LoneWolf

Aint that the truth I think I met your missus(?) at Bank Newton about a month ago (on the day it rained forever) - She was on the lookout for Genevieve to deliver extra towels. Thats what I call good service.

lol

There's some awfully dull industrial bits to get though & if you aren't messing up the bank (which you wont be for a lot of it cos its wide, deep & concrete sided) then in my opinion you may as well go over 4mph on those bits. I think keeping an eye on your wash & effect on other canal users is a better indicator of 'speed limit' than 4mph But then I've no way of telling how fast i'm going in mph, and i believe most NBs dont either. Wonder how the law works n this case...

Nice one mate! enjoy yourself

Another useful thread at just the right time. Advice taken on board thanks for starting it davidk

Maybe the spacecactus is a shanti type dude Vroooom! ;-) Actually, my log book has 4hrs from Bulls Bridge to Paddington which would agree with Alan's timing. Although mines only an estimated time cos it's from the 1st couple of weeks berfore i thought to record the hour-o-meter each evening. Watch out for the coconuts

that looks great, nice and basic, cheers i will investigate courses also...

Thanks for posting this, I feel less dim now. I purchased a multimeter and sat with it in the engine room reading the instructions & looking at the batteries & didnt understand a thing or how to proceed. Luckily by following the 'fridge on full when charging/switch off when not' power saving tip ascertaining the health of my batteries dropped down the list of things to do. Can you recommend a website or book for a complete beginner - one of my winter tasks is to learn electrics. I have had a read of the smartguage website and while it explained some of my observations it's still too advanced for me

I remember your pictures, jolly nice they were too. Here's when I was there I agree that he has no right to ask boaters to move & shouldn't have put up a sign. I just think that this report sounds exaggerated and probably not true. Edited to say: 'near the sluice (ie away from the house)' is the waterpoint

I remember the earlier thread, about a trader asked by the lockie (who's boss told him the house owner complained) to move on. I dont think you could even count this as the second report either as it's only a report of a rumour.

Glad you had a good time. Very adventurous hiring on your own. Do you have very big feet or were you wearing pointy shoes? ;-) tbh that sounds like an exaggeration. Anyway if you're waiting for another boat the lock landing's a better place to wait. When i moored there it was full between the bridge & lock and everyone was hanging around outside & chatting and no stropy house owner was seen

You'll be fine mate - just dont try to rush the locks you'll have plenty of time if you set off 'first light' I was in Willowtree Marina for my 1st week of ownership, it's a nice place, very helpful people (they lent me a magnet to retrieve the keys I managed to chuck in). Don't think they allow you to declare diesel splits though so if you need to fill up you go past Uxbridge Boat Centre who do. re coal: excel is easy peasy to keep in, even for a beginner like me.

Welcome 1. no - I'd start by going to a big broker & looking at lots of boats 2. Yes - Electric swing bridges I think are the most difficult but I've either been able to persuade a passer-by to press the buttons for me or just moor up on the landing, put the kettle on & waited for another boat to come by. Most boaters seem happy to help 3. I'd agree with those that say 55-57 with a clever use of space. But go see lots of boats

I have just been reading your thread - building your own hull is awesome. Nice work

did my punctuation let me down again i may stop using it completely Thanks - this has rather become the thread to talk about me, you can ask questions if you like How you doing with the boat lark then?

Apperley Bridge Marina is very much still here - it's a top place - the geezer in the shop/chandlery is lovely & cheery & calls me 'flower' & they sell excel coal. It's full of boats I dont think people even consider that they're being rude by peering in. I made a very sarcastic ".. peering in my home" comment to someone on Sunday & he jumped back & apologised and asked if it was rude. Next time i'll try & explain why it's rude without the sarcasm. I usually remember to draw the curtains Too right about the wind tunnel. Just when you have to go slow to let the crew off you're suddenly zooming sideways towards the wall. This was the moment my crew decided to make her way to the stern along the gunnell - i nearly had a heart attack I'll keep an eye out for you & Blue Heron

It's a nice spot & a big sainsburys 10 mins walk away. Not sure which boatyard you mean. Theres Swiftcraft which is online boats (no Diesel) and Apperley Bridge Marina (CV Marine) which is a basin type marina. Diesel there is 60p domestic at the moment (so yes cheaper than other places i think) but only available at 60/40 (so not cheap for the likes of me) It's good for walking as well - The bit just above Field 3 locks is especially lovely and good for collecting kindling, I moored there for a few days on the way down. The locks inbetween Field 3 and Apperley bridge (Dobson2?) were not too nice mostly because of the large numbers of onlookers getting in the way and peering through the boat windows - why do adults do this, it's so rude.

pah - you lightweights! ;-) On sunday i did Clarence Dock to Apperley Bridge with only 1 complete novice for crew. Only saw one other boat on the move glad you had a good time despite the weather

I spotted your boat in the daylight but didn't see anyone around. It's a great place for a city centre mooring, thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Yup I left on Sunday (crew availability) which was fun in the wind - boat took a bit of a hit letting the crew off at River lock but managed to make it to Apperley bridge where i shall stay for a bit.

The manual swing bridges need the handcuff key. The electric ones need the BW yale key. the mental bridge coming out of Shipley towads Leeds needs a BW key for the barriers and a windlass to open the bridge I'll be between Skipton and Leeds for the next few months so give us a wave if you're pass

Well from a management pov targets have to be seen as achievable otherwise they're not motivational (and therefore useless) Do the regular workers (ie non directors) have a bonus scheme? If so would it have the same targets? If the answers to both are 'yes' then i can see the sense in reducing the target. Having said that since when is a "propensity to recommend their particular activity to others" a measure of satisfaction with BWs management of the waterways? It does appear that the goalposts are being moved to enable targets to be reached

I like it here - much nicer & quieter than i expected for a city mooring. I dont even mind the post pub revellers singing on their way home (there are some now). This felt a bit more personal & agressive though. Are you visiting or do you stay here? I looked for your boat yesterday when i got back but it was getting dark & i couldnt make out the names