Nicholsons Updates

[NB Willawaw]

As I mentioned in another post, we mainly use Nicholsons Canal Guides, but I often find that the books become out of date quickly.

 

With pubs shutting down, etc at a rate of knots, it doesn't take long before a favorite acclaimed boozer becomes a boarded up hulk.

 

Anyway, this blog site is a resource for boaters to be able to post details when they find things have changed.

 

Not much on there yet and you need to have the latest books which have only been out for a year.

 

http://nicholsonsupdates.blogspot.com/

[Nickhlx]

As I mentioned in another post, we mainly use Nicholsons Canal Guides, but I often find that the books become out of date quickly.

 

With pubs shutting down, etc at a rate of knots, it doesn't take long before a favorite acclaimed boozer becomes a boarded up hulk.

 

Anyway, this blog site is a resource for boaters to be able to post details when they find things have changed.

 

Not much on there yet and you need to have the latest books which have only been out for a year.

 

http://nicholsonsupdates.blogspot.com/

 

 

Just had a look and couldn't find any updates on any region

 

Nick

[NB Willawaw]

I think its a self help thing.

 

You have to send some updates and everybody reaps the benefits of others efforts.

 

I've sent them an e-mail with some that I've spotted.

[Nickhlx]

I think its a self help thing.

 

You have to send some updates and everybody reaps the benefits of others efforts.

 

I've sent them an e-mail with some that I've spotted.

 

 

OK - Thanks,

 

Nick

[Guest]

As I mentioned in another post, we mainly use Nicholsons Canal Guides, but I often find that the books become out of date quickly.

 

With pubs shutting down, etc at a rate of knots, it doesn't take long before a favorite acclaimed boozer becomes a boarded up hulk.

 

Anyway, this blog site is a resource for boaters to be able to post details when they find things have changed.

 

Not much on there yet and you need to have the latest books which have only been out for a year.

 

http://nicholsonsupdates.blogspot.com/

 

It's a valiant effort, and one the publishers should embark on

 

BUT..

 

There is no validation or guarantee of accuracy which puts the blog in the same category as the original guides...

[NB Willawaw]

Thats true.

 

I've sent a couple that have been bugging me.

 

In reality, it's expecting a bit much if you expect publishers to issue a new book in March 2009 and then drive round to check/validate

each closed pub and removed lift bridge after that date before publishing it on a interim medium (prior to the next edition coming out).

Its not going to happen for the money.

 

However, I tend to mark things in my Nics book when I see them.

 

I'm sure that not everybody bothers, but if just a few who did, pooled their results, its got to be better hasn't it ??

[sueb]

Our Nicholsons are 25 years old and we just make notes in them when we find anything out of date. The names of villages don't change neither do the canals

Sue

[Guest]

Thats true.

 

As I said Valiant...

 

Our Nicholsons are 25 years old and we just make notes in them when we find anything out of date. The names of villages don't change neither do the canals

Sue

 

Exactly...

 

Mine are only a few years old though...

[NB Willawaw]

That's very public spirited of you, Sue

[ditchcrawler]

As I mentioned in another post, we mainly use Nicholsons Canal Guides, but I often find that the books become out of date quickly.

 

With pubs shutting down, etc at a rate of knots, it doesn't take long before a favorite acclaimed boozer becomes a boarded up hulk.

 

Anyway, this blog site is a resource for boaters to be able to post details when they find things have changed.

 

Not much on there yet and you need to have the latest books which have only been out for a year.

 

http://nicholsonsupdates.blogspot.com/

This was tried several years ago and not only were the authors not interested in updates I believe they tried to shut the site down. I wonder what their response to the blog will be

[NB Alnwick]

Pubs are closing down or changing hands very rapidly these days and shops, post offices and places where you can buy fuel are also disappearing or changing fast. No guide can be expected to cope with this, so the best way forward is to ask those with local knowledge (this forum is the ideal medium) prior to cruising and update your own guides . . .

[MartinClark]

This was tried several years ago and not only were the authors not interested in updates I believe they tried to shut the site down. I wonder what their response to the blog will be

 

Yes, Greg Chapman put a lot of work into his site. When he sent lists of updates to them that people had submitted, they apparently didn't take a jot of notice.

 

In reality, it's expecting a bit much if you expect publishers to issue a new book in March 2009 and then drive round to check/validate

each closed pub and removed lift bridge after that date before publishing it on a interim medium (prior to the next edition coming out).

Its not going to happen for the money.

 

But they do send people round to check, as a couple of years ago I encountered a gentleman from Nicholsons on the towpath of the Huddersfield Narrow, taking notes and GPS readings to help update the next edition.

 

The difficulty would be to try to persuade them to move into the 21st century and publish updates online in between editions.

 

I've sent them an e-mail with some that I've spotted.

 

But who is "them"? Unusually for a blog there is no indication at all of who is behind it (not even a nick-name). It would seem to be an individual rather than Nicholsons themselves, as the intro says "This blog is intended to assist fellow canal users". There is also no facility to post comments, which reduces the usefulness and interactivity of the blog.

Edited February 28, 2010 by MartinClark

[T.A]

Quote:-

 

"the difficulty would be to try to persuade them to move into the 21st century and publish updates online in between editions."

