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Just had Badsey done by Les at Welford. Two pack black Dacrylate (might not be spelt corectly). Because of running our business, this is the only time we can do the job. This is the third time we have put two coats of twopack black on the bottom since we had the hull replaced at Brinklow. Usually my wife and I do it ourselves but as Badsey is at Welford awaiting Braunston opening, we had it done there last week. The good news is that every time we do it - and it always seems to be freezing when we do - after pressure washing, the previous paint job comes up shiny and looking new apart from the obvious dinks and scratches from underwater obstructions. This time it was again looking very good and that is after a cruise to Limehouse and back, a few local cruises and then the Leicestershire ring. If it hadn't flaked off after that lot then we say its very good indeed - The only thought I would add is that we put the first two coats on new steel and I am not sure how it would be on old or incompatible paint. On the other hand - our painitng of course overlapped 70 year old black stuff and the new two pack on top of it is also as good as the day it went on. Above the waterline we use the cheapst black paint available and renew each year. I should explain that this is because when the boat is on its home mooring at Hillmorton, it is regularly rammed and scrapped by folk who will use it as a pontoon whilst waiting for the lock. Those without bowthrusters (all hireboats) then scrape their stern all the way down its length trying in vain to make their bow turn to port to point at the empty lock. After much Full reverse - Full forward entertainment, suggesting that it might be much easier to glide gently alongside the towing path, get off and hold their middle rope until their craft takes itself into the lock, attracts the usual abusive response. Hope this is a help and thanks for the whinge opportunity. Feel much better for it....................

Was not my intention to advise clock or anti clock wise, merely to point out to our new boating friend, just in case he was unaware of the wonderful stoppage programme, that he can't go Anti-clockwise at present, even if he thought he might want to ............ I have however learnt how careful a CWDForum newbie must be.

Hillmorton Locks have light ice and boats still passing through today

Hillmorton to Shardlow via Fradley in 5days of short daylight? Are you sure? Took us a lot longer and we don't dawdle. Perhaps if it was an Olympic event or we were still chasing cargos! But this is a call for advice from a brand new boater well advised to take things slowly.

Tony Not to worry at all. Thanks for Personal email confirming you do want to travel from Granthams Bridge Boat Services at Hillmorton. Just for the benefit of all - I just wanted to point out that Braunston Tunnel IS Closed Now until 3rd March - unless things change so you can't go that way at present. If you put off your trip until it is open, it should a be shorter journey, roughly in line with previous posters. You will be on a river for most of the trip, going with the flow, so it is adviseable to have a good anchor on board.

Is there anybody there? Was it something I said? Have you already left? If you are leaving Hillmorton for Shardlow - Just wanted to say - check the stoppages................. Braunston Tunnel closed till March and I humbly suggest that the estimates for going clockwise around the Leicestershire ring (having done it in November) are a trifle optimistic.

If its the Granthams Bridge at Hillmorton, call into the Bistro and we will be pleased to answer canal queries if we can and if we can't, there is usually someone in the bar who will. If no one is about I might be found under the 1936 Austin in the shed. Best advice we got when we started on the canal was to just take everthing slowly.

We were delighted with our nice thick memory foam mattress. It was the only wide mattress we could get into the boat and take all the way to the double bed in the bows. It was easy to carry into position because they are delivered rolled up with all the air sucked out and they gently expand once the plastic cover is cut off. I have to say now that if you are a sweaty person at night then memory foam is not for you. The special anti-sweat cover that they sell with it does not work and should have been a warning that the manufacturer knows of the problem. Before the next heatwave we must cut it up a take the saggy spong to the tip. Which means we have to find an alternative: A thin memory foam on top of two airsprung underneath as some one suggested here? On ply wood base or slats? Any suggestions would be a help.

Yeh Phil - you didn't tell us that - where do I start stripping the top coat to find them?

Thankyou - two there we didn't have - and I was able to correct the extraordinary statement on that site that Badsey is a cafe!! Just to dispell any lingering doubts - this boat is not and never has been a cafe whilst we have owned it. It is our much-loved home, which we have restored without destroying its ability to be a working boat again (perhaps one day) and which once or twice a year goes on a cruise around the system. We are always amazed at how many people know the boat and are genuinely pleased to renew their acquaintance with it, which in turn gives us great satisfaction.

