PaulJ

Great Ouse- several hire firms there with a choice of boats. Loads of space and small rivers to explore. I am biased though 😀

Oh yes- plenty of them and their crap too..😀

An empty Westport Lake tonight as I arrived

Youd be wanting that C&H spike for that one 😀

Have you got an access panel that you could remove see at least some of the tank ? I often poke my moby into inaccessable places and take a few pics. Be worth having a look to see if the filler hose is installed badly -perhaps slumps and then goes uphill or even possibly kinked if it does a sharp bend.

I'll ask him in the morning as hes doing my BSS for me..

A better way to do it. Mine are done like this- the other advantage is with a bit of planning all your bulkheads/kitchen units etc can sit directly on them which makes having almost all of the floor removable a doddle. Alot of extra work though.

Its peanuts to join and gives you some cracking mooring spots. Sign up for RAB here https://www.visitanglianwaterways.org/ (was SSA - Strong Stream Advice) and expect to get stuck either trying to get on, off or while you are on it- its a bonus if you dont 😀

Website here too- https://www.friendsoftherivernene.co.uk/

I was on a nb with a Firefox recently and was quite impressed with it. Does only have a single door though which for me having a Wenlock isnt a problem. Would replace my own with this one if it had a backboiler.

Winter time and right outside Baddesley Basin where the volly had come down that far setting locks for me .

Floating Workshop (on Facebook) would be worth a try - they were on the GU , Watford way ish last time I saw them but do pop up all over the place.

Think DC was being a little tongue in cheek- at least thats why I gave him a greenie..😀

@TheBeesKnees If you havent already- a decent locking filler cap/cover would be a better idea. Fuel theft isnt that uncommon

It was quite common on wooden cabin cruisers. Can remember changing a particularly challenging plank once that had about a 70 degree twist to it as it came to the bow. That was pitch pine on oak frames and about as bendy as 1 inch thick planks gets so guess thats why they used it 🙂

Funnily enough, also in my own experience, the one and only time Ive had my stuff nicked in London was by some scrote who crept on the boat while I was dozing on the sofa. No chatting involved..

I have no idea what your experience of boating in London is like -I can only speak for myself- but Ive found (in general) London Boaters to be a very friendly and helpful bunch. Ive often tied up for the night and the new neighbours will come and introduce themselves. Maybe its because they (another generalisation) tend to be a bit younger and not so grumpy as some of us old gits out there on the system..

Ive been through St Ives on a 60 x 10 several times and it isnt a problem. @SprayfoamMakesMeHappy One of the local 60 x 10 widebeams has been through the Middle Level no problems both directions

IF memory serves me right (its been a long time since I messed with one) its a side draught carb under the exhaust manifold. Remember it only because we had to fit a drip tray to one to comply with the 'new' regs.

I prefer going downhill on the Nene but only just- it makes little odds unless you happen to be on the River same time as a lazy git going uphill who leaves the gilly down and top gates open. Its a bonus then 😀-going uphill you will cycle the lock three times. Not so great if you are unlucky at the manual locks.The locks are a pain unlike the G Ouse. Nene consistently remains my top River for getting stuck on /waiting for it to reopen for either stoppages or SSA so be prepared to be waiting somewhere -no time of year is safe. I usually lose a week or twos wages on it. 😀 Lovely River though. Never done the lumpy bit..

Not sure if understood you right but is your cable right at the end of the arm in your control box? This will give you max travel. If so then next step would be to move your (ball/swivel joint down the gearbox selector arm to reduce the travel needed.

Nice to see someone thinking about safety though (although I do think you are flogging a dead horse on this one)

Back to almost summer level on the Cardington stretch now and flow has slowed down considerably 🙂

Youd be surprised 😀 I collected a boat from Daventry once (going to Bedford) and the new owner told me he had just licenced it. When I collected it he had put a CRT Rivers Licence on it- the brokerage he bought it from had told him it was the right licence (apparently) 😀

I do a regular bi annual run on a 10fter from Bedford to Earith - a lovely spacious boat that fills Cardington lock beautifully 🙂 My info isnt quite accurate - you could go as far as St Ives but wouldnt get in the lock!