks a year afloat, and certainly a lot cheaper than hiring. You can often get more than your allocated weeks by bidding for extra ones, At the end of three years you can sell your share and are likely to get most of your initial layout back. Don't limit yourself to Carefree Cruising. Virtually every boat has shares for people who want school holidays. For ex-OwnerShips boats they're called Special Shares, and pay a bit extra in running costs each year in order to get school holidays. The way it works is that where-ever you are in the rota for selecting dates, you get first pick for school holidays. Look at the BCBM website for example, and look for boats with Special Shares for sale.

It gets around more than you’d think. It’s currently below Stoke Bruerne. It’s definitely wide — have you ever seen a narrowbeam shipping container? Judging by the shape of the bow, it’s never been near an existing hull. They appear to have just welded two bits of metal in a V shape on the front. Finesse is something it does not have.

Well, Norbury’s price is usually very very similar — and Hawne Basin is usually cheaper than both of them.

This is the same spot when we were moored at Salford Quays last September. Unfortunately, the wind blows all the rubbish into that corner. We watched the gas bottle bobbing across the water before it finally settled in among the other detritus.

I believe you can only edit posts for a limited time after you hit submit -- to prevent history being rewritten.

They're certainly not focused on the busiest times. A very good volunteer at Watford told me they had no trouble filling shifts midweek, but no-one wanted to do the weekends -- and the longest serving volunteers had begun pulling rank and claiming the midweek shifts they preferred. Likewise at the Soulbury Three, it's usually staffed midweek, but when the Wyvern hire boats come through at the weekend there isn't a volunteer to be seen.

Almost pointless grouping them by ‘manufacturer’, as you call it. The big shell builders will supply lots of different fitters, so the end results will be different. The top name fitters will be building bespoke and every single boat will be different. Boat’s are not like cars with a range of models nd a range of trims. The majority of boat’s are one offs, depending on the decisions made by whoever commissioned them.

My last experience at Hillmorton, I was on a boat waiting above the bottom lock with a boat coming up in it. The lock keeper was paying so little attention that she failed to notice that the young family on board had opened the paddles at both ends.

Jules and Richard are using Bletchley instead of Towcestervt the moment, as Towcester’s engine needs significant work. Richard told me that once it’s fixed, they will use the two boats to mean they can operate both sides of winter stoppages.

BSS guidelines here and Soliftec guidelines here both say the flue should be insulated. They are only guidelines, though, which is why I said ‘supposed to’. Certainly when I needed a new flue on my stove, the boat yard would only let it be a single wall one because they were replacing like with like. I’m not sure anyone is ever likely to check (or even know, probably), but if you want to abide by the latest guidelines, then it’s pretty clear what flue you should use (note, should, not must, because they are only guidelines)

If it's a double wall flue, then you are supposed to replace it with another one -- and they are expensive. If it's a single wall flue in an existing installation, you are allowed to replace like for like.

It may be up to the boater to make a declaration, but HMRC made clear there was nothing to stop yards selling at only one split. If the boater didn't like the split offered, they should shop elsewhere -- just like they would if they didn't like the price.