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Not for the train driver, some of whom never recover from such an experience. Or for the people who have to collect the body parts from the track.

I know what his complaint is but, to be honest, its becoming a bit tedious. I'd like to moor in a marina for the cost of Hawne Basin but in Central London, it is sooooo unfair that I can't

That's a lot of heartache in a lifetime. Not really sure what to add tbh. As for the beachy head chaplaincy, no God bothering was brought up. Just a quick chat to see all was well, as I said, he seemed surprised I'd want to walk up there on a grim morning, it was as good a place to collect my thoughts as any. My grandad wasn't doing too well at the time. I was reminiscing about meals at the pub on Beachy we had had, walks at Burling Gap, that sort of thing. He was on chain home during the war and had postings from Rye to Eastbourne. He also was at Bawdsey very early on, we used to regularly fish out of Felixstowe Ferry so I'd think of him there too - hence my knowledge of the Orwell Bridge.

Samaritans are pragmatic volunteers. Their religion is irrelevant and they are not allowed to judge preach or lecture. They stay up all night maning phones as volunteers. My sister is one and I am proud of her. Personally as a retired mental health nurse consultant I can no longer do such work. I am by now so burned out i am immune to such threats and therefore useless, having been threatened with suicide innumerable times by persons with no real intent, While knowing that except in the most obvious cases prediction of the risk is impossible . Systems cannot predict suicide, nor prevent it. Suicide is not tragic when it is logical and informed ( terminal cancer) but in the young or mentally ill or temporarily traumatised it is arguably the most damaging cause of death to society.

(I realise this makes me as guilty of speculation as everybody else, before anybody points it out.) However it is perhaps worth pointing out that plenty of bad things have happened to youngsters of this kind of age, which have nothing to do with suicide. I can well imagine situations after a few beers involving dares about climbing over handrails or trying to walk along them. Remember the loss of life when someone was egged on to jump a narrow lock after a few drinks, and didn't make it. Until an official explanation is forthcoming, I think we can't know if this was an intended death or just somebody thinking they could do something highly ill advised.

CRT legal department are under the control of the directors of CRT. The leaders of the charity set it's policies etc. They also have a duty to manage the waterways for which they are responsible and need a legal team to take action when deemed required. The interpretation of the law is done by the courts. You have your idea of how the law should be interpreted, I have mine and CRT have theirs. Where there is conflict the parties can either attempt to negotiate an agreeable outcome, or they can go to court for it to be resolved. Unfortunately, going to court can have some terrible consequences and being able to say afterwards "I was wrong, can we start again" is not going to happen, especially if having your boat destroyed was part of the process. Maybe what is needed is an arbitration service where both sides can put their case and hopefully resolve the matter without someone's boat being destroyed.

They did go to a good home. The current owners have just had a severely premature baby and their priorities have changed.

If everyone who walks through the doors is NOT a shoplifter, what right have the supermarket security staff got to put whoever they want under surveillance through their CCTV cameras? I think you'll find that it is another part of these Terms and Conditions malarkey. If you choose to use Tescos,Sainsburys,Morrisons et al. the conditions of being able to shop there is that you agree to be under surveillance (you'll find there are posters telling you that you are being watched). Have you given them your authorisation for them to do that? Yes, by shopping under their Terms and Conditions. So we come back to the marinas, if you don't want to pay a licence fee, put your boat in an exempt marina, simples. By mooring in a non exempt marina and signing up to their terms and conditions you are agreeing to get a licence for your boat, get over it

