Midnight

No matter what we say or whether we agree on a issue or not you just keep coming back to the same point. I've already stated I would be happy to pay more for a better maintained system. My view is CaRT, HMRC the government or any other organisation will not remotely be interested in means testing for a leisure pursuit so any large increase will cause many low income, non-live-a-board boaters to have to sell up. Although it won't affect me I am concerned for those in the autumn of their lives who would be affected.

Without going into detail - cos I can't be arsed - the cost of verification for a reasonable threshold would outweigh the benefit. Then there's the cost of enforcement - a lot of boats would suddenly be owned by low income grandparents. Having said that I agree something needs to change or the system will fall into further disrepair.

We stayed there a few years ago. Lovely place and nice part of the Thames - there's a big field (with fender munching cows) to moor alongside on the left before the bridge. The farmer charged us £5 per night and comes around early. If you intend staying several nights pay him in advance unless you are an early riser.

Who's objecting? It's just your idea of a means tested license system is flawed. And no I'm not hiding behind those on low incomes - I would be prepared to pay more for better maintenance.

Of course in the initial period significantly increasing the license fee would drive some off the waterways, (isn't the poor state of the system is already doing that?). In the fullness of time market forces would see others return to take their place. Too late for some and the outcry would be loud, but I see where IanD is coming from. He isn't a boat owner so maybe doesn't fully understand that with the running costs some householders especially those on low pensions struggle to keep a boat and this group are the ones who would suffer most.

"The length of time to fix things " is in part a consequence of ""don't fix it until it's completely broken" Fixing something in-house before it's completely broken would not only help CaRT meet their KPIs but would also save costs in the long run.

Probably a better option than what we already don't have

I wonder if boaters generally would be prepared to pay more (say 50%) if it was guaranteed the additional VAT (vear and tear) charge was spent on maintaining the system. Having said that the main issue with maintenance is the length of time it now takes to get something fixed. As someone already posted that would require CaRT to rethink the contracting-out policy and bring the jobs in-house again; and that would mean re-developing skills and employing more bank staff. It would also require a rethink of the 'don't fix it until it's completely broken' policy.

Can't see a viable way to charge walkers and cyclists. Maybe indirectly by leasing towpaths to local authorities but they are strapped for cash too.

Who with any teeth represent us? Apart from the NBTA I don't hear any loud voices, and the NBTA don't represent the majority of boaters. Well done Allan(nb Albert) you certainly seem ask the questions that aren't being asked by our so called 'representatives'

A bit silly really I don't think a plastic cruiser would do well if they collided

Blimey if you find Beale Lock hard work and cruising too slow maybe you are in the wrong game.

Some of the boat club members went up to Brighouse on Saturday so the flood gates were open then and the river level is lower now. http://www.southpennineboatclub.co.uk/flood-monitoring/ The exception could be Mirfield but that is a flood lock so you can get through anyway. The contractors allegedly re-built the Ledgard Weir too high so that stretch is still in the red when the rest of the river is green. I heard there's a few work boats moored in the basin so you may need to go up the second lock and moor behind Sainsburys - you can easily turn there by the sanitary station.

Never been ooop norf over the Pennines then

Not to me

I would like to see the canals managed by a Navigation Authority but I expect the system will continue in decline until we all get fed up, sell up and buy bikes.

Just upstream of the boat club is a large water treatment works. After the 2015 Boxing Day floods I was surprised by a conversation I had with the EA customer support team. Apparently they can discharge raw sewage into the river Calder when it floods to 6ft above normal. That a lot of sh... you know what going past our boats.

There are so many self-openers and self-closers now I've stopped worrying about some single-hander leaving gates open.

It's Beal lock on the River Aire that's silted up https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices?waterway[]=AI&waterway[]=RO&waterway[]=SE&start-date=24%2F06%2F2020&start-date_submit=24%2F06%2F2020&end-date=01%2F07%2F2020&end-date_submit=01%2F07%2F2020&type[]=1&order-field=startDateTime&order-direction=descending#form You could always pick a very calm day and come round Trent Falls but it needs to be very calm. Having done it in an upstream wind over tide gale I would say it's exhilarating at least.

In my experience it's a mixed bag but the majority being the grumpy or no-eye contact sort. I usually slow down to tick-over but often wonder why cos not many seem to appreciate the gesture. Had a few incidences of anglers sat on lock moorings and swing bridge moorings but so far just grumbles after I point out the mooring bollards are required to tie the boat up. Once went past a match around Red Rock on the L&L with some shouting or gesturing to keep over the far side some the near side. In the end I just settled for the middle and told them that's where the deeper water is. The one who took the biscuit was many years ago sat on the lock moorings at the Heartbreak Hill top lock on August Bank Holiday Monday fuming about the number of boats about.

Of all river exits I found Stockwith coming from Torkesy to be the hardest of all. Only done it once with Locky Sue expertly guiding me in, just couldn't believe I'd need so many revs on to make progress against the ebb.

I have often wondered why the lockies at Keadby tell boaters to go past the lock and turn back into the flow. I've found that very difficult to get into the lock especially if there's a strong pull on the ebb. Several years ago with quite a bit of fresh in the river I decided to try the 'Selby Reverse Exit' method and it worked like a treat. Obviously it's not so easy if the coaster is moored upstream of the lock, but I now use that method despite what Mr Lockie advises.

"I could fancy myself stopping in Selby for a week or so - I've not been there for ages." Great place especially if you spend 6 of those 7 days at West Haddlesey "And I also note there is a navigation up to Tadcaster. Is it actually navigable? I should check canal plan." Fortune favours the brave let us know how you get on - if you get back!

Was never any good at geometry No many do it that way, some prefer that and you've no choice if there's a queue. After my first horrendous attempt Nigel the lockie mentioned the reverse technique and it's always worked for me. Never scraped the upstream wall since.

As I said I done that trip many times probably approaching 30 and in all conditions including twice when they had to swing Caywood Bridge and once when Selby Railway Bridge had to be opened. I used the same method every time because usually the flow is slower on the city side and I drift back to the lock with the bows only about 20ft off the bank as in the video - keeping an eye on the sandbar just before the lock. Not that I would recommend this method, but I once brought a friend's 55ft boat down on a spring ebb with a bit of fresh so there was flow right across the river. Just after Caywood the engine lost a lot of power due to a log getting caught in the skeg. As I made the turn I too realised there wasn't enough grunt to make the 360. I steered across until the bows nudged the jetty causing the front to stop whilst the stern carried round in the flow. A bit scary but not as scary as when the flood level was just 12 inches below the lock wall and I was about eye level with Fred the lockie.