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WELCOME

For everyone who enjoys the waterways

Canal Boat Magazine, Archant Specialist Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 2EG EDITORIAL Editor Nick Wall Deputy Editor Martin Ludgate Assistant Editor Alison James Technical Consultant Tony Brooks Art Editor Louise Walker Email: editor@canalboat.co.uk Web: canalboat.co.uk Editorial: 0118 974 2507

ADVERTISING Sales Manager Jennifer Bishop Tel: 0118 974 2523 Classified Advertising Ben Jones Tel: 0118 974 2522 ads@canalboat.co.uk Office Manager Sharon Wells

PUBLISHING MD Archant Specialist Peter Timperley

R

emember the late and definitely unlamented square bollards that suddenly sprouted around the locks like unloved mushrooms a few years ago? It wasn’t one of the then BW’s finest moments. And what happened?

There was, rightly, a great outcry at the sheer stupidity of the idea and so it was quietly dropped.

Any big organisation must listen to its customers (who are always right – well, okay, nearly always...) and, happily, the Canal & River Trust has just done this over the redesign of paddle pawls: more than 100 people and organisations said there were one or two catches to the idea so it’s been shelved (see page 7).

Now a new Head of Boating has been appointed at CRT whose brief is to focus on

putting the customer first. This is a very good thing, and we want to see right at the top of his must-do list more consultations on all boating matters, that way we should avoid trying to fit any more square peg ideas into ill-judged round holes in the future.

Thanks to all of you who have entered our Pub of the Year competition so far, the entries are pouring (pub pun) in so keep them coming; we reckon the pub trade needs a bit of a boost and we’re happy to help – especially if there’s a pint in it.

NICK WALL Editor

PRODUCTION Publishing Production Manager Kevin Shelcott Production Team Leader Mikey Godden Reprographics Manager Neil Puttnam Creative Designers Andy Crafter and Brendan Allis Printing William Gibbons Ltd, Willenhall, WV13 3XT Distribution Seymour, London, W1T 3EX Subscriptions and back issues enquiries 0844 848 5232 (UK) 01858 438 840 (Overseas) archantspec@subscription.co.uk

© Canal Boat 2015. The world copyright of the editorial matter, both illustration and text, is strictly reserved. Readers are welcome to submit articles and photographs for publication. While the publishers will take every care with such submissions, they reserve the right to amend them and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

Unless previously agreed, any submissions published will be paid for at our normal rates ISSN 1362-0312

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Canal Boat and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors Code of Practice. If you have a complaint which can’t be resolved by Canal Boat Editor Nick Wall (nick.wall@archant.co.uk) please contact the Independent Press Standards Organisation, c/o Halton House, 20-23 Holborn, London, EC1 2JD, or via complaints@ipso.co.uk. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at ipso.co.uk canalboat.co.uk

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55 Location Guide

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25

CANAL COLUMNS Steve takes a look at winter moorings, while Kevin puts a toe in the drink

45

BOATER’S BREAK Colourful plants for autumn; a spectacular celestial alignment to view; our acrostic quiz

63

WATERSIDE WILDLIFE Watch out for shocking pink fruits and ‘ballooning’ spiders as the autumn gets underway

BACK CABIN ASK THE EXPERTS Disappearing coolant; cutting the smoke; water hoses; blacking repairs; non-slip surfaces

SECOND-HAND BOATS Our choice of boats to go anywhere DIARY Don’t miss the many festivals this month

20 QUESTIONS Cheers to Barry Teutenberg, who takes his Home Brew Boat around the UK’s waterways PLUS!

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CHICKEN THIGHS IN CREAM SAUCE Feeding the birds, or the birds feeding us?

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EDITORIAL: 0118 974 2507 ADVERTISING: 0118 974 2523 EMAIL: editor@canalboat.co.uk WEBSITE: canalboat.co.uk ADDRESS: Canal Boat Magazine, Archant Specialist, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Rd, Wokingham, RG40 2EG

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NEWS

■ Pawl plans halted ■ Gatecrashers at locks ■ Petrol use warning ■ Thames weir in 3D ■ Monty reopens ■ K&A 25 years on If you have any news email editor@canalboat.co.uk or call 0118 974 2507

New boating boss at CRT THE CANAL & RIVER TRUST has a new head of boating, as part of what it describes as a ‘streamlining’ of its boating teams.

Mike Grimes was brought into CRT (following a career with British Airways) earlier this year as Head of Business Boating, replacing Phil Spencer who was due to retire. Business boating has now been

Rufford shuts as Lancaster opens LEEDS & LIVERPOOL HOT ON THE HEELS of the news of the Lancaster Canal re-opening following repairs at the Lune Aqueduct, came news of another stoppage also affecting boats visiting the Lancaster, with the route to the Ribble Link cut off by a collapse on the Rufford Branch.

This branch of the Leeds & Liverpool leads from the L&L Main Line to Tarleton, the junction with the tidal River Douglas, which in turn leads down to the Ribble Estuary and so to the Ribble Link and on to the Lancaster.

A timber culvert carrying a stream under the canal

near Lock 5 collapsed in late July, draining the canal and initially stranding two boats until Canal & River Trust staff could install temporary dams.

A CCTV survey of the culvert revealed the collapse would require major repairs which couldn’t start until there had been a fish rescue, an ecology survey to ensure water voles would be protected, Environment Agency approval, the installation of a temporary access track and site compound, and negotiations with Network Rail for transport of heavy plant and materials over a level crossing.

Repair work was expected to finally get underway in late August, with contractors Kier aiming to

Tempting boaters onto the Trent RIVER TRENT

6 October 2015 Canal Boat

combined with CRT’s licensing and enforcement departments, and Mr Grimes has been appointed to head up the merged operation.

He is the Trust’s first Head of Boating since Sally Ash retired in 2014 – although the role is not exactly the same: CRT describes it as “focused on putting the customer first”.

Mr Grimes now reports to Executive Head of Customer Service Ian Rogers (also appointed earlier this year) who said that “It makes sense to have both private and business boating under the same banner, so any improvements are for the greatest good of all”.

excavate the canal bed, expose and remove the damaged culvert, replace it with a plastic pipe and reinstate the canal channel for a target opening date of 25 September.

THE MAJORITY OF the 400 boaters who responded to an East Midlands survey have never tried the Trent – but the Canal & River Trust and boating organisations hope to change that by finding ways to tempt more boaters onto the river.

The online questionnaire, set up jointly by CRT’s East Midlands Partnership with the Inland Waterways Association and The Boating Association, asked whether boaters had cruised the river – and if not, how they might be persuaded to try it.

Despite 65 percent of respondents being experienced boaters with upwards of a decade of cruising behind them, fewer than half had ventured on to the river. Reasons given included perceived difficulty of river boating and lack of visitor moorings and facilities. Two thirds said better information and charts would help.

CRT plans to use this feedback to investigate ways of encouragement such as: ■ A ‘buddy’ system where boaters travel together ■ Training videos on YouTube ■ More visitor moorings ■ Publicising the existing river charts more “We’ve listened carefully to what boaters have told us,” said Partnership Chair Danny Brennan. He added that extra moorings were always popular and said the Partnership would look into how this can be achieved.

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Anderton’s tale to be tolled…

THIS VIEW OF the iconic Anderton Boat Lift from the River Weaver will be familiar to most readers – but how many will have noticed the two diminutive toll-houses which stand alongside the bottom of the lift?

These buildings accommodated the toll clerks who charged a tonnage rate for freight carried before allowing working boats into the lift. The brick-built structures with their traditional slate roofs have now been refurbished, thanks to support from the public and from the Heritage Lottery Fund via the Saltscape Partnership. Now there are plans to furnish

them as they would have appeared in the early 20th Century so that they can help to tell the story of the lift’s freight-carrying days.

To help with this, the Canal & River Trust’s Anderton staff are appealing for any memories and old photographs of the toll houses and lift: email enquiries.northwalesborders@canalrivertrust.org.uk if you can help.

The toll houses and lift will be open to the public free of charge as part of Heritage Open Day on 12 September – complete with an actor in costume as a toll clerk.

Woman drawn through culvert LEEDS & LIVERPOOL AN INVESTIGATION IS to be held and safety measures reviewed after an elderly woman had to be airlifted to hospital after falling in the water at Foxton Locks and being sucked through a paddle culvert.

The staircase locks are operated using a series

of side ponds connected to the lock chambers by culverts fitted with ground paddles. The 79-year-old woman was watching the boats when she slipped and fell into a side pond; as the lock filled the current pulled her through the paddle culvert into the chamber. Fortunately, the boat in the chamber wasn’t full length, leaving plenty of space for her to

Paddle plans hit a catch…

PLANS TO TRIAL a new design of lock paddle catches have been put on hold, following a consultation which highlighted possible problems.

As covered in the September Canal Boat, the Canal & River Trust was planning to install modified ‘pawl catches’ (a term used generically by the Trust for the various devices used to hold paddles in the raised position) at a number of locks, in an attempt to improve safety by reducing the incidence of catches slipping and paddles falling.

However, over 100 responses to a CRT consultation, from boaters and

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be rescued by a lock-keeper and bystanders.

Canal & River Trust head of health & safety Tony Stammers said that “an accident like this is extremely rare” on the canals, but temporary grilles had been fitted to the Foxton culverts to prevent a recurrence.

He added that the Trust was “continuing to review whether other safety measures are required”. He added that CRT wished the woman involved a “very speedy recovery”.

organisations including the Inland Waterways Association, raised issues including: ■ If the catch needed to be held with one hand while lowering paddles, this would hinder closing them quickly in an emergency ■ Stiff paddles which need both hands would be more difficult to use ■ Replacing traditional designs would mean a loss of waterways heritage In response, CRT has now put the trial on hold. It is, instead, planning to carry out tests to measure how much effort is needed to operate paddles; to concentrate more on boater education in safe operation of paddles; and to work with boaters to develop any further modification plans.

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NEWS Gatecrasher pays £500

TOWPATH TELEGRAPH

LEEDS & LIVERPOOL A BOATER CAUGHT on video ramming the gates at Office Lock in Leeds – which was viewed more than 20,000 times on YouTube – has ended up paying £500 for damage to the lock.

The video, which shows the boat forcing its way out at the top end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal lock before the levels are equal, was reported to the Canal & River Trust.

It tracked down the boater, who sent an apology and a £500 cheque to

WINTER MOORING CHANGES

cover repairs to the gate.

Unfortunately, no sooner had this been fixed than another lock on the same canal was damaged by a boater ramming the gates – and this time the result was more serious.

A steel-framed gate at Lock 83 in Wigan was bent and needed to be closed for three days for emergency repairs. Gate replacement will cost

£80,000 this winter.

CRT North-West Waterway Manager Chantelle Seaborn said some boaters were “selfishly letting their impatience get the better of them” and if they were struggling they could contact the Trust on 0303 040 4040 and somebody would assist “as quickly as we can”.

BWML ‘sorry’ for reporting rivals BRITISH WATERWAYS MARINAS Ltd, the marinaoperating subsidiary of the Canal & River Trust, has apologised to independent marinas for suggesting that planning authorities look into whether those marinas are allowing people to live aboard without the necessary planning consent.

BWML has been increasing the number of official liveaboard berths in its marinas recently, securing the necessary local authority planning permission for residential use and asking moorers to enrol for council tax. However, BWML says some of its

moorers indicated that they had concerns that other marinas were allowing boaters to live aboard without planning permission and without registering for council tax. BWML therefore, wrote to the local authorities asking them to look into whether those marinas had planning permission for any residential moorings they provide.

BWML’s Managing Director Geoff Whyatt has now accepted that it would have been “far more in keeping with the spirit of the marina industry” to approach the independent marinas directly.

Petrol warning after eight boat incidents FOLLOWING THREE SERIOUS incidents over the past few weeks in which eight were boats destroyed or damaged and 11 people injured, the Boat Safety Scheme has issued safety alerts and new information on its website concerning the hazards of petrol.

■ Use sight, touch and smell to check engines and fuel systems for leaks before starting out.

■ If you smell petrol, don’t switch on the ignition or electrical supply.

■ Close all windows, hatches and doors and turn off cookers and other ignition sources when refuelling.

■ Double check that you are

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The advice can be summed up as “Petrol demands huge respect and extreme caution, not least when refuelling”. Going into more detail, the BSS has produced a “ten top tips” list (see panel) and there’s more at boatsafetyscheme.org/petrolsafety.

using the correct filling point before fuel starts pouring.

■ After refuelling make sure filler caps are secure and clean up any splashes.

■ Avoid decanting fuel; if you have no option, use anti-spill spouts or nozzles.

■ Only use specifically designed petrol cans for spare fuel.

■ Leave some space when

filling containers, and stow them securely, upright, protected from heat and sunlight, and outside the engine or cabin space.

■ Refuel portable engines or tanks on the bank, a safe distance from all boats or other ignition sources.

■ Never use open containers to carry petrol.

The Canal & River Trust’s winter moorings (berths aimed at ‘continuous cruisers’ with no home mooring who want to stay somewhere for longer in the winter months) have gone on sale, but with some important changes. As we mentioned last time, there are no inner London berths. Also the ‘general towpath permit’ not tied to a specific site has been dropped, because CRT is not sure of the position as regards the legal requirement to either have a home mooring or use your boat ‘bona fide for navigation’ for the full period of the licence. There are three price rates (dependent on the site) of £6.50, £10.00 and £13.50 per metre per month.

For details see canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating See also Steve Haywood’s column, page 25.

£1,000 WAY TO SAY THANKS After seven Waterway Recovery Group volunteer camps on the Chesterfield Canal in the last year, the Chesterfield Canal Trust has shown its appreciation to the WRG teams by presenting them with a cheque for £1,000. The money for the WRG appeal for four new minibuses was presented during the week-long camp at Staveley in July. Dave Kiddy of CCT said “We are delighted to welcome the WRGies to Staveley again. They can always be relied upon to work hard and give a boost to our restoration of this beautiful canal.”

To help the appeal, see wrg.org.uk.

FREE FUN IN NOTTINGHAM Head for Nottingham Canal Festival at Castle Wharf on Saturday 10 October to try out a host of watery activities including canoeing, angling and boat trips. Or enjoy land-based craft stalls and live music.

A number of historic boats, including Trout and Dove, are also expected to attend.

The event ties in with the city’s Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival at Nottingham Castle. See canalrivertrust.org.uk/events.

