huwcross

Having single handed the L&L many times (like you, small child on board so often boat as if single handed!!). The easiest way I have found is, as outlined by another post; if you can't stop at the bridge on off towpath side (i.e. the side of the bridge you have to operate it), stop on towpath and walk over bridge with a long bow line in your hand. Unlock and open the bridge, pull bow over to you, hop on boat and motor through. Stop on other side and get off stern with stern rope in your hand and close bridge (can't think of any that are too hard to get back too to close, although sometimes a bit of a clamber as you will be off towpath side). Close and lock bridge. I never tie my boat to anything, just make sure you can either keep hold of the rope (loosely) or lay enough out on the ground that if the boat drifts, there's enough to grab and pull boat back. Anyway, if you pass Meridian round Skipton, give us a shout and I'll pop out and do bridges for you. It sounds harder than it is!!! Just take it steady and take care if it's wet.

Is there a fuel boat that serves the Foulridge - Skipton - Leeds area of the L&L? Have never seen one up here.

Stixall............does exactly what it says except the clear as that seems to have a very long curing time. I've used it many times and it really does bond strongly.

I would be interested. Let me know through here if you get courses running. I'm currently on the Leeds Liverpool.

Thanks, will give them a try (got to buy the boat first!!)

Cheers, I know Nige well but don't think he's got road transport yet. Will give them a ring. I worked for a tv production company that lifted a 38' over a wall and into the canal about 7 feet below with a hiab....it was massive but very impressive. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the company!!

Can anyone recommend a company that has a wagon with hiab on that could lift and transport a 40' boat from Leek to Skipton?

I bought a 33' narrowboat through word of mouth for £8k just after christmas......cold wet and someone wanting a quick sale. Lovely inside, great stove, very cosy, bit odd looking outside. Also bought one of thickness testers and it's great........remember if from China you get a bill after a few weeks for import duty, but can't remember how much it was (not a lot). That and a tyre tread depth gague and you can get a good idea about a boat's hull.

Was working in marple yesterday and saw a boat with 2 on the roof, chatted to the happy chappy, said both were 150 watt, one for fridge batteries only and one for domestic. said he got on really well with them and was a heavy power user (games console and laptop til 5am!). said that he ran engine for an hour a day for hot water anyway and always had loads of power and they'd been fitted for about 2 years. he got them from www.primesolarpanels.co.uk seemed very happy I've found my 2 small panels make a real difference in summer, but less hours with lights on and less tv? but biggest bonus was when away for a month coming back to really charged batteris rather than ones that had discharged.

Having lived aboard for 13 years our family is growing! we've found a new boat, but need a loan (can't sell curent one until moved onto new one! brrr too cold for a tent!). with the "credit crunch" can anyone recommend any other boat loan companies that require less than 25% deposit (as roy scot larch now do) and secure loan on the boat as a mortgage.

I've a couple of small solar panels on my narrowboat (liveaboard) and have seen a few bigger ones on boats. has anyone got one and how do you get on with it?