Calcutt locks

[Tonka]

11 hours ago, john6767 said:

The back pump was running when we spent the night above the locks, the trouble is the top lock leaks badly, so much of it is going straight back down the locks.  If when the locks close the top gates on the top lock can be sealed up then it will make a big difference, that is assuming that boats will be moved from the wharf area as to would empty very quickly without the leakage from the top lock.

So if the top pound empties when the top gates are sealed, then surely the middle locks are leaking

[Llamedos]

I’m moored on Ventnor. 
 

We’ve been here for a week or so and decided not to take our boat out but I’ve taken a walk up to Calcutt Locks most mornings to watch the various ‘goings on’ up there. It’s been interesting, the amount of contradictory information from people, including the Calcutt staff is pretty mind boggling. 
 

I think running their hire fleet from above the locks will be challenging as facilities such as diesel and pump out are on the service dock in the pound below the top lock. I was told by one of their guys that they were hoping to persuade CRT to lock the flight off from the middle lock after the full closure next week so they could access their service dock and keep operating. Not sure how that’s gone or whether it was just him speculating.
 

As I said a lot of misinformation kicking around. 

Edited August 24, 2025 by Llamedos
Typo

[Graham and Jo]

I was in the wharf for diesel and pump outs this morning and the girl operating the pump out said they are going above the wharf. Apparently they have some sort of portable kit. I will find out tomorrow. Getting off Dotterel's mooring this morning was fun, managed to get the back end out by lots of forward and reverse, I guess the prop stirred up the mud enough, and then reversed out, dragging the front out of the mud. Now back on the mooring - well sort of - more abandoned than moored really. 

 

Cheers Graham 

[Lily Rose]

15 minutes ago, Graham and Jo said:

the girl operating the pump out said they are going above the wharf. Apparently they have some sort of portable kit.

 

That's also what I was told by a male member of staff last Thursday afternoon as he helped bring one of their boats down the top lock during the closed time.

 

[Llamedos]

It’ll be a tad congested up there, that’s for sure! Anyone who wants to turn above the lock or get water will struggle with their hire fleet moored there. 
 

Leesan do sell portable pump out kits so they must have invested in one. The staff are going to love using that as well as carrying diesel up there by hand, not to mention accessing power for vacuum cleaners and then there’s things like servicing engines. As the saying goes… what could possibly go wrong!

[Tonka]

3 minutes ago, Llamedos said:

It’ll be a tad congested up there, that’s for sure! Anyone who wants to turn above the lock or get water will struggle with their hire fleet moored there. 
 

Leesan do sell portable pump out kits so they must have invested in one. The staff are going to love using that as well as carrying diesel up there by hand, not to mention accessing power for vacuum cleaners and then there’s things like servicing engines. As the saying goes… what could possibly go wrong!

There more professional then you think

[Llamedos]

9 minutes ago, Tonka said:

There more professional then you think

Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure they’re a very competent and professional team, but it’ll be hard work by anyone’s standards. 

[Tonka]

Just now, Llamedos said:

Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure they’re a very competent and professional team, but it’ll be hard work by anyone’s standards. 

They used to have a portable pump out machine which they used in the marina. When the wharf was reconcreted they bought in a fuel bowser and fuelled boats up in the marina.

If you want to make money you need to work hard

[Lily Rose]

1 hour ago, Llamedos said:

Leesan do sell portable pump out kits so they must have invested in one.

 

I believe Union CC at Braunston have a portable pump-out machine (I think that was what I've spotted a few times on the towpath) and probably similar for diesel although, understandably, you wouldn't leave that lying around unattended.

 

I assume Calcutt will have invested in something similar, probably to service the moorers as well as the hire fleet.

 

Edited August 24, 2025 by Lily Rose

[Graham and Jo]

It is not obvious how they would get a fuel bowser across the locks, I imagine they will do all servicing in the winding hole. It actually isn't an official winding hole and they have been know to moor boats there. It only annoys me incredibly when I want to turn round. 

 

Cheers Graham 

[haggis]

It must be pretty awful for canal businesses just now with all the restrictions and it is good to hear that some of them   are taking steps to enable them to  continue.

I feel so sorry for the canal businesses on the Weaver with the lift being closed since January and now no access via Ellesmere Port..

[Llamedos]

Personally I think CRT should have made an exception for Calcutt Boats and let them use the top lock to access their service dock. It would have made good sense all round. 

[Lily Rose]

4 minutes ago, Llamedos said:

Personally I think CRT should have made an exception for Calcutt Boats and let them use the top lock to access their service dock. It would have made good sense all round. 

 

I agree. In fact I think they should have let anyone in the pound immediately below the locks use them for 4 hours on Friday and Monday as well. But then I would say that.

 

[Llamedos]

1 minute ago, Lily Rose said:

 

I agree. In fact I think they should have let anyone in the pound immediately below the locks use them for 4 hours on Friday and Monday as well. But then I would say that.

 

Well I’m in the same position as you mooring on Ventnor.
 