Canal Boat October 2015 9

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NEWS TOWPATH TELEGRAPH TEA AT THE PONTY

Weir fully drawn…

RIVER THAMES THESE PICTURES ARE part of a full set of 3D computerdrawn visuals created by specialists ECS Engineering Services as part of a project to supply a complete set of replacement radial weir gates in much less time than traditional surveying methods would have required.

A Robotic Total Station, an extremely accurate surveying instrument, built up sufficient data at a sub-millimetre level to create a 3D computer model of Old Windsor Weir. This enabled the eight gates – all differing very slightly in size and shape – to be constructed to fit perfectly.

The work is part of the Environment Agency’s planned programme for the Thames which has just

been published, and which also includes a series of lock closures (see panel). Meanwhile, the second draft of the Canal & River Trust’s winter stoppage plan (see CB, August) has now been published, with the finalised list expected to be published on canalrivertrust.org.uk during September.

THAMES STOPPAGES Locks closed before Christmas: Cookham, Boulters: Locks closed after New Year: Day’s, Penton Hook Locks closed through Christmas and New Year: St John’s, Godstow, Culham, Temple

CRT call for candidates NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTIONS to the Canal & River Trust’s governing national Council will open on 11 September, and the number of elected places will increase from seven to nine.

As with the previous elections in 2011, there will be four places representing private boating (elected by holders of CRT 12-month boat licences); two for boating business (elected

from boatyard, mooring and other boat-related businesses, business boat operators and freight carriers); and one voted for by Trust employees (other than Executive Directors).

The extra places will consist of one representing volunteering (elected by CRT volunteers) and one elected by – and from – the Friends of the Trust.

These nine will join the

nominated members (put forward by organisations such as the Inland Waterways Association, the Railway & Canal Historical Society, Sustrans, the Angling Trust and local authority bodies), plus the 13 CRT waterway partnership chairs, to make up the 40-strong Council.

Nominations will close on 14 October and voting will take place between 13 November and 11 December. The new members will begin their four-year terms in March 2016.

Monty re-opens after two months MONTGOMERY BOATS CAN ONCE again navigate the whole seven-mile restored length at the English end of the Montgomery Canal.

The news follows completion of leak repairs near Aston Locks, which were made more complex by the need to preserve the canal’s nature habitats.

The section is a designated

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Site of Special Scientific Interest and is also the site of the Aston Nature Reserve, created by canal restoration volunteers in the 1990s as part of work to compensate for the possible loss of habitat as the canal is reopened.

“This site is renowned for its aquatic plants as well as fringing reed beds which provide an ideal nesting habitat for birds, particularly reed warblers,”

explained Canal & River Trust ecologist Sara Hill.

Before engineers could start work reeds needed to be protected, fish rescued and reed warbler nests relocated.

However, Project Manager Marc Evans said the repair work (involving 120 metres of 5m-deep steel piles to stop the leak and strengthen the bank) had been “completed with the minimum of disturbance”.

Tea, coffee and cakes are now on the menu at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. A new outdoor catering service, The Bread Basket Café, is provided by MPM Catering, part of the Shrewsbury-based Cook Street group, in partnership with Glandwr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales.

MOOR UP IN HACKNEY A new stretch of long-term moorings in east London has been created by the Canal & River Trust, which is inviting third parties to tender to manage the site on the Lee next to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Hackney Wick. The site will include 12 leisure and two trade moorings, and will include a public pump-out facility.

See canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating.

CYCLE PETITION A petition has been launched asking Google Maps to re-route cyclists away from the Regent’s Canal in east London.

Ben Hamblim, who started the petition, says many cyclists use the online platform to plan their routes. He wants Google to downgrade it to a 5mph travelling speed so it is no longer seen as a ‘quick’ route, and believes this will result in fewer cyclists using the towpath. Find it at change.org/p/ google-google-maps-stop-sendingcyclists-down-the-towpath-in-london.

HERITAGE AT ELLESMERE Visitors will step back in time when the Canal & River Trust’s Ellesmere canal repair yard is opened on 12-13 September as part of the national Heritage Open Days. They will be able to see inside some of the Grade II listed buildings, blacksmith Rowan Taylor will be giving demonstrations, there will be CRT Explorers children’s activities, and restored hose-drawn Shropshire Union fly-boat Saturn (pictured) will be there.

Canal Boat October 2015 11

NEWS

K& A 25 years on KENNET & AVON THE REOPENING OF the Kennet & Avon Canal is seen being celebrated with a re-enactment of the queen’s official visit (pictured, inset) 25 years ago.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, the Queen’s representative in the county, descended the top locks of the Caen Hill Flight in a canal boat before stopping at lock 43, the Queen Elizabeth II Lock, where the original ceremony took place on 8 August 1990.

It was followed by a towpath-side celebration that included displays of lock-keeping, boating, canoeing, cycling, pond dipping and wildlife trails. Also present were Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal Trust, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Sustrans and the Kennet & Avon Trade Association.

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust led the restoration of the canal from the 1950s until the reopening in 1990. A £25m Heritage Lottery grant in the 1990s then helped to complete work to secure the future of the waterway, which today attracts around 11 million tourist visits every year.

EA to appeal in houseboat licence case GREAT OUSE

A bridge with the past CHESTERFIELD A SWORDSTICK, a clay pipe and a miner’s lamp were among the products of an archaeological dig held on the Chesterfield Canal – as well as a greater understanding of how 18th Century bridges were built.

Volunteers restoring the unnavigable Norwood to Staveley length of the Chesterfield were digging out a deeper channel for the canal where it needs to be lowered to pass under a railway line when they came across an area of old stonework.

They called in archaeologist and former Canal Development Manager Dr Geraint Coles, who identified it as the remains of the walls and canal bed from the original Eckington Road Bridge, dating

12 October 2015 Canal Boat

back to around 1776. Realising the site’s importance, Dr Coles and the Chesterfield Canal Trust called for volunteers to help with a full archaeological excavation in mid August.

A team of 24 carefully uncovered the remains, studying construction details (for example that the towpath was added after the bridge had been built) as well as recovering objects. Besides the pipe, stick and lamp, these were three coins, including a halfpenny dated 1772 or 1773 – thought to be a forgery (of which there were many), but “What a great find, and bang on date!” as Dr Coles put it.

More archaeology is planned alongside the restoration work, with a working ‘cuckoo’ boat believed to be buried nearby.

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY is appealing against a court decision earlier this year which ruled that it could not require owners of static houseboats in a marina on the River Great Ouse to pay for EA registration.

Two years ago the Agency attempted to charge £400 registration (EA equivalent of licensing) fees for immobile floating pontoon homes with no engine and no controls, on the grounds that since 2010 “all vessels on our waterways must be registered”.

However, the residents in Hartford Marina near Huntingdon maintained that their houseboats are not ‘vessels’ as they cannot move.

In a court case earlier this year, a Crown Court judge agreed with this, upholding the appeals of two residents against their convictions for nonpayment, on the grounds that they were not vessels. But the EA has now announced that it will seek a ruling from a High Court, as “this decision applies only to the case concerning Hartford Marina and is not a precedent” and the Agency wanted a higher court to provide “greater clarity on the law”.

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NEWS T A P W O H T TELEGRAPH WATER LEVELS UP AND DOWN

£350,000 needed to achieve this vision...

SHREWSBURY & NEWPORT THIS ARTIST’S IMPRESSION shows what a restored Wappenshall Warehouse at the junction of the reopened Shrewsbury and Newport canals might look like one day. But unless another £350,000 can be raised quickly, the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust’s vision could be a long way away.

The historic Thomas Telford building at the junction of the former Shropshire Union Newport Branch and Shrewsbury Canal has been earmarked for renovation as a canal centre and community centre, with a £1m contribution already agreed by the Heritage Lottery

Fund. But the ‘match funding’ of the remaining £500,000 of the cost is proving hard work to raise.

The good news is that an Appeal launched in January has already led to: ■ £50,000 of donations ■ £100,000 from charitable bodies ■ A fund-raising tour of Joule’s Brewery ■ A series of watercolours based on canal scenes by a local artist ( CB, April) for sale via the SNCT website ■ Employment of a fund-raising company.

However, there’s almost £350,000 still to be raised by the end of the year – otherwise the Lottery grant will be deferred. See sncanal.org.uk

Nottingham canal centre gets go-ahead RIVER TRENT NOTTINGHAM IS TO get a canal centre, thanks to approval of a Lottery grant to convert a row of cottages by Beeston Lock.

The site for the Canalside Heritage Centre is to the south-west side of the city centre, where the

Beeston Cut meets the River Trent.

It is based on Weir Terrace, a set of four 18th Century former waterways workers’ houses behind the lock cottage, which have fallen derelict.

The building is to be restored and extended to create a canal museum and educational centre, arts and craft foyer, community café and

kitchen garden – as well as restoring part of the building to its original style.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has now agreed a £687,200 grant, with the remainder of the £865,500 total cost raised locally including donations, fundraising events and local authority grants.

See canalsideheritagecentre.org.uk

MONMOUTHSHIRE & BRECON

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UTILITY IN COURT OVER DEATH Utility company National Grid has been charged under Health & Safety laws after a boy fell off a gas pipe bridge across the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in 2014 and died.

The company is accused of failing to discharge its duty under the Health & Safety at Work Act (which requires it as far as reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of others) in exposing them to the risk of falls from the bridge in Burnley. The case has been adjourned until September.

BOATS, BIKES & AUTOMOBILES Mercia Marina in Derbyshire has launched two transport initiatives aimed at helping the environment, saving people money and promoting healthy lifestyles. In partnership with community car share company Co-Wheels, it has provided a pay-as-yougo car for use by people at the marina. It has also launched a community bike share scheme with five cycles for free use.

In the limelight THREE HISTORIC LIMEKILNS along the Mon & Brec Canal will be the subject of conservation and interpretation work, demonstrating to the public how the lime industry contributed to the history of South Wales and its canals – as well as teaching heritage skills to volunteers.

The canal and its connecting horse-drawn tramways carried coal and limestone to the kilns, as well as transporting the finished product – burnt lime for agriculture and for making lime mortar for building construction.

Thanks to £90,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Brecon Beacons Trust, the Watton Kilns in Brecon will be conserved and a Lime Kilns Trail

Mixed weather in late summer led to a short closure of the Calder & Hebble owing to high water levels but at the same time – further south – a few canals started to run short of water. With reservoirs feeding the southern Oxford, Grand Union and Leicester line down to around or below 50 percent, the Canal & River Trust has begun urging boaters to follow its THRIFT code (including sharing locks where possible and being prepared to wait for boats coming the other way if the lock is set against them). Locks at Hampstead Road (Camden) and Norwood (Hanwell) are being closed overnight from 8pm to 8am until further notice.

TINGDENE AT SOUTHAMPTON

created. Richard Bellamy, Head of the HLF in Wales, said the Trail would “tell an important story of Welsh industry, a period of change in our culture and in our ways of working.”

CRT is seeking volunteers to learn the traditional skills. See canalrivertrust.org.uk for contact details.

Tingdene Boat Sales will be attending the Southampton Boat Show (11-20 September) to exhibit a luxury widebeam and a Viking 275 cruiser. And, after the show, Tingdene Boats will be holding a demonstration weekend at its Thames and Kennet Marina on the Thames near Caversham from 25 to 28 September.

Canal Boat October 2015 13

NEWS

WILDLIFE LOVERS IN South-West England have been recording sightings of glow worms to help track colonies of the beetle.

As part of its Great Nature Watch, the Canal & River Trust appealed for eagle-eyed spotters to record sightings to ensure the species is protected in coming years.

Earlier reports identified the following potential hotspots, but experts hope there may be more colonies in the areas of: Glowing for a mate ■ Creech St Michael in Somerset, on the Bridgwater & Taunton ■ The towpaths along the Kennet & Avon, especially around they’re more like the lonely hearts of the insect world – the ladies Seend and next to the Dundas Aqueduct glowing away at the top of their stalks, waiting for their prince to come.

■ Sharpness in Gloucestershire, and on the Gloucester & Sharpness Losing them from the UK countryside would be devastating but, with Despite their common name, glow worms are actually beetles, and help, we can make sure that they’re still glowing for the generations to can be spotted throughout the summer months as the flightless females come,” said CRT ecologist Laura Mullholland. climb tall blades of grass at night and light up to attract a winged male The results of the Great Nature Watch will be published after the to mate with. Once they’ve found a partner, the females stop glowing survey finishes on 30 September… so you still have time this month and return to the ground to lay their eggs. Increases in light pollution to record your sightings. Download the Great Nature Watch app and habitat loss are both feared to have contributed to a decline in from the App Store and Google Play Store. Alternatively visit https:// glow worm numbers in recent years.

“People often think of glow worms as being a romantic sight, but canalrivertrust.org.uk/great-nature-watch.

BOOK REVIEWS ABANDONED & VANISHED CANALS OF IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES You’ll search in vain for the Montgomery or the Monmouthshire canals in this book: when author Andy Wood says ‘abandoned’ he really means it. A companion to the volume released last year covering England, this book concentrates on the really, properly lost waterways, not those well on the way to reopening – like Ireland’s Cong Canal; Kilgetty Canal in Wales and Scotland’s Kilbagie Canal. For each of over 60 long-derelict waterways, there is a potted history, usually some hints of what (if anything) is still to be seen and a National Grid reference for enthusiasts keen to go looking for remaining traces. And while the author freely admits to having drawn heavily on other sources for the history, it’s the way they’re all collected into one volume that will make this of value to the enthusiast.

Abandoned & Vanished Canals of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Andy Wood, Amberley, amberley-books.com, £15.99, 978-1-4456-4868-2

SHROPSHIRE UNION FLY-BOATS Fly-boats, the non-stop boats which carried urgent or perishable cargoes, were generally among the earlier operations to succumb to competition from the railways – even the celebrated Shropshire Union fleet ceased trading in 1921. So a newly published first-hand account of these craft may seem unlikely; but that’s what this book is. In 1969, Jack Roberts wrote down his recollections of fly-boating before the First World War – and now his words have finally been published. There are fascinating accounts of trips along canals long-abandoned today (such as the Montgomery, Shrewsbury and Hatherton), descriptions of the boaters and boats he met, and details of fly-boat operation such as ‘stop’ boards indicating where boats must stop for a cargo – or risk a fine of two shillings and sixpence. As Harry Arnold, one of the people who met Jack in the 1960s, puts it in the book’s introduction, this is “The best boatman’s autobiography ever”.

