Paul T

You should, i agree, but if you are on a hire boat some people keep going at you trust me, i have bee the recipient. Me too helps to keep things nice and pleasant. We are talking about the minority here.

Here here for this topic! I have had 30 years as a boater, owned my own boat that some of you would call a yogurt pot, i sold my boat and now i hire, i know the rules of the river/canal and yes i could afford to buy a boat again but mine and my wife's job dictates otherwise at the moment. We have had the comments, the looks, the ignoring and the private owner steering towards us and you know what? I steer right back at them because number 1 it aint my boat and number 2 it's their no claims bonus up the swannie and number 3 i won't be intimidated by an idiot. I can not believe with all the troubles in the world today that so called grown up people want to behave in this way. we all know the speed limits and what to do when passing moored boats and we all know that it is not just hirers that break the rules, to the culprit (and they know who they are) you are a disgrace and shame on you! There, rant over.

Must have been a lot of work involved to bring it back to life.

Glad you got it sorted, watch out for the non return valve though if you have one. Happy cruising. P.S. nice roomy boat, did you buy from Richardsons (new Horizon)?

Yes, everytime lol

Have you sorted this problem out, if not this may be something to check, i bought a boat with a 1.8 BMC that would not run for more than a few seconds, the revs would increase and it would die and would not run. Eventually i found the problem to be what looks like a reducer from your fuel filter at the back of the rocker cover (from the picture i can't tell if you have one or not). It was actually a non return valve with a spring loaded ball bearing inside that had seized shut with rust and preventing a full fuel flow. My tank was higher than the lift pump and injection pump so i was able to do away with it all together and the engine ran fine but if your tank is low down and you have one fitted you will have to replace it. Maybe something worth looking at.

I am with you on this, as i said earlier it is few and far between that you meet ignorant people and they a very small minority, and it is one that never spoils our enjoyment whilst afloat because we won't let it, ignorance just annoys me that's all.

Hi Captain Pegg, no i am afraid not the ones that i have come across were already in the Locks with wife on the boat controlling the boat and the husband/partner was quite happy to let my wife do the work for him and then doesn't even say thank you, as we always do when we wait for a boat to come through a lock we go and assist whoever the are. If they are elderly or have a medical condition or just not able to manage we are always happy to help but when 'Mr Lazy' comes along and wants the 'Happy Hirer' to do his work for him then sorry but too long in the tooth for that. I have the up most respect for the solo boater and will always help them out because i am greeeeeeeeeeeeeeen with envy.

i suppose it makes a change from seeing ducks in the water, must admit i prefer to see ducks though. Most people i have met at Locks and as the other boats pass you by are very friendly and will offer some good advise. Just one hint though, beware of the other boater who is happy to stand back and let you do all the work, these people are very few and far between but i have come across a few.

Glad you enjoyed your holiday. My wife and I did the same trip last year with the same company, it was scorching hot and the boat was good and we loved it but we didn't see a car in the canal though!

Hi, I agree with Boaty Jo about the battlefields in Belgium, very moving and you do get a real sense of what it must have been like. The Menin Gate ceremony which is every night of the week all year round is particularly moving. Ypres is a very pleasant place to visit as is all the parts of Belgium i have been to (which is quite a bit), it is very clean and friendly. Top it all, it's not that far either.