CRT advice to moor using centre line.

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

'tbtoing

 

?

[Russ T]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

?

Translation: Isn't going

[TheBiscuits]

1 minute ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

?

 

Morlock speak.  It translates to "not going" in unmangled English ...

[LadyG]

On 13/05/2024 at 12:32, Liam said:

Not all centre lines are fixed to the cabin top...

Are they all in the Centre?

3 hours ago, LucyL said:

Hi 

 

Iam new to boating 10 months in and have to  be away from the boat overnight often. I do tie a loose centre line incase she comes adrift. But I've noticed that is different advice given depending who gives it, iam not entirely sure which is the safest method for the boat when left unattended on the canal?

The bow line and the stern line are the main mooring points.

If the level is likely to move +/- by about 9", having your lines, including springs not too tight.should allow boat to move without strain. 

If leaving often, I would use chains to attach to shore fixtures/armco,  then fix the ropes back to the boat. The weight of the chains may help to bring boat alongside and will deter idiots from untying the ropes. Having the boat attached to several ropes will deter scrotes.

I have two big PIR lights from amazon, plus a few AA battery fairy lights on a timer,  the boat looks inhabited, at least during hours of darkness.

If leaving the boat I chain the bow doors from the inside and exit via the stern hatch  which is padlocked (large ABUS) I  expect theives would attempt to prise open bow doors,  hopefully, they will give up

 

On 13/05/2024 at 14:26, PeterScott said:

Long ago the works' canteen added tripe to the menu. I thought it inedible, but it might have been inefficient / insufficient cooking ...

I used to be served a bowl of tripe and onions when I was young. The butcher had already boiled it for a very long time so it just needed 40 mins with spuds and onions for flavour. It was OK,  you could add  milk,  black pepper and parsley on a Sunday as a special treat!  I can't think the canteen will be serving tripe very often. It ends up in dog food these days, but up to 1954  meat was on  ration, or in short supply, a roast beef on Sunday was extended to Tuesday with beef dripping on toast. I can still remember the excitement when we were served banana and custard, one banana between four, it was like a scene from The Three Bears

Edited May 26, 2025 by LadyG

[Jen-in-Wellies]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

used to be served a bowl of tripe and onions when I was young. The butcher had already boiled it for a very long time so it just needed 40 mins with spuds and onions for flavour. It was OK,  you could add  milk,  black pepper and parsley on a Sunday as a special treat!  I can't think the canteen will be serving tripe very often. It ends up in dog food these days, but up to 1954  meat was on  ration, or in short supply

If you cook tripe with enough onions, milk, black pepper and parsley, it tastes of onions, milk, black pepper and parsley, rather than tripe. 🤢

[LadyG]

3 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

If you cook tripe with enough onions, milk, black pepper and parsley, it tastes of onions, milk, black pepper and parsley, rather than tripe. 🤢

Correct, but there is nothing worse than undercooked tripe, at least it is edible as in that it can be swallowed, it has no flavour having been washed and boiled for hours.

Edited May 26, 2025 by LadyG

[Tony Brooks]

3 hours ago, LucyL said:

Hi 

 

Iam new to boating 10 months in and have to  be away from the boat overnight often. I do tie a loose centre line incase she comes adrift. But I've noticed that is different advice given depending who gives it, iam not entirely sure which is the safest method for the boat when left unattended on the canal?

 

This is why I kept my anchor ready for deployment. When leaving the boat anywhere where it may be set adrift or pins pull out, I put it over the opposite side to the towpath. I also had a length of chain and a coupe of padlocks, so I could secure it to the T stud and the goat chain Jen talked about. Neither is foolproof, but provides another obstacle for the scrotes to overcome, so hopefully they go look for their fun else where.

[Hudds Lad]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

I can still remember the excitement when we were served banana and custard, one banana between four, it was like a scene from The Three Bears

My dear departed Mum used to tell a tale of when rationing was on and the local shop got some banana's in.

There was a large bungalow at the top of their street, at the end of the terraced houses, who thought themselves a cut above the local populace.

Everyone was in a queue at the shop to get their banana ration, when in walks madam from the bungalow and heads straight to the front.

"I'm the lady from the bungalow, can i have my bananas now?"

Replies the shopkeeper; "Ah dunt care if tha's an angel from hevven, tha can get thissen t'back and queue like every bugger else"

 

Mum also told how later on in the war, Mr Bungalow was paid a visit by the law and found to have a cupboard full of illicit tinned goods acquired through black marketeering.

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, LadyG said:

Are they all in the Centre?

 

But if at gunwale level they don't tip the boat when other boats pass, they can also be run back and forth as springs  

[LadyG]

4 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

But if at gunwale level they don't tip the boat when other boats pass, they can also be run back and forth as springs  

Yes, I'd not leave a boat overnight with a tight roof centreline in case of some unfortunate happening, though if on board I often have it loose, if I'm too lazy to set the springs.

