gabble

I have a similar lock. As Tony says there will be different keys so you’ll need one for your specific lock. According to 2 key cutting places I have tried it is a non-standard blank (and a very good quality lock). They have each managed to modify a standard blank to fit it, but these never feel as smooth as an original key. I did track down a source of blanks - but not cheap and you’d need this cutting to suit the lock. https://timage.co.uk/marine/key-blank-for-3476-3484-3797-3448-4062-locks.html gabble

My choice for first night would be just above Willeymoor lock. The pub there has great beer (sometimes even gluten free) and good gluten free menu choices which is approved by my daughter who is Coeliac. It is an old fashioned family run place and worth a look in. The Llangollen is one of those canals where there are plenty of good moorings even when busy (perhaps with the exception of some of the honeypot spots like Ellesmere). I’d encourage not planning too much, take each day as it comes and figure out where to go and stop based on the weather and energy levels. There are some great mooring spots to be found out in the countryside away from other boats. As others have said, the locks can end up with queues, especially Grindley Brook but that is all part of the experience. Llangollen itself is worth an explore if you have the time, one of the nicest places to moor in the town without really knowing you are moored in a town. Timings wise it is definitely the case that going ‘uphill’ is slower due to the flow. Really noticeable through bridges and narrow sections and especially the tunnels and aqueducts. Bear in mind those coming downhill will be moving faster and take longer to stop. Lots of rural country, so shopping can be a challenge. Ellesmere has a Tesco at the end of the arm which is very handy. Chirk has good shops, independent butchers etc. Other known good pubs for gluten free food include the Narrowboat Inn at Whittington (also a bit of a blast from the past but in a different way to the Willeymoor) and the Horse and Jockey at Grindley Brook which has an excellent gluten free menu.

The Willeymoor is a special place for me. Properly family owned and run, different generations on duty most nights and a nice atmosphere and cosy. All the eccentricities that go with that. Beer is generally excellent, multiple real ales well kept, more so in summer. Food is pub rather than gastro pub but fairly priced and welcomed after a day on the canal. There aren’t many places left like this.

It was a bit chaotic earlier in the year when we visited. We’d booked NWM1 but ended up straddling NWM2 as well as there was a (needless) floating boom thing adrift in the way. Tied it up as best we could. Any of the berths would have been fine. Nice audience at the hotel as we did a neat pirouette in the basin after leaving the lock. That was after waiting 45 minutes for a demonstration boat to vacate the lock it was moored in ahead of a lock demo. Pretty quiet all in all. A surprisingly peaceful mooring. The whole site seemed a bit unloved really, sunken boats, lack of maintenance. Bit of a shame. But nice to moor amongst the history. As previously mentioned there is a door out into the real world via a BWB key at the top level past the old cottages. If going out onto the ship canal, remember the swing bridge needs booking with the council. There is a (non obvious) water point on the side of the building at the top of the locks. The visitor centre seems happy enough for crewe to wander through with lock keys to get to the lock, no other way… gabble

Hi all, We’ll soon be heading along the Leigh Branch and up the Wigan locks onto the Leeds Liverpool. Interested to get mooring recommendations, particularly from anyone who has stayed at or around Dover Lock recently. I was thinking of stopping there and getting an early start through Poolstock and up to the Wigan locks, but wondered if it had deteriorated since the pub closed. Anywhere else nearby? Pehaps by Scotsman flash? Alternatively, at the wigan junction the consensus seems to be to go down at least one lock to moor. The pictures on google maps look a bit grim - recent first hand accounts? gabble

Have a look at https://www.venetianhireboats.co.uk/ - pretty much exactly what you are after. Really well maintained boats, just 3 operate from the base so well looked after. gabble

Going back to the original question, some other thoughts for this trip. Willeymoor lock tavern for a good range of well kept beers - but you probably already know this one if you are based at Grindley Brook. Turners garage canalside at Wheaton Aston for very well priced diesel. Tixall wide near Great Haywood is a very popular and unique mooring spot. Good (if expensive) farm shop canalside by the Great Haywood junction. Overall the four counties is a great route, lots of nice towns separated by glorious rural stretches even Stoke on Trent is quite a remarkable place by water. Goldstone Wharf pub on the shroppie has good moorings and great food last time we were there. Popular so might need a reservation on peak evenings. As already mentioned on the thread, the independently run chandlers at Venetian marina is excellent, bread milk etc here, very cheap Calor gas and well priced diesel & pump out. Don’t forget shroppie wheels to deal with the shelf.