Getting the heating and 'lectrik right on a liveaboard boat is a complicated subject, there are different opinions and what works for some folk might not work for others. You need to rapidly learn about this to decide what You want before getting expensive professionals to get their tools out. Example, almost all liveaboards use a solid fuel stove as their main source of heat, maybe feeding a radiator or two, but for a few people this is all just too much muck and trouble and so they have to have central heating. A good well maintained stove will never let you down (as you will keep a spare glass somewhere in the boat), every other form of heat will break when you least need it to. A calorifier (boaty hot water tank) can hold a fair bit of hot water, heated by the engine, and will stay warm for a couple of days (with luck and planning) so you don't actually need to run the engine everytime you want hot water. Older boats had "instant" water heaters but these are out of fashion now, and not really up to running a good shower. Try to get rid of everything that needs 240v and work just from 12volts, with a 240v inverter for occasional use (a big mains hairdrier is probably fine when the engine is running). Its summer, can you muddle thru for a couple of months to learn about the boat then get it sorted ready for winter?? ..............Dave

How on earth can you teach someone how to deal with that?

Perhaps you need to talk to the traumatised driver of a train that has hit a suicidal person, and the railway staff who have to clean the train, and the staff who have to walk the line collecting all the body bits, the signaller who has to report it, and the passengers who have been delayed.

My wife and I made a canopy for our narrow boat, as was, using a moderately expensive Bernina domestic machine. We, well my wife I couldn't operater a sewing machine to save my life, used just a standard straight stitch but double stitched the joins and hems. We also didn't use a very heavy canvas. The machine wasn't new when we got it and after we had made a roof for gazebo and a test canopy we got half way through the actual canopy and the thread started to bunch up. We got the machine serviced and retimed and the guy who did that for us recomended that we use leather needles and a teflon foot and after that everything was fine. We have made loads of things since, box covers, curtains, um I haven't my wife has, etc http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEWING-MACHINE-NEEDLES-SCHMETZ-Size-110-18-LEATHER-HEAVY-DUTY-STRONG-THICK-/291353630016?hash=item43d6079540:g:~icAAOSw2s1UtVDO http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Teflon-Foot-Hinged-for-Industrial-Sewing-Machine-Brother-Singer-etc-/271697151542?hash=item3f42698636:g:uUQAAOSwD0lUgeGW These things are all fairly standard. You can also get a foot that has a serrated "mover" like the one on the machine bed that moves the material through the sewing area because one of the problems you get is the the material sticks to the foot if it is thick and then it doesn't get moved through the sewing area. We didn't bother with that though. The mechanics of it are quite complicated and it was also expensive the teflon foot and leather needle worked as did have the machine serviced and retimed.

I'm sure that's true, but the alternatives seem worse. I'm not going to own a property and leave it standing empty, and I'm not going to step off the housing ladder completely and lose my only realistic route to a post-liveaboard life without mortgage payments or rent to worry about.

I think a few people on here are hinting that committing suicide by means of splattering your body all over the place is somewhat selfish. However that is a pointless view because, almost by definition, the person committing the act is not acting logically and since "selfish" is an invention of the human brain, one cannot be too surprised that someone with a malfunctioning brain doesn't see it as selfish.

Having an independent ombudsman that could tell you you if you are right or wrong before large legal bills are accumulated and boat destruction being ordered can only be good news for most in conflict with CRT. I suspect that some would be consider the ombudsman to be an secret extension of CRT and they will fight on until they have nothing.

It depends what you intend to use the ring for. A centre rope should not be used for 'stopping' the boat, or mooring the boat (but unfortunately a lot of people do) Therefore there should not be any great load on it when it is used correctly, as a 'hand-held' line. A simple ring bolt thru' the roof should do, but don't in the future use the ring as a mooring point, or use it to tie up in a lock as you may rip a 'gurt big' ole in the roof'

My brother was before he retired a fireman and he frequently had to gather body parts from M6 crashes etc and no amount of training or "getting used to it" lessened the effect on him.

I don't believe anyone can really be trained for it. That's like saying it should apply to all car drivers as no one is forcing them to drive.

All you have done is try to side step my question. Can you suggest a more cost effective way to ensure more boats are licensed?

Is every one a shoplifter that walks through the doors of the supermarket. ? Do the police lock every one up as potential criminals? What does the law permit.

