The canal / narrowboat thread
Discussion
We are out again for the weekend. I probably should’ve added about standing room in our Dawncraft, I’m 5’5” and can stand up but Mr G struggles at 5’11”
Just seen this for sale which I think would be a nice cruiser/liveaboard
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/69193769...
Just seen this for sale which I think would be a nice cruiser/liveaboard
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/69193769...
That is lovely. Can I ask your opinion on this? This is what I'm hopefully going to view - https://england.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/seamaster-81...
Worth the money? There appears to be two categories with these older GRP cruisers. The sub £8k ones that look a little 'forlorn' and then these top end ones that certainly look like they have had some serious care and attention.
Edit: Nevermind, sale agreed apparently! Sods law.
Worth the money? There appears to be two categories with these older GRP cruisers. The sub £8k ones that look a little 'forlorn' and then these top end ones that certainly look like they have had some serious care and attention.
Edit: Nevermind, sale agreed apparently! Sods law.
Edited by Jimmy No Hands on Saturday 15th July 10:41
Simpo Two said:
Rather too much IMHO; just west of the Old Engine is 'tramp alley'; every year it gets longer and they don't share the usual boater's bonhomie. Not many river licences visible either.
I never had you down as an elitist Boater and whats this about Boaters Bonhomie ? Ive been boating 40 years and its always been riddled with turnips anxious to impose their superior attitudes on the rest of us and Marinas are no exception . Last year I was moored next to some of Londons Radical Left Diaspora and I have to tell you they were as I expected lovely People . Their bonhomie when it came to Frosty Jack and Marijuana was exceptional and little different from my friends in the Hudson Owners Club with their Pinot Grigot and Cheese board . Another thing of course is you no longer have to display a Boat License as in CRT Waters especially its checked online . An absence of a Boat License from the Window indicates absolutely nothing .reddiesel said:
I never had you down as an elitist Boater and whats this about Boaters Bonhomie ?
Calm down dear, this is nothing to do with 'elitism' - my boat is 27' not 200'.First, traditionally on the inland waterways, boaters exchange a friendly wave on passing, whether it's a 70' narrowboat, 20' cruiser or a rubber dinghy. But with very few exceptions these people studiously ignore you or turn their backs. Second, the waterway in question is not governed by the CRT but the EA, and they require licences to be displayed, just as it was with cars.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
We have loads on the Forth and Clyde canal at Bowling Basin. Just below my hoose. They have a post code and pay council tax, get bins uplifted electric and water hookups and have shower and toilet blocks. It’s a cracking community with full time boats and also folk cruising the canal and Clyde.
One recently sold https://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news/19615668....
anonymous said:
[redacted]
So, no home address, no toll payment. What's not to like? 
The term 'liveaboard' covers a huge band - from decent folk in immaculate £100K+ widebeams to travellers in rotting tubs with bottles of urine lined up on the deck. And I'm not making that up.
I love boats for days out and holidays, but wouldn't want to live on one.
Anyone been up to Llangollen?
I couldn't believe the flow of water, there's far more flow than at our mooring on the River Weaver.
I'm moored at the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury at the moment and am a touch worried about getting through the Chirk tunnel against the flow.
Apparently the Shropshire Union is topped up from the River Dee via the Llangollen Canal.
I couldn't believe the flow of water, there's far more flow than at our mooring on the River Weaver.
I'm moored at the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury at the moment and am a touch worried about getting through the Chirk tunnel against the flow.
Apparently the Shropshire Union is topped up from the River Dee via the Llangollen Canal.
Upinflames said:
Llangollen?
It's not only the Shroppie that's topped up, it's for Cheshire's tap water.The flow's much stronger and the channel narrower after Trevor, we took a 72' trad boat converted into hire boat (Middlewich) up there in the 80s, it took about 4 hours up from Trevor and an hour and a half back! Going up w years laterwe couldn't go much beyond tickover, if we did it drew the stern down onto the bottom and we ground to a halt.
We were drawing about 2'6" though and every time we met a boat coming down we had to pull over to let them past as they couldn't stop!
We did it again a few years later in a normal hire boat and I don't remember having any trouble.
Grindley Brook staircase gets quite a queue so don't expect to get a long way that day!
It may well have been dredged better these days which would make it easier.
What boat are you taking?
Edited by john2443 on Wednesday 19th July 11:34
Upinflames said:
Anyone been up to Llangollen?
I couldn't believe the flow of water, there's far more flow than at our mooring on the River Weaver.