Now you've made me wonder! As soon as the ice melts I will have another look at it as your logic is sound

The mud box in Badsey was installed with the refurbished National but I have no idea if is the original 1936 model. It is as you describe and I recently renewed my aquaintance with it after sliding through Leicester's mucky ditch of a canal. Stripped the mud box down at the canalside as the National was overheating for the first time in its life with no water circulating. The mud box is very heavy, has eight (I think) bolts holding the top on. Lifting off the top is a struggle. Then there are two gauze strainers one on top of the other which rest on a ledge allowing water to enter from above via the seacock - fall through the straining gauzes and on to the engine with the silt dropping to bottom of the box (drum). I used a kitchen ladle to lift out the muck and give it back to Leicester along with the Duvee and the two ropes around the prop. The mark on the upper sea cock is also as you describe but I don't know what the lower one looks like as it is replaced with a modern rotary stop valve.

Do you have any more pics of Badsey please?

Never mind the MET forecast - we always knew it would start to thaw on 11th Jan because that's when they (officially) close Braunston Tunnel - leaving Badsey once again stranded (for reason number three) until at least early March. Does anyone else want to join in asking BW to let a convoy through during their work time? Badsey at Welford (yes we know its a 48 hour mooring) URL=http://img710.imageshack.us/i/badseyatwelford.jpg/] [/url]

We like the Epping. Crude and simple. Had one in my last and current boat. It stays in well till morning, heat can be easily adjusted for various cooking, once you get used to damper etc. I keep chimney fully open all the time and use only the air inlet swivel to control burn rate. Got the last one from Uxbridge Boat yard, don't think they sell direct from the foundry. Best fuel is either Homefire Ovals or now I prefer the much smaller Barge Nuts which it burns at the rate of two bags per week. I think they also have a back boiler for it.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1811/nationalrestored.jpg The above link will take you to the original National installed by H&W in Badsey in 1936 - found and restored by Tony Redshaw and is now back in the engine room were it started life. It is still hand start and it took me a couple of years to get the knack of starting it and feeling pride (and backache) every time it stutters into life, even in this weather (OK - sometimes with a quick spray of ether). We have a little Honda generator that will charge our only 12v battery used for lights and bilge pump and it will power a TV and a small oil filled radiator if required. I do also have a Kipor generator which can provide more power for other oil filled radiators in colder weather and even an immersion heater, which is good so long as we have a stock of spare starter motors on board as they don't seem to last long. Other than that the good old Epping stove in the cabin is great for all cooking.

On the back of both photos ia written the year 1971

On Monday, someone abandoned a full cassette wrapped up in a bin bag near the entrance to the Hillmorton Elsan. Next morning I moved it out of sight and was just considering if it was actually beyond the call of duty to empty it when I realized it was now frozen solid. I am now wondering what the nice owner is doing without a cassette or have they just abandoned their boat. If it was YOU : .............. then we do hope you move on as soon as the ice melts.

Eventually I shall find out how to post an actual photo but until then, try this link to see a very sad Badsey at Tring. http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/17/badseyattring.png

Hello - I have only just been introduced to this forum by a friend who mentioned how many times our boat Badsey was mentioned. As Badsey is the love I am currently sleeping with ( don't tell the McSpeight ), I would like to send you two pics from Badsey history in the Tring Arm - that's if anyone can tell me how to post a photo on this page!!

We would love to see your collection of Badsey pics to add to the ones we have. Badsey is usually moored outside our Bistro at Hillmorton but since we took it around the Leicestershire Ring it has been trapped at Welford awaiting first the bridge rebuilding and now the ice.

Half the pictures we have of of Badsey when it was working for a living with BW and Willow Wren, show it unloaded but fully clothed. Surely the history of anything is whatever happened to it in the past. We say just enjoy - and keep the old things going. How long did a beautiful new paint job last in the working boat heyday anyway? "Oh dear can you shoot that coal ever so slowly mister cause we just had the boat painted"!!