Shropshire Union Fly-boats, Jack Roberts, Canal Book Shop, canalbookshop.co.uk, £16.95, 978-0-9574037-4-1

APP OF THE MONTH THERE ARE PLENTY of breathtakingly beautiful National Trust sites to explore only a short stroll from many of Britain’s waterways – so this app is perfect for boaters looking for a nearby day trip.

14 October 2015 Canal Boat

FROM NORTH MANCHESTER comes a heart-warming story of public-spiritedness, dedication to duty (in the face of some fairly unpleasant canal water) and general kindness. A couple of police officers who spotted a man struggling in the Rochdale Canal, rescued him, listened to his sorry story of being chased by miscreants, and took him to hospital. But when they got him there they checked his clothing, found £3,500 in cash, looked him up on their computer system, found he was wanted for assault and breach of court orders – and kept their hands on the cash, which turned out to be the proceeds of a crime. That must have really made his day…

NATIONAL TRUST FREE Not only does the app list the National Trust’s historic houses, buildings and monuments, but it also informs you of the numerous events held at these places throughout the year. You can search for

nearby locations and save your favourite spots for future reference too.

The app is free, easy to use, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch – and Android.

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Canal Boat October 2015 15

LETTERS TELL US YOUR VIEWS and you could win a Collins Nicholson Waterways Guide of your choice.

With their detailed maps, they are an essential part of planning your trips around the canals and rivers.

EMAIL editor@canalboat.co.uk WRITE Editor, Canal Boat, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham RG40 2EG LETTERS that are kept short are more likely to be published in full

LETTER OF THE MONTH

A pawl-ing waste of money WE HAVE JUST gone up the Wigan 21, which has a mixture of pawls with and without stops. The pawls with stops were more awkward as they always required two hands, often in a rather contorted way. However, using normal caution there is, frankly, not a lot of difference.

What was clear was that the flight was badly in need of attention. Several anti-vandal locks were broken, so the paddle could not be used, a couple of paddles didn’t work, two of the gates were so out of balance that it took three adults all their strength to open them and the levels in the pounds were up to two feet below normal. The notices exhorting boaters to report leaking gates (to save water) are a joke. There was only one pair of gates out of 42 that was not leaking massively!

I have great sympathy for the Canal &

River Trust, which has more or less infinite needs and very finite resources.

A discussion on paddle pawls may fill column inches in a magazine, but the idea of fitting them at vast cost across the network would rank alongside square bollards on narrow locks – a criminal waste of very scarce money.

Would that we had enough money to do even the most basic maintenance without wasting time, management effort and money on something that will, most probably, actually make accidents more likely.

Even if paddle pawls were safer (which I doubt), improving the basic maintenance of the network should take precedence because badly maintained facilities are not only more

Long-life food

Was the snap worth it?

I CAME ACROSS the following website recently which may be of interest to you and your readers: http://shop.conserva.de/en/ Based in Germany, it specialises in long-life food such as canned burgers in a bun with a shelf life of ten years.

I have tried the burger, which was very tasty, and have ordered more products.

For anyone planning a long boat trip or who is liveaboard, and may be iced-in during winter, these meals could come in very handy.

Postage is £6.94 for as many items as you like for one order.

Tax at 7% is also payable which is included in the price per item but shown separately in the invoice.

JOHN RYAN, via email

RECENTLY, WHILE WE were out on the Kennet & Avon between Kintbury and Hungerford, I got off the boat to take the photograph (shown below), taking the centre line with me.

As there was no wind, I just laid the line out on the towpath and went off to get a photograph. Then Murphy’s law came into play; a stray gust of wind turned the boat stern away from the bank, I climbed on to the bow and went aft through the cabin to the back deck. I started the engine and went on my way only to come to a sudden halt right in the middle of a winding hole. And it goes with saying that there was now no wind and we were too far from the bank to throw the grappling hook.

It was then I realised that I had forgotten the centre rope, which was now wound tightly around the prop! The boat is a Wilderness Otter so has an outboard motor, the rope is fixed to the cabin roof, spliced to a rope eye bolted through the handrail and, as the rope was pulled very tightly, I could not tilt the motor.

Enter Monty, a golden retriever, with his owners. It transpired that Monty just loved to

Thanks John, they’d be good for surprise visitors, too. We had a look and you can get freeze-dried cheese, canned bread and even a birthday cake in a tin.

16 October 2015 Canal Boat

dangerous but also less likely to attract the visitors of all kinds that the network needs to thrive.

ROBIN SUNDT, via email * Find out the latest about pawl catches on page 7.

fetch his ball from the water (no surprise there, then).

I tied two ropes together so that it was long enough to reach the bank; the dog’s owners threw the ball, it hit the boat and bounced away, Monty came and fetched it back to the bank. Throw two was the same but, on the third try, they got it spot on.

I had made a loop in the rope end and held the ball so that Monty had to put his head through the loop to get it. This done, he swam back to the bank towing the rope with him where it was quickly taken off (no animals were injured in this story). Then, I just had to get the rope off the prop.

As I had so much help and understanding I did not feel too much of a total chump for doing something so daft!

RICHARD, via email

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LETTERS JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION

Pic from Forage for Facilities

Is fibreglass lower class?

FOR A LONG time I’ve thought of myself as a Corbett (Kevin Blick CB, Aug) and then, at Christmas, I was given a year’s subscription of Canal Boat. This confirmed what I had suspected all along, at least in boating circles – I am lower class; I own one of those ‘Tupperware’ plastic boats.

I’m now reading my eighth copy of CB and as each one has dropped on my door mat, I have opened it in anticipation of just a hint of fibreglass.

The majority of craft on the Chelmer & Blackwater

Navigation, where my boat resides, are fibreglass, most of them change hands for the same price as a third-hand Mondeo, the newest one to my knowledge is a 1990 Viking 23. They are not working boats but, for sure, they are working man’s boats.

Flicking through the August issue in search of a plastic boat, I eventually found one on page 61. In the background of the picture of Fall Ing Lock is a partly submerged fibreglass boat. Please tell me you didn’t do that! Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoy the read.

DAVE ISZARD, via email

weekends in the area with its diverse range of people and sights. Yes, there is congestion at times but that congestion is a great opportunity to meet and chat to people on and around the canal, and surely the fact that the area does get busy demonstrates that this part of the canal is extremely popular?

The secret is not to be in a hurry and enjoy the experience of manoeuvring in tight spaces. While it is true there are many hire boats, it must

be remembered that some of the hire boat companies do provide invaluable services, such as fuel, pump-outs, water, maintenance and repair not to mention the revenue that they generate not just for the canals, but in employment and the tourist trade in general.

So I would say to those people, yes do it again but do it with a different and more positive approach, be it to hire boaters, hire boat companies, those who live aboard or people like me, the weekend brass polishers.

PAUL HICKLING, via email

Mishaps waiting to happen STEVE HAYWOOD’S PIECE about Judith Norris (CB, Aug) struck a harsh chord.

Cyclists have made the erstwhile gentle amenity of canal towpaths intimidating, miserable and dangerous places for all the many boaters, anglers, amblers and ramblers who reasonably expect to enjoy the peace,

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THE GRANTHAM CANAL

No, Dave, as if... but do keep an eye out for more of the kind of things you’d like to see in CB – Ed.

Positive congestion I AM WRITING in response to Kevin Blick’s article ( CB, Sep) in regard to the Kennet & Avon and congestion.

It dismays me to hear people say with regard to the western end of the K&A “we will never do it again” for whatever the reason and, in this particular case, it’s the turn of the hire boat companies.

My wife and I own a narrowboat moored at a marina between Bath and Devizes and really enjoy our

MARCUS TROWER

Someone reported an unpleasant encounter with a large dog today – owner a long way ahead. Please keep dogs under control on the towpath

tranquility and safety of the canal side. Steve is correct. The CRT bears a heavy burden of responsibility for allowing this parlous state of affairs to flourish and inevitably there will be more casualties.

JOHN KENDREW, via email

Have you seen any bats recently?

Summer is one of the best times of year to spot them!

CANAL & RIVER TRUST

We’re featured as 1 of the 8! Great news.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

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Canal Boat October 2015 17

LETTERS

Lovely Level locations I WAS QUITE taken back by Nick’s remark in the Welcome( CB, July). Nick said he’d expected a TV programme to be “like a wet Monday on the Middle Level” in Cambridgeshire.

The IWA Peterborough Branch, local council and Middle Level Commissioners have been trying to promote these waterways for many years. They have installed overnight moorings at Benwick and Three Holes; and raised a bridge on the Forty Foot Drain, working hard with other bodies like the Middle Level Boating Association and Friends of Well Creek.

Most boaters who pass through the Middle Level do so fairly quickly and, unfortunately, miss all the good things to be found.

On entering the system from the Grand Union via the River Nene, you pass through Stanground manned lock – you have to telephone ahead to book passage, but that’s no bother. You carry on through very nice peaceful countryside, round a very tight bend (max length about 70ft) and reach Whittlesey. Just before the unmanned Ashline Lock is an overnight stopping off place for Whittlesey, a market town with a variety of eating places (both pub and café) and plenty of shopping for all your everyday needs.

On leaving Whittlesey, instead of going straight on toward March, turn right toward Benwick where another overnight stay can be obtained at the public mooring. There are no shops here, but the Five Alls pub is just a

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short walk. From Benwick continue on, passing Wells Bridge and Bill Fen Marina to the end of High Lode, and spend a day at Ramsey. It’s a dead end but there’s a turning point for 70ft narrowboats with overnight mooring, and in the town there are several pubs, a café, two large supermarkets and an abundance of shops.

Returning the way you came you pass Lodes End Lock, unmanned but worth a cruise to Holmes and back. Continue on along the Forty Foot Drain passing the George Inn – a nice pub worth a visit, but you will have to moor to the bank and climb up. You then come to the junction with the Sixteen Foot Drain. Many years ago (in fact, too many years ago!) if you carried straight on you could go through Horseway Lock and on to Welches Dam Lock (now dammed off by the Environment Agency), on to the Old Bedford River and an alternative route to Salters Lode and Denver Slice.

So turn up the Sixteen Foot for the Golden Lion at Stonea: a nice pub with good beer and food but again no proper mooring and with a steep bank (and best check to make sure it’s open). At the end of the Sixteen Foot you reach Three Holes and another overnight mooring with a shop catering for most of your needs. Leaving Three Holes and turning into Popham’s Eau you arrive at Low Corner, where left takes you to

March and right goes to Upwell via Marmont Priory Lock. This is manned and you will need to book, although you can work yourself through.

At Upwell there is a small mooring for the Globe Hotel, another welcoming pub. If you don’t stop there, at Outwell there is a water point (via key from the pub adjacent to the mooring) and also shops for your everyday needs. From there it is a short hop to Salters Lode manned lock, for the tidal Great Ouse and Denver Sluice Lock.

And I haven’t even mentioned the town of March with its lovely moorings (plus boaters’ facilities). Well worth a visit.

So much to see! So stay a while and make the Middle Level a place to visit – not just a place to quickly pass through.

DAVID BIGGS, via email Fair enough, David; here are some pictures we took which might encourage more people to pay the Middle Level a visit – and I gather the sun even shines there, too: Ed. * Epiphany has also been exploring on the Fens, see page 36 to find out where the Slees have been.

Canal Boat October 2015 19

ME & MY BOATS

An impulse – and a dream come true Boating had been part of Carole’s life for some years but, after she received a small legacy, she was able to buy a 30-footer of her own and go single-handed

WORDS & PICTURES BY CAROLE MEADS

I

’ve always agreed with Ratty (in The Wind in the Willows) that “There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as messing about in boats.”

Newly married and living on the South Coast, we had both river and sea close by, and friends had a little day-cruiser moored on the River Arun. Many a Sunday was spent cruising (weather and tides permitting) with a sociable pint or two in the pub afterwards. It took my husband no time at all to decide he wanted a boat of his own. We bought a

20 October 2015 Canal Boat

kit from Bell Woodworking in Leicester, moved the car out of the garage and took up boat-building. Small enough to fit on the roof of our Triumph Herald, our Mirror dinghy saved us the cost of buying a trailer, and we proudly took her down to the river to launch. I was pregnant with our first baby by this time and my husband named the boat after me. She was called Puddin.

So our son took to the water before he was even born, to my mother’s horror.

She said: “You can’t go sailing in your condition!” But why not? We bought a

second-hand Seagull outboard from the local boating lake to cruise the river on calm days, and although I did find it hard carrying the boat over the shingle beach, I loved taking her on the sea.

Our next purchase, some years later, was an Avon dinghy, which, with the Seagull engine on the back, was wonderful for holidays. We trailed her up to the Lake District and Scotland, motoring out to explore little islands that most tourists couldn’t reach.

It was a logical step from there to hire a narrowboat for a holiday on the canal.

We impressed upon the children that lifejackets must be worn whenever they left the cabin, and set off for our first long weekend. Within hours, our eldest had fallen in. We fished him out, dried him and found him dry clothes but it

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ME & MY BOATS

Misty morning at Fradley Locks

wasn’t long before he fell in again. It became part of the holiday to look out for his little orange lifejacket floating past, and for Sunday lunch at the pub he wore pyjamas as we had run out of clean clothes! It didn’t put us off boating – we just took more clothes next time.

Three years ago I bought a narrowboat of my own. It was a bit of an impulse purchase really. A small legacy was

‘Dream Wanderer was small enough for me to handle alone, but with four berths so my grandsons could stay on it too’

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burning a hole in Having a tea break at Shenfield Mill my pocket and I on the Kennet & Avon was sure there were better things I could do with it than buying stocks and shares. husband drove and I did the locks, so my My 30ft dream boat, christened Dream driving skills were minimal to say the least, and now I had no driver. There Wanderer by her first owners, was small again, how difficult could it be? I planned enough for me to handle alone, but with a simple trip for my first outing. I would four berths so my grandsons could stay turn right out of the mooring, drive half a on it too, and I fell in love. I pictured mile up the canal, turn around in the myself cruising quietly down the canals basin and come back. But the mooring is admiring the scenery, evenings spent on a rather draughty section of the Trent sitting on deck with a glass of wine, & Mersey and the wind firmly pushed me watching the sun go down. Heaven! left instead of right, so with no choice in Well, the road to heaven was paved the matter, I went left. This wasn’t going with interesting experiences. There to be as easy as I thought. was something I hadn’t considered...

