Sam

I think the people who want to be "under cover" are only those who have been private boating / share boating before. People who have only ever hired boats (and especially the newbies) will not give a monkies uncle - especially as they will not know of the dark comments that are being said about them..............

Well Done! Looks like a lovely NB.

Exactly. If anyone thinks otherwise maybe you should go and get some morals! I'm sorry but to think you can just take it.. even if you are 'within your rights' is rediculous. it doesn't hurt to write to BW and request official permission does it? Rant over.. Sam

Exactly. It is rediculous.

What the hell classes as abandoned then. Everyone can have a different deffinition of it. I would find it very unlikely that you are allowed to just take it.

Write to BW I guess. If the boat has not been seen to for a few years as if it was just "dumped" it might be because the owners are no longer around though i guess.. I wouldn't imagine that I would just leave my boat and not go back. Takes all sorts though I guess.

Depends how well trained they are!

Agree, unless you moor right up next / under a motorway bridge you really will not notice it - even if it is just a distant "noise" you won't be bothered by it. I personally think it is a lovely bit of the canal system and have had a couple of great trips in the area. Personally i never find trains a problem either (unless moored right next to the line) as I find it rather interesting to see them hurtling past while your chugging along slowly.. not sure what it is.. but it just seems very peaceful on the cut even when your in the centre of a city such as Birmingham - so peaceful that you don't noice that you've been untied by the local chavs and that your slowly drifting down the canal... Seriously though.. you will enjoy the Oxford. I think the biggest annoyance of the holiday was some private boaters (we were a share boat.. but a very experienced one I should add) who had a bit of an attitude on them.. but we're used to it and it is all part of the fun :-)

Ashby canal is certainly good. You can get a CanalTime / Tillerman boat from a nearby base (not that i would suggest using them!). Oxford way is faily minimal effort too - with a few locks - but nothing like the birm-wocst. Sam

This problem occurs on various forums (mine included) and only affects a select few! Therefore I tend to believe it must be the settings on the individuals computer. Trying clearing your cookies and re-booting IE - it often does the trick.

What a useful contribution. Also do sugegst Jim Sheads website as said above.. unless the name has changed.. and not sure how up-to-date he is keeping the section.

Try looking around the various websites and forums on the web.. someone is bound to have heard of the boat =)

if you are worried about it... you could always PM a mod. But it all builds up in a Q like the others said.. due to their being such a large number of members to the number of mods.