Rog Davies

I seem to recall someone ran a 'Water Buzz' last season from the basin to the Ricoh - a bar onboard too. Don't know if that is likely again, but maybe worth watching this http://covsf.com/coventrian/water-buzz Also there's a great Polish grocery at the basin if you like that sort of thing.

This is a question only for those who keep [or have kept] their boats in big marinas, as opposed to CRT online, small yards, boatclubs etc ... what do think you are getting for the money you pay? I have only been mooring in a 'proper' marina for the last 10 years and have felt that security of leaving the boat in others hands was a welcome peace of mind. I'd assumed that the staff would regularly wander around to see if everything seemed 'normal', and that like me, other moorers might notice anything out of the ordinary. Safety in numbers if you like. Imagine the shock I received on Sunday upon returning to the boat after an enforced gap of six weeks, to find the boat sitting two feet lower in the water than normal. The engine room was flooded over the gearbox, and an oily, 12 inches of water throughout the entire boat. Now I know these things can happen, and hulls can spring leaks, but what amazes me is that no-one had noticed. People live onboard all around my mooring, including one guy who lives on his boat at weekends just across the jetty, 4 feet away! And the man on the boat behind me on the same jetty said he'd heard the auto-bilge pump running and thought it was odd because no-one was on board! To compound matters, the marina manager admitted that they had been around to every boat three days earlier to read the electricity meters. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not apportioning blame, but I am beginning to question the large amount of cash I hand over to moor in a 'posh' marina. It seems that if the boat is not being monitored in any way, I am paying nearly £200 a month to have somewhere 'safe' to leave the car whilst boating .... but I even question that now.

I was quoted £15 per night last month

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. Lots to think about.

White before Red, you'll end up dead Red before white, you'll be alright But I feel it a shame to stop passage at 7pm on some of the long summer nights when it is light way after 9pm. Some of my best boating memories are early and late cruising.

Does anyone have any info on safe overnight moorings on the Walsall, Tame Valley [top bit], and Rushall canals? According to the BCNS website there are none on the Rushall nor Tame Valley and a couple on the Walsall, but having searched on the forum there are no recent posts. I am particularly interested to hear first hand experience of the Ocker Hill Arm [CaRT suggest residential only], and the top of Ryders Green locks, offside. I hope to travel from Gas St to Longwood Junction which should be fine in a day, but may need a stopover on the return trip. Thanks for any info.

Perhaps be somewhere near the bulkhead in the engine room between there and the rear cabin, engine room side I would have thought. OR at the base of the boiler.Personally I would just top up with neat antifreeze in the header tank when it needs topping up!

Now you've got me worried - I signed up months ago, and they cleared my cheque. Better check with the organiser.

Thanks for your replies - I look forward to receiving the guide and to start planning the campaign. The scrum for the locks at the end should be interesting!

The last time I entered this, everyone started from Gas St at 9am Saturday, and just stopped wherever they should be at 3pm Sunday. I like the idea of all finishing in the same place, but if it's at the top of 'The Crow' won't that mean some hours of congestion [lost cruising time] right at the end of the time period? And does anyone know if the 6hrs break has to be taken as one block, or in the extreme could I have 12 half hour naps? And does hanging around at the bottom of a flight waiting for the queue to clear on The Crow count towards the break? Just sent my cheque so looking forward to joining in again.

Passed through Nettle Hill cutting on Sept 21st and noticed how black & smelly the stretch was. Wondered if it's something to do with runoff from the motorway overhead, perhaps combined with rotting vegetation from the cutting sides. Don't think it is serious pollution though as we saw at least 4 voles crossing the cut in front of us.

Ha - might enter again next year [last time was 1992!!] Does anyone here know how the gauge of Dudley Tunnel compares with Froghall. I managed to get through Froghall with about 3 inches to spare and wonder whether Dudley is feasible? Any info much appreciated.

Thanks for the replies so far. I haven't been down the canal south from Dukes Cut for at least 15 years. It was pretty squalid the last time with no available moorings anywhere near the city centre; that's why I subsequently used to slip out onto the river. From the suggestions kindly received, it sounds like things have improved somewhat around Isis lock. Might give it a whirl.