Now I was faced with my first lock and Whenever we hired a boat, my I was all alone. I tied up on the lay-by and stepped ashore to consider a strategy. I got chatting to a chap walking his dog, and didn’t notice I had left the boat slightly in gear. She slowly crept away and her mooring rope, being well past its natural life, parted quietly under the strain. I was blissfully unaware I’d lost my boat, until the man abandoned his dog, took a flying leap across the gap and grabbed another rope to throw to me.

How embarrassing! He offered to help me through the lock, but I couldn’t face it.

I turned the boat around, taking half the hedge with me, and headed for home.

But things improved, even my driving.

I bought a set of new mooring ropes. I learned to do a lock all by myself, but found that more often than not some kind boater would notice I was alone and Cruising near Wilmington. help out. Sometimes I could go up and Left: boats and cows at Lechlade help do the locks for other folk. I bought new curtains, a new shower and loo, and

Canal Boat October 2015 21

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STEVE HAYWOOD

Award-winning current affairs TV producer, journalist and author who has been a boat owner for nearly 40 years

So, who’s the winner over winter moorings?

I

fear that in trying to upset no-one, the Canal & River Trust in its new programme for winter moorings has fallen into the trap of upsetting everyone.

And it’s made itself a good deal poorer in the process.

Concerns over the controversial General Towpath Permits which, with a few exceptions, allowed continuous cruisers to moor on the towpath for a month or longer have led to them being scrapped.

In part this was due to representations by the National Association of Boat Owners who, as a result won’t have done much for their campaign to recruit new members among continuous cruisers. NABO argued that the scheme contravened the 1995 British Waterways Act which states that boats without a home mooring have to ‘bona fide’ navigate during the period of their licence.

As a result this year CRT will lose about £186k revenue.

More importantly, it will lose the goodwill of the thousands of boaters who made use of the scheme – 30 percent more last year than the year before.

I can understand why a certain residual ill-feeling towards continuous cruisers might have led NABO members to pursue this line, but why did CRT cave in?

According to a strict reading of the 1995 Act, winter moorings themselves fall within this same prohibition – though I understand CRT

Are winter mooring fees in places such as Llangollen Basin fair?

took legal advice on this knotty question. One way or another, the decision was taken to keep the main winter mooring system intact and to tinker crudely with the fees, reducing them in places like Brentford – commutable from London – but hiking them in places like Llangollen which is barely close to Wrexham.

So arbitrarily have the sums been done they seem incomprehensible. Why charge the same for Moorings A and B on the basis that both are in towns when one has water, electric and a sanitary station and the other hasn’t?

Surely the cost of a mooring should reflect the available facilities? Why, similarly, price a mooring of the same catagory in the wealthy south-east at

‘You can see what’s happened. The policy of winter moorings has clashed with the policy of strict moorings enforcement’ canalboat.co.uk

the same rate as less affluent areas further north?

Two things are happening here. One is that customers are unhappy at the evident unfairness of a process that is not easily understood and seems unjust. The other is that CRT is losing muchneeded revenue.

But if we’re talking about making customers unhappy and losing revenue, then the decision to discontinue central London winter moorings makes you think a committee had sat around at HQ tasked with achieving just that end.

To outsiders, it looks as if central London moorers have got an official blessing to pay no mooring fees this winter.

From the inside – for many young people doing key jobs in the capital in the middle of a housing explosion which has seen average LOW-end property prices rise to £180k – it is as if CRT has taken

away the only respite they have in their relentless war of attrition with authority.

From either perspective, you can see what has happened.

The policy of winter moorings has clashed with the policy of strict moorings enforcement.

And the result? Another £73k in lost revenue.

CRT will argue that there are suburban winter moorings available in London, andsome from the centre will decamp there, paying higher towpath mooring rates. Yes, and pigs might fly too. I’ll tell you what will happen: Central London boaters will stay put, exactly as they are; and those who would have bought General Towpath Permits will continue to cruise in the same way they would have done with a permit.

In fact, the only thing that will be different is that CRT will be out of pocket.

Follow me on Twitter @Cutdreamer CB

Canal Boat October 2015 25

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26 October 2015 Canal Boat

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KEVIN BLICK

From car journalism to the canals was a change of pace, but living on board tug Harry is a constant eye-opener

Putting a toe in the drink

P

eople often say that accidents seem to happen in slow motion. I’m not so sure. The worst car accident I ever had – and I’m afraid I’ve had a few, usually my own fault – happened very quickly.

I didn’t even have time to think ‘oh **** I’m crashing’ before I’d ploughed into a grass bank, luckily narrowly missing a massive tree. The Minivan I was driving bent into a banana shape and a few of my vertebrae crunched together putting me in hospital for a week.

Well, I’ve just come back from the hospital after another accident which, again, happened very quickly.

Not a car accident this time but a boating one. I fell in.

It happened when I was mooring up and so swiftly that, even now, I still can’t exactly work out how I ended up in the water – and with a dislocated big toe. One moment I was standing on the bow pulling a line and the next I was in the water. I imagine that one foot must have slipped, and with enough force to wrench my poor old toe out of its socket.

I’m afraid I make something of a habit of falling in. I do it nearly as often as Seadog Brian and it’s generally quite a comedy turn. My best routine was when mooring up on the Coventry Canal: I threaded a chain through the piling, bent over to retrieve the loose end… and did a gentle forward roll into the water.

Mrs B thought it hilarious and so did I when I had dried out.

This time was less of a laughing matter. I could feel I’d done damage to my foot. I also couldn’t get out. The water was up to my chest and the towpath at armpit height so I couldn’t lever myself up.

Fortunately, we were on a busy visitor mooring at Wooton Wawen, opposite the AngloFrench hire base. Mrs B called for help and a nearby boater helped drag me out. Then he and his wife finished tying the boat (if they happen to read this, then thanks very much).

I peeled off my clothes, discovered my toe was at a jaunty angle and hopped into the shower to clean off and

‘I also couldn’t get out. The water was up to my chest and the towpath at armpit height so I couldn’t lever myself up’ canalboat.co.uk

warm up. Meanwhile, Mrs B took charge of the situation, got details of the nearest A&E from the hire base who also phoned a taxi to get us there and gave us a temporary mooring at the base to save me a hundred yard hop to the road.

Nearby Stratford-uponAvon doesn’t have an A&E but it does have a walk-in – or, in my case, a hop-in – unit with its own X-ray facilities.

Incredibly, I was their only customer so, barely half an hour after hopping in, I was hopping out with my dislocation diagnosed and put back in to place by a charming nurse. Good old NHS. So, if I was unfortunate enough to have an accident, I was at least fortunate to have it in the right place: with other boaters around, near to an A&E and beside a very

helpful boatyard. It might have happened where we moored up the previous night: right in the middle of nowhere, with not even a country lane in sight.

And I might have had our only mobile phone in my pocket. Though actually I wouldn’t have done – I learned that lesson after the forward roll incident! I never have my phone, wallet or expensive new camera on me when doing anything that could land me in the water.

The moral of this story?

Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. We all tut-tut at hireboaters who let their kids run around the locks or at people boating in flip-flops, but a moment’s inattention or hurrying to do something can cause even the most experienced boater to go wrong.

I witnessed just such an accident earlier this year when we were in a queue of boats waiting for a fallen tree to be cleared. An elderly boater stepped on to his plank to go ashore, it skidded sideways and he was thrown into the water, surfacing with a very nasty gash on his head that needed hospital treatment.

A friend crushed his thumbs when a hatch slide came back unexpectedly quickly and another nearly severed his finger because he’d wrapped a rope around his hand when pulling it.

Have I learnt my lesson? I’d like to think so but somehow I think I’m just one of those people who is a bit accident prone. I will just try and make sure that I save my falling-in moments until I have an CB audience to entertain.

Canal Boat October 2015 27

THE BOAT TEST What started off as a day-boat soon turned into an attractive short boat with a very ingenous seating area at the bow WORDS & PICTURES ADAM PORTER

O

ne comment we hear time and time again is that “no-one builds small boats any more”, and relatively few hire boats are of a smaller size either (with the exception of basic day-boats).

Well, it’s not true that small boats aren’t being built, but it is true that there aren’t that many off-the-shelf, so when we saw an interesting new 37-footer at Crick this year, we wanted to take a closer look. We also have another smaller boat lined up in a few months’ time.

The initial idea for the subject of this month’s test is rather different from how it has turned out. Mark Fenton and Martin Parsons of MGM Boats (who have a pretty good pedigree when it comes to showing boats at Crick) wanted a day-boat to hire out from their yard at Thurmaston on the River Soar in Leicestershire. The aim was to market it not just for the usual Saturday and Sunday trips to mark birthdays and anniversaries, but also at businesses who wanted team building days or social events.

They approached the shell builder, Nick Thorpe, who’s built a few day-boats before. Most have been around 30ft; but the Soar is a river with plenty of wide stretches, so Mark and Martin knew that something a little longer would still be easy to turn around and settled on 37ft.

Then, when it came to the fitting out, they got a little carried away: instead of fairly basic facilities, this boat was given a full shower room and a seating area that converts into a bed. Suddenly, they had a boat that could easily be rented out for short breaks, long weekends, or even whole weeks.

So rather than just take this boat out for a couple of hours, we lived with it for a couple of days to find out whether it really does work as a boat you could spend a few days or weeks on.

EXTERIOR The challenge with a short boat is to make it look right.

And this one certainly does: it looks like a proper boat.

This is in no small way down to the fact that the bow and stern are both designs by MGM’s hull expert, Mark, and have been used on many of their previous boats (all of which have been much longer). So the bow is Josherinspired, nicely curvy and with a substantial stem post and a large T-stud. The cruiser stern is large and squared off to maximise space. And there’s a lot of it – the deck is a full eight feet long, the same as if it were a 58-footer.

That’s ideal if you have lots of people on board and

28 October 2015 Canal Boat

UNNAMED circa £57,000

LENGTH: STYLE: BERTHS: LAYOUT: POWER:

37ft Cruiser 2+2 Reverse Canaline 42 canalboat.co.uk

Small boat

BIG IDEAS

canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 29

THE BOAT TEST there are positives under the water, too.

This boat has swims in excess of 10ft and, thanks to the long deck, they don’t intrude into the cabin too much. A guard rail with a broad wooden top surrounds the deck and makes a great place for crew to perch; a canvas ‘dodger’ completes the look.

Another MGM tradition is having slightly more tumblehome than usual which makes it easier to walk along the gunwales. But the most important aspect of the appearance is the way the open area at the front looks, and it’s here that Mark has done a great job. The roof continues right to the front of the boat, Round sink has a cover for a work top but there’s no drainer

and, importantly, so do the handrails which curve in sharply with the line of the roof. It means the canopy looks as if it’s 100 percent a part of the boat and not some sort of afterthought. Underneath that extended roof, though, the cabin sides have been replaced by canvas covers, complete with windows, which roll up to open up the whole area.

An important element of this bow seating area is that the floor is lowered, so it’s on the same level as the rest of the boat which also makes it feel a part of the interior.

With a lowered floor where the water tank would normally be, the water

storage has been moved to the nose of the boat. The filler is actually in the bow flash on one side, with the vent on the other. And the knock-on effects continue, because the water tank is where the gas locker would usually go – so this has been built as a gas-free boat.

Nick Thorpe has done a good job with the steelwork. There is some nice detailing, such as scrolls in the ends of the handrails and there’s even a boatman’s beam across the roof. There are fender eyes below the gunwales and the windows are by Caldwells.

The colour scheme is pretty eyecatching – using the same dark maroon colour, called black-red, seen on MGM’s 2014 Crick Show boat, Posh Fox. On this boat (which doesn’t yet have a name) it’s matched with grey borders and a cream coachline and handrails, with the red-black reappearing on the gunwales.

LAYOUT AND FIT-OUT The galley is at the stern of the boat, with steps down from the cruiser deck. Next comes a diminutive shower room, followed by the saloon which doubles as a bedroom. These three rooms take up less than 17ft of the boat’s length. The open seating and dining area is at the bow.

The fit-out makes extensive use of painted panels, both above and below the gunwales, which makes these small rooms feel more spacious. The trim is ash, as is the built-in furniture. The floor is lovely solid oak.

It has to be said that MGM had rushed to get this boat finished in time for the Crick Show and, when we borrowed it, still hadn’t had a chance to put some of the finishing touches to the fit-out. But we’ve seen MGM boats before and know that they do good quality boats for reasonable prices.

GALLEY Three steps lead down from the cruiser stern deck into the galley. On one side there’s the electrical cupboard containing the inverter, with the door carrying all the fuses and switches and the dials for the engine. There’s also a car radio on this side. Opposite is a storage cupboard. In fact, there’s plenty of storage in the galley, with a range of cupboards and drawers.

The bottom step slides away to allow a

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Smart basin plus spacious shower cubicle

couple of the doors to be opened, and the whole step unit moves to give access to the aft-most cupboards. These would necessarily be used for things you wouldn’t need to get at very often. The step treads themselves also lift and house the hosepipe and windlasses.

The worktops are attractive wood and there’s a large round sink which has a cover to increase work space. There’s no drainer, though, which means you have to dry up as you wash. The splashbacks are particularly nice, being a mosaic tile made up of both stone and glass in tones of brown. The fridge is a full size 240-volt model by Iceking, which is highly rated for efficiency.

As this boat is gas-free cooking options are rather limited. There’s an electric kettle, a toaster and a microwave which also has a grill, so preparing your own meals on board will require a bit of forethought – although, as this is primarily a weekend or short break boat, you’ll probably do what we did and plan to stop near a pub some nights.

canalboat.co.uk

SHOWER ROOM

‘The off-corridor shower room appears tiny at first glance, but it actually works exceptionally well’

The off-corridor shower room appears tiny at first glance (and is, in fact, pretty small) but it actually works exceptionally well. Space saving measures start with the door, which slides into the wall rather than having to swing open.

Inside, the loo is a small Thetford cassette, with the cassette access in the galley. Alongside there’s a unit offering loads of storage space with a smart rectangular white basin on top, complete with a very stylish waterfall tap. The unit is taller than you’d normally find as another space-saving measure: it means you don’t have to bend over so much to use it; bending over takes up room! More of the mosaic tiles add to the feeling of style, especially when they’re illuminated by the tiny LED lights set into the base of the mirrored high level unit.

For such a small room, the shower cubicle itself is very spacious, at 780mm square. The shower controls are slimline, and the laminate lining is a pale colour, both of which add to the feeling of space.

