Midnight

If the IWA and CART are now formally connected by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at CART's first public meeting doesn't that mean there are no longer any independent Trust members. Therefore can we now look forward to electing another four albeit truly independent this time?

Thanks for posting these pics. The conditions are probably the worst I've seen for awhile but knowing the river there very well, it was really quite predicable given the forecast last Sunday. Despite that I have to sympathise with the boat owner who's boat sunk. Presumably a visitor who didn't realise the danger. Does anyone know if they are OK?

Yes 'Maz' is a gem it was always a pleasure to stay at Lemonroyd - can't say the same for some of the others!

Yes BWML berth holders can get a free temporary mooring at any other BWML marina - it's the only thing that makes being a BWML customer worthwhile the rest of the package is IMO C**p with a capital 'C'

I would definitely go via the Leeds and Liverpool canal. It's possible to do the whole trip in 8 days depending on daylight and tides on the River Ouse. 1st stage Middlewich to Lymm Lymm to Dover Bridge Dover Bridge to White Bear Marina 2nd stage White Bear to Barrowford Barrowford to Skipton Skipton to Rodley (needs early start to get through Field triple lock - pm me for advice) option 1 Rodley to Selby Selby to Ripon (needs a spring tide and very early start) option 2 Rodley to Lemonroyd Stage 3 Lemonroyd to Selby Selby to York York to Ripon If you haven't done the tidal stretch before try to book passage on a neap but again daylight will be a big factor. Keep to the centre and be careful if on a big spring tide that the current doesn't take you into the willows - it can be very deceptive. The lockie at Selby will give you good advice. If you haven't a tide table you can get an idea here - clicky Plan to get to Selby by November 1st as there are planned stoppages in Leeds and maybe Castleford - check Waterscape for stoppages and restrictions along the route and add some slack to allow for flooding on the Aire & Calder and Ouse. If you have a berth at Ripon Racecourse you can stay at White Bear and Lemonroyd for free and as long as you likewithin reason! It's great trip enjoy!

When I initially bottom blacked I had the hull grit-blasted and applied 2 coats of two pack epoxy pitch from HMC. After 3 years I dry-docked and found very little evidence of pitting and no corrosion at all. Again I applied 2 coats of the same epoxy as before. This year, after 5 more years I dry-docked and was really dissappointed to find the jet wash removed just about all of the second coating in film-like chunks and worse still there was a lot of pitting especially around the waterline and a quite a few bright patches up to about 25mm dia of what must be magnesium from anodes. Obviously the water had gotten between the coats. As the hull looked OK before I jet washed I wasn't prepared for grit-blasting, so gave the hull a good clean with a wire wheel in an angle grinder. That took a couple of days. I recoated with 3 coats of an alternative brand two-pack but intend to dry-dock again next year just to see what happens. If neccessary I will get the hull grit-blasted again before further blacking. I've also fitted a galvantic Isolater. My concern here is that re-painting two-pack over an older coating just doesn't work. BTW Most paint companies will only now supply the 'real' two pack to the trade. It's possible to get less hazardous DIY versions but I am very suspect that these may not be as effective. I managed to get some of the 'real' stuff from a ship yard and used a gas mask and suit when applying it. I would not recommend anyone to use this in a covered dry dock as the fumes are very strong and potentially hazardous.

I met that guy on the Huddersfield Narrow his boat Peewee was moored on a lock mooring - hmmmm!

I booked on a Monday for the Wednesday. Didn't actually get through because all three slots were taken but otherwise BW said I would be have been able to. The nice lockies even checked for a cancellation on the Tuesday. So I think it's just a capacity thing.

There was a self pump-out station at Hebden Bridge last lime I was there.

We came through the tunnel just ahead of Bridie Bear and found the HNC east side to be just as brilliant as the west. There was loads of water and the one dry pound was at 10E. Looks like a boat going up had come out on the low pound and damaged the top cill as we couldn't close the top gate. Hence the low pound above.I was surprised to find the call the BW emergency number cost 40p per minute from my moby. The Broad is quite hard going (maybe 'cos we did 32 locks the previous day) especially the last couple of locks but at least the river was open. Will definitely do it again.

BW speak with forked tongue! I came through Wigan top lock in 2005 and all paddles were working I've been through every year since and there's been a sticker on the offside paddle/s ever since. I phoned them this June to ask why it hadn't be fixed and was told "that's the first we knew about it" hmmm who put the sticker on then - Mickey flaming mouse? (actually....)

Going from Skipton to Anderton soon and not expecting any major problems. Done the trip several times now and worst of the rubbish was floating polystyrene around the Ostwaldtwistle area. Wigan is hard work but easier going down than up! If you push on you can expect to do Nantwich in 6 days.

