Billw

Many hire boaters do have far more cruising experience over many more years than a lot of the “experts” on this site.

Some good news there, but peanuts in comparison to the cost of hot air production in Scotland with zero benefit. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/scottish-daily-mail/20180130/282054802467926

I agree. It's a tragic waste of all the effort and money that went into reopening the canals that they are now being allowed to fall back towards dereliction. Canals need boats using them to survive as canals, they are not just opportunities for cheap housing or nature reserves. Amazing what a short time the regenerated Scottish canals survived as canals.

I'm not sure but I think that the movements of the wheel are to fit in with the trip boat needs. When the trip boat goes up a narrowbeam can go with it and two narrowbeams or a widebeam can come down. If one caisson is used for other than boats the capacity is therefore reduced by a significant amount, especially for wide beam boats. The policy of pre booking lock and bridge operation has already meant little movement on these canals, this will probably turn them into linear parks with some housing.

One of the local boat operators is actually quitting due to high charges. Falkirk Herald

Don't know if theres any truth in this. Shame if there is. Falkirk wheel closing to boats

It does greatly depend on the members of a group, and a good group can be spoiled by one "rotten apple". I found that having a share generally worked, but when it came to selling there was much unpleasantness and discord. Beware of becoming "trapped" with ongoing costs continuing when you would like to be out.

There used to be a monthly competition on here, with the winner being on the home page for the following month. I won one of the last of these and the site opened with my picture for a couple of years afterwards. Must be my best claim to fame! http://www.canalworld.net/forums/uploads/gallery/pre2013/gallery_2434_33_51002.jpg

I don't think so, as there are others in boat use ( the Ashby perhaps). However, it makes it less likely that boats will reappear I think.

There is an (electric) trip boat from Cromford, very pleasant too. The canal is now a SSSI so unlikely that other boats will ever traverse it again.

I had the Welsh Rarebit in the cafe there a couple of years ago. If it's still on the menu it is simply outstanding.

Still got one share left here http://www.boatshare.co.uk/schipperke/index2.htm I think it's a bit of a bargain as with £2000 per share in the kitty you get a sixth of the boat for less than £1000, giving 5 weeks a year plus for less than the cost of hiring for a week.

With any luck sold up and away from boats.

Well I am not far short of giving my shares away, taking funds in hand into account. I've put it on Boatshare now as that seems to be the best place to sell shares. Just have to wait and see!

I'm virtually giving away my shares in a nice nb on Apollo Duck http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=396550 With very little interest. Can't understand why people don't seem interested in boat sharing at the moment.

I too would recommend the Ashby, and the Ashby Boat Co hire some lovely boats. It gives you a choice as well of into Coventry, down the North Oxford or towards Fradley, or even just pootle about on the Ashby itself.

The Gloucester & Sharpness is well worth doing, lovely moorings in Gloucester too. Worth a read of http://www.gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/pdf/Boaters_Guide_%281%29.pdf Particularly regarding entering Gloucester lock, but I found it not as difficult as it reads. Definately worth calling ahead to the locks, especially Gloucester so that it's ready on arrival.

There seems to be very little interest in boat sharing at the moment. I have a third of my 57 ft boat for sale at the moment with very little interest (admittedly its an older boat) for less than £7000, which when considering there's over £10000 in the "pot" for licensing,maintenance etc means a third of the boat is on offer for about £3000!, this in a very well maintained and reliable boat. I hope that you have better luck as it sounds like a good idea.

Or you could always buy my shares in a boat http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=72323and get at least 10 weeks a year for what 2 weeks hiring cost. Both those rings are doable in 2 weeks from Kings Bromley.

Maybe whole boats are selling well, but Ive had remarkably little interest in my 2 sixth shares of an excellent boat which at the price I put them for sale at thought would go straight away. Maybe it is just the wrong time of year.

I had avery similar result with the same colour of paint simply using craftmaster carnuba polish. Finding a price for a shared boat is even more difficult. Im virtually giving away my shares at the moment with very little interest, despite having a very solid well kept boat in a long standing group.

I too will soon be motorhome only. I've found http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/forum.php to be an excellent forum, with a really useful database of places to stay. You can certainly never know when your health will change.

I recently visited the terminus of the presently navigable Ashby and was amazed to see the amount of progress that has been made towards this basin since I was last there a couple of years ago. Still a long way to go, but good to see such progress. I understand that the canal will need a different route through Measham and may follow the former railway through the station, which will be a new experience. The Ashby is my favourite canal.

Don't know if they will do residential, but there appear to be lots of moorings available on the Ashby at the new marina at Market Bosworth.

I have found that a report to CART of an offender produces action, initially a visit to remind the miscreant of their licence terms.