I feel the need to offer some support for the Anchor. It is certainly a special place I wish I was closer to. I’ve not had a bad pint in there (obviously that doesn’t mean others haven’t) but I would observe that 6x is perhaps quite a traditional tasting beer (not hop overload). Also I don’t think I’ve tasted the tang of carbon dioxide there either that many pubs now use to artificially preserve the life of beer, but at the expense of the natural flavour evolution/complexity and often the unmistakable tang of co2. Obviously taken to extreme the “natural flavour evolution” is vinegar so moderation in all things. It was certainly on form last summer. https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/116062-anchor-high-offley-current-opening-hours/

Regrettably not. But will pass by again the week after next. Now we have the opening times worked out we can plan properly.

I can confirm Glenn’s original response is correct, just called in. 6x is as it should be.

Brilliant, thanks Glenn. This forum has answers to all the important questions…

Hi all, Does anyone know the current opening hours of the Anchor at High Offley? Thanks gabble

It is never a good sign on a forum when rules get quoted and the word “moderators” is included in a post (or even worse posts). I have nothing to add on that, but would say that despite boating for the last 45 of my 46 years I always feel I learn something from any post Tracy (and Tony and many others) give up their time to contribute their experience and knowledge to. Thanks guys. gabble

Many thanks Iain and Tracy, brilliant to be able to ask a technical question on a Sunday and get comprehensive answers an hour later…

Hello all I have a straightforward-ish dual battery bank setup with each fed by it’s own dedicated alternator. I’ve just swapped my domestic alternator for a new one and the new one requires a warning lamp on D+ whereas the previous one didn’t. I’ve wired it one up, fed from the ignition switch and all works as expected i.e. light comes on, engine starts, light goes out, alternator charges batteries. Great. But, then I got to thinking I’ve taken the feed from the ignition switch i.e. from engine starter battery and connected it through the warning lamp to my domestic alternator. Any issues with this? gabble

Richard is very much still working hard, has spent the last couple of weeks rebuilding my RN. As stated above a really helpful and knowledgeable bloke who works hard. I’ve spoken to him and he is happy for his number to be passed on - 07973 826260

Is anything else charging the battery? E.g. shore powered battery charger or solar? My rev counter goes weird when something else is putting more charge in or the alternator has turned itself off. In my case it shows approx twice the actual rpm which is a bit disconcerting to begin with.

I’ve got a PRM 160 connected to a Russell Newbery DM2 which idles at that kind of speed. I think the PRM is the standard gearbox on the more modern Russell Newbery installations. No idea on gearbox oil pressure, but has been happy enough for 30+ years… Oil pretty clean too when changed. Pretty sure the PRM 260 is the replacement for the 160 I have?

Do you have some better pictures of the bow? Doesn’t immediately look like a Peter Nichols but difficult to be sure.

If you can’t find a local specialist or prefer to deal online I found Startermotor alternator store really helpful in finding me a very reasonably priced alternator complete with required pulley.

I can’t see this posted anywhere - apologies if repost https://britishmarine.co.uk/-/media/Waterway-businesses-guidance-table-England-only--v2.pdf taken from this page https://britishmarine.co.uk/coronavirus It will be interesting to see how/if CRT respond, and whether standing on the back of a narrowboat is considered “open air”. No doubt another can of worms. gabble

Thanks all, good to get some personal experiences

Does anyone have a view on the viability of winding a 60ft boat just above Bosley bottom lock? I.e. the pound between lock 12 and lock 11. Canalplan seems to confirm it is possible Canalplan and I remember it is a biggish space but I’ve no idea about depth. It isn’t marked on Opencanalmap. Any recent experiences?

I can’t complain re pricing as it was 100% as quoted, but they were really hard work to deal with, lots of chasing required. I was left feeling not at all valued as a customer. Too early to tell on quality of work, but fingers crossed. A shame really because they were on my list to talk to re topside painting but now aren’t.

Having used Aqueduct this year for 2 pack I’d avoid next time to be honest.