markgregoryuk2000

This Friday 8PM on channel 5 Starts with the Grand union

Just to help the crimp needed rotating 90 degrees before crimping, the split edge means that only one side was holding the compression after crimping and the cable could escape out of the split edge. hopefully the picture will work.

Came across this for people that do not have google earth installed https://www.watersidemooring.com/Search?Coordinates=53.8008%2C-1.5491&Location=leeds&DistanceMiles=30

A friend has had smoke puff out of the vents on windy days, for him a longer chimney fixed the problem.

Round the back side of the loop above Blakes Lock are the closest moorings, quite a few narrow boats wintering there at the moment. I think the Bel & Dragon may have it's own moorings as well. Going up to the second lock keep an eye on the first road bridge after the lights (this section is one way upto the second lock), if the Kennet is running this is the one to watch coming back down.

Coming down from Oxford I would also recommend Beale park for a nice overnight mooring. At reading the Tesco's mooring is good below Caversham lock, I also think all your boats would get up through blakes lock on the Kennet and if the Loop is not too silted up there are moorings round by the Prison. Smaller boat might like to take the short trip up to the next lock on the Kennet through the oracle (not recommended if the Kennet is running). There are also bank moorings below the Kennet but depth might be an issue. The next big mooring area would be Henley At Weybridge there are mooring just below the lock where the Wey joins, spent a couple of nights there with a 70' dutch barge. Hampton court has a few moorings but getting these in the Summer might be difficult Kingston has good moorings, or you could push on to Teddington Lock, lots there

Coming out of lime house, I am not sure of the current requirements search tidal thames, Brentford you just need to call a few days before to arrange passage (takes about an hour on the incoming tide). A 1 day license should easily get you to the River Wey but note you will need another license for the Wey and the Basingstoke (I do not think the BW license covers these 2, NT I think). When you come out of the wey do so in the morning and a 1 day license should get you to the kennet but as they have said with Blakes closed you might be better off where you are or looking up the grand union

Thanks all for the comments, being in the Ts & Cs makes more sense. I must admit on a day when it is chucking it down with rain the one thing I don't want to do is walk dripping through the inside of the boat although it could be argued that in the rain the gunnels are even more dangerous. Perhaps it was because the boat I hired had side doors on both sides which did make walking the gunnels a little more tricky.

When we picked up a boat on the Kennet and Avon this year we were told it is now an offence to walk along the gunnels or along the roof while the boat is moving. Apparently there have been a lot of accidents in the midlands so they have made it illegal on hire boats. Anyone else come across this? Or should I be looking over my shoulder for mister plod.

The 1 day is enough to transit Teddington to the Wey or Reading to Oxford. The one week would allow transit Teddington to Oxford The one month would allow the full Thames with side trips on one License. If you plan on dong the wey and possibly the Basingstoke Canal then starting with a 1 day license might be best. Note a 1 day license is actually 1 night so can be upto 2 days depending on time of entry onto the Thames.

It might be worth looking at fibreglass cruisers at this time of year, control the boat from inside. Norfolk broads should avoid stoppages at this time of year. Other alternatives are the Seven and Avon or the Cambridgeshire waterways (Ooze).

Your heating system and engine cooling should have antifreeze so should not be a problem. always worth checking (bought a car with no antifreeze once!!!) It is the hot and cold water circuits that are at risk, a friend lost his water pump and his gas water heater the first year he had his boat after the water froze. Alright it was a particularly cold winter but it can happen.

Thames marina at Reading (Tingdean) usually has a few boats for sale, mix of narrow boats and yogurt pots. note come off M4 onto A329M and up A4 to Sonning to cross Thames as reading can get sticky.

Can be a good source of kindling, cut into ~6" lengths it is easy to split with a hand axe and the small amounts should not annoy the neighbours if it is treated.

About 20 years ago now I contacted Perkins Directly and they provided a printed manual for a reasonable price.