Canal Boat October 2015 31

THE BOAT TEST The door folds and can open from either side. Between the shower cubicle and the cabin side are shelves and a cupboard, and there’s a heated towel rail under the porthole.

So this is a small room which works really well. It doesn’t feel cramped, even when you’re getting dried after a shower.

SALOON There’s minimal furniture in the saloon – really just a sofa which takes up the whole of one side of the boat. It’s surprisingly comfortable as a sitting area. Opposite the sofa there’s a small TV mounted on a bracket under the gunwales and a little shelf.

The sofa converts into the boat’s bed and the conversion process could hardly be easier: just pull the seat part out and the back drops down. Changing back to seating is just as easy, with the backrest lifting easily. The two parts have piano hinges, which helps. As a bed, the cushions, being brand new, are fairly firm and the bed isn’t very long – but we still slept well.

Storage is fairly limited. There are three built-in drawers under the sofa, and two high level corner cupboards.

Together these give just enough space for a couple of people to put clothes for a few days. Any additional stuff might have to go in the plentiful cupboards in the shower room.

Sofa in the saloon converts to bed...

doubt the highlight of this boat. There’s fixed seating around three sides, with comfortable made-to-measure cushions.

The seats also offer plenty of storage space, so this was where we stowed our duvet and such like.

The table, which is on Desmo legs, has been shaped to fit the gap, so it can drop down to form another sleeping area, which (because of its slightly short length) would be ideal for children.

The canvas sides are made to measure

by DB Covers, and they’ve done an excellent job. They fit well and roll up neatly. On a summer evening, with the covers rolled up, this is the perfect place to sit with a glass of wine and some nibbles. You’re to all intents and ...so furniture is kept to a minimum

SEATING AREA The seating area at the bow is without

Apart from the sofa, there’s just a small TV in the saloon

32 October 2015 Canal Boat

canalboat.co.uk

THE BOAT TEST

Perfect place to sit with wine and nibbles

purposes outside but, because the floor is the same solid oak as the rest of the boat, there’s tongue and groove on the hull sides and the ceiling, and there’s proper LED lighting, it also feels like a real room. It’s the very definition of inside-outside. There was just one addition we’d have found useful: a power point or two out here to plug in our tablets.

Later in the evening when it gets a bit cooler, or at breakfast time, or when it’s raining, the covers can be fastened down and you feel fully protected from the elements, without being cut off from the outside world. It’s an immensely appealing area – a view backed up by the many comments we had from passers-by who really liked the look of it.

TECHNICAL If you thought a small boat would have a rather basic technical spec, think again.

Remarkably, this boat is powered by a Canaline 42hp engine – a unit commonly found in boats 20ft longer. The reason is simply that the engine happened to be available at the time. It means this boat can never be accused of being under

canalboat.co.uk

‘It’s an immensely appealing area – a view backed up by the many comments we had from passers-by who really liked the look of it’

powered – but, if you were having a boat like this built, you’d probably opt for a smaller unit.

Access to the engine could hardly be easier. The central board of the deck lifts for everyday tasks such as engine checks and greasing the stern tube. The other boards can also be lifted if necessary and there are acres of space in the engine bay. While a hirer wouldn’t need to be doing the servicing, if you owned this boat and were doing your own oil changes, you’d find access very straightforward. The installation is very neat and tidy As this is an all-electric boat with some hungry kitchen equipment on board, there’s a significant bank of five 110Ah batteries, plus a starter battery. The inverter is a 2.5kW unit

by ZL Power, which also manages the battery charging.

ON THE WATER The cruiser stern deck of this boat is a very sociable area. At the helm the tiller is light, and this little boat is incredibly manoeuvrable; it goes exactly where it’s pointed and can turn on a sixpence. It’s

Canal Boat October 2015 33

THE BOAT TEST ‘This little boat is great fun... and proves you can have a short boat which provides all you need’ clearly not a heavy boat, but it doesn’t feel skittish; it sits nicely in the water, swims very well and makes little wash. It’s hard to find any fault with the handling.

We were amazed by the number of people who wanted to find out about the boat. As we sat in the bow, passers-by told us how pretty it looked and how nice the seating area was; as we waited on a lock landing right outside a pub, a woman got up from her table in the garden to comment on what a nice size it was.

CONCLUSION This little boat is great fun. Of course, when you’ve got limited space to play 42hp engine is usually found on longer boats

DESIGN

THE BUILDERS MARK FENTON AND MARTIN PARSONS founded MGM Boats in 2002, although they both have years of experience of the boat building industry before that. Mark’s area of expertise is the design of shells, while Martin is the joiner of the team.

The company is based at a small yard on an island in the River Soar at Thurmaston near Leicester, which has a covered wet dock and a slipway. As well as boat building, they do repairs, blacking and paintwork. The island is

with there will always be compromises, but this boat proves that you can have a short boat which provides all you need.

This boat perhaps suffers a little from the change in emphasis from a basic day-boat to a fully equipped one, but Martin and Mark from MGM are already coming up with ideas to finesse the design, to create more saloon storage, for example.

And there are advantages to having a shorter boat. Licence and moorings are cheaper; you can fit into gaps that longer boats have to pass by, and they’re cheaper to buy.

This boat, if you wanted to buy it outright, could be yours for around £57,000 and for that you get a really good quality shell, a nice fit-out and a very appealing look.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

also surrounded by moorings, many residential.

The extended roof over the well deck seems to have become rather popular. MGM are just beginning work on fitting out another boat with the feature.

And if the reaction we’ve found is anything to go by, there’s a real market for little boats like this – especially if they look as special as this one does. CB

Verdict: ‘Small, well thought out and with some big ideas’

Unnamed 37ft

c£57,000

AND DECOR ■ Canvas covers: DB Covers dbboatcovers.co.uk ■ Water filter system: Seagull purewateronline.co.uk £315 ■ Mosaic tiles: Topps tiles toppstiles.co.uk £100/sqm ■ Shower controls: Deva deva.org.uk £185.00 Total Price: c£57,000 All prices are approximate and may depend on supplier and any discounts obtained

LENGTH: 37ft ENGINE: Canaline 42 BEAM: 6ft 10in canaline-engines.co.uk SHELL: Nick Thorpe INVERTER: ZL Power nickthorpeboatbuilding.com zlpower.com STYLE: Cruiser

MGM BOATS Mill Lane Thurmaston Leicester LE4 8AF

FIT-OUT: LAYOUT:

01162 640009

Ash Reverse

mgmboats.co.uk

34 October 2015 Canal Boat

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COME SEE US AT Southampton Boat Show Stand G009

You’re welcome to come and visit us between 10am & 4pm on any day of the week!

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

SUPERB MARINA AND HOLIDAY PARK LOCATED AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE LEE VALLEY REGIONAL PARK IN A BEAUTIFUL TRANQUIL SETTING ON THE HERTFORDSHIRE / ESSEX BORDER. SECURE BERTHS AVAILABLE FOR NARROWBOATS, WIDEBEAMS, DUTCH BARGES AND CRUISERS Full range of facilities and services available Waterside Café Bar Easy walking distance to Roydon village & railway station Call 01279 792777 or email marinaoffice@roydonmarinavillage.co.uk www.roydonmarinavillage.co.uk Roydon Marina Village, Roydon, Essex CM19 5EJ

canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 35

Always on the move -

Having a Lark on the Cam After the Great Ouse, the Slees take their time exploring the smaller rivers – the Little Ouse, Cam, Lark and Wissey TEXT AND PICTURES BY FIONA & JOHN SLEE

O

n our return cruise on the River Great Ouse, we were determined to explore what we thought of as the ‘little rivers’. From Bedford, we took about two weeks to reach our first – the River Cam. I was looking forward to this river because, being very familiar with Oxford, I was interested to see Cambridge.

Pope’s Corner, at the end of the Old West River before it reverts to the Great Ouse again, is where the Cam leaves and we turned on to the wide river. Before

36 October 2015 Canal Boat

we continued to Cambridge, we explored the Cambridge Lodes. These are a complete contrast to the rivers we had been on. Man-made, possibly Roman in origin and historically navigable for local trade, they linked the isolated settlements with the sea, via the Great Ouse. Most have fallen into the role of land drainage and only three now attract pleasure boats who are not afraid of a taste of adventure boating. Winding at the end of these navigations can be tricky for boats longer than about 60ft.

At Upware, we negotiated Reach Lode lock – it was a tight fit! It doubles as a sluice and will revert automatically, when not being used by a boat. Burwell Lode leads off Reach Lode and we cruised to Burwell, the end of the navigable bit.

It was once the home of Fisons, which used the Lode for transport until the mid-1900s. Surrounded by agricultural land, high banks precluded any real views but there was plenty of birdlife.

Next, it was back to the junction and on

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Narrowboat Epiphany

Visitor moorings at Jesus Lock, the end of navigation in the ‘boating season’

to the narrower, much shallower, Reach Lode towards Reach, a medieval inland port. At the end you find the Great Ouse Boating Association’s (GOBA) moorings.

Wicken Lode, much recommended by other boaters, is certainly very pretty.

Just above Reach Lode Lock, it begins under a “Cock-Up” bridge. So named, I read, because these local bridges were especially built with steep slatted ramps suitable for horses’ hooves, with a vague reference to the “cock horse” of the Banbury rhyme. Wicken Lode is owned

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by the National Trust and is managed as a nature reserve, with ancient Wicken Fen at the head of navigation. Although it is popular with land visitors, it is still very isolated, peaceful, full of wildlife and well worth the effort.

Once back on the Cam, we left the Environment Agency waters at Bottisham Lock – the Cam Conservators looks after the river as it nears Cambridge and there is an extra charge for a licence on its waters. We stopped overnight at Clayhithe, before completing our journey to

Cambridge via Baites Bite Lock. Arriving at the city we found many boats moored on the outskirts against railings and on the two meadows before the city centre.

Stourbridge Common once hosted the largest fair in Europe – inspiration for Vanity Fair in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, and opposite Midsummer Common you find the attractive University College boathouses, ranging from the 18th Century to more modern.

Jesus Green and Jesus Lock are the end of navigation in the “boating season”

Canal Boat October 2015 37

Always on the move - Narrowboat Epiphany Punting is really popular on the Cambridge ‘backs’

and we settled on the visitor moorings below the weir.

Powered boats are allowed through Jesus Lock between November and March; above the lock the punts take priority for the many visitors. So, for a couple of days, we became tourists – taking a chauffeured punt and the open-top, city bus tour.

The Backs, as the river above the lock is known, flow past the famous Cambridge University Colleges, with views of gardens, the iconic St John’s and King’s Colleges and under the well known Bridge of Sighs and Mathematical Bridge. It is true that in the summer you can walk across The Backs from punt to punt – it was a very busy scene. The bus tour took us past the ‘fronts’ and other parts of the city, saving our legs and avoiding the very crowded streets.

Leaving the Cam behind, our next goal was the River Lark, above Ely. There are only a few official moorings on the Lark and we had hoped to moor at the end of Leaving Environment Agency waters at Bottisham Lock

canalboat.co.uk

the ten-mile navigation at Jude’s Ferry.

The river once terminated at Bury St Edmunds, where there were docks and wharves. It all fell into disrepair and, although an effort was made to improve the navigation, the building of a low bridge effectively closed it to coal trade from King’s Lynn. With one lock at Islesham and a rather isolated marina beside it, it was pleasant cruising.

The well known preacher C H Spurgeon was baptised in the river near Horseferry – a common practice until the smell of stagnant water and safety considerations put an end to it. We spotted the commemoration plaque, well hidden by the river reeds. Arriving at the winding point and pub moorings at Jude’s Ferry, we realised that the high, rickety pontoon there was not a good mooring for us, so we returned to Prickwillow, near the confluence with the Great Ouse.

Back on the Great Ouse, we headed for the Little Ouse but not before stopping for live music and Sunday lunch at the Ship Inn on the corner of the junction.

The Little Ouse, or Brandon Creek as the lower reach is known, wiggles its way to Brandon. From the 13th Century, and before Denver Sluice was built, this river was a major waterway to Thetford. Little Ouse Moorings dominate the first mile or so but, when the service pontoon is open, they offer diesel at a good price and the use of Elsan and waterpoint.

The Little Ouse crosses the Great

National Trust Mayfly trip boat on Wicklen Lode

Ouse Relief Channel over an ugly aqueduct; this is followed by an open staunch which closes in times of flood.

Nearer Brandon, the river became narrow and wooded and the kingfisher population rose dramatically. We moored at the EA moorings below Brandon Lock, built in 1995 at Brandon Staunch. The Lock will only take a 45ft boat (at a pinch), so we could go no further. Sadly, the EA has resisted appeals to lengthen it to enable longer boats to reach the end of navigation at Stanton Downham. Despite this, we had arrived at the most easterly point we could reach on the inland waterways.

Our final ‘little’ river was the Wissey – not far upriver from Denver. This windy river felt very isolated, was very weedy, with the large sugar beet factory at Wissington an unmissable landmark.

Hilgay is the only main village en route to the end, where there are moorings and a pub. The end of navigation is Stringside Drain at Stoke Ferry where there is one short GOBA mooring, leased from the touring park. Stoke Ferry (its old name is Stoches) had lots of moored boats and end of garden moorings and when the reeds are not so prevalent, apparently there are some pretty ‘rough’ moorings.

So we returned to the Great Ouse and made for Denver. After three enjoyable months, it was time to return to the River Nene via the Middle Level Navigations. CB

FIONA AND JOHN SLEE After many years of hiring and then owning a share, we commissioned our 57ft narrowboat, Epiphany. We took the long-term view and designed her as a liveaboard but used her for leisure until the skipper’s early retirement gave us the opportunity to move aboard.

Then I gave up work and now we are continually on the move. From the outset, I kept a record on http://nbepiphany.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 39

3D DESIGN

Designing with

3D INTEGRITY A 3D ‘walk-through’ computer design package gave a whole new perspective to the build of last month’s test boat Integrity, so is it the shape of things to come?

WORDS AND PICTURES BY NIGEL HALLADAY

I

’m a professional designer more used to small precision devices that go down oil wells, but when we decided to have our boat built, it was a great opportunity to use my work design tools for a much more personal task – designing our boat using a 3D computer model.

Drawing boards used to be the order of the day for young designers, and the art of drafting was an essential skill.

With the advent of computerised drawing systems, that skill was

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transferred into wider everyday use using 2D (two dimensional) ‘electronic pencils’ such as AutoCAD and similar products. Then came 3D design or modelling packages and these truly revolutionised the design process – not only could components be modelled and viewed, but groups of components could be assembled to produce highly complex structures and devices from phones to aircraft.

