David Mack

CRT is a registered charity - no.1146792. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5027494

So those grub screws are indeed taking the full prop thrust in both forward and reverse gear (and the fenaflex coupling is stretching and compressing to accommodate thermal expansion). Not sure I'd be entirely happy with relying on two or three cup point grub screws to carry that load. Perhaps that is why they have failed.

The hire company may offer cancellation insurance (to cover the likes of death or serious injury to one of the party or a close relative, but not canal closure due to water shortage). Otherwise what do you want cover for? The boat will be insured for accidents etc.

But what would be the consequence of moving the boat without replacing the grub screws? The gearbox will take the prop thrust anyway, and with a free-rotating ball bearing in the plummer block there isn't likely to be much movement between the inner race and the propshaft.

The broader issues of the benefits system are for Government and the Treasury to sort, not CRT. There are probably less than 10,000 liveaboard boaters and only some of them are on benefits. That is a tiny number in terms of the bigger picture, and if increased CRT charges force a few more liveaboards to move onto land, or make others newly eligible for benefits the numbers involved will be background noise as far as the wider benefits system is concerned.

How do you reach that conclusion? Most of the non-grant income comes from utility and water development and investments and property, neither of which are related to boater activity (except perhaps for the small amount of property income which comes indirectly via boating-related businesses which CRT has has a financial connection with). Some of the 'Other' and 'Donation' income may be boating related, but since most boaters regard their licence and mooring fees as more than enough payment to CRT I don't think many contribute voluntarily as well.

A CRT Canals and Rivers licence allows unlimited use of all CRT's waterways when they are open. Which makes it a pretty good deal when you compare it with the extra charge you would have to pay to EA, ANT, National Trust etc. for a short term visitor licence to their waters.

Nothing I can see for the Wolverhampton 21 on CRT website other than the time restriction. Are you thinking of Lock 15 on the Stourbridge?

And a postscript to the above discussion, there used to be a steam powered backpumping station at Knowle, demolished in 1933, with the site now occupied by the wide locks and sideponds.

I'm afraid I don't remember the detail, and I didn't take any photographs at the time. But it certainly looks like a donkey engine and a couple of air tanks.

Those photos will be no more indicative of the actual colour than the paint suppliers' online samples.

You and other boat owners collectively pay CRT less than 22% of their total income (Source: CRT Annual Report 2023/4). How much do you think should be your fair share?

Took about 2 hours to get through that bridge - its why we shifted the ballast forwards. While doing so we managed to draw back enough from the bridge to allow other boats to pass, but even shallower-drafted modern boats with bigger engines struggled on the mud there.

Which is presumably why only the top half of the Hatton flight is restricted. Easier for staff from the Hatton office (a few locks below the top lock) to get to.

They should be cutaway on the underside at each end (I.e. against the hull sides and the central kelson). If they are not you really should drill some holes - at least 1/2" and preferably larger - to allow bilge water to drain towards the stern. Edited to add: Blowing up your photos, although it's not entirely clear, it does look as if you may have such cutaways.