IWA Harborough 75

[NB Alnwick]

Well we have finally arrived on our booked mooring south of Bridge 60 near Foxton Locks. The last bit wasn't easy because the cut is so badly silted up that our stern is firmly aground and still almost a yard out from the piling! Apart from the rain that is forecast for the cavalcade of boats on Saturday, it looks like being a decent event. Are there any other Canalworld.net members here?

[Chris-B]

We’re here —but you knew that lol 

[NB Alnwick]

Notwithstanding the rain, it will be a great event well worth visiting!
iwaharborough75.org

[Ray T]

By coincidence? There is an article in August Waterways World on the first IWA Rally at Market Harborough, 1950.

[Chris Lowe]

I don't live far away, I may pay a visit.

[David Mack]

One of the boat's heading to Foxton has done a naughty thing:

 

"Lock 5 of the Watford flight has been hit by a boat ascending on its way to Foxton for the IWA festival this weekend.  The force of the impact has dislodged one of the lock gates out of its pot.  Colleagues have been on site since the incident, attempting to reposition it and reopen the flight but attempts so far have been unsuccessful.  Conscious that a number of boaters will be heading towards Foxton for the festival over the weekend, we will be back on site first thing tomorrow to drain the lock, allowing us to put the gate back in position and re-open the flight.  We will update this notice as soon as we have confirmation that Lock 5 is operational again."

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/019740ed-abe3-77fd-b651-ada8449fda18

 

 

Edited June 5 by David Mack

[Tonka]

39 minutes ago, David Mack said:

One of the boat's heading to Foxton has done a naughty thing:

 

"Lock 5 of the Watford flight has been hit by a boat ascending on its way to Foxton for the IWA festival this weekend.  The force of the impact has dislodged one of the lock gates out of its pot.  Colleagues have been on site since the incident, attempting to reposition it and reopen the flight but attempts so far have been unsuccessful.  Conscious that a number of boaters will be heading towards Foxton for the festival over the weekend, we will be back on site first thing tomorrow to drain the lock, allowing us to put the gate back in position and re-open the flight.  We will update this notice as soon as we have confirmation that Lock 5 is operational again."

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/019740ed-abe3-77fd-b651-ada8449fda18

 

 

so it was the locks fault and not the boater

[Blueboat]

Although a nice destination, I think the journey there is better.

But where are the front fenders.

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, Blueboat said:

Although a nice destination, I think the journey there is better.

But where are the front fenders.

Might be a tad to long with the fender on 

[Blueboat]

The canal is miles long, why would a fender make a difference to length.  I wouldn’t like to be hit by it. 

[Andyaero]

We're here, as close as possible to The Shoulder of Mutton & Black Horse in preparation for a very wet Saturday post observing the cavalcade.😁

Edited June 5 by Andyaero

[Jonny P]

10 hours ago, Blueboat said:

The canal is miles long, why would a fender make a difference to length.  I wouldn’t like to be hit by it. 

Too long to fit through the locks with it in place. It’s not uncommon for former working boats to not have a bow fender or at least have it raised up onto the foredeck.

[Pluto]

The second 'National Rally' in August 1955, with commercial and pleasure craft mingling at Skipton.Three of the commercial craft appear to be carrying wool as there was still a major traffic from Liverpool Docks to Stockbridge and Shipley. The one nearest the camera seems to be heavier loaded - wool was comparatively light - so could be carrying sugar from Tate & Lyles. 

[IanM]

10 hours ago, Blueboat said:

The canal is miles long, why would a fender make a difference to length.  I wouldn’t like to be hit by it. 

 

Putting the front fender where it is meant to go would mean it is above most things you're going to hit anyway when the boat is running empty.

 

 

[Chris Lowe]

Apart from NB Alnwick is anyone else from the forum at the event, I'm going tomorrow.

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

On 05/06/2025 at 20:01, Blueboat said:

But where are the front fenders.

 Stuck in the gate of Lock No5 on the Watford Flight. Going to pick them up next weekend on the way down.😂

Edited June 7 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[sigsegv]

15 minutes ago, Chris Lowe said:

Apart from NB Alnwick is anyone else from the forum at the event, I'm going tomorrow.

We’re moored above Foxton, just by bridge 59. Will be pottering down soon, after I’ve had a beer. The weathers turned out better than expected

[Lady M]

16 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

 Stuck in the gate of Lock No5 on the Watford Flight. Going to pick them up next weekend on the way down.😂

Not guilty

[Chris Lowe]

Anyone from the forum, watch out for my white Tilley hat tomorrow.

[Up-Side-Down]

Altogether not such a bad event, despite the not so brilliant weather ......

[alan_fincher]

On 05/06/2025 at 20:01, Blueboat said:

Although a nice destination, I think the journey there is better.

But where are the front fenders.

 

There is no requirement in the bylaws to have fenders permanently deployed.  You must have them available ready to be deployed, and steerers of many 71' 6" working boats choose to operate like this to avoid having to lift them to fit a lock, and then redeploying afterwards.

[5239]

and we wonder why the gates are in the state they are?

I’ve never seen the coal boats going around with fenders up, they seem to get on well enough,

…mind they generally know what they’re doing. 

[alan_fincher]

1 hour ago, 5239 said:

I’ve never seen the coal boats going around with fenders up, they seem to get on well enough,

…mind they generally know what they’re doing. 

 

I'm not sure where you are looking, but certainly most of the GU fuel boats don't travel with front fenders deployed.

First image I found on Facebook....

 

[5239]

From that image they don’t have fenders to deploy,

 

maybe it’s a southern thing?

I’m sure up here they have fenders,

but hey I’ll stand corrected. 
 

but I’m a bit confused now,

so when does one deploy a fender if your don’t  deploy it in a lock or when travelling?

…does one just put it on at night when parked up?

 

I think we need some coal boaters (past and present) to comment on this. 

[Rob-M]

We lift the bow fender on the working boats when passing through locks to give us a bit of extra room as it can be quite tight.  A few locks require stern fenders lifting as well otherwise we can't open the bottom gate.