Doug Scullery

It's amazing how many people can't seem to tell the difference between "unusual" and "illegal".

Somewhere near Islington on the Regents Canal, I believe.

Hmm, I think I've met this guy, I've definitely met a guy on a blue and red boat called Matilda Kate (although I'm surprised to hear it's a RW Davis build, looks a bit conventional for them). If it's the guy I'm thinking of I've often seen him around Hilperton, and at some point last year he was working in Bradford-on-Avon. I'm not gonna name names but a fairly regular poster on this forum (who I've heard rumours about being a bit of a tea-leaf himself, but can't confirm) hangs out with him quite a bit. Just to be clear, are we talking about a 40-45ft cruiser stern boat? Fella's got a shaved head and a speech impediment? Or has the guy I met sold the boat? I'd hate there to be rumours going around about an innocent man, can Henk confirm this is the guy? p.s Glad you got your stock back, don't take any guff from these swine. edit: Just spoke to Frigate Captain and, yes, it is the guy I was thinking of. I'm surprised, to say the least, I even lent him a screwdriver and got it back. You really never can tell.

It was down for a few days but since then has been fairly normal, whatever that is.

Places to stop? Pretty much anywhere you like the look of, you may encounter some shallow edges (especially between Semington and Bradford) which can make mooring a little tricky, but that's all part of the fun. Pubs? The Lock Inn below Bradford Lock is quirkily fun, and pretty cheap for big plates of food. The Hop Pole (a short walk from Limpley Stoke Bridge between Avoncliff and Dundas aquaducts) does really outstanding pub grub, well worth a stroll off the canal for, IMHO. Where to turn around? Again there's plenty of winding holes to choose from, you won't need to plan where to turn too much. One thing that might be worth remembering is (assuming your boat is longer than 50ft or so, if not you can ignore this) that if you decide to turn in Bath without doing any of the Widcombe Locks, you will need to turn by Bath Narrowboats, otherwise you're faced with either reversing back to the winding hole or going down two locks just to come back up them again, not the end of the world but a bit pointless unless you're continuing down to the river or need to top up your water tank. Enjoy

Possibly, but why nick a gang plank to burn when plenty of people have piles of nice, seasoned logs on their roof?

Description of items? Especially the gang plank, it's rare 2 gang planks are exactly the same, will make it easyer to keep an eye out on the roof of passing boats.

Thanks so much for all your help, we have managed to get her free using a combination of Chris and Yellowbacks techniques, I'm over the moon to be floating again. Thanks again, you guys are the best. Doug

There is one tree we will try tomorrow, although it looks a bit flimsy I'm not sure how much force we will be able to exert against it. I have thought about emtying the water tank but that causes my stern to drop a couple of inches, I'm a bit concerned it might make things worse?

Thanks Charles, I will get the duct tape out, that sounds like a good plan. Doug

Hi, I'm moored between the Sydney Gardens tunnels and the winding hole by Bath Narrowboats on the K&A canal. As some of you probably know the water level here has dropped drastically (10-12 inches approx) over the last 2 days. It has left us stuck fast on the ground, we have tried everything I can think of to move the boat out into the deeper channel, putting people on the outside gunwhale while others push from the bank, using the engine (the counter-plate is totally out of the water so the prop seems to be pulling in alot of air), pulling it with another boat, we can't get it to move an inch. We managed to get my friends boat who was moored behind us off the mud, they are currently moored alongside us in the deeper water. We have also spoken to BW who say they are trying to solve the issue, but I'm not sure they know what the cause is yet. I'm quite scared of the water level rising and the boat staying stuck in the mud, and also of the boat starting to lean more, the drain hole on the canal side of my bow deck is now only about an inch from the water level, it wouldn't take much for water to be able to come in through my vents, which are at deck level either side of the front doors. Does anybody have any ideas on a) How I can get the boat moving and b ) Prevent things getting worse? Thanks in advance Doug

I'm curious to know what form this polite "warning" took. What were they warning you about?

Thanks for the prompt replies. I think I'm gonna give it a miss, not sure I wanna get too up close and personal with the John Rennie!

Does anybody know about the mooring in Sydney Gardens in Bath, the one with the two white bollards next to the iron gate leading into the park itself. There's no signs and nobody I've spoken to seems sure on if you're allowed to moor there, and if you are how long you are allowed to moor there for. Anybody able to clarify?

I wear these for boating http://www.fieldandtrek.com/merrell-chameleon-evo-gore-tex-xcr-186048?src=google As some others said, grip when walking on gunwhales/lock gates etc is most important factor for me, pretty much any running or tennis shoes are good for this, but I like the Merrells because they've got a slightly meatier soles for muddy towpaths without feeling heavy or stiff like walking boots (I love my walking boots for walking, but they just feel to stiff and clumpy when boating, they don't really feel safe on the gunwhales). Also, gore-tex lining is pretty much essential in our unpredictable weather.

I've met a fair few grumpy anglers while boating, but far more frindly ones. One once "caught" Phoebe while I was cruising past, I asked him if he wanted me to stop but he said no spent a couple of minuites following me down the towpath before he managed to pull the hook off (it was caugh near the bow somewhrere below the waterline, possibly an anode?), we had some good banter, he obviously accepted it as one of those things that happen. Anther time I felt really guilty when I opened my engine room doors after running my engine for half an hour to find an angler sitting between my boat and the next a couple of feet from my exhaust, I was very apologetic, because if I'd known he was there I would have at least warned him that I was about to start the engine, he said something along the lines of "You gota do what you gotta do, can't be waiting all day for me", which I found very reasonable. All in all I've probably met more unsociable boaters than I have unsociable anglers, I see boats moored on lock landings far more than I see anglers on them, I think both groups are a largely good natured and helpful lot but both, like all groups in society, containing their obligatory grumpy/unsociable/psychopathic elements.

While I agree with the first part of this statement, I'll happily take the Dukes Cut again.

. . . . . .aaaand, just like that, it's stopped working again, I think I'm gonna wait 'til tomorrow.

Whatever happened it's working again now. Thanks for your quick responses!!

It may just be my temperamental computer, but I can't access http://www.craftmasterpaints.co.uk/ at the moment (I definitely could last week), anybody else having problems?

Steve did an excellent pre-purchase survey of Phoebe for me, I've read a few boat surveys and I found Steve's far easier to make sense of than most (he took a decent set of photos to illustrate what was written, too), he doesn't use too much jargon and was happy for me to keep phoning him for months asking questions about this and that, which was exactly what I needed as a first time boat buyer. He charged a set rate per foot for a full survey (very reasonable) and was willing to travel anywhere (within reason, I presume) for that price. He's also a very friendly and approachable chap, highly recommended. I don't know how to do one of those clicky things but here's his website http://www.handsonmarine.com/

I'm moored near Hilperton, on the K&A, above the temporary dam at Bradford Lock. Over the last hour or two, the canal level has dropped by 60mm or so, it doesn't seem to be getting worse, but I have visions of waking up in the night at a 45 degree angle if it does! I've slackened off the ropes (we were starting to lean a bit, it's that shallow round here we're always leaning a bit, for that matter), but I'm curious to know how much people think I should have slackened them by, should I make it so the boat can move even further into the centre channel? Do temporary dams fail? Would we be in much trouble if it did? Probably worrying about nothing but interested to know your thoughts

Decent mooring pins I reckon, 700mm of 25mm steel bar with a good strong "D" and a top that can take a hell of a hammering. Also, strong, light aluminium gang planks, 2m X 300-400mm is around what I would like, with a good grippy surface on it.