I'm sure you know that I know that. I also know that given the option, marinas would not need to require the licence condition. As CRT cannot legally enforce the condition directly on boaters they adopt a T&C's requirement on the marina. The marina has no need of the licence fee and pays the connection fee; moorers are paying both these fees. The marinas want the contract and sign, CRT want a licence fee and connection fee. The licence fee can also be claimed in a benefits claim. That's taxpayers' money being paid to an organisation that has no legal right to that payment. At over £1,000 a year to me, it is my business, and, I don't need to cheat to make that money.

It is always hard to put this into perspective, these are tidal waters so you must make sure you are prepared and treat tidal water with great respect but we never felt scared, the boat coped remarkably well. After the video we did alter course slightly to try to find calmer waters and succeeded. Yes it was still bumpy but nothing like on the video, much calmer. To be honest I am not sure if the video was shot in the middle of an awkward knuckle of water or changing course did the trick. More importantly by the time we got to the turn it was much calmer and then really calm on the Medway apart from when fast movers went past.

I thought it was the five CaRT apologists that were the noisy ones and out of step with the 20,000 ...

I truly detest joystick or jog leaver steering. I am happiest standing behind a large diameter wheel. Tiller steering from the stern of a boat (IMHO) is easier for threading through tight bridge holes etc as you can see the full length. Steering from near the bow by any method is (again IMHO) the hardest of all to keep a straight course as you have no aiming point. SAM_0092 by mudlarker2, on Flickr The tug on the left is fairly easy to steer on a straight course as you can line yourself up on the bow bollard. The one on the right although great for manouvering is a swine to keep on a straight course as you can't see the bow at all from the steering position

I hopped aboard Crane as she turned on to the Dudley No. 2 at Windmill End, fortified by a quick crafty pint in the Wheatsheaf nearby. As a local who grew up with this bit of cut, it was a real pleasure to re-visit it again, pointing out to owner Geoff all of the features that used to exist, from railway halts and bridges to Doultons factory site and Lowes timber yard near Waterfall Lane Bridge. It was near here that my grandfather lifted his grandson into an empty Stewart's and Lloyds Joey boat in the early 50s, I can still recall the smell of coal dust.....was this the catalyst, I wonder? Removing Crane's exhaust pipe deprived us of its cutter. By the time we emerged from Gosty Hill Tunnel, having crawled through at a majestic 0.5 mph, the cabin top was almost invisible under a coat of bits blasted from the tunnel roof, I must have cleared a bucketful before we arrived at Hawne. Good to see some old timers, better still to sample the excellent Entire. Many thanks to Geoff and Gilly for the invite and lift home! Cheers! Dave

Good luck but don't forget what gives God the biggest laugh. When people start making plans. Do it.

Can you point me in the general direction of where CRT have actually said that? If you are overstaying for no valid reason you are in breach of the terms and conditions, paying some mythical 'mooring fee' isn't going to change that is it? The 'charges' on VM's (not much evidence of many people paying them ) is purely as a vehicle to discourage people from hogging VM's, I'm relaxed about that to be honest if it works.

None at all. Very few boaters have ever measured thier boats, they just quote the figure given to them when they bought it. Best thing to do is measure the boat yourself before shelling out any money on it. But where will YOU measure it from and to? Similarly, have a think about how the lenght of a 57ft lock is determined. The length of a lock is just as big a can of worms as the length of the boat which may or may not fit throgh it...

I managed to get most of the rear end primed in the end, chuffed as another stage where it feel like its getting there. The top screen lower frame base is getting there, needs a fettle and good to go soon, as soon as it is it will all be primed ready to be PAINTED would you believe When this is complete i need to get the new screen out and side windows and see about setting it up for folding down, i have had a mess about, even dropped the bloody thing and it didnt break so thats good init lol. One job i cant wait for is the screen to go on with hardtop, will look like a whole different boat.

When our boat (cruiser stern) was built, the builder made the tiller too tall because he was used to building trad stern and just used his standard dimensions. We insisted on it being lowered so he cut a piece out and welded it back together. It only took a few minutes and you can't see the join.

