Castleford to Leicester

[tjr1234]

Relatively new to boating but the quickest journey to complete this journey is on the trent.

 

Do you think thats possible in the next 2 to 3 weeks?

 

55nb 20 yrs old Izuzu 42

 

Thanks

[Moke]

If you’re planning on going via Keedby then no.

[tjr1234]

3 minutes ago, Moke said:

If you’re planning on going via Keedby then no.

Checking the closures would have been a good place to start! 20th May jeez. Always wanted to do the Rochdale single handed 😕

[LadyG]

Morning, others will be along soon.

First of all, if venturing on the Trent, I would have the engine serviced, i can recommend my engineer Sam who is nearby. I recently had an Isusu 500 hour service, which was about £270 including materials.

You may need to ask him to check the fuel tank, ensure it is free of loose crud and water though not all people will do this, as it is not as good as a clean and polish. I did my own, collecting fuel in containers from a car wash, and letting it settle. I used an additive.

You may be best to have the Boating Association pilot for the sector you will navigate.

Use the canalplan ac to determine a rough timescale, though it may need adjustment for adverse river flows, and the stamina of the crew. 

I have a Mantus anchor, chain and warp from my salty water days, which is overkill, but I recommend maybe 8m of heavy chain with green pin shackles to increase the efficacy of your ground tackle on rivers. Jimmy green marine may have short pieces at a discount.

Make a passage plan to include the phone numbers, it may be best to ring them a day or so before to check on local conditions.

The run of the river will vary with rainfall of course.

You may have to wait a while!

!  Keadby !

Have your CRT stoppages alerts set for all the alternative routes.

The CRT map should be accessed via stoppages and strong streams.

If in a hurry it may be best to use a boatmover, eg @noddyboater or ensure there will be volunteers for the Rochdale, I believe there is a Facebook group.

 

 

 

 

 

An update on the Vazon sliding bridge at Keadby is due on 29th March 2024

Edited March 25 by LadyG

[Kendorr]

Also, if you're opting to wait for Keadby, join Trentlink FB group

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/666937220961360

 

Single handing, I always prefer the Huddersfield Narrow canal, but that has more than it's fair share of problems too!!

 

 

[IanD]

6 hours ago, tjr1234 said:

Checking the closures would have been a good place to start! 20th May jeez. Always wanted to do the Rochdale single handed 😕

Either the Rochdale or the HNC is a *very* long way round (almost double the time) to get from Cas to Leics compared to the Trent... 😉 

[john6767]

10 minutes ago, IanD said:

Either the Rochdale or the HNC is a *very* long way round (almost double the time) to get from Cas to Leics compared to the Trent... 😉 

But he is not going to be able to go the Trent route in the next 2 to 3 weeks, so over the Pennines is really the only practical route.  Or go the simple way and put it on a truck if time is short.

[tjr1234]

24 minutes ago, john6767 said:

But he is not going to be able to go the Trent route in the next 2 to 3 weeks, so over the Pennines is really the only practical route.  Or go the simple way and put it on a truck if time is short.

 

Probably can fit in 40+ pubs the long way round if im lucky.

[IanD]

1 hour ago, tjr1234 said:

 

Probably can fit in 40+ pubs the long way round if im lucky.

Yeah, that's 3 weeks with 2 pubs a day -- except you know the pubs won't always coincide with where you want to stop or vice versa... 😉 

 

Hope you've got a crew who like locks too 🙂 

[Stroudwater1]

2 hours ago, john6767 said:

But he is not going to be able to go the Trent route in the next 2 to 3 weeks, so over the Pennines is really the only practical route.  Or go the simple way and put it on a truck if time is short.

 

 

 

 

 I believe one could get to the Trent via Selby or Goole? 
I doubt that would necessarily be wise with a boat that you are unfamiliar with.
 

Are there pilots available for that journey?

