furnessvale

The back of the rack is often neglected. A bit of lubrication there can make a world of difference.

At the risk of much adverse comment, I believe the GENTLE assistance of a moving boat pushing on the gate, assists in relieving the stresses in this area. I think this especially true when going uphill on the bottom gates, where the push from a boat can be half way up the total gate height rather than at the very top. YES, I am also aware of the potential adverse effect on gate mitres if not correctly applied.

If CRT now know where this defective oak has been used, perhaps they should fit splints NOW, to extend the life of these beams to that of normal timber. Compensation from the supplier wouldn't go amiss either!

Has Greenlaw had an engine change? I have a mental picture of more cylinders but I am probably mistaken. Hand start only is easily rectified if the flywheel is exposed. A starter motor with a rubber wheel and a long lever to bring it into contact with the flywheel works a treat.

Interesting you mention the "right"side of the canal. As a former historic boater, the correct side is in the deeper water on the outside of the bend, which doesn't always correspond to the convention of passing on the right. However, having deeper water underneath you, from this position you are able to move to the correct passing side in most cases. Coming round the shallow inside of a bend is a recipe for disaster as, at any moment, you can skid across the cut in a straight line.

A tennis ball would cure that!

Remember it well. You had the pilot and we followed on Badger with another 5-6 boats behind. Got to the crossover point and the pilot said "Off you go we'll wait for the stragglers". Punched a 6-8 knot incoming tide and glad I had a healthy 2LW in the engine room with a big blade and working hard. Tench accidentally lost power for a few seconds and was 200 yards upstream wrapped around a huge wreck buoy in the blink of an eye! Then we had to hold station for a lifetime before they would let us in Brunswick lock. Enjoyed every minute!😂

A few years ago I was winding SANDBACH after a tug of war in the top basin in front of the main entrance when I thought "she is coming round rather well". I looked down the side to find two model tugs pushing my bows round!

Not sure that using an overhead electric line and trolley pole, with its potential for arcing, is the best solution to a gas explosion risk! It would appear that the overhead line is merely a signal cable and as such would be very low voltage and not prone to arcing.

6' 10" wide? Has she been pulled in at some time?

What they can do on site is to ensure the locks are kept in water rather than drained, thus reducing pressure on the walls.

It can be both. The work that has been done is to a high standard but other areas will require attention.

The new facilities should have been completed BEFORE the old ones were taken out of use, but as usual, boaters are at the back of the queue. I'll wager the new houses on the site are completed LONG before boater facilities, if they are completed at all.

Within the last 3 years OTTER was subjected to a considerable amount of work. A couple of years ago OTLEY won the prize for the best boat at Braunston. I remember confusion at the time as to whether the winner was actually OTTER, which in its own small way, is a measure of OTTER's turnout at that time.

When the pain outweighs the pleasure, it is time to give up. As the pleasure is a different concept to each individual this cannot be assessed as a "one size fits all" thing. For example, my pleasure was visiting historic boat shows which meant long days and many locks. A different concept to living abourd and moving every 14 days. With me and the wife in the mid to late 70s, I have just sold up.