Fossdyke

[Mac of Cygnet]

Today I got this e-mail from BW:

 

Fossdyke Navigation

 

Monday 25 October 2010 - Friday 5 November 2010

Intermarine, who are working on behalf of British Waterways, have been instructed to replace the timber decking with a non – slip GRP replacement to the downstream northern moorings.

 

All craft for the duration of the works should use the Southern downstream floating mooring pontoons, no mooring will be allowed to the north moorings throughout the works. This work will not disrupt the navigation.

 

What and where does this mean? there's no 'downstream' on the Fossdyke, and it doesn't say where.

[stagedamager]

Outside torksey lock?

[nipper]

Outside torksey lock?

The Northern pontoons looked ok to me last night, it was the southern transit pontoon that I was moored up against that was at a bit of an angle, but the planking looked ok!

No warnings from the two lock keepers about anything else untoward, and I am now way passed Lincoln on the way to Boston, on what seems a boatless waterway!

Nipper

[stagedamager]

Its lovely though, some of the best waterways can be found between torksey and boston, IMO, and at least you'll get moorings if its quiet!!!

[Naughty Cal]

They are only replacing the decking not the whole mooring.

 

You will find more boats out at the weekend nipper

[Dr Bradley]

I was moored on the other side from nipper and the pontoons, decking included, seemed fine. Is this another way to waste money?

[Mac of Cygnet]

Everyone seems to be assuming this is Torksey cut, where there is only one southern pontoon, at a sloping angle as Nipper says. The northern ones seemed fine (and not lethally slippery when wet like the ones at Newark). But Torksey cut isn't exactly the Fossdyke, is it - it's an arm of the Trent, which has an upstream and a downstream but not tallying with the description. Any other candidates?

[Naughty Cal]

Everyone seems to be assuming this is Torksey cut, where there is only one southern pontoon, at a sloping angle as Nipper says. The northern ones seemed fine (and not lethally slippery when wet like the ones at Newark). But Torksey cut isn't exactly the Fossdyke, is it - it's an arm of the Trent, which has an upstream and a downstream but not tallying with the description. Any other candidates?

 

It is the pontoons in Torksey Cut which is, until, it reaches the junction with the Trent still the fossdyke. The BW work boats were there over last weekend. The pontoon surface is incredibly slippery during wet conditions and there have been a number of accidents on there over the last couple of years, hence the resurfacing. I hope they decide to repair some of the pontoon edges while they are at it as the bolts proturding from the edges dont do GRP many favours.

 

The only pontoons on the upstream (Torksey) side are privately owned or new BW pontoons which are fine if not ill thought out. We moored on one of the BW finger pontoons last weekend.

[nipper]

They are only replacing the decking not the whole mooring.

 

You will find more boats out at the weekend nipper

 

Yes Phylis,

 

We have had a flurry, well, sort of!

 

One 20ft ish cruiser and two rowing skiffs!

 

Now at Boston Moorings and there's room for the Navy! Well, this weeks anyway!

 

The only other work we have seen going on was at Saxilby where some work was being done to a footbridge!

 

Nipper

[Naughty Cal]

Have you managed to get on the new mooring pontoons. They are so much better than the old jetties they have there. Hope you enjoy your stay in Boston, we always do. Maud Foster mill and tea rooms is well worth the visit.

 

Why not go tidal whilst you are down there and visit the Black Sluice Drain if you can get a booking through the locks.

 

The pub at Antons Gowt is well worth a visit as well. Its at the first moorings you come to after leaving Boston. Moor at the moorings and walk up over the lock and over the road and it is straight ahead. The food is very good as well.

[nipper]

Have you managed to get on the new mooring pontoons. They are so much better than the old jetties they have there. Hope you enjoy your stay in Boston, we always do. Maud Foster mill and tea rooms is well worth the visit.

 

Why not go tidal whilst you are down there and visit the Black Sluice Drain if you can get a booking through the locks.

 

The pub at Antons Gowt is well worth a visit as well. Its at the first moorings you come to after leaving Boston. Moor at the moorings and walk up over the lock and over the road and it is straight ahead. The food is very good as well.

 

Yes, stayed two nights at the new moorings, we were the only ones there apart from a couple of longterm widebeam moorers.

The proper locky came back from his holidays yesterday morning and promptly charged me £7 for a second night and 10 pence for plugging into the mains!

Now at Tattershall Bridge in the frost with very duf batteries ,so todays mission is to get hold of 4 110 amp ones and having read the current thread about fitting them, try to get an electricion to do it!

 

Nipper

[Naughty Cal]

Can you batteries not hold out until you get to Torksey. Torksey caravans have a good deal on 110 amp leisure batteries at the minute.