Knighty Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Morning everyone, could I just ask what the general opinion is on the time accuracies of this great site, it’s only that having planned an out and back on the SU from Autherly Wharf with the Cheshire Cat PH the turning point ( I know the WH is a little further on) using Nicholson map mile markers and locks, it’s showing my calls are well out. 7 days on the cut btw. An example would be first part day to Wheaton Aston I’d calculated 2.5 hours, but CPac says a lot longer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 It depends entirely on what you have the speeds set to. On the standard settings, yes it is a bit pessimistic, but on the other hand that allows for some unexpected delays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doratheexplorer Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 It also depends on crew size when there are locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doratheexplorer Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Canal plan says 3 hours and 19 minutes from Autherley Wharf to Wheaton Aston. I'd say that's probably closer than your estimate. Boat trips tend to take longer than expected. By the time you've cast off, slowed down for moored boats, pulled something off your prop, queued for the lock etc. I'd say go with the canal plan estimate and be pleased if you do it quicker. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself to keep to a schedule which you may not be able to keep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilgePump Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 I think the default is set to 2.5mph which was about right for a long narrowboat on a shallow narrow canal and in no hurry but in a little GRP boat 3.5 to 4 is more accurate. Then again I would factor in longer times at locks for being single handed. All these preferences are customisable down to setting speeds on different types of waterways. (Click 'Preferences', then the 'Speeds' tab). As OP notes, it is a great site and it will be accurate if a user goes at the speeds they set. If the timings are out it is the boater who has under/over estimated their speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 1 hour ago, Knighty said: An example would be first part day to Wheaton Aston I’d calculated 2.5 hours, but CPac says a lot longer? How did you calculate this? Canalplan has its own default speeds and lock times for different types of canal and lock. You can alter these to your own values if you like, but I have found the defaults to be reasonably accurate. On narrow canals the speed limit is 4mph, but it is rarely possible to achieve this over any distance ( unless you are hell-bent on creating a huge wash, eroding banks and shaking up other craft). Istr the default speed is 2.5mph which is much more reasonable, which allows for generally lower speed , slowing down for moored boats, bridges etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Also, expect the unexpected No book, app or program can take into account moored boats, queues at popular locks, fishing matches, fallen trees, rubbish round the prop, mechanical issues with your boat etc. Use any plan as a rough guide, and don't panic if you're not on schedule, on an out and back just make sure you know when you're halfway on your allotted time so know when to turn and return. On our last week out last year we had a lovely trip planned from our old marina up onto the Bridgewater and back, as we left Big Lock at Middlewich I put a few revs on only to find no increase in propulsion which turned out to be a snapped throttle cable. The ensuing wait for RCR cost us the rest of the day and ultimately meant we did not reach the Bridgewater but only Dutton Stop Lock. Still had a great trip though 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 It depends totally on the speeds and lock times that you set, you will get an accurate result based on those numbers. I use 2.2 mph and 10 min per lock on a narrow canal, which gives This is a trip of 7.85 miles and 1 lock from Autherley Wharf to Wheaton Aston Winding Hole travelling northwest on the Shropshire Union Canal (Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal - Main Line). This will take 3 hours and 44 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 10 hours ago, Hudds Lad said: Also, expect the unexpected Well, yes, but it's the unknown unknowns you really have to watch out for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 I leave canal plan on the defaults and either arrive earlier than expected or travel further if plenty of time in hand. Trips are never planned to the minute so canal plan is only used to give a rough idea of minimum distances needed to cover each day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dreamer Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 13 hours ago, Knighty said: Morning everyone, could I just ask what the general opinion is on the time accuracies of this great site, it’s only that having planned an out and back on the SU from Autherly Wharf with the Cheshire Cat PH the turning point ( I know the WH is a little further on) using Nicholson map mile markers and locks, it’s showing my calls are well out. 7 days on the cut btw. An example would be first part day to Wheaton Aston I’d calculated 2.5 hours, but CPac says a lot longer? In my experience it is slightly pessimistic with the time it allows for locks and is slightly optimistic when calculating miles. On an average day the two offset each other, but on Tardebigge days we beat the clock, and on Wolverhampton Level days we get behind. But this is boating, so who cares? We’ll get there when we get there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knighty Posted January 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread, I’ve taken onboard all that has bean said and scaled back my expectations for my week on the Shroppie at Easter and perhaps aiming for Chester and back 6.5 days from Autherley Jctn was pushing it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 2 hours ago, Knighty said: Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread, I’ve taken onboard all that has bean said and scaled back my expectations for my week on the Shroppie at Easter and perhaps aiming for Chester and back 6.5 days from Autherley Jctn was pushing it ? Barbridge Junction and back would be about right if you want full days, you can always turn earlier if you get behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 12 hours ago, Sea Dog said: Well, yes, but it's the unknown unknowns you really have to watch out for. But it is unknown that there are any unknowns, Shirley. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 13 hours ago, Sea Dog said: Well, yes, but it's the unknown unknowns you really have to watch out for. as long as you account for the expected expecteds & the expected unexpecteds, the known knowns & the known unknowns. then the unexpected unexpected & unknown unknowns are a risk you can live with in an unexpected unknown kind of way 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) Nobody expects the.......................................nope,it's gone. Edited January 22, 2020 by rusty69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Bob Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 13 minutes ago, rusty69 said: Nobody expects the.......................................nope,it's gone. .........fish tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 1 minute ago, Dr Bob said: .........fish tank? Nope, but talking a about fish...... Mrs Rusty just threw a bottle of Omega 3 tablets at me, I suffered super fish oil injuries. Just as, well she didn't throw the tank! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 8 hours ago, Hudds Lad said: as long as you account for the expected expecteds & the expected unexpecteds, the known knowns & the known unknowns. then the unexpected unexpected & unknown unknowns are a risk you can live with in an unexpected unknown kind of way That's easy for you to say, but George W Bush never did quite get his head around the concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBiscuits Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 3 hours ago, Sea Dog said: That's easy for you to say, but George W Bush never did quite get his head around the concept. Donald Rumsfeld on the other hand had quite a grasp of them ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Bob Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 43 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said: Donald Rumsfeld on the other hand had quite a grasp of them ... Donald Duck found it difficult to grasp anything...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBiscuits Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 8 minutes ago, Dr Bob said: Donald Duck found it difficult to grasp anything...... I've got a picture of him gasping on a safety line if that helps at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 13 minutes ago, Dr Bob said: Donald Duck found it difficult to grasp anything...... Donald Trump is finding the same. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted January 23, 2020 Report Share Posted January 23, 2020 15 hours ago, TheBiscuits said: Donald Rumsfeld on the other hand had quite a grasp of them ... Indeed he did. That's the effect of the 50% wit Dubya didn't have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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