Gongoozlers

[Bearsteen]

Some kids asked us in horror, upon seeing the sink, 'Where do you get your water, do you drink canal water!?'

 

And this was outside Harecastle Tunnel where the water is bright orange!

 

That's quite sweet of them

[benfordboy]

One conversation that sticks with me was while eating at the Unicorn at Gunthorpe (Obviously our talk was more interesting than that at the next table!);

 

"Well at least we can keep an eye on the boat dear from this table"

 

"Oh - Is your boat that lovely big one (A Princess 32)"

 

"Err, no - can you see the little one behind it ?"

 

"Oh".

 

Followed later by......

 

"Its getting chilly now love - may be a bit cold tonight aboard"

 

"You'll put your heating on surely?"

 

"Err, no we dont have any......."

 

"Ahh, well easy to fit & run off your boiler on a small boat though?"

 

"Err , no we dont have a boiler"

 

"Well cant you run heating off your engine - thats what some people do isn't it?"

 

"No - We have an outboard!"

 

"Oh my goodness how do you manage !!!!!!!"

 

[mark99]

Which way are you heading? ( we were in a narrow lock)

[billS]

Dad to small child

 

"That's a longboat. the Vikings used to use them to come across from Denmark and attack England"

[Nightwatch]

A few years ago at the moorings at the top of Foxton, I was told quite abruptly that's it's wrong we don't pay council tax.

 

I replied that I did, but he argued with authority that how can I when I'm travelling around on a boat, I said I paid my council tax to Havant Borough Council where I lived.

 

He moved on.

 

I must have looked like a livaboard even then!

 

Martyn

[JJay]

"Have you met a couple called Mike & Helen?"

 

"Not sure - what's their boat called?"

 

"Oh, I don't know. I just thought all you people knew each other".

[1agos]

An American friend of my sister commented that the canals cant be very deep or the horses would of drowned.

[magictime]

Dad to small child

 

"That's a longboat. the Vikings used to use them to come across from Denmark and attack England"

 

And the winner is...

[MartinC]

"Do you own the boat?"

Would you ask a complete stranger "Do you own your house?"

[Dharl]

"Do you own the boat?"

Would you ask a complete stranger "Do you own your house?"

been asked that...we where on a hire boat at the time and they stood right by the signwriting that says UK Hire Boat ....

[koukouvagia]

I was sharing a lock with a Wyvern hireboat. The steerer eyed my ex-working boat and asked if Fellows, Morton and Clayton were a good firm to hire from.

[Jess--]

I was sharing a lock with a Wyvern hireboat. The steerer eyed my ex-working boat and asked if Fellows, Morton and Clayton were a good firm to hire from.

to which the only sensible answer should have been "No, the accommodation area is small and the boats are all quite old"

[Dave_P]

Look, look mum, there's a man/bed/fridge/tv/washing machine/cat etc.

 

Do you live in there? For how long?

 

When I moored in central Brum, a couple of times people came right into my boat and asked how much my boat trips cost.

 

Does your wee/poo go straight in the canal?

 

Don't you worry you might sink in the night?

 

How much does a boat cost?

 

Where can I buy one?

 

Don't you get seasick?

 

Do you have a job? -yes, I work for the Council - how?

 

Where do you get your water from?

 

Do you know ______ (insert name)?

 

My grandad/uncle/second cousin/bloke I heard of used to have a boat...

 

Do you all live here? (Gazes around the basin) -yes we do- cool!

 

Have you ever fallen in?

 

Has your cat ever fallen in?

 

Are you a gypsy?

[BruceinSanity]

been asked that...we where on a hire boat at the time and they stood right by the signwriting that says UK Hire Boat ....

Peter and Susan Mason were once snatching a few days away on Tiree, the Braidbar hire boat. Lock side conversation:

 

"Do you own your boat?"

 

"Yes we do."

 

"Oh, I thought it was a hire boat."

 

"Yes, it is."

 

Gongoozler backs away, staring suspiciously at them.

[Stilllearning]

In about 2001, my mum phoned me up worried that the whole area around Burton on Trent was flooded, and was I alright....

I did enjoy gently pointing out that being on a boat was quite a good place to be at that point.

There was a short pause, then " Oh yes darling, how silly of me".

Being a well brought up son, I agreed with her.

[Nightwatch]

"Do you own the boat?"

Would you ask a complete stranger "Do you own your house?"

I was asked today if Nightwatch is ours or a hire boat.

[Greylady2]

I was asked today if Nightwatch is ours or a hire boat.

Cheaky people. Tut

 

 

 

Some bloke asked us

 

' what sort of boating experiences do you have '

 

Errr 7 weeks mate

 

 

He carried on telling us his life story, i guess we all change and reminis when we get older and dementia is a monster. :-(

Edited July 1, 2016 by Greylady2

[rustydiver]

I used to love it when I used to go scuba diving fully kitted up, struggling to walk to the sea and someone comes up to you and asks

"are you going diving".

A few times I said "Na just popping out for coffee"

[madcat]

What's it do Mister was the most puzzling query .

 

And then there's the usual stuff , do you live on it etc.

 

Most annoying , I suppose you take drugs and live on a boat to avoid council tax.

 

Deep joy , the great British public has the intellectual capacity of a pet rock at times. I blame Rupert Murdoch .

[RLWP]

We get lots of hire boat ones - perhaps we should get her painted

 

My favourite was from a boater on an offside mooring. 'how long have you been on her?' ' Since 2003'

 

He was only being friendly

 

Turning into the arm at Braunston last weekend to load up some stuff from the stand caused a lot of consternation amongst the Historic boaters. 'Is it a hire boat?'

 

Richard

[Hawthorn]

Our favourite was over-hearing a dad requesting/pleading with his teenage daughter as he walked with her along the tow-path to another lock ... ' if you'll just give me the next three days of your life......' Teenage daughter would presumably have been happier at the dentist!

[ditchcrawler]

Its the comments and questions from some of the boaters that get me.

[jonesthenuke]

Having asked questions about the engine, a man asked me "So how do you stop then?" When I replied "Put it in reverse" he seemed very surprised.....

[Ray T]

Back in 2009 just after we bought the boat we were about to go down the top lock at Stoke Bruerne. A young man asked my why we had flowers and a picture on the cabin doors of our boat.

 

I explained all I knew and he seemed happy with the answer. My main worry was that Ken Nelson was earwigging our conversation.

 

I happened to glance over to Ken and got a nod of approval - phew!

[Cas446]

 

On the Mon&Brec, lady shouts "is that a passenger liner?". I think she meant are you a trip boat?