arbutus

An interesting page talking about David Pipers involvement with the first Shropshire Union Cruisers steel hulls It also mentions the boat "Rose of Sharon" http://www.piperowners.co.uk/piperowners_history.htm

If you haven't already come across this, for a more dramatic description of the procedure have a look at this 2007 Picolax thread. Skip through it and read Blu-tones posts http://singletrackworld.com/2009/02/the-picolax-thread-returns/

Whittle Boats Ltd. did run a series of advert in Waterways World. This is from January 1980 They also exhibited at the 1981 IWA National Rally at Leeds. I remember viewing the boat. Here is the short article from Waterways World November 1981 The boat is 55' and named Matilda which ties in with one of the boats in Alan Fincher's post.

Did the original builder complete the whole boat or did he just fabricate the shell and maybe fit the engine? In 2007 I had a narrowboat shell built and the builder fitted an engine that I had purchased separately. I then paid boat fitters an hourly rate to fit out the boat. I also used a surveyor to check the conformity of the whole build to the Recreational Craft Directive. The shell builder provided an “Annex III(a) Declaration” for the work he had carried out. In the document the shell was referred to by its yard number only. I have no idea if, at this point I could have fitted out the boat without reference to the RCD and just made sure it would pass a boat safety inspection. When the complete fit out was nearing completion, and as I was technically the builder of the whole boat, and as a private individual, I applied to the RYA for a CIN (Craft Identification Number) formally the HIN number and now called a WaterCraft Identification number. I applied to the RYA for the number as “Vessels built for own use (DIY vessels) should apply to the Royal Yachting Association for a five digit number which is then used with the GB country code and MIC ‘RYA’.” When the boat was completed a CE plate was fixed to the boat naming me as the builder and the CIN number stamped on the plate. A boat manual was also produced which included wiring diagrams.

The two boats I have owned have both had box section handrails, which worked very well although ultimately they cannot be as safe as tubular rails where the hand can be wrapped around the bar for a secure grip. On both my boats the inboard side of the box section was set at an angle to provide a more secure grip. Also the cabin sides had a fair amount of tumblehome, which gives more room for the hips when walking down the side of the boat. With gunnels of a decent width and with a boat that isn’t tippy, (i.e. it doesn’t rock too much when you walk down the outside of it) then I found that the box section handrails worked well on the calm waters of the canal system. However, one time when I was in a marina I did need to walk down the side of another boat, which had box section handrails, but it also had more vertical cabin sides. The angle of the inside edge of the box section was also wrong. My fingers found it difficult to get a grip the handrail with wet paintwork. The gunnels were narrow and the boat was tippy. I was surprised how insecure I felt using the box handrails on that boat. The design was all wrong.

Anglo Welsh have some hire boats that have a solid fuel stove. There is even a tick box on their availability checker to just show boats with a SF stove. If the weather does turn wet or cold a stove makes the whole boating experience much more pleasant. Just make sure that there is enough coal, kindling, fire lighters and matches loaded at the beginning of the holiday to last the whole of the hire period.

This was advertised in Waterways World February 1977

There’s a three-minute video here https://transact.ft.com/en-gb/?play=electric-vehicles Made by the financial services company UBS They predict that by 2023, in six years time, car-makers in Europe will be able to make an electric car giving a 5% profit margin and it will be cheaper than a conventional car. They predict that by 2025, 30% of cars sold in Europe will be electric.

Todays Guardian has a piece with the headline "Quarter of England's rivers at risk or running dry, finds WWF" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/24/quarter-england-rivers-risk-running-dry-finds-wwf

Perhaps I should have said a very quiet steam engine. It was a few years ago when I was on the Windsor Belle but I do remember a narrow boat passing us and it sounded very agricultural and very unrefined compared to steam power.