Link to pictures. You can play 'spot the boat' https://flic.kr/s/aHskA3vH5s

Speaking as one who has approached CRT whilst in Oxford because I was going to overstay, I'm not sure where you get this thing about them 'authorising' an overstay. Basically when I arrived in Oxford the Thames was in flood so I couldn't continue up to Lechlade. I e-mailed the CRT office and told them that I was going to overstay (not ask for permission) and gave them the reason for doing so. Their reply was that they would create an Extended Stay on my boat record, all perfectly amicable, I didn't ask for permission and they didn't grant an 'authority', all they did was put something on record so that any EO or Data Checker would be aware of why I was at the location. My view was that if there had been any later differences of opinion on the subject (there weren't) I would put forward the case that if CRT were in any way concerned they should have raised their concerns at the time of initial notification. If someone chooses not to tell CRT of their reasons for their actions they are in no position to complain if CRT draw the wrong conclusions.

Before you go spending money do a bit more cruising - you say you left the marina and winded so now feel a bit more confident ... It's possible that you're currently holding the tiller in a bit of a death-grip whilst you get used to the boat and how she handles. The tillers are quite high on working boats, and I find a number of steering positions work: facing the tiller so it runs past you left to right /tight to left with a hand draped on it, tucked under one arm with hand in strategic pocket, tiller end in small of back to facilitate consumption of tea and bacon related comestibles, sitting in the hatch etc etc. All that said if it's so high it's up in your armpit, it's time to get physical with it.

There is another solution for this problem (LEGGO) Stick one coarse of Leggo all over your shoe soles and then plug and build more coarses upon them until the required height is attained and you can work the tiller at a comfortable height. Jumbling up the coloured bricks can look cool too. Adjustable platform soles. This is a good method especially if you happen to have one leg shorter than the other, for the differing leg length is easily compensated by adjusting the number of Leggo brick coarses on each shoe to suit. A particularly useful method too for if you do mountaineering or orienteering and prefer to walk around the sides of hills and mountains instead of up or down them, where the inside leg needs to be shorter than the outside leg. Leggo adjustment will keep you perpendicular and make the hobby much more comfortable. Hope this helps.

We have a cruiser stern and had the tiller shortened to suit our stature - piece cut out and rewelded, making sure the clearance of rear locker was taken into account. Works perfectly for us.

Why even ask the question. You either like em or you don't. It's a personal thing and why worry what others think it's not their boat. If you don't like it leave it off if you do put it back. Simple really.

No. Not "evidence of any kind". You cannot overstay on the grounds of "evidence of any kind". Try explaining that the reason you want to overstay is because you hate boating/too lazy to get out of bed etc and see how far that gets you. If you have evidence that your need to overstay is reasonable, the chances are it will be accepted by both CRT and a court. But unless you are really bored, it would be much easier to pass it by CRT rather than demanding your day in court. That would certainly be seen as unreasonable by any court. Of course some people are adamant that their need is reasonable even though, to everyone else, it isn't. An excuse such as "only my needs are relevant, anyone else's needs are irrelevant", "I'm terrible important, didn't you know" or "my dog really likes crapping here" are such examples. For these people the best course of action is to have their day in court followed by a demonstration of boat crushing.

A hybrid engine makes much more sense for the majority of canal boats especially for liveaboards, where you have a smaller engine combined with a motor/gen. This way when you need extra power the motor can supply but when you don't it charges the batteries. As the motor/gen will be bigger than an alternator it will put better load on the engine when just running for power. http://www.hybrid-marine.co.uk/9.html

If the books travel as far as the boats travel in London I doubt they'll get more then a few hundred yards

Malcolm has one of New Hope (in colour). Red panels, green border with white/cream line. Counter in white/cream with red guards. Red hand rails and ramshead Sign written as follows: YATES BROS (Norton Canes) Ltd PELSALL Phone BROWNHILLS 3223 - 3011