Designing and building Integrity was a close collaboration between us and the

builder (Braidbar). For the design I used two related packages, 2D Draftsight and 3D SolidWorks. Remarkably, the first is free to download, but the second package is closer to the price of a second-hand boat... I used the 2D system to develop

3D DESIGN

The exterior with its colours

the layout plan and side elevations to enable the hull design drawing to be produced. I sent it to the shell builder, Colecraft, and also used it for a scale internal layout to be developed, working closely with Braidbar. One of the useful aspects of using this package was that many iterations could be evaluated before a final layout was arrived at.

Having determined the design, the next step was to attempt to build a 3D model so that key areas of the boat could be considered.

One of the powerful features in

‘I focused mainly on the saloon, galley and dinette because they interacted so closely with one another’ Initial saloon design

42 October 2015 Canal Boat

And the exploded interior

SolidWorks is the ‘walk-through’ facility where the viewer can ‘enter’ the model and walk around it looking in any direction, up or down. With this feature, the shape and form of the 3D space inside the boat could be developed with a realistic feel.

The model was produced by creating the components and then assembling them together, including the hull and window frames, the cabinets, steps, worktops, pillars, stove, table/seats, cooker etc. I didn’t, however, include the bow and stern areas in the interests of simplicity and time.

Various materials could be assigned to all of the components, usually for their engineering properties such as mass and strength, but also for their aesthetic effects. The idea of the modelling was to generate the visual effect it would

produce rather than absolute accuracy, so many cabinet details are an approximation of the real item.

I focused mainly on the saloon, galley and dinette because they interacted so closely with one another and we wanted to avoid the feeling of sitting in the galley or cooking in the saloon.

The main internal design feature we used to get around this was a pillared semi-bulkhead and the software package’s walk-through feature enabled its detailed development from both the saloon and galley sides.

To get an idea of what the interior components – the oak cabinets and granite worktops, etc – would look like, a photo-rendering facility allowed me to produce realistic images with suitable materials.

The full length of the cabin was

And how it turned out

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3D DESIGN

Pillared semi-bulkhead design

modelled in varying levels of detail, so where uncertainty or variations existed – the forward bulkhead in the saloon with corner units and steps, stove and mid-side steps, galley layout and dinette, for example – I could go into greater detail.

The 3D models are created in several ways. To make a solid cube, you draw a rectangle then extrude it to give a 3D volume. To this, additional shapes or features can be added by drawing on the surfaces of the cube and either extruding outwards (to add a door) or cut inwards to make a recess and then make it look like glass.

Complex models can be created by revolving (used for the pillars) or sweeping shapes such as those found in a rope. Once practised, modelling is quite quick and it took only a few

Trying the materials

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And in the build

‘No matter how good the computer packages are, there’s no substitute for the real thing’ evenings initially to model the whole boat. But then came many more hours spent trying variations and ideas, many of which were scrapped, but that was the whole object of the exercise.

The final result, with its opportunity to walk-though and look around, gave us the confidence to go ahead with the fundamental design knowing it would satisfy our requirements, but even then some details could only be agreed by using the old-fashioned low-tech method of cardboard and sticky tape!

While the modelling package is more

than up to the task of producing a final detailed design, negating the use cardboard, it really would have needed a substantial amount of time, plus we had the actual shell to stand in, look at and think about. No matter how good the computer packages are, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

Will 3D modelling be the future for narrowboat design? It’s possible, but two factors make it doubtful that it will become widespread; the cost and the time and skill required.

Unless a ‘kitchen design’ type package is produced where standard parts can be put together using simple commands, and with the volume of users always being small compared with kitchens, this is unlikely, so 2D methods – electronic or cardboard and sticky tape will probably be here to stay for some time yet.

CB

And the result

Canal Boat October 2015 43

BOATER’S BREAK ROOFTOP GARDENING with Julie Clark

I

do hope we have not quite seen the last of the fine weather this year – summers seem to flash by fast enough without being reminded that the evenings are drawing in and gardening is slowing down.

My annual bedding plants are well past their best now and vegetables have all but finished. My trailing pelargoniums, on the other hand, are still giving a wonderful display despite an encounter with a low hanging willow branch. This resulted in a large piece of plant being broken off, as well as a little bad language, but I was not going to argue with a widebeam! I did manage to turn this to my benefit in the end as I simply removed the flowers, some of the leaves and stuck it in the soil – I now have a fine new plant. Sometimes gardening is so easy.

The autumn is a wonderful season for

boating, the leaves are turning beautiful colours and the canals seem a little more tranquil. There are still plenty of plants that will bring great rewards on the boat both by virtue of their usefulness and beauty. Many herbs will still be quite productive now and it is a good idea to have a pot of the evergreen varieties such as rosemary, sage, thyme and a small bay plant growing for cooking some of those heartier winter meals.

These plants will out grow their pots in a year or two when they can be replanted into the ground, but, in the meantime, they will provide a lot of flavour for the pot.

Having a colourful display of plants on board does not only mean flowers, there are many lovely plants which have insignificant flowers but have wonderful berries such as ornamental chilli plants with a rainbow selection of fruits on them ranging from yellow through orange to vivid purple, or the humble but stunning winter cherry – Solanum Capsicastrum (pictured), and, don’t forget to keep some of the seeds to grow next year!

WATERWAYS ACROSTIC Name a town on the Thames…

■ Where the Grand Union Canal starts ■ With a well-known suspension bridge ■ With an Old Lock and a Great Park ■ Where the Kennet joins ■ Famous for its school ■ Where you can ride a steam train ■ That’s recently had ‘…on Thames’ added to its name ■ That’s as far upstream as most tides flow ■ Where the Wilts & Berks Canal used to join ■ That’s just beyond the last lock, heading upstream

Fit your answers into the grid, so that the letters in the red box spell out the name of a town on the Thames.

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

Hazlehurst, Dowley Gap, Dundas, Tividale, Pontcysyllte, Slateford, Barton, Brynich, Marple, Lune.

Putting them in the grid in the right order spells out the final answer: Yarningale

On the subject of next year, hardy annuals such as sweet peas, calendula, lavetaria (mallow) and Californian poppies can all be started off in the autumn with the advantage that you will get stronger plants and earlier flowers.

I will soon be selecting bulbs to plant for the spring, they all look so tempting.

If you get a few hyacinth bulbs or Paperwhite Narcissi planted by the beginning of October and keep them indoors in a cool dark place until the end of November, water as necessary, then bring them out into the light, you should have the flowers for Christmas. It seems in the gardening calendar it is always time to plant something.

CB

WITH SEB JAY Early risers have all the fun this October. If you’re up before 6am on a clear morning, cast your eyes eastwards. A chain of bright planets and stars climbing diagonally away from the horizon might attract your attention. Among them you’ll find Venus, Jupiter and Mars. Venus is the brightest member of this alignment, and Jupiter the second brightest. Mars glows a dull orange and is the faintest in a string of morning lights.

Now for the best bit. Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 October sees a thinning crescent moon join the fray. Through each of these three mornings you’ll be able to watch a curved slither of silver moonlight slide down alongside our trio of planets before dawn break. On the 8th, the slender moon sits alongside Venus; then between Venus and Jupiter the morning afterwards. On the 10th, the thinnest of lunar crescents is found a little below Mars at the foot of the chain. If you’re on a rural waterway and have a clear view to your east, you’ll have a front row seat for this slice of early morning celestial entertainment.

October promises a spectacular planetary alignment in the pre-dawn sky.

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CRUISE GUIDE

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE WATERWAYS AROUND THE UK • Easy-to-follow route map • Information for boaters • Ten top pubs guide

The Arms of the Grand Union Turn off the Grand Union Main Line on to its arms, and you’ll find a contrasting selection of local canals, linking it with market towns, quiet country, other waterways – and central London TEXT & PICTURES BY DEREK PRATT

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Canal Boat October 2015 47

W

hat we now call the Grand Union Canal was opened in stages around the beginning of the 19th Century as a shorter and more direct route between the Midland waterways and London.

At that time, the southern part from London to Braunston was known as the Grand Junction Canal and was constructed with broad locks that could accommodate two narrowboats side by side. It avoided a journey along the winding Oxford Canal with its narrow gauge locks, which then required a long journey along the unreliable River Thames from Oxford.

Meanwhile, the Warwick & Birmingham and Warwick & Napton canals had completed the route from Braunston on to Birmingham, and a line to Leicester soon followed.

Even as these great main lines were being completed, the Grand Junction Company was already beginning to open up shorter arms, linking its canal to Northampton, Aylesbury, Wendover, Slough, Buckingham and Paddington.

All these waterways were finally tied up together under the name Grand Union in 1929, but it’s the various arms leaving the Grand Union main line between Braunston and Brentford that we will examine in this feature – including some that you can navigate today, and others that have closed, but are under restoration.

‘Even as these great main lines were being completed, shorter arms were being opened up’ 48 October 2015 Canal Boat

THE NORTHAMPTON ARM We’ll start with the northernmost of these branches, the five-mile long Northampton Arm which leaves the main line at Gayton and connects to the River Nene at Northampton.

The line opened in 1815, and a commemorative plaque and mural at Gayton Junction have recently been unveiled to celebrate 200 years since that date – an anniversary also marked by the IWA’s Festival of Water in Northampton The arm has 17 narrow gauge locks and (unless you fancy crossing the Wash) it forms the only link between the midland waterways and the River Nene, the River Great Ouse and the Middle Level Navigations.

Most of the line passes through pleasant open

countryside. The flight of 13 Rothersthorpe locks begins soon after the junction at Gayton, several of them accompanied by attractive lift bridges which are usually left in the raised position.

Back in March 1959, the then British Waterways magazine Waterways News reported that the construction of a new motorway (i.e. The M1) had forced the temporary closure of Lock 12 at Rothersthorpe. This seriously affected the busy wheat traffic still carried on narrowboats between London and Wellingborough on the River Nene. It can still get a bit noisy where the canal passes beneath the motorway, but it’s soon left behind and the final locks are more spread out as the canal leads to the outskirts of Northampton at Cotton End, and on to the junction with the Nene.

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THE CRUISE GUIDE

Grand Union arms

THE SOUTHERN GRAND UNION AND ITS ARMS Grand Union to Birmingham

GU Leicester Section to Leicester Norton Junction

Military Ordnance Depot Arm, Weedon (disused)

Gayton Junction

Northampton River Nene to Peterborough Northampton Arm Blisworth Tunnel

Cosgrove Junction Buckingham Arm (disused) Buckingham

Wolverton

Milton Keynes Leighton Buzzard

Aylesbury Arm Aylesbury Wendover Arm (disused) Wendover

Marsworth Hemel Hempstead Watford

Rickmansworth Paddington Arm

Uxbridge

Slough Slough Arm Brentford

Regent’s Canal

London Tidal Thames

River Thames to Oxford

The top end of the Northampton Arm, between Rothersthorpe Locks and the junction with the Main Line at Gayton

THE NORTHAMPTON ARM

Northampton Cotton End Rothersthorpe To Birmingham Gayton Junction

The M1 and its sliproads briefly intrude

Rothersthorpe Locks and one of several liftbridges

River Nene to Peterborough

13 Milton Malsor

To London

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Canal Boat October 2015 49

THE CRUISE GUIDE Grand Union arms

THE AYLESBURY ARM The Aylesbury Arm, which leaves the main line below Marsworth Locks, was originally destined for greater things. The ultimate aim was to connect the then Grand Junction Canal to the River Thames at Abingdon (and thus to the Wilts & Berks Canal) by building the Western Junction Canal. However, the canal reached from Marsworth to Aylesbury in 1815, but never got any further.

What’s left is a pleasant six-mile cruise with 16 narrow locks. It’s well worth leaving the hurly burly of the main line at Marsworth to sample the delights of this arm, passing through remote farming countryside

with distant views of the Chiltern Hills. Boaters should note there are no pubs or shops near the canal between Marsworth and Aylesbury – so stock up in advance, unless you don’t mind a walk.

The terminal basin at Aylesbury is the subject of a huge development with new office blocks, a theatre, a supermarket and hotels. This has reduced the capacity for permanent moorings in the town, and so the Aylesbury Canal Society’s resident boaters have had to move to a new home further out towards the edge of the town at Circus Fields Basin.

However, there are still mooring places left in the old basin for visitors to explore the market town.

Marsworth Junction, with the arm going off left, and the waterways yard being turned into housing

THE AYLESBURY ARM

Black Jack’s Lock and attractive cottage

To Birmingham

Aylesbury

9

Puttenham Broughton

Wendover Arm under restoration

50 October 2015 Canal Boat

Marsworth Junction

Wilstone

Bulbourne Junction

New buildings surround the town basin

Tring To London

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10 PUBS WATERSIDE

Canal Boat’s pick of watering holes on the Grand Union arms

Greyhound Towcester Road, Milton Malsor. 01604 858449. 10 mins east of Northampton Arm Bridge 3 along Gayton Lane then left. Emphasis on good value traditional pub food. Real ale and cider, garden 1

Looking down the first length of the Slough Arm from the main line at Cowley Peachey Junction

THE SLOUGH ARM Closer to London, the Slough Arm runs for five miles from Cowley Peachey on the main line to a terminus on the edge of Slough. It was built in 1882, making it one of the last canals to be constructed in Britain, and was once a busy waterway carrying bricks, sand and gravel.

Despite its industrial past, the route is mostly green and pleasant as it passes through the Colne Valley Park, crossing over three small aqueducts and under the M25 motorway.

Highline Yachting has a boatyard with extensive moorings about half-way along the line, which

ensures that the arm sees some use. In fact, all in all it’s a pleasant journey – until reaching the terminus at Slough, which is now a complete mess surrounded by builders merchant’s yards, and even the pub has closed down.

There have been various plans to link the Slough Arm to the River Thames which is less than two miles away from the terminus, but the proposed line through parts of Slough would be a tricky one. In the meantime, it would be good to see Slough follow the example of other navigable canal arms like Market Harborough and do something positive with its watery asset.

2 Golden Horse Southampton Rd, Northampton. 01604 705565. 10 mins south from Northampton Arm Bridge 17 and left.

Friendly back-street local. Real ale and garden

A small aqueduct crosses the River Colne

Most of the arm is green and pleasant

5 Red Lion Langley. 01753 582235. 5 mins south of Slough Arm Bridge 9. 16th Century half-timbered pub. Real ale, restaurant, garden

Half Moon Wilstone. 01442 826410. 5 mins south of Aylesbury Arm Bridge 3.