 

and how would this allow them to move into the 21st century of making a profit from selling their product? Perhaps setting a fee for this online service! How many would pay?

[koukouvagia]

As I mentioned in another post, we mainly use Nicholsons Canal Guides, but I often find that the books become out of date quickly.

 

I like Nicholsons Guides 'cos one of them's got a picture of our boat in it. Mind you, the picture was taken about ten years ago and could do with updating

[Guest]

Numpty edit

Edited February 28, 2010 by MJG

[MartinClark]

Quote:-

"the difficulty would be to try to persuade them to move into the 21st century and publish updates online in between editions."

 

and how would this allow them to move into the 21st century of making a profit from selling their product? Perhaps setting a fee for this online service! How many would pay?

 

The updates would refer to page numbers and details on that page that had changed. This information would be pretty useless if you didn't have a copy of the book to hand. It could be funded from the sales of the books, which might increase if people knew that updates were going to be available.

 

Alternatively they could have a pay-to-view section of their website with the updates on. Lots of people complain that Nicholsons books get out of date so there could well be a big-enough market.

[NB Willawaw]

Looking at this from another viewpoint, from the poll in another thread, Nicholsons would appear to be the most popular map carried.

 

Its for them to decide whether they will sell enough extra copies by going to the trouble of running an online update service.

 

However, putting my business head on for a moment, if I were the interest behind, say, Pearsons guide, I might be more inclined to offer something of this ilk to steal market share from my competitor.

 

It begs the question; how many publications are sold and is there really a market for updates ?

 

As we've seen on here already, many people seem quite happy to just muddle on with old books and just either live with the fact that things aren't there anymore or just modify their own.

 

The inland waterways fraternity is quite apathetic with things like this.

 

If you look at another parallel world like walkers and ramblers, they don't seem to complain about buying the latest Ordnance Survey Map. There is no update service on offer from the OS people and things move around a lot less on them.

 

 

The updates would refer to page numbers and details on that page that had changed. This information would be pretty useless if you didn't have a copy of the book to hand. It could be funded from the sales of the books, which might increase if people knew that updates were going to be available.

 

Alternatively they could have a pay-to-view section of their website with the updates on. Lots of people complain that Nicholsons books get out of date so there could well be a big-enough market.

 

Edited cos I should preview what I write before I click post.

Edited March 1, 2010 by NB Willawaw

[Naughty Cal]

The inland waterways fraternity is quite apathetic with things like this.

 

If you look at another parallel world like walkers and ramblers, they don't seem to complain about buying the latest Ordnance Survey Map. There is no update service on offer from the OS people and things move around a lot less on them.

 

Ah yes but they dont have boats draining off their every penny. They can afford new maps

[NB Willawaw]

Of course, the other possibility is maybe they are not as out of date as all that.

 

I struggled to think of three things to report to the site, that had closed on our travels.

 

That or its just my advancing memory loss

[Guest]

Of course, the other possibility is maybe they are not as out of date as all that.

 

I struggled to think of three things to report to the site, that had closed on our travels.

 

That or its just my advancing memory loss

 

Think the main ones I've noticed are pubs that have gone like the Navigation at bridge 14 on the Coventry and the Dog and Hedgehog at Dadlington on the Ashby.

 

The problem is with pubs is I don't think (even on line) Nicky's could keep up with the rate they close (and the way they sometimes suddenly pop up open again!)

[NB Willawaw]

Well some pubs re-open, but some have been demolished, never to return.

 

Also, its not just pubs. One example that I mailed in was the closure a water point and Elsan, which was permanently

closed due to persistent vandalism.

 

You would be pretty miffed if you motored to get there because it was in the book and then found it had shut months ago.

 

Another thing I have noticed is waterpoint positions. The position in the book isn't always quite right and you have to search to find it.

 

After an exhaustive search, I once found one waterpoint in a lock.

[T.A]

So from a business point of view I cannot see Nicholsons offering updates. I have looked at computer guides the problem is having a good internet connection at all times! However has anybody tried the Water-Ways version http://eureauweb.com/Water-Way/ this seems to be the best way to keep up to-date without having to have a good connection? A little pricey though!

[NB Willawaw]

The thing is, I quite like paper books.

 

You can get all kinds of electronic mapping and have GPS, etc but its nice to have a book on the hatch top.

 

I was working on a boat at Broxbourne yesterday and noticed that the swimming pool by the side of the River Lee has closed, so I e-mailed it to the nicholsons updates site.

 

I see that Maffi has also contributed with some info about the Oxford.

 

If people have already bought the 2009 Nics, which is only a year old, why should they have to put up with duff gen until the next book comes out...

[Guest]

The thing is, I quite like paper books.

 

You can get all kinds of electronic mapping and have GPS, etc but its nice to have a book on the hatch top.

 

Agree 100%

 

 

apart form how do you keep the guides dry and visible when it.s persistently raining.

 

This is a serious question BTW,

[NB Willawaw]

I'm sure there are many different ways.

 

I use a map wallet such as those used by walkers - you can get them from Millets.

 

Before someone tells me so, you can also use a Tesco's freezer bag.