If you really want a skippered trip then the Windsor Belle is the one to go for. Drinking Champagne from cut glass flutes while silently cruising the Thames on a steam launch. The helmsman rings a bell to tell the engineer in the engine room what speed to set the coal fired steam engine. I’ve no idea of the cost but it is a great experience http://www.windsorbelle.com/index.php

Anglo Welsh have two day-boats at Wootton Wawen near Stratford-upon-Avon. Each boat accommodates a maximum of ten people, so two boats should be ideal for fourteen people. The price guide shows each boat is £99 Monday to Friday, £140 weekends. I haven’t hired them, but a friend said he had a good day out when he hired one. Looking at the map there is a six mile length with one lock, so a twelve mile trip. Cruising hours are 9:00 am to 4:00pm. From the Nicholson guide it looks like there are a few pubs near the canal. http://www.anglowelsh.co.uk/Our-Boats/Dayboats---A-day-out-of-the-ordinary

There was a two page review of a Mallard boat, called Dabchick, by Andy Burnett in the September 1989 Waterways World. It says “The boat Dabchick” is operated as a hire boat by Ian Sharp who fits Mallards out for moulder Peter Dodimead. Both are experienced boat builders” In 1989 it listed the builder and hire company. Builder: Crystal Marine. Potterne Park Farm, Potterne, Devizes, Wilts. SN10 5QT Hire: The White Horse Boat Company, Bridge Inn, Horton, Devizes, Wilts. SN10 5AQ. In April 1994 Waterways World, in their Boats and Pieces column mention that Ian Sharp now sells outboard motor versions of Mallard. Swift2: I’ve sent you a PM

48 volt systems are being looked at and designed for cars. They will probably coexist with 12 volt systems. Autoblog: Mercedes-Benz engines with 48-volt systems coming in 2017 “The industry is moving toward 48-volt power, with the SAE working on a standard for the systems and Delphi claiming a 10-percent increase in fuel economy for cars that make the switch. The supplier is said to be working with two major automakers to implement 48-volt systems, and most companies are rumored to be working on adding the technology to next-gen vehicles.” http://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/14/mercedes-benz-2017-engines-48-volt-electric/ The Economist: At last the 48 show http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21704778-upping-volts-will-make-hybrid-cars-much-cheaper-last-48-show Autoweek: The 12-volt car battery is about to be a thing of the past 48-VOLT POWER IS COMING, OFFERING A BIG ADVANTAGE TO AUTOMAKERS http://autoweek.com/article/technology/48-volt-systems-are-bringing-more-power-and-better-fuel-economy

If you are a fan of whisky, then the wine merchant Nickolls and Perks is the place to go in Stourbridge town center, they carry a huge range. It’s well worth looking at their web site. Their prices seem reasonable. Currently, ten year old Ardbeg is £41.26 while Tesco are selling it for £47.00. Although they do also have a fifty year old Glenfiddich in stock for £19,800 http://www.nickollsandperks.co.uk The entrance to Tesco is in the same complex as the entrance to the town hall and library. The easiest way to walk to the town center and Tesco is to walk through the underpass under the ring road and then walk up lower high street which is up a slight hill. At the top of lower high street Nickolls and Perks is a white building on the left hand side. Turn left here to go down Coventry Street to get to the Duke William that Tim Lewis mentioned or turn right and go through some glass doors to find the Library and the entrance to Tesco. Waitrose is also a short walk from here up Market Street.

With a full height bulkhead between the lounge and the bedroom the heat from the stove will have problems moving down the boat. I had a full height bulkhead on my boat between the lounge and adjacent kitchen. The kitchen was always chilly. I think that is one reason to have lounge, kitchen and diner in one space with free air space between them at ceiling height. Of course, with central heating this may not be a concern.

I’ve recently filled in a PIP (Personal Independence Payment) form for my sister-in-law who currently receives DLA (Disability Living Allowance). We spent many hours over a three week period deciding what to put down on the form. The form is a bit like sitting an exam. There are ten activities that you are scored on to see if you qualify for the daily living component of PIP and two activities for the mobility component. After submitting the form there will also be a face to face interview with a health professional. As romani123 suggested, I would look at the PIP criteria but don’t claim until the DWP send you a letter telling you that you need to fill in a form. The general advice is that if you are already receiving DLA, don’t claim PIP until you have to as if you claim PIP and find that you don’t qualify, your DLA will stop. There is lots of information and a sample form on the www.gov.uk website. I found this guide useful. Appendix B and C in this guide gives the questions you have to answer, the marking criteria and possible scores. http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/default/files/word/PIPGuidetoclaiming23June2016-1.docx As an example, here is the marking schedule for one activity. There are ten activities in the daily living component. To be entitled to the standard rate of the daily living component, you need to score at least 8 points; to be entitled to the enhanced rate, you need to score at least 12 points. These points can be scored from just one activity heading or from any of the 10 headings added together. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words a Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses. Score 0 b Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information. Score 2 c Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information. Score 2 d Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information. Score 4 e Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all. Score 8

