ChimneyChain

It doesn't matter if it's 18v just wire it on to 24v cause you won't be running for long periods so it won't really burn out ( well it hasn't happened to me and I've been using one for a while ) plus there's not always 24v in the battery it's always going to be under. Darren

I've bought quite a few battery tools in the past and regretted it quite soon after. I just hated the way that the batterys keep going flat when you just needed them most. But now I don't have to worry anymore, I just opened up the tool cut out the old battery terminals fitted two wires with a plug on the end connected them to the 12v boat battery bank via cocodile clips and hey presto drilling all day long. Highly recommend. Darren

Thanks for all the interesting information regarding these boats. Really appreciated. Cheers Darren

Having started the engine, my wife climbed out of the side doors in her dressing gown and slippers, walked along the gunnel and fell in. She was washed 30 ft down the canal, managed to pull herself out, leaving her slippers for the fishies and then proceeded to wash all the cilt from around her toes. Much to the amusement of 3 school kids on the other side. Of course when I fell in it was much more dignified........

Well that's fair enough then Darren

Being a hgv mechanic i'm astounded people don't know the basics on engine servicing. People seem quite happy to spend a couple off hundred pounds getting someone else to do a relatively simple job! I know people who can't even identify an oil filter. When I tell people how to do these jobs you can see their eyes glaze over and their hand reach for their back pocket. Darren

Well I can only say as I see. I've never heard of any thing being taken from the canal and eating and I've lived on and around the canal for the last 38 years. It only seems to have happened in the last few years when the " Borders opened " and the fact that there tanned and unable to speak any English only reinforced the fact. Darren

I live on a boat around the Uxbridge area and I regularly take the boat up to Denham for some peace. The thing is I regularly see foreign looking people hanging around the M40 bridge, the river outlet and all along the river up to Denham park. They fish, catch, kill and drive home. In the last 5 years I have not seen anyone approach these people (apart from me and I'm met with a wave and a smile) and speak to them and explain the laws of our land. Even the fisherman seem to turn a blind eye, are the stocks depleting does nobody care or have I got all wrong. Darren

Does anyone know where i can get an original mushroom vent or one that looks like the one that were fitted to the woolwich boats. The brass ones just don't look right. Darren

Hello Jeannette, thanks for your post. Ive read lots of your posts over the last year or so and I've found you have such an interesting family history. I'm not sure if you've read Ronnie Woods auto biography ISBN 9781 4050 381 71? The first two chapters are about life on the boats and growing up in the Yiewsley area. I met Ronnie once whilst visiting Freddie Dyer but I was too star struck to stay! Thanks, Darren

Peter. Many thanks for coming back to me so quickly, I really appreciate it. It is my Great Grandparents, Henry and Elizabeth Bland sat on Empress in the photograph you spoke of. I understand this was taken in no.7 Iron Gate Wharf in Paddington in 1913. The people on Orient are Freddie and Leah Dyer (Ronnie Woods family); they were good friends of my Grandparents. Looking at the photograph and from discussions I had with my nan, I'm almost sure that Empress was a narrow beam boat. I have a couple of lovely photographs of Fastnet with Henry steering; as you say, it was sadly broken up at Walkers in Ricky in 1949. Many thanks for your interest. Darren

My Nan was born on the Sabey horse boat Empress in 1913. I have some history on my nan and her family working for Sabeys, however I have been unable to find out where the boats Empress and the Sabey tug Fastnet were built. My nans Dad was the steerer of the tug Fastnet. Can anybody help me with this? Darren

Alan. Sorry about my "last post" still working out the phone My interests lie firmly in history & heritage. I was just wondering what the1984 magazine was called that you mentioned about the boats at wendover. Hope you dont mind me asking. All the best Darren

Been viewing the forum for a while, but this is my first post. The lady is Mrs George Phipps, a friend of my nans