Traditional village pub with real ale, food, garden 3

King’s Head Market Square, Aylesbury.

01296 718812. 10 mins north west from Aylesbury Arm basin, under archway near far left corner of square. Ancient National Trust-owned pub, real ale, lunchtime food, outdoor seating 4

Swan Iver. 01753 655776. 10 mins north of Slough Arm Bridge 3. Traditional village pub, real ale, garden, restaurant, occasional live music 6

7 Black Horse Greenford. 020 8578 1384.

By Paddington Arm Bridge 15. Old pub enlarged on two levels, with real ale, reasonably priced pub food, canalside garden and moorings

THE SLOUGH ARM

Warwick Castle Little Venice. 020 7266 0921. Just north of Paddington Arm Bridge 3c, bear left and first right. Friendly Grade 2 listed Victorian back-street local with real ale and food 8

To Birmingham Uxbridge Cowley Lock Crane Aqueduct Iver

Slough Langley

Swan London Road, Old Stratford. 01908 567654. Take a 1½ mile walk along the first length of the old Buckingham Arm into the village for a friendly refurbished pub with real ale, garden 9

Cowley Peachey Junction To London

10 Red Lion High Street, Wendover. 01296 622266. A six-mile hike along the old Wendover Arm brings you to this old coaching inn, with real ale, food and garden.

Pub details are likely to change at short notice: you are advised to phone ahead to be sure

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Canal Boat October 2015 51

THE PADDINGTON ARM Finally, the Paddington Arm leaves the main line at Bulls Bridge and carves a 14-mile lock-free course through West London to Paddington Basin. It was built in 1801 to provide a direct link into central London, avoiding the tidal Thames below Brentford.

When built, the canal passed through countryside where market gardening was the main occupation. Industry soon developed by the canal attracted by the ease of communications to the city. Former village communities became towns and were eventually absorbed into London.

Bulls Bridge: once a busy boating centre where Bulls Bridge was once a vibrant boating Grand Union working narrowboats waited to load centre with a repair yard, company offices and working boats waiting for orders. A large fleet carried cargoes as varied as coal, timber, grain and jam. Indeed, Kearley & Tonge’s jam factory, a few yards from the junction (and famously known as the ‘Jam ’Ole’ by the boatmen) was the destination of the last regular narrowboat cargo, coal from the Midlands. Bulls Bridge depot is now a 24hour supermarket with moorings.

Willowtree Marina, about two miles from the junction has a bistro and all facilities for visiting boats. Much of the Paddington Arm remains green, despite passing through intensely built up parts of West London. Stop at Ballot Box Bridge (13) and climb Horsenden Hill, the highest point in West London. In the same area are Perivale Wood, famous for its springtime bluebells, and a large golf course.

Industry builds up at Park Royal where the canal crosses the North Circular Road on a wide aqueduct. After that, another green section by Kensal Green cemetery leads to Little Venice and Paddington.

Little Venice, a triangular pool with an island in the middle, is the location for the Inland Waterways Association’s Canalway Cavalcade, The striking Fan Bridge over Paddington Basin a colourful event staged at the start of May which attracts boats from all over the country.

The canal ends at what is now Paddington THE PADDINGTON ARM Waterside. High modern buildings flank the canal where once horse-drawn narrowboats served busy wharves. Two innovative bridges Alperton Northolt – the fan bridge and rolling bridge – are a big attraction: see them open at midday on Fridays.

Greenford North Circular Road Aqueduct

Willowtree Marina, near Southall To Birmingham Bull’s Bridge Junction

52 October 2015 Canal Boat

Southall

Kensal Green Maida Hill Tunnel Little Venice

Regent’s Canal to Limehouse Basin Paddington Basin

To Brentford

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THE CRUISE GUIDE

Grand Union arms

Three that got away...

Finally, we look at three abandoned Grand Union arms, two of them under restoration THE MILITARY ORDNANCE DEPOT ARM, WEEDON The Military Ordnance Depot at Weedon Bec had its own feeder canal from the Grand Union main line. It was built in 1803 as a storage depot for military supplies well away from the coast in case of invasion by Napoleon’s army.

It passes beneath an impressive portcullis but the connection to the Grand Union main line has been filled in (and a railway line crosses it, making restoration less likely).

However, the rest of the canal is still in water and its adjoining historic buildings are now used for stores and light industry.

THE BUCKINGHAM ARM The Buckingham Arm (technically two arms – the shorter, older Old Stratford Arm leading to the longer, later Buckingham) once ran to

Buckingham from a connection to the Grand Union main line at Cosgrove. It opened in 1801 and survived in parts until 1932.

It was officially abandoned in 1964, but a short section at Cosgrove by the junction with the main line survives in water and is used for long-term moorings.

The Buckingham Canal Society was formed in 1992 and is dedicated to restoring the canal.

It has recently started rewatering the length between Cosgrove and the A5 road near Old Stratford bridge.

THE WENDOVER ARM Like the Aylesbury Arm, the Wendover Arm, also leaves the main line near Marsworth (in this case, at the top of the locks) but is no longer navigable to its terminus. Originally built as a feeder to the main line, it was

Ordance Depot entrance, complete with portcullis

later made navigable and opened in 1797.

Unfortunately, over the years it suffered badly from leakages forcing its closure exactly 100 years later.

In 1989, the Wendover Arm Trust was formed, dedicated to the restoration of the waterway. Currently, the canal is open for navigation for about one and a half miles to Little Tring, where there is a new winding hole built by volunteers. This section includes the impressive Tringford Pumping Station and an award-winning new bridge.

Beyond there, the volunteers are busy re-lining and rewatering the dry canal in sections, but it isn’t ready to be linked-up to the navigable length just yet. When eventually restored, this lock-free canal will be a cruising gem passing through beautiful countryside to the town of Wendover.

Tringford Pumping Station, Wendover Arm

The Wendover: Halton awaits the boats

Historic military store buildings

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Moorings at the start of the Buckingham

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRUISE Our next Cruise Guide (November issue, on sale 7 October) visits the Leicester Line of the Grand Union – and we want to hear from you. Tell us your experiences of the canal and any hints, tips or places to visit so that we can pass them on to others. We'd like to see your pictures too, so do drop us an email to editor@canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 53

7+( CANAL BOAT 38% 2) 7+( <($5 $:$5'6 CANAL BO 7+( AT

$:$5'6 $5 <(

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927( IRU \RXU IDYRXULWH ZDWHUVLGH ZDWHULQJ KROH here’s nothing quite like tying up and going for a relaxing drink in a convivial atmosphere – and here at Canal Boat we’ve found some great places to stop along the way. Now we want you to vote for your favourite waterside watering hole in the Canal Boat Pub of the Year awards.

To enter, go to canalboat.co.uk and click on the Pub of the Year tab then tell us which place you’re nominating, its location and why it 54 October 2015 Canal Boat

T

should win our prestigious prize: is it the beer, the food, the atmosphere, the company, the landlord/landlady?

Entries will close on 5 November and we’re looking forward to hearing from you. The winner will be announced in the New Year and receive our Canal Boat Pub of the Year plaque to hang on their wall – and because we believe good things come in threes, we’ll also be selecting two runners-up who will receive one of our special plaques as well. canalboat.co.uk

FEATURE

Are you in touch?

We’re demanding ever more from the internet, so getting to it might require a review of your technology WORDS AND PICTURES BY DAVID WALKER

C

onnecting to the internet on the canals and rivers network can be something of a problem.

While it’s not so bad if you have a permanent mooring (you might even be able to have a standard broadband

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line installed, providing that BT or the broadband provider can get access to your berth), in reality, continuous cruising, extended cruising and marina berthing require different solutions. So what are the options?

■ Mobile phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot ■ A dongle ■ Mobile personal router (Mifi) ■ 3 or 4G router ■ Wi-Fi booster All have pluses and minuses and the first thing you need to decide is what your internet requirement is; these might include ■ Banking ■ Emails ■ Surfing ■ eBay ■ Facetime or Skype Video calls ■ Streaming TV (iPlayer, for example) The other consideration is how many devices will be used on board and whether printing and network storage is required. Also, as is increasingly common, will the internet be required to enable a business to be run from the comfort of the boat, preferably inside? So let’s look at the solutions:

Canal Boat October 2015 55

FEATURE MOBILE PHONES Well, we all have a mobile and most smartphones such as the iPhone and Android have the ability to make a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices.

ADVANTAGES

■ Readily available ■ Secure

DISADVANTAGES

■ Requires a good signal (not always available inside the boat) ■ Only five devices supported, with limited local access ■ Very heavy on battery usage (needs to be plugged in for long use) ■ Requires a high data package and ‘tethering’ The smartphone with a personal hotspot will work well for a single user that requires the internet on other devices on an ad-hoc basis. The main disadvantage on a metal boat is that the antenna system in the phone will not work well and the fitting of an external antennae on modern phones is not always supported.

The lack of high data packages is the limiting factor now that Three has withdrawn its unlimited tethering on the data packages replacing it with 2GB or 4GB of tethering.

DONGLES

High gain antenna for 3G and 4G

This mobile device plugs into a USB port on a computer and is designed to give a single device access to the internet.

ADVANTAGES ■ Simple ■ Low cost

DISADVANTAGES

■ Single device, has to have a USB and driver software support ■ Requires a good signal (not always available inside the boat).

■ Requires a separate mobile data contract.

The dongle was the other mobile broadband device for many years and does provide excellent service on a single devices such as a laptop. The main disadvantage is the antenna, and while

56 October 2015 Canal Boat

some support an external aerial, the main solution seems to be putting these devices in a jam jar on the end of a pole with a USB extension lead. It works, but is hardly elegant and can’t be used with iPads, tablets etc.

PERSONAL ROUTERS (MIFI) A personal router or MiFi is a dedicated mobile broadband device that gives Wi-Fi access to five or ten devices. Some have external antenna ports, which make them ideal for use on boats where the internet is required for multiple devices for domestic use.

ADVANTAGES

■ Simple ■ Low cost ■ Multiple devices (five or ten users)

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WIFI ONBOARD ‘For most users the Mifi will provide the solution, but make sure it has an external antenna port’ ■ External antenna port (check that the device has this) ■ Will support AppleTV and Chromecast for catch up TV and films.

■ High speed data 3G up to 12MB 4G up to 35MB ■ Portable so can be used off the boat ■ High capacity battery

DISADVANTAGES

■ Requires a separate mobile data contract.

For most users, the Mifi will provide the solution, but make sure it has an external antenna port otherwise is will be no better that a mobile phone; the external antenna will do two things: ■ Allow the system to be used inside the boat ■ Boosts the 3 or 4G signal giving better performance ■ The Huawei 5776 4G Mifi, for example, provides support for ten devices and there’s a range of antennae which will give coverage almost everywhere on the network, especially if the unit is unlocked and multiple network SIM cards are used.

3 OR 4G ROUTER The main difference between the Mifi and a router is the number of devices it supports this will generally be 16 or 32 devices. I can hear the cry of “how many?”, but the other differences are the type of devices the network will support such as wired and wireless printers, network storage (a hard drive for music, movies, photos etc.).

Some also support Voice allowing a phone to be plugged into it, this allows Voice calls to use the same antenna.

(This won’t boost the phone signal to your mobile phone). The voice port can also be used as a VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) which could allow you to have a ‘fixed line number’ on the boat such as 01332 123456, this can be very helpful for business owners running the business from the boat, where a fixed line number gives a business more

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creditability.

A router will also allow smart TVs to be connected via a cable.

ADVANTAGES

■ Simple ■ Low cost ■ Multiple devices (five or ten users) ■ External antenna port (check that the device has this) ■ Will support AppleTV and Chromecast for catch up TV and films.

■ Cable connection to printers, network storage and smart TVs. ■ High speed data 3G up to 12MB, 4G up to 50MB downloads.

DISADVANTAGES

■ Requires a separate mobile data contract.

The 3-4G router is the solution and, with the right data contract, can provide a broadband service comparable to fixed broadband. Contracts for data from 15GB to 160GB per month are available from £20 per month with a reasonable start up cost.

WI-FI BOOSTERS These consist of two parts, an external Wi-Fi antenna and a router inside the

Mifi – one of the best solutions

boat. A Wi-Fi booster is ideal for marina berths where the marina has a good Wi-Fi service, but getting the signal inside the boat is a problem.

However, consideration must be made as to the broadband service connecting the marina and the number of boats using it. In simple terms this means if the broadband is slow, the internet service on board will be slow and it will get slower the more users connect. That said, many people use this system in marinas that have good land or satellite broadband.

ADVANTAGES

■ Low cost ■ 16 or 32 devices ■ Supports printers and other network devices ■ Up to one-mile range from marina hotspot

DISADVANTAGES

Roof antenna gives better reception

■ Only as good as the host network ■ Less secure as most networks are open ■ Requires Wi-Fi to be present Wi-Fi boosters are mainly bought by people who just need email and general surfing, unless the marina has a highspeed broadband link and they are permanently moored. On the move the system requires Wi-Fi to be available to connect and many pubs and coffee bars provide this along with services such as BT Wi-Fi, however, this must be within range of the system. You can get a combined Wi-Fi booster and 3-4G system to provide the best of both worlds.

David Walker heads wifionboard and has spent more than 35 years in telecoms and CB mobile communications.

Canal Boat October 2015 57

RESTORATION

Looking down from the rewatered pound at Tamworth Road towards where the canal turns left on to the diversion route

Lichfield looking up With new roads, railways and housing to contend with, it’s a tricky canal to restore. But all three of these are being used to their advantage by the Lichfield Canal’s restorers...

WORDS BY MARTIN LUDGATE & PICTURES BY LHCRT

W

hen we last visited the Lichfield and Hatherton canals in 2013, the focus was on the Lichfield Canal below Tamworth Road locks on the edge of Lichfield – where it was ‘turning the corner’ in more ways than one.

Physically, it was turning sharp left to run by the A38 main road; figuratively, it was switching from the restoration of a historic length to the first part of a new route to get the canal under the main road. And it was moving towards putting the first short section in water.

But before we fast-forward to 2015, Building a slipway at Tamworth Road

we’ll start with some background to the ‘Lichfield Canal’ and ‘Hatherton Canal’ – names no waterways historian would recognise. The Wyrley & Essington Canal wandered eastward from a junction with the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line in Wolverhampton to Ogley. There, a long level pound came to an end and 30 locks descended to a junction with the Coventry at Huddlesford near Lichfield.