I can see it from both sides. CRT are somewhat between a rock and a hard place. If you start making exceptions it gets complex. Kate Boats who’ve moved their entire fleet to Warwick would no doubts be a bit miffed if full access to their base at Stockton was suddenly allowed again with no option for them to return. I know a few people here who’ve moved their boats from our Marina to Wigrams on their Moor 100 ticket, so that’s an option for us to carry on cruising, but there’s a risk of getting stuck there all winter if things don’t reopen. 
 

The Calcutt Boats position is perhaps a bit different. It would only take a minor adjustment to the rules to allow them to use their service dock. 

[Tonka]

7 minutes ago, Llamedos said:

Well I’m in the same position as you mooring on Ventnor.
 

I can see it from both sides. CRT are somewhat between a rock and a hard place. If you start making exceptions it gets complex. Kate Boats who’ve moved their entire fleet to Warwick would no doubts be a bit miffed if full access to their base at Stockton was suddenly allowed again with no option for them to return. I know a few people here who’ve moved their boats from our Marina to Wigrams on their Moor 100 ticket, so that’s an option for us to carry on cruising, but there’s a risk of getting stuck there all winter if things don’t reopen. 
 

The Calcutt Boats position is perhaps a bit different. It would only take a minor adjustment to the rules to allow them to use their service dock. 

Did Kate boats sell their Warwick base which is where Wharwickshire Narrowboats are operating from 

[Llamedos]

13 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Did Kate boats sell their Warwick base which is where Wharwickshire Narrowboats are operating from 

You may well be right. Anyway, they’ve moved them from Stockton to other bases because of the impending closure I understand, which I guess is the issue here.

 

Do you work at Calcutt @Tonka?

[Tonka]

4 minutes ago, Llamedos said:

You may well be right. Anyway, they’ve moved them from Stockton to other bases because of the impending closure I understand, which I guess is the issue here.

 

Do you work at Calcutt @Tonka?

Yes when I work on my boat but I am not employed by them.

I attended the same school as Roger Preen but not at the same time.

 

 

[Richard Carter]

1 hour ago, Lily Rose said:

I believe Union CC at Braunston have a portable pump-out machine (I think that was what I've spotted a few times on the towpath) and probably similar for diesel although, understandably, you wouldn't leave that lying around unattended.

 

I'd say mobile, rather than portable - it's towed behind a Fordson Dexta. Trailer-mounted steel tank (poss. an old underground fuel tank?) with the pump powered by a Briggs & Stratton converted to run on propane. It always used to be just parked in its layby on the towpath.

 

Diesel is from a conventional pump, storage tank behind the office - boats have to be moved within reach to fuel up.

[Lily Rose]

 

I was told that Kate Boats were being allowed to operate from the base they had sold.

 

I agree about exceptions being a bit of a slippery slope and that some may see it as unfair. On the other hand a limited opening would put the two large marinas below the locks into a position more like that of most of the other marinas in the Rugby area. Obviously it couldn't happen if stop locks are put in place but I'm still puzzled about the point of doing that unless water is being lost from somewhere.

[Tonka]

1 minute ago, Lily Rose said:

 

I was told that Kate Boats were being allowed to operate from the base they had sold.

 

I agree about exceptions being a bit of a slippery slope and that some may see it as unfair. On the other hand a limited opening would put the two large marinas below the locks into a position more like that of most of the other marinas in the Rugby area. Obviously it couldn't happen if stop locks are put in place but I'm still puzzled about the point of doing that unless water is being lost from somewhere.

But the moorers at Atherstone Baddesly Wharf could say why can't we move. 

The moorers at the farm on the Napton Flight will say why can't we move

[Lily Rose]

1 minute ago, Tonka said:

But the moorers at Atherstone Baddesly Wharf could say why can't we move. 

The moorers at the farm on the Napton Flight will say why can't we move

 

Are they large marinas with hundreds of boats?

[Tonka]

2 minutes ago, Lily Rose said:

 

Are they large marinas with hundreds of boats?

That makes it worse. There is a shortage of water

[Llamedos]

1 minute ago, Tonka said:

But the moorers at Atherstone Baddesly Wharf could say why can't we move. 

The moorers at the farm on the Napton Flight will say why can't we move

 

You’re right. I think this is one when we’ll all just have to look at it philosophically and hope 2026 will be better. 
 

[Lily Rose]

32 minutes ago, Tonka said:

That makes it worse. There is a shortage of water

 

My suggestion was 8 hours per week of lock usage and 168 hours of back-pumping. Presumably that gives enough time to pump all the downhill water back uphill.

 

Anyway, pointless argument. It's not going to happen, I don't see the harm in doing it and you do. I doubt either of us will change the other's mind.

 

Edited August 24, 2025 by Lily Rose

[Graham and Jo]

I think we have an answer. Moored in the winding hole. There is actually plenty of space in front as the boat to the right is sticking out from the water point because someone else is moored on it. Three hire boats have gone out this afternoon . The pound is currently 6 inches off the weir at the top lock.

 

Cheers Graham