Have you got either a Nicholson guide or Pearson guide book to show the route and where to find water points etc.? https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nicholson+guide+llangollen&sprefix=nicholson+guide%2Caps%2C138 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Welsh-Waters-Shropshire-Llangollen-Montgomery/dp/0992849225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469263706&sr=8-1&keywords=pearson+guide+llangollen Although mooring is easy, the Shropshire union canal society have installed mooring rings in many places, in nice spots in the countryside. If you can find these places it makes mooring quick and easy if you want to stop for lunch and there will be enough water to get tight to the bank. There is an interactive map showing the site locations http://www.shropshireunion.org.uk/the-canals/interactive-map Try to load a week’s provisions onto the boat before you start off, especially heavy and bulky items as there will not be many places to stop and stock up. Carrying stuff back to the boat on foot can literally be a pain in the neck. Here’s a list for starters beer, wine, milk, bottled water (if you use it), potatoes, fruit, toilet rolls. Ellesmere is the easiest place to stock up mid-trip. You can go up the canal arm and try to find a mooring. The town, and Tesco supermarket are at the end of the canal arm. There is a good delicatessen in the town Vermeulen & son. Make sure you can make a couple of evening meals, just in case you decide to moor overnight in the countryside or you find that you are running late and can’t get to a pub in time. As mross has already said, the boat will be longer than the canal is wide, make sure you know where to turn the boat when you decide to head back to base. Turning points or winding holes are marked on the canal guides but are not always easy to spot. I’ve met a few hire boats that have missed their turning point and have had to continue to the next point. This added a few hours to their journey and really threw their plans into disarray. Although in your case I assume you will go to the basin at Llangollen. Space on a narrowboat will be at a premium. For your luggage, either try to use soft bags that can fold and stow, or if you have a car, empty your bags and suitcases and leave the empty suitcases in the car. Grindley Brook locks and also New Marton lock can be a bottlenecks with queues of boats, so do allow time for this possibility on the return journey. If you moor in Llangollen there is a ruined castle on a hill that is a pleasant walk and gives good views, Castell Dinas Bran http://www.castlewales.com/dinas.html In Llangollen, I’ve hade some nice food at the Corn Mill. This is just over the bridge, overlooking the river. http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/cornmill/

Daisy Ashford was advertised in a semi-display advert for WFBC in the classified ads section of the September 1985 edition of Waterways World. It read: “DAISY ASHFORD” 70-FT all steel converted narrowboat. New steel cabin and refit 1983. Shower, gas heating, fully fitted galley with double s/s sink, fridge freezer, pump out toilet etc. Lister HR2. 10 berth. Ideal school or youth organisation boat. £20,000 ono In the November 1985 WW the price had dropped to £18,000 In the July 1986 WW the price had dropped to £16,950 In the September 1986 WW the price had dropped to £16,000 September 1986 was the last month the boat was advertised. Hope the information helps.

I was the original owner of Arbutus, a Norton Canes with a Gardner 2LW, but I sold it in September 2014. It’s now on it’s third owner. It was bought in February this year. It wasn’t me who was responsible for putting the tractor seats on the back of it!

Looking at CaRT Reservoir Watch the Clattercote reservoir is part of the Oxford and GU reservoir group. Oxford & GU Boddington, Wormleighton, Clattercote, Naseby, Sulby, Welford, Drayton, Daventry GU South Startopsend, Wilstone, Marsworth, Tringford GU North Saddington For a full list and to see the state of the reservoir holding: Follow the May 2016 link from the bottom of this page. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/our-work/water-management/day-to-day/reservoir-watch

If you decide to moor at the top of the 21 and want a go for a cheap Indian then try Jivan’s. It’s a cheap and cheerful Indian very close to the moorings. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g190762-d781578-Reviews-Jivan_s-Wolverhampton_West_Midlands_England.html http://jivansbalti.com