Edited May 26, 2025 by LadyG

[LucyL]

Thanks for your help.  The centre line is one thats fixed to the top of the cabin. 

[LadyG]

34 minutes ago, LucyL said:

Thanks for your help.  The centre line is one thats fixed to the top of the cabin. 

Yes, it is often used when you come alongside a mooring. 

The boat should be moored at the bow and the stern, not on the centreline.

Edited May 26, 2025 by LadyG

[LucyL]

Sorry folks theres been a few references to the word 'springs'. I am not familiar with this term. Can someone enlighten me? 

[Tony Brooks]

1 minute ago, LucyL said:

Sorry folks theres been a few references to the word 'springs'. I am not familiar with this term. Can someone enlighten me? 

 

They are longer diagonal lines in addition to the two typical mooing lines - probably called breast lines. The mooring lines run at 90 degrees to the bank, and the spring lines run at a fairly shallow angle from the mounting points on the boat to the fixings on the bank. The spring lines stop the boat surging backwards and forwards when boats go past, and the normal mooring lines hold it against the bank. 

 

Many narrow boaters try to make the mooring lines do both be setting them at opposing angles to the bank, but that only works to   certain extent.

[LadyG]

38 minutes ago, LucyL said:

Sorry folks theres been a few references to the word 'springs'. I am not familiar with this term. Can someone enlighten me? 

Have a look on YouTube about mooring.

The springs are diagonal mooring  lines which help to hold the boat steady,  for example a boat goes past creating a wash,  or if the wind is gusty.

Edited May 26, 2025 by LadyG

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

12 minutes ago, LucyL said:

Sorry folks theres been a few references to the word 'springs'. I am not familiar with this term. Can someone enlighten me? 

here’s a spring line,

the boat don’t match the mooring bollards as I’d like and I don’t want to create a trip hazard at front 

 

simply the black rope is the springer. (And a trip hazard in my case 😃)
 

normally as you know you tie with a rope going out from the front and back. 
but in this case the back rope is longer than I’d like so the springer helps keep the back in as the trip boats pass. 
 

 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

20 minutes ago, LucyL said:

Sorry folks theres been a few references to the word 'springs'. I am not familiar with this term. Can someone enlighten me? 

Spring lines are not the new fashions in boater's attire, paraded on the catwalks of London, Milan and Paris.

Though jumpers with holes in the elbows that whiff faintly of diesel are very in right now. 😀

[LucyL]

Yes I see, especially as its black. 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

It’s me centre line reappropriated,

🤡

[Russ T]

24 minutes ago, 5239 said:

here’s a spring line,

the boat don’t match the mooring bollards as I’d like and I don’t want to create a trip hazard at front 

 

simply the black rope is the springer. (And a trip hazard in my case 😃)
 

normally as you know you tie with a rope going out from the front and back. 
but in this case the back rope is longer than I’d like so the springer helps keep the back in as the trip boats pass. 
 

 

That's a lovely looking springer you got there. Very shapely.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

2 minutes ago, Russ T said:

That's a lovely looking springer you got there. Very shapely.

yeah,

not bad for a springer,

I was accused of it being a Josher the other week. 

[Wanderer Vagabond]

6 hours ago, LadyG said:

Correct, but there is nothing worse than undercooked tripe, at least it is edible as in that it can be swallowed, it has no flavour having been washed and boiled for hours.

Not just washed and boiled but bleached as well, I know because at one time I delivered the Hydrogen Peroxide that they used to do it. As you say, it is used as dog food these days and they love it, the greener the better as far as they are concerned (no bleaching for them!). Bearing in mind it is the stomach of the cow, in it's raw state it smells pretty much the same as the stuff that comes out of the back end of a cow and given the really annoying readiness my dogs had for eating that stuff when out walking in the countryside, I suppose it is the doggy equivalent of caviar

[ditchcrawler]

21 minutes ago, Wanderer Vagabond said:

Not just washed and boiled but bleached as well, I know because at one time I delivered the Hydrogen Peroxide that they used to do it. As you say, it is used as dog food these days and they love it, the greener the better as far as they are concerned (no bleaching for them!). Bearing in mind it is the stomach of the cow, in it's raw state it smells pretty much the same as the stuff that comes out of the back end of a cow and given the really annoying readiness my dogs had for eating that stuff when out walking in the countryside, I suppose it is the doggy equivalent of caviar

They use to boil that in Gt Yarmouth at the old slaughter house down Fishers Entrance, The fat was used to fry chips on the market place as was the tripe, can't say I remember the bleach . As you say raw tripe stinks 

[Alan de Enfield]

Breast lines are what many call 'mooring lines' and are used to stop the boat drifting away from the bank

Spring lines are used to stop the boat moving forwards and backwards.

 

 

[TheBiscuits]

3 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

The mooring lines run at 90 degrees to the bank,

 

Mine don't.  Am I doing it wrong?