[Alan de Enfield]

11 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

 

 I believe one could get to the Trent via Selby or Goole? 
I doubt that would necessarily be wise with a boat that you are unfamiliar with.
 

Are there pilots available for that journey?

 

 

I'd certainly not suggest that a "new to boating" owner with an unknown boat should attempt to go around Trent Falls.

 

The tides can run up to 4 or 5mph and you need to have the knowledge & experience to plan the route and timing, taking tides into consideration, and the ability (and equipment) to anchor up safely to sit out the worst of the tides.

 

If time is of the essence and you cannot wait for the closures to finish - take a truck.

As having little experience and an unknown boat could result in you ending up stuck for ages.

 

With a truck, It'll all be done in one day and will probably not cost a great deal more than 3 weeks use of fuel and possibly a skipper for the 'nasty bits'.

Edited March 25 by Alan de Enfield

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

2 hours ago, tjr1234 said:

 

Probably can fit in 40+ pubs the long way round if im lucky.

Ooh a pub crawl lovely. 
yes keep a note of each one you go in. 
 

now the Rochdale or the HNC for the pubs??? there’s a dilemma,

If drinking canal side or very close my first thoughts would be the HNC. 
But you won’t be disappointed with either. 
 

17 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

With a truck, It'll all be done in one day and will probably not cost a great deal more than 3 weeks use of fuel and possibly a skipper for the 'nasty bits'.

 

taking into account the cost of beer too,

yep it might be more cost effective to put boat on truck👍

but where’s the fun in that?

 

Best way to gain experience is go boating 😃

 

[Alan de Enfield]

18 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

Best way to gain experience is go boating 😃

 

 

 

Agreed - but it is best to learn in 'tiny steps' taking onboard something new or stretching your abilities a little at a time.

 

For an inexperienced boater with an unknown boat (just purchased) I would suggest that he is more likely to frighten himself and be put off boating for life if he tries to tackle one of the most complicated tidal river systems in the UK.

 

After 40 years of having sea going boats, being on the Trent in a NB was one of the situations where I needed to have 100% concentration and was never relaxed. On the sea you have room to make and correct your mistakes - on a river you don't.

 

Friends of ours were going down the Trent from Newark to a Wedding in Lincoln - "they" thought they knew the route to avoid the sunken islands but on a falling tide they got stuck and no way to get them off.

Not realising that the tide heights change every day and on the tides falling from Spring to Neaps, the tide is lower every day for a week so getting stuck meant that although they thought they could wait to the next tide to float them off - a smaller tide meant they could not float off, after a couple of days they were high and dry - even at high tide.

 

They missed the wedding !!

 

You need to work with the sea (and tidal Rivers) you will never beat it - it must be treated with care & respect.

[IanD]

31 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

Ooh a pub crawl lovely. 
yes keep a note of each one you go in. 
 

now the Rochdale or the HNC for the pubs??? there’s a dilemma,

If drinking canal side or very close my first thoughts would be the HNC. 
But you won’t be disappointed with either. 
 

 

taking into account the cost of beer too,

yep it might be more cost effective to put boat on truck👍

but where’s the fun in that?

 

Best way to gain experience is go boating 😃

 

 

I'd go for the HNC/Macclesfield route too, assuming you can get a Standedge booking when you need it -- nicer and less work than the Rochdale. Red Doles lock on the Huddersfiled is currently closed but due to open on the 28th and it would take 2 days to get there, so should be clear after that -- assuming no other unplanned stoppages, which is by no means guaranteed... 😉 

 

175 miles and 190 locks in 15 days, perfectly doable at 7 hours a day -- and some *great* pubs... 🙂 

Edited March 25 by IanD

[Hudds Lad]

Just had drop in my mailbox revised booking info for the HNC, you need to book Standedge, Marsden Flight & Lock 1E now.