Please don't tell anyone else about this or the daft buggers may take you up on it.

I'm at Ripon, the marina there was about 70% full earlier this year, Now it's about 80% full - that's because BWML took away all of the fingers on one side of pontoon b. Razor blade managers them boys!!

Amazing! A company that rents marina's for next to nowt returns a pre-tax profit of just £976K Well actually not that amazing really. According to their annual report BWML employ 74 full time staff - that's over 4 staff per marina on average yet many of those BWML marinas are only staffed on a part-time basis. Their pricing policy is somewhat questionable too leaving many vacancies. Sawley is around 80% occupied that's why there is no increase this year for Sawley based moorers. On the other hand Ripon is around 70% occupied yet BWML have announced a 3% innrease on top of the VAT increase. This at a time when the local competition is reducing fees as the financial difficulties bite hard on boaters wallets. Although I understand why BWML was set up I believe it's time this particular strand of the BW property portfolio was disbanded and the marinas turned into "mooring sites", like Shireoaks on the Chesterfield. That way the berths would be auctioned on Waterscape and the private competition's grumbles about unfair financing would be negated as the auction system at least ensures market forces prevail. The cost saving of a whole organisation with 74 full-time staff and associated costs would be huge. Maybe even enough to save some of those essential full-time bank staff jobs which are about to go.

Yes it is a good deal for you, but too costly for me

That's my point I don't skimp on maintenance, carry lot's spares including belts, cables and an alternator. OK they will sort it out, but it will cost an additional £45. I have been a member for 5 years had one callout for a morse cable. If I don't breakdown for another 5 years I can save enough for a gearbox

The reasoning behind the price hike is sound, so is the service. I just cannot believe that this has been introduced at a time when everything else has significantly increased (fuel, vat, moorings, etc) everything that is except wages - RCR will think again if they loose lots of members (they've lost me). Maybe RCR are doing so well out of us that they haven't realised we are in the midst of a financial crisis. Better (or worse for them) still this may prompt some competition which as Tone mentioned will have a constraining effect on fees.

The sooner the better - at risk of depressing anyone they are 'not very good at managing marinas'!

"Why are they doing it?" I suspect because of the complaints they received after they tried to "hide" from existing berth holders the 10% reduction with nothing to pay until February offer to new moorers. If you think this is a good deal think again! It's already been reported elsewhere that BWML are not intending to increase fees next year. It's a falling market with a big squeeze coming for everybody. Mooring fees are very likely to decrease over the next 3 years. Will you get a refund if their fees drop or if the new body decides or is forced to sell off BWML's assets? I have a berth at Ripon where there is very little competition but even here there are many boaters joining boat clubs or just moving off to less expensive moorings further south. What really sticks in my crop is that BWML seem to be only offering to hold current fees for existing berth holders - no 10% reduction for us! And this set against promises over the past 5 years of a loyalty discount scheme for long term customers - some loyalty bonus this! BWML are a disgrace, their maintenance is a joke and their management lightweight.

When planning Midnight, we really wanted a diesel range cooker which would also provide central heating. We considered both the Dickinson and the Sigma, almost at one point handing over the money at a show. During the prolonged fit-out stage we met two boat crews with same equipment both told us they were wonderful except in summer when they radiated too much heat. The crew we met at Marple proudly showed us their installed Dickinson, of course this was summer and it was switched off and they were using a gas ring connected to a bottle. We very relunctantly changed our minds and installed gas and never really regretted it. Although I would admit ranges look great.

Yer he does but I met him this year and he's just a big softie with a heart of gold. Along the Chesterfield I met several people who talked very highly of him. He's a bit like a trout fisherman, he casts a fly and watches all the inexperienced trout rise to it. If we were fighting a war against BW you'd definitely want him in the team - oh sorry, that's right we are fighting a war with BW (maybe not for much longer!) P.S. I'd love to be part of his signature and I can list over a million things that are worse than that - OK so here goes "Tone you're a knob!"

Many folk up here in Ripon regularly use the route around Trent Falls to get down to the main system quickly. It's probably safe enough as I haven't heard of anyone sinking but it's certainly not for the faint hearted even on what may start off as a calm day. Read about my experience here http://www.friendsafloat.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=288 BTW Tony 'Canaldrifter' has 'waterways' imprinted throughout his body like 'Blackpool Rock' he's really a good guy, if perhaps a little controversial at times.

Thanks for the idea but would involve major surgery on the engine room to relocate the BETA panel. An easier solution still would be to stand with said "rump" on the other side of the hatch but I much prefer to steer with right hand.