I'm moored at the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury at the moment and am a touch worried about getting through the Chirk tunnel against the flow.
Apparently the Shropshire Union is topped up from the River Dee via the Llangollen Canal.
I couldn't believe the flow of water, there's far more flow than at our mooring on the River Weaver.
I'm moored at the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury at the moment and am a touch worried about getting through the Chirk tunnel against the flow.
Apparently the Shropshire Union is topped up from the River Dee via the Llangollen Canal.
We've done it a couple of times over the years, it's definitely slower going heading towards Llangollen than coming back. If you get to Llangollen itself, worth walking to the Horseshoe Falls where the water for the canal is taken off the River Dee.
Upinflames said:
I'm moored at the Dusty Miller at Wrenbury at the moment and am a touch worried about getting through the Chirk tunnel against the flow.
That reminds me, the Dusty Miller website has a picture of our boat on the home page 
https://www.robinsonsbrewery.com/pubs/dusty-miller...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
There are some services that for a monthly fee you get an address to use - not a POBox but an actually domestic address. Not sure how legal it is as regards car insurance, DVLA , etc, but useful for bank accounts and stuff.But yes, most people use family/friends address for most stuff, leave themselves still registered at their original doctors.
I have found out that you can go to another doctors and register as a temporary/visitor patient to be seen, and you can just go to a dentist and pay for a check-up,etc.
There's ways around most things but ultimately you need an address for some official things...........
I still have a house (until my ‘kids’ decide to actually move out!) other half uses Mother’s address.
Met up with mate today who lives by The Old West. He said 99% of the boats have licences, most are professionals who are living a bohemian life having escaped the rat race. All good people and help each other out and pay mooring fees (and who to speak to if interested) He’s given me a few ideas of other similar places available too (won’t be for a few years at least).
When we sailed down there everyone we saw said hello and gave a friendly wave tbh.
We have a new toy for the Dawncraft. And thus has begun the competition to see whose phone/vape uses the least watts to charge
will use for camping too until have solar panel installed on the Dandy. Bargain new at £158!
Met up with mate today who lives by The Old West. He said 99% of the boats have licences, most are professionals who are living a bohemian life having escaped the rat race. All good people and help each other out and pay mooring fees (and who to speak to if interested) He’s given me a few ideas of other similar places available too (won’t be for a few years at least).
When we sailed down there everyone we saw said hello and gave a friendly wave tbh.
We have a new toy for the Dawncraft. And thus has begun the competition to see whose phone/vape uses the least watts to charge
will use for camping too until have solar panel installed on the Dandy. Bargain new at £158!john2443 said:
Upinflames said:
Llangollen?
It's not only the Shroppie that's topped up, it's for Cheshire's tap water.The flow's much stronger and the channel narrower after Trevor, we took a 72' trad boat converted into hire boat (Middlewich) up there in the 80s, it took about 4 hours up from Trevor and an hour and a half back! Going up w years laterwe couldn't go much beyond tickover, if we did it drew the stern down onto the bottom and we ground to a halt.
We were drawing about 2'6" though and every time we met a boat coming down we had to pull over to let them past as they couldn't stop!
We did it again a few years later in a normal hire boat and I don't remember having any trouble.
Grindley Brook staircase gets quite a queue so don't expect to get a long way that day!
It may well have been dredged better these days which would make it easier.
What boat are you taking?
Edited by john2443 on Wednesday 19th July 11:34
Upinflames said:
Its a 1970s heavily built 50 footer with an aircooled twin cylinder Lister.
ST2? (Nominal 14hp IIRC).Great little engine.
Slightly prone to seat recession on the exhaust valve. Recommend an occasional tappet check to make sure the clearances are not closing up. Otherwise it should basically last until all of us here are dust.
Error_404_Username_not_found said:
Upinflames said:
Its a 1970s heavily built 50 footer with an aircooled twin cylinder Lister.
ST2? (Nominal 14hp IIRC).Great little engine.
Slightly prone to seat recession on the exhaust valve. Recommend an occasional tappet check to make sure the clearances are not closing up. Otherwise it should basically last until all of us here are dust.
Upinflames said:
Error_404_Username_not_found said:
Upinflames said:
Its a 1970s heavily built 50 footer with an aircooled twin cylinder Lister.
ST2? (Nominal 14hp IIRC).Great little engine.
Slightly prone to seat recession on the exhaust valve. Recommend an occasional tappet check to make sure the clearances are not closing up. Otherwise it should basically last until all of us here are dust.
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