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Big COL

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    http://www.billingmarina.co.uk

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  1. If the boat does not have a onboard polishing kit is there any point in worring about this issue.You may have had your boats tank polished but the next time you refill with diesel you may be contaminating your tank,unless you know the integrety and quality of your fuel supplier.It may be better to add a proven addative to each refill rather than worry about polishing fuel.An addative and regular filter changes may well prove to be as effective and cheaper.
  2. In this instance just why are the marina rules relavent?
  3. The water levels on the river Nene are controlled by the E/A via the barrage and the washlands at Northampton, this was designed to prevent Northampton from flooding. In the event that we receive extreme amounts of rain, water is collected and stored at the washlands and then released as and when possible. Under normal conditions and normal rainfall this works very well, to the point that you hardly notice a change in the river levels. The problem arises when everything goes into overload due to extreme weather conditions. To enable some semblance of control it is required to deliberately flood the floodplains, Billing Aquadrome exists upon one of these floodplains, when this situation arises the E/A advises Billing Aquadrome that this is going to happen, the problem that the E/A have is that because of high level of water in storage (due to continuous heacy rainfall) coupled with the big unknown of how much more rain will fall over the next few days they can only control the discharge to try and maintain a balance between what is being released and what is still flowing in from upstream. It is because of this unknown quantity of flooding that the management of Billing Aquadrome and Billing Marina have to make the decision to evacuate. It would be irresponsible of them to ignore the advice given, especially when life could be put at risk. Once this decision has beeen made the emergency services take over, there is a flood risk assessment for Billing Aquadrome and this then swings into place. The threat of arrest is to protect individuals who cannot see the dangers that could occur because of the unknown level of flooding. Under flood conditions the roads disappear and lakeside edges and streams converge into one very large lake, this could happen at night and the electricity supply could be lost so the park would be in complete darkness making a very dangerous situation, this is not a scenario you would want to subject people to. The first concern is to protect life, anything else is replaceable. The park management understands and sympathises with people's reactions to being uprooted from their homes, whether it be a lakeside lodge, caravan or boat, but the first and only concern is for their wellbeing. The marina water level rose by eight feet of water, even the adjoining hotel had to be evacuated, with the marina being on floating pontoons adjusting ropes was not required,and all moorers were allowed back on to the marina daily to allow them to check the boats with access only being possible by dinghy due to the landbridge being three feet under water. Billing Aquadrome management came in for a great deal of criticism from both caravaners and moorers, it possibly appeared to them that no one cared. Let me tell you that was far from the case - a small team that were allowed to remain worked tirelessly to protect both property and boats while senior management battled with the authorities to try and establish an early return, all of this goes unseen and criticism, although understandable, is not nice to take. The nett result upon returning was that there had been no loss of life and not one single property had been flooded with the exception of some sheds. I feel very sorry for Tree, I was the one who had to give her the bad news, why Free Spirt went down is still unknown. She is due to be raised sometime next week by divers and air bags and then possibly the cause may be revealed. I hope this goes someway to explain what has to happen in circumstances like this which unfortunately causes opinions to be formed with the lack of information, evoking all kinds of emotions.
  4. Pagan Boat is not giving you the full story, his price comparison is not a true comparison. With Billing Marina mooring fees there is a free package included for the rights on Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park. This package is valued at £600, deduct this from the mooring fee figure and you will arrive at a true value of the moorings at Billing Marina. This forum is not for the promotion of any specific business which I agree with however Half truths need to be corrected. Regards Big Col
  5. You could probably inform the forum just how Billing management have treated you since your good lady was discharged from hospital. Ie because your wife in the condition that she was when discharged from hospital, was physically unable to get on and off the boat, they have provided both of you accommodation in a caravan on the Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park free of charge which at this moment in time is still ongoing. Regards Big Col
  6. Following the erroneous posts relating to mooring at Billing, the Marina has arranged with Billing Aquadrome one day only free entry car passes for Billing Aquadrome and Billing Marina.Forum members are invited to come and see the facilities that are provided for our moorers.This offer will allow entry to all the occupants of one car. Right click on the car pass below, save and print it. Present it at the gate for your free day's entry. Regards Big Col
  7. Hi Col, I think we have met!!

    through my son in law Kris, as in MK narrowboats ?

    Im thinking your Billings Harbourmaster ?

    Col

  8. Two Big Cols, what's the collective noun for Big Cols? who's the real one? who's the shadow? who cares? I'll stake my claim look at the joining dates. Regards Big Col
  9. Inbalanced and prejudiced opinion. Well If you go and define prejudice, - Noun - Opinion formed beforehand or without Knowledge. Reread your comments bearing in mind that they should be referring to Billing Marina specifically not to Northampton or any part of, you will understand just why your comments are prejudiced and ill informed as far as relating to Billing Marina.Sue has given a definitive answer to life aboard at Billing, I think the readers will be able to judge for themselves between a genuine Billing moorer and an inbalanced and prejudiced opinion.You obviously had a unhappy time in Northampton, Perhaps you should have stayed at Billing Marina. Regards Big Col
  10. Then I would suggest that you keep within the bounderies of your experience,by your own admission you have no knowledge of Billing Marina but your reference to Pikeys (need I say more) at Billing would suggest that you have an in depth knowledge of Billing Marina. The marina is adjacent to Billing Aquadrome camping and caravan park not within it. Security on Billing Marina is probably one of the best in the country, putting aside that entry is only possible through one gate with a swipe card, the live-aboard moorers have created a super community spirit, they themselves police each and everyone's boats to the point that it would be possible to leave a boat open and it still be safe.So please keep your opinions factual as you do a disservice to all the moorers at Billing Marina Regards Big Col
  11. I have recently asked a fitter from wilsons have they gone into recievership or are they in recievership and have been told that neither is true.I can assure you that whoever they are they will need to explain just who they are if they want to complete the work in our marina.
  12. There are visitor moorings at Billing Aquadrome on the Nene, which include entry into the aquadrome. £6.50 per night, diesel pumpout,sanitary unit,
  13. Are you using the correct 2 stroke oil? There were before synthetic oils two types of 2 stroke oil, one used in air cooled engines and the other type used in water cooled engines. The need for the different types was due to the operating temperature of the engines. I would think the same must apply with synthetic oils, but I honestly don't know.
  14. Billing marina on the river nene close to Northampton £2,127 per annum 12month boat mooring 11months of which can be full residential.billingmarina
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