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/24708-marsden-lock-flight-lock-42e-to-lock-32e

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/27726-standedge-tunnel-2024-booking-information

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/26262-huddersfield-narrow-canal-lock-3e-to-lock-1e-tuesday-and-thursday-only

 

The Marsden Flight notice contains some good excuses for lack of water  

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

1 minute ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

Agreed - but it is best to learn in 'tiny steps' taking onboard something new or stretching your abilities a little at a time.

 

For an inexperienced boater with an unknown boat (just purchased) I would suggest that he is more likely to frighten himself and be put off boating for life if he tries to tackle one of the most complicated tidal river systems in the UK.

 

After 40 years of having sea going boats, being on the Trent in a NB was one of the situations where I needed to have 100% concentration and was never relaxed. On the sea you have room to make and correct your mistakes - on a river you don't.

 

Friends of ours were going down the Trent from Newark to a Wedding in Lincoln - "they" thought they knew the route to avoid the sunken islands but on a falling tide they got stuck and no way to get them off.

Not realising that the tide heights change every day and on the tides falling from Spring to Neaps, the tide is lower every day for a week so getting stuck meant that although they thought they could wait to the next tide to float them off - a smaller tide meant they could not float off, after a couple of days they were high and dry - even at high tide.

 

They missed the wedding !!

 

You need to work with the sea (and tidal Rivers) you will never beat it - it must be treated with care & respect.

I agree, I wasn’t suggesting he go Trent but go the Pennine Route, the long route. 

 

Just had a Quick Look at Canalplanner and it’s about 120hr via Preston Brook (Marple Flight is out). 

4 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

I agree, I wasn’t suggesting he go Trent but go the Pennine Route, the long route. 

 

Just had a Quick Look at Canalplanner and it’s about 120hr via Preston Brook (Marple Flight is out). 

200miles and 223 locks 

[IanD]

16 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

I agree, I wasn’t suggesting he go Trent but go the Pennine Route, the long route. 

 

Just had a Quick Look at Canalplanner and it’s about 120hr via Preston Brook (Marple Flight is out). 

Aaargh, forgot about Marple... 😞 

 

(shame -- Ashton/Macclesfield route is shorter and a lot nicer than Rochdale/Bridgewater)

 

So it's that route of 200 miles and 224 locks in at least 2.5 weeks (as a new boater) or a truck, hmmm... 😉 

 

17 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

Just had drop in my mailbox revised booking info for the HNC, you need to book Standedge, Marsden Flight & Lock 1E now.

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/24708-marsden-lock-flight-lock-42e-to-lock-32e

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/27726-standedge-tunnel-2024-booking-information

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/26262-huddersfield-narrow-canal-lock-3e-to-lock-1e-tuesday-and-thursday-only

 

The Marsden Flight notice contains some good excuses for lack of water  

Lock 1E seems to be Mon-Fri now, not just Tues/Thurs as the (outdated) title says.

 

Standedge is only 1 boat per day each way on Mon/Wed/Fri, so you might find you can't get a booking when you want it and have to wait.

 

Marsden flight is open weekdays but volunteers for assisted passage are only there on Tues/Thurs.

 

What a PITA... 😞 

Edited March 25 by IanD

[TheBiscuits]

5 minutes ago, IanD said:

So it's that route of 200 miles and 224 locks in at least 2.5 weeks (as a new boater) or a truck, hmmm... 😉 

 

After a delivery trip like that including big and little locks and a few rivers he won't be a new boater anymore.

 

There's many boat owners who haven't managed that lot in twenty years ...

 

Sounds like a fairly strenuous fortnight but the old lock wheeling muscles will be in tip top shape after doing it.  Or worn out!

[IanD]

7 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

After a delivery trip like that including big and little locks and a few rivers he won't be a new boater anymore.

 

There's many boat owners who haven't managed that lot in twenty years ...

 

Sounds like a fairly strenuous fortnight but the old lock wheeling muscles will be in tip top shape after doing it.  Or worn out!