It became part of the BCN and was busy with coal right up until the 1960s.

But the cost of maintaining the locks on the quieter six miles east of Ogley led to this being closed in 1955. These six miles

Lining the canal bed in concrete

are being restored as the Lichfield Canal.

The ‘Hatherton Canal’ began as two unconnected arms. The Hatherton Branch climbed south eastwards from Hatherton Junction on the Staffs & Worcs main line to near Churchbridge. The Cannock Extension headed north from the Wyrley & Essington to Cannock.

Finally, the Churchbridge Locks branch was a short connecting link between them. This route, too, was busy with coal trade but suffered from subsidence and shut in the 1950s. Opencast mining then destroyed Churchbridge Locks and parts of the Cannock. The Hatherton Canal scheme combines restoring the Hatherton Branch with building new lengths to bypass the lost sections.

The Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust aims to open both through routes but, in recent years, effort has been concentrated on the Lichfield, with the Hatherton limited to looking after what survives, protecting the line, and early planning for the diversions.

In turn, most work on the Lichfield has

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RESTORATION

2014 view of Crane Brook crossing

2015 view: reinstating the canal

Looking across the completed new culvert towards the M6 Toll aqueduct

been concentrated near the lower end, where it skirts the south side of the city.

Two of the Tamworth Road locks are largely restored, and the area has been turned into Borrowcop Canal Park, a local attraction. One pound between locks has been rewatered, a slipway has been built below the bottom lock, and plans are afoot for a trailboat rally.

That will, however, require the length below the locks to be rewatered; and there are a couple of issues. Firstly, the canal was built on porous sandy soil.

Lining with clay or a modern membrane have been less than successful, and the approach of LHCRT’s volunteers is the slow-but-sure method of a concrete base, mixed on site, a section at a time.

Secondly, a concrete storm-water drain pipe was laid in the canal bed after it shut. It must be removed for the new bed to be laid. But it can’t go until the canal

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is complete, as it still carries water.

Catch 22? Not quite, but a complicated sequence: lay the concrete either side of the pipe; install a plastic pipe on top of the concrete to one side; divert the drain into it; remove the concrete pipe; lay the section of bed in its place. Finally, when the new channel is complete down to the A38, around the corner into the new section, past a winding hole being built, and as far as a narrows built to take a set of stop-planks, the length can be watered and the plastic pipe taken out. So the volunteers have a fair bit on their hands to get that complete – but an active work party is making good progress.

What of the wider plans to link the lower end of the canal to Huddlesford Junction? Here the news is mixed. On the plus side, excavation is largely complete for the length between the A51 and A38 crossings (which will include new locks);

elsewhere on this section, work had previously been carried out on channel creation at Darnford Lane, construction of a liftbridge, and reinstatement of the demolished Cappers Lane Bridge; there have been discussions with Lichfield Cruising Club (which uses the first length from Huddlesford for moorings) about providing it with a new basin.

But on the negative side, the cost of the two main road crossings is going to be high; and the HS2 high speed railway is planned to come straight through the area, demolishing the new Cappers Lane Bridge without it ever seeing a boat!

That’s not quite the disaster it seems.

Following negotiations with HS2 Ltd, an agreement has been given that the railway will foot the bill for reinstating the Lichfield Canal on a new route.

This is excellent news,but, given the schedule for the railway, it won’t happen

Canal Boat October 2015 61

WATERSIDE WILDLIFE The shocking pink fruits of the spindle tree and spider webs herald the onset of autumn, explains Pip Webster

³S

ee the rosy-berried Spindle All to sunset colours turning” (Cicely Mary Barker). The leaves of the spindle tree turn a rich orangered in autumn, but it is the fruit that astounds the conservative British eye: the four-lobed shocking pink fruits split open to reveal bright orange seeds.

This small native tree of the woodland edge and hedgerows is relatively inconspicuous for much of the year. The bark and twigs are deep green with light brown, corky markings and the broad shiny leaves have tiny sharp teeth along the edges. Small flowers with four greenish-yellow petals are pollinated by insects in May and June: our ancestors thought that if spindle flowered early, an outbreak of plague was likely.

The timber is creamy white, hard and dense, but since the twigs are relative slender, the wood could only be used for smaller items, such as spindles for spinning and holding wool, skewers, toothpicks, pegs and knitting needles (“Prickwood” and “Skewerwood” are both old names). Nowadays high quality charcoal for artists is produced from the spindle tree.

The fruits, baked and powdered, were once used to treat head lice, The leaves and fruit are toxic to humans,

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Spinning out the autumn so don’t let your children eat those bright berries, but birds love them.

Cooler autumn mornings are excellent times to observe the dew-spangled handiwork of orb web spiders festooning hedges and banks. If the fat-bodied occupant isn’t clinging motionless, head down, to the centre of the web, it will probably be lurking in a lair to one side.

Only the larger, outer spirals of the web are sticky and the spider is alerted to any blundering insect trapped in them by means of a line of silk, connected to the web, which the spider holds in its forelegs. The prey is bitten, injecting it with both venom to paralyse it, and a digestive enzyme which converts its tissues into a liquid that the spider can drink. It is

wrapped securely in silk to store for future consumption.

Spider’s silk is remarkably strong and elastic. It is produced by six spinnerets at the hind end of the abdomen.

The silk is pulled out by the spider and the multiple strands coalesce, stretch and solidify by chemical reaction.

Orb web spiders can produce up to eight different kinds of silk for various tasks.

The most familiar orb web builder is the garden cross, or diadem, spider, so-called because of the white crucifixlike pattern on the top of the pale-brown to reddish-brown abdomen. One of Britain’s largest spiders, the web occupant is generally female, with a body as large as a pea.

Male garden cross spiders, recognisable by their smaller, more triangular abdomen and

prominent palps, abandon their webs directly after maturing and spend their short lives courting females rather than eating.

Webs of varying designs are built by different species, but the dew-laden single strands of silk that link long grass blades on an autumn morning are not webs. Young spiders and adults of the smaller ‘money’ spiders (Linyphilidae) take advantage of any breeze to go ‘ballooning’: they lift their bodies in the air, facing the breeze, and produce a strand of silk which generates enough lift to allow the spiderling to drift away, to pastures new. The silk threads are the results of thousands of spiders having landed or attempted to take off.

Recent research has shown that some species of spider can survive if they land on fresh or salt water: they raise their legs or abdomens to use as sails to move across even fairly turbulent surfaces. They also use their silk to anchor themselves in place while they are afloat.

CB

Canal Boat October 2015 63

GREAT CANAL WALKS

More Green than Black We take one of many possible circular walks around the Black Country’s dense network of waterways, and find a surprising amount of greenery in what was once an industrial heartland TEXT AND PICTURES BY MARTIN LUDGATE

I

f you’re planning a walk, you might not think of the Black Country first.

But with 100 miles of Birmingham Canal Navigations still open, plus closed canals and unnavigable streams also walkable, there’s actually a huge choice of routes. And most of them don’t live up to the image of the Black Country at all – they’re more green than black.

Of the many possible circular walks, we’ve chosen one combining busy and quieter canals, an abandoned waterway and one that’s never been navigable.

We’ll start at Dudley Port – handy for arriving by train. Turn right out of the station and the canal immediately makes itself felt, with Ryland Aqueduct bridging the road. Take a footpath on the right just beyond the aqueduct, then right again on to a smaller path, and in a few yards you’re on the towpath.

Well, actually ‘one of the towpaths’ – this is the BCN New Main Line, built

Factory Locks on the New Main Line

late on in the canal era and equipped with twin towpaths. We follow its impressively straight course north westwards to Watery Lane Junction.

This isn’t a junction any more, it was where the Tipton Green and Toll End Communication used to cross on its way through from the Old Main Line to the Walsall Canal.

Walkers can still follow part of this abandoned route, as a footpath heads off to the left (passing through an old lock) to reach the Old Main Line, where you turn right to reach Factory Junction.

Alternatively, stay on the New Main Line, past Factory Locks to reach the same point. The choice is yours.

Another ¾ mile leads to Coseley

Tunnel, 360 yards long and with twin towpaths – dry when we walked it, but a torch is handy. Emerging into a straight cutting, another half-mile brings us to Deepfields Junction, where we take a sharp right turn on to the Wednesbury Oak Loop. Originally part of the main line heading back towards Tipton, this survived as a navigable loop when the later route through the tunnel was built.

Today the old wharves and signs of heavy industry are being reclaimed by nature, while the channel is fringed by reeds. There’s a good reason for keeping it reasonably clear, though: it leads to a pumping station supplying the BCN with much of its water from an old mineshaft.

The canal meanders eastwards for a couple of miles until it now comes to an end by Bradley Workshops, where the Canal & River Trust makes traditional wooden lock gates.

Boaters must turn back

Greenery is replacing industry on the Wednesbury Oak Loop

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The Black Country

Remains of the old Bradley Locks

Tame Valley Junction’s typical BCN bridges

here, but walkers can continue along the line of the former canal. The path runs around the back of the workshops to reach Bradley Lane: just across the road and slightly to your left, you will see another path leading off between the houses. After a few yards it emerges to run alongside a large grassy area.

Today it’s a public open space, but you’re actually following the filled-in former continuation of the Wednesbury Oak Loop towards Tipton. After half a mile, the path bends left: this used to be a canal junction, and we now follow the former Bradley Locks Branch. You can guess where the locks lie buried from the slope of the land. Two of the locks are clearly visible, although filled for protection until such time as the canal is restored – and yes, plans are afoot…

The last section of the old canal is still in water as it approaches the Walsall Canal, another route with a reputation for being heavily industrial. You wouldn’t know it, looking left from the junction bridge along a pleasant tree-lined length.

However, we’re turning right, and this section is accompanied by modern

A footpath follows the River Tame

factories, though it’s not unattractive.

A pair of cast iron bridges mark the junction with the Tame Valley Canal, while a community of craft on the Ocker Hill Branch provide boating interest.

Another half-mile brings us to Ryders Green Locks, their single bottom gates characteristic of the middle period of BCN lock building. We could carry on up the flight to join the New Main Line but, instead, we’ll turn right into Brickhouse Lane South, which crosses the canal 100 yards above the bottom lock. Bear right into Market Place, then after 50 yards take a footpath left, which follows the modest stream that is our final waterway.

It’s never been a navigation, but the River Tame is a name linked with the Midlands’ canals: it’s spanned by three

THE ROUTE

significant aqueducts (two underneath ‘Spaghetti Junction’; one on the Coventry Canal) plus several smaller ones, and it gives its name to the Tame Valley Canal.

A sizeable river where it meets the Trent, up here it’s, well, rather tame.

We follow it south westwards along a strip of parkland to reach Sheepwash Lane. Turn right, then left just beyond the Tame Bridge Inn to continue on the riverside path through Sheepwash Park.

Where the path splits, we fork right, leaving the Tame behind, to meet the end of a dead-end road called John’s Lane.

And from there it’s only another 300 yards to where John’s lane emerges into the main road, within sight of Ryland Aqueduct and Dudley Port Station CB where our walk began.

9 miles We recommend the Ordnance Survey’s OS Explorer map 219 Wolverhampton & Dudley to accompany this walk.

EAT AND DRINK

■ The Pie Factory pub, Hurst Lane, Tipton Green DY4 9AB 0121 557 1402 ■ Fletcher’s Kitchen café, Castle St, Coseley WV14 9EP 01902 662954 ■ The Gospel Oak pub, Bilston Rd, Tipton DY4 0BT 0121 556 3491 ■ The Tame Bridge pub, Tame Rd, Great Bridge DY4 7JA 0121 557 2496

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©Crown copyright 2015 Ordnance Survey. Media 066/15

Canal Boat October 2015 65

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66 October 2015 Canal Boat

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69

EXPERTS Disappearing coolant; cutting the smoke; which water hose to use; non-slip surfaces

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ASK THE EXPERTS

TONY BROOKS What he doesn’t know about canal boats just isn’t worth knowing

PHIL SPEIGHT The country’s leading canal painter and an expert on paint processes as well

TERRY ROBERTSON TR Training’s man really knows how to handle a boat

MARTIN LUDGATE Our deputy ed is a guru on all things to do with canals

If you have any boating related query, then our team of experts on all things boating are here to answer it EMAIL: editor@canalboat.co.uk WRITE TO Canal Boat Magazine, Archant Specialist, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 2EG

TONY BROOKS

Technical Consultant

‘This gives a maximum speed of about nine or ten knots, but it’s unlikely to reach that speed’ CHATTING TO OTHER boaters, maximum speed is often mentioned – and in some cases I’m sure the stated speed is rather optimistic.

Technically, the maximum speed of a displacement hull (like a narrowboat) is governed by the speed at which the stern falls into the trough of its bow wave. The theoretical maximum speed in free deep water (with a powerful enough engine) can be calculated from the formula: speed in knots = the square root of the waterline length multiplied by the hull constant.

There are no constants available for narrowboats, but around 1.3 will do. This gives a maximum speed of a 56ft boat at about nine or ten knots but it is unlikely to have the power to reach that speed: six knots is more realistic.

Trying to exceed the maximum hull speed wastes fuel in making waves, and trying to go too fast on narrow, shallow canals does the same and makes the boat difficult to handle.

A real hot topic...

Q

My 20-year-old AMC-marinised BMC 1.8 has been maintained regularly by a well respected yard. Five years ago they replaced the bell-housing and other parts, plus, a couple of years ago, they replaced the head gasket Just recently, the plastic header tank seemed to bubble up and boil over after a long day’s running.

A couple of days after leaving the boatyard following a service (they said it appeared to be running fine), the coolant slowly disappeared from the header tank. I filled it up again but, after only two to three hours of running, it’s going down again. The oil on the dipstick isn’t showing any sign of water and there’s no sign of water/coolant in the bilge. Is there anything I should check for?

ROBERT KING, via email

A

TONY REPLIES... If the work at the yard involved changing the coolant or replacing a hose, the first thing would be to check for air locks in a bow in a hose, or the top of the skin tank (where there may be a bleed screw or plug). Also, manipulate any upward or downward bends in the hose so any air can

escape to the engine or skin tank. It is unlikely to be coolant loss through a damaged calorifier coil unless you run the engine with the water pump turned off, because normally domestic water pressure is higher than the pressure in the cooling system.

Check for coolant leaks before worrying about the head gasket. If you have a hydraulic (PRM) gearbox, check the colour of the gