RichardH

Always been a big supporter of the Anchor. Sadly, there has been a revolving door of tenants over the years - largely down to rents imposed by the owning company (Star Inns). I truly hope the latest survive and look forward to popping down over Christmas (good that her dad and brother both lived on boats so a real affinity with the canal)

We knew Nigel well. Good bloke. When he packed up in 2010, we took one of his (Green Man) to the Lancaster.

Very tough to let her go. It was nice to bump into Doug Moore aboard Firefly last year coming through Bunbury locks.

Sad state of affairs. When we had the hire boats, the Cross Keys was a banker for night 1 and the Anchor the ideal pub for the last night of their holiday. Shocking situation that neither can make a viable business despite lovely locations.

Hi All Stumbled across this discussion when we received a call for a holiday and I checked the 'net to see where the CBE name was still in existence. It wasn't covid that caused us to close the business. It was ultimately the risk of the water levels on the Leeds/Liverpool and our business not having other options to make money e.g. day boats, marina related income, boat building etc. 2010 knocked us for 6 when BW closed the canal for 12 or so weeks. 2011 was a poor year, presumably due to customer confidence and whilst we opened a base on the Lancaster to split the risk, it was so marginal it was a struggle to make a livable income. We ran the RYA helmsmans course which helped when boats were idle but ultimately we decided to start winding down in 2015 having run for 8 seasons. In terms of boat disposal, 3 boats were sponsored. 2 went back to their owners, Florence (ABC Built) went to Pennine and is now 'Eshton' Rosa May went to Nottingham Boat Sales and illegally sold - for which the owner of the business went to court. Grace and Isabel went to a hire company in Droitwich but were sold a couple of years after that. Strumble was a tough sale and is moored just a couple of miles away on the L&L. I still offer boat handling coaching - think less tick box than RYA for people wanting to build confidence on some of the basics and have been an inspector for British Marine for the Hire Boat Handover Scheme since 2015 which has enabled me to keep in touch with the industry. If we had kept going, it is fair to say 2022 would have been the final straw with the canal being closed from July. Who can run a business with that level of risk?

It does seem to be a very odd development - I just cannot imagine there is the need for this. Who is David Young??

I wonder if they managed to speak to the errant crew?

I have never had a problem going up Wigan apart from being knackered at the end!

I could be wrong but if you look carefully at the box paddle on the left hand side of the vid on the same side as the chap on the bank it looks like the white indicator line is not present in the middle (between the 2 painted lines) If this is the case, it would indicate that the numnut has left the ground paddle open hence why the lock maybe didn't match correctly.

I have sent a note to the Waterway Manager with a copy of the link.

It is Office Lock and the gates I recall were new last year. A-hole. Can't wait to see him if he comes up our way. It is a shame there is no obvious name or number on the boat.

Some great spots on this route Particular favourites are: Uppermill Marsden Linthwaite (for the superb Sair Inn) Cooper Bridge (nice pause as you leave the Broad and onto the C&H Most of the stretch from Kirklees Lock to Sowerby Bridge is nice - with a very handy Sainsburys next to the canal in Brighouse if you fancy a diversion Stanley Ferry - good mooring, pub not brilliant. Broad Cut between the Upper and Lower Locks Castleford is handy for Aldi etc Woodlesford is nice with Bird Hides Leeds - Granary basin great I would start early from Leeds and make your next mooring Rodley where there is a fab Indian takeaway From here to Barrowford is perfectly good to moor. Good pubs at Bradley (Slaters Arms), Skipton (loads) and Barnoldswick Have fun

You may laugh but early on in my boating life, we tried the Broads. In the top quality 10 minute handover, no one told us there was any rise and fall......we nearly came a cropper like these people.

Salterforth Road Bridge just west of Lower Park is handy for this - someone even screwed some mooring rings in a couple of years ago but I think they have gone now

Puffer have gone. LPM only have blacking. Pennine have bits. If you mail order, LPM will generally be happy to take receipt for you if you call them first and then perhaps buy diesel etc from them as a gesture. If it is just primer, then Merritt and Fryers in Skipton sell Manor Coatings primer which is good stuff.

Enterprise all the way for me - used them weekly on a contract a couple of years ago and cannot fault.

Outside the lockhouse to p*ss off the people who bought it and don't like boats. Alternatively, opposite the newish houses, just before the winding hole on the top side of the locks and say hi if you do. I would dare to say on Kennets mooring too depending on the schedule but Pluto might be grumpy with me!!

Not having a centre line is crazy if it is a 2 berth boat - and in my opinion ropes present more of a hazard in locks (unless single handing of course)

I saw the thread and thought - Blimey is the canal closing again. Those were the days that nearly finished us off...... Not missing hiring boats one single little bit.

The Anchor in Salterforth has been much improved in recent years but sadly the Landlord is due to leave shortly. Let's hope a good replacement comes along. Fountain in Barnoldswick also very good. The Greyhound up Manchester Road is an excellent traditional pub. There is also a lovely restaurant opposite the Fountain 'Jesters' if you want a very good meal (ignore the 1980's feel to the place) Votes again for the Narrowboat Skipton and Slaters at Bradley - we ate there a couple of weeks ago and it remains good. The Cross Keys is a particular fave of ours but it has yo-yo'd a little over the years. Owned by Copper Dragon, the beer is usually excellent. Agree with the comment about Gargrave but there is a superb Indian Restaurant. Booking is essential.

Replacement stern gear cured Grace's leaky back end overnight.

Indeed. Shire Cruisers have great ones for about a tenner I think. A pick axe handle would also probably work I think.

We were asked this many times. Simple answer was 'first notch on the morse when passing boats' and 'don't break a wash anywhere else' Speed is fairly meaningless if the canal is so shallow you scrape the bed.

I agree. Spend 60k on a 2nd hand boat that was 120k 3 years previously. If you definitely want new then go for something like an Aintree - they turn out very nice boats for sensible money.