Boondock

Just seen this and would like to offer my condolences to his family and employees. Although we opted for another builder the colour scheme and fake rivets were inspired by his boat Stanley and I thank him for that.

Hi Dave, Noticed your boat moored in Ely recently. You are quite right that the waterways around here are wonderful, deep, wide clear and not overly busy. The Old West is a particular favourite of ours as it reminds us of the better side to the canals.

We headed to the Goba moorings at Aldreth on Saturday only to find they (and pretty much all the Armco along the route from Ely) were under several inches of water. Overnighted at the Fish and Duck EA moorings which were just about to disappear under water but by morning the levels were down about four inches and a noticeable flow towards Denver Sluice. Good to see that duckweed going at last. Boondock

I think neither in this case

Hmm, not what is says in this recent article http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Ely-willow-sculptor-Lee-Eastwood-speaks-out-over-Riverside-trading-controversy-20140618100610.htm Nothing about permission nor a trading licence. In fact I'd go as far as to say that the Council would dearly love to catch him flogging his glorified kindling from their land.

We had this when passing southbound last year. We thought it an ideal opportunity to have ours as well. From memory we had a selection of cold meats, salad and sun dried focaccia bread washed down with a South African Chablis. The Keeper had a Ham sandwich and a flask of Bovrill. Cheers Boondock

Jeez, please don't feed this Troll

I know on here they sometimes get a bad press regarding their prices but I'd just like to put my thanks on the forum as to how well I was treated by their Braunston outlet on Sunday. I'd bought a shed load of items from them on their Freaky Friday extravaganza recently including an anchor as recommended for boat size and weight (20kg). When it arrived it truly was the mother of all anchors and after tripping over it several times in the cratch we decided to go for something smaller. I was advised in their shop that a 14kg with 7 metres of chain would do the job just fine. Now having the 20% discount originally I was expecting to pay full whack for the replacement but no, they would do the same discount for the replacement anchor and then not only that suggested that anything else I needed that day could also have the 20% discount applied. Sadly I had my missus with me otherwise serious damage would have occurred to the joint account so it was just a tipcat for the stern. I expressed my thanks in the shop but such customer service needs a wider audience, so thanks again guys. Cheers Boondock

If you thought the wind and gales you have just suffered south of Banbury was bad I don't envy you trying to moor at Yelvertoft. That has to be the windiest place on earth - ever!! You could guarantee that during this fine late summer we have just had whilst all around was warm still and sunny, at the end of the gravel track it was blowing a hoolie overcast and minus 3.

HI Smudge, I think you are in our sights but I'll PM you later thanks. Our thoughts as well SG, Nthn to P'boro is too far for October days we think. Looked at this Chop but thought it too far from P'boro and too close to Nthn for a weekend. Many thanks for the other thoughts as well especially the lockie at Salters Lode idea. FadeTS I read your blog of your trip with interest as you may have similar daylight when you did you journey as we will in October. Saw you moored outside the Slutter the other week and was going to have a chat but thought better of it as I'd had a couple of bottles in the Boathouse with a meal and didn't want to give the wrong impression! Boondock

Hi all, I need to keep my boat in a Marina for a week at the following places:- a) River Nene Northampton b.)River Nene Peterborough c) Middle levels near to salters Lode as possible. This would be successive weekends travelling and then the weekly stopover in the above places. I'm struggling to find places that suit (b.) and (.c) above. Can anyone help? I would wish to be in a secure marina so abandoning the boat along the river bank is not an option. Thanks in advance

I should mention Tony, that payment by debit card offers the same protection. Not an often publicised bit of information from the banks that!

Possibly but then as an executor you can be seen to have discharged your responsibilities in full.

Whilst I can sympathise with the two potential buyers here, one must view the position of the seller. We are pretty much agreed that the owner of the boat has died and that it is being sold by his estate, an executor/trix etc. They may not be the sole beneficiary of the estate nor indeed may stand to benefit from the estate at all. However they will be legally bound to the beneficiaries to secure the best price possible for assets of the estate and in this instance have an unusual one. They may be seeking several pieces of advice on the price for the boat and presumably this Simon fella has suggested a fair price would be in the region of 65k. As with a lot of probate sales you get plenty of people who are after a good deal and whilst an offer had been accepted if on of the beneficiaries had said no to the offer then the executor is in a difficult position if they proceed with the sale. My view here would be to put the boat into an auction and see were that ends up. A reserve of 65k could be put on it and the market will be the judge on the price.

Mick and Maggie, (01226) 202222 Good luck

It is reassuring to see that all posters have the same thoughts as myself on this issue. You can be certain that I will not rest until I have what I paid for and the builder contracted to build. It was mentioned to me by said builder that if I moor next to a live-aboard who burns a certain type of coal it is well known in boating circles that discolouration of metal fittings will occur. It happens that I do have a live-aboard next to me on my pontoon although I have not heard of that problem myself. Have others? For the record the boat was collected last May (2012) and I first noticed the chrome problem in November 2012. I raised the issue with the builder at that stage together with the other problem which you may see from this image.. Initially quite encouraging in his comments he has been backtracking uncomfortably quickly to my mind in recent weeks. Yeah the second issue is micro-blistering and all colours are affected. Thanks again for the advice and support.

Not when an environmental issue has caused the problem it would seem.

Thanks for the prompt responses. I have had a word or two with the builder, he feels it could be an environmental issue. Not after six months I feel. My view is that they were poorly chromed in the first place. We shall have to see. Anyone know a decent chromer??

I attach a couple of photo's of my chrome fittings. I had always thought that minimal elbow grease was required here (hence the reason we chose a chrome boat), but it appears they have tarnished and discoloured badly. Not what you'd expect from a 6 month old boat eh? Any recommendations??

See Triumphtone's post 202 above . Can't tell you what settings I used though

MPOKA YJTZR IYJGW ZVCMN DNLEF KWSLO FPGKX DUKFQ EKZXP CFZKL KEFVM KHRNU LOOYC FHSSP XLVZN FZMHP KQSNB QNQNI ZZYBJ ZZOWD FKESX PIGOC CAOGZ CVBYD PHZWU CIXMA ALVNO SGOKQ ZWHUF XIQAZ WYPEP MNYMD JSFTE EIEIS RGMWM GSXFU OEQOE UQZNB QRSNB GMQDY MKZBE VWO Cheers Boondock

Shallow, tightest bridgeholes ever, chicane in Congleton and beautiful.

I'd just like to add my critcism of the Nicholson's guides.I invested the the bang up to date latest reprint etc etc of the severn area Canals and Rivers (2012) only to see that there was nothing on the Droitwich canal as it was still under restoration! Never again.

Sorry for your loss Chop.As DH says looks a true character.