 

If I had the time and/or a willing crew I'd jump at it, we've done much harder trips than this in the past (e.g. Rochdale/HNC ring in 10 days) -- but you've got to *really* like locks, which we do... 😉 

 

It's a shame that Marple is closed, that route is considerably shorter/easier and nicer... 😞 

 

Going via the Rochdale isn't quite as nice as the HNC and is harder work, but is only a couple of hours longer and doesn't have the HNC restrictions -- it's what we ended up doing last October for this reason.

Edited March 25 by IanD

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Well, OP, are you fit?

 

How do fancy chucking a trip around the BCN into the mix?

😃😃

[LadyG]

1 hour ago, Stroudwater1 said:

 

 I believe one could get to the Trent via Selby or Goole? 
I doubt that would necessarily be wise with a boat that you are unfamiliar with.
 

Are there pilots available for that journey?

 I dont know if any qualified pilots would do narrowboats.

I would certainly swerve that route myself in a NB. 

Commercial waterways, and tidal effects plus shifting sandbanks. Not for me.

Edited March 25 by LadyG

[Stroudwater1]

39 minutes ago, LadyG said:

 I dont know if any qualified pilots would do narrowboats.

I would certainly swerve that route myself in a NB. 

Commercial waterways, and tidal effects plus shifting sandbanks. Not for me.

Yes they do, fairly regularly up the Severn, over the Wash and across the Mersey, possibly on the Thames too. 

Hence my question and I can’t see anyone has answered either way. As I pointed out perhaps not the wisest alone unfamiliar with the boat but with a pilot is by far the cheapest and easiest lock wise. There are good boat engineers who could ensure the engine was in good shape. 

I know @Scholar Gypsy has been up to Hull/Beverley, but I don’t think he had a pilot. Perhaps he knows if a Pilot would do it and is available. It’s probably a better  job than navigating the oil tankers up the Humber to Immingham. 

TBH doing the Rochdale or Huddersfield as a first trip is not exactly a great idea either. 

. 
 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

Going on the Yorkshie Ouse, the Humber and the Trent he will need to be complying wth the APB rules :

 

1) Working (licenced) VHF

2) Working Navigation lights

3) A minimum of 2 crew on board on a boat longer then (I think) 12 metres.

[Jon57]

1 hour ago, Hudds Lad said:

Just had drop in my mailbox revised booking info for the HNC, you need to book Standedge, Marsden Flight & Lock 1E now.

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/24708-marsden-lock-flight-lock-42e-to-lock-32e

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/27726-standedge-tunnel-2024-booking-information

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/26262-huddersfield-narrow-canal-lock-3e-to-lock-1e-tuesday-and-thursday-only

 

The Marsden Flight notice contains some good excuses for lack of water  

You can now go diagonal on the Huddersfield narrow with a 60 ft boat. 😁

[Scholar Gypsy]

25 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Yes they do, fairly regularly up the Severn, over the Wash and across the Mersey, possibly on the Thames too. 

Hence my question and I can’t see anyone has answered either way. As I pointed out perhaps not the wisest alone unfamiliar with the boat but with a pilot is by far the cheapest and easiest lock wise. There are good boat engineers who could ensure the engine was in good shape. 

I know @Scholar Gypsy has been up to Hull/Beverley, but I don’t think he had a pilot. Perhaps he knows if a Pilot would do it and is available. It’s probably a better  job than navigating the oil tankers up the Humber to Immingham. 

TBH doing the Rochdale or Huddersfield as a first trip is not exactly a great idea either. 

. 
 

 

Here's some stuff about the trip to Hull. We didn't have a pilot but the skipper in charge had spoken to some knowledgeable locals.

https://scholargypsy.org.uk/2021/06/17/rivers-trent-humber-and-hull-1-keadby-to-old-harbour/

As noted earlier the Trentlink group is now offering some advice on this, and can point you to some local guides/pilots. I think I read on the Trentlink Facebook group that CRT are planning to organise some sort of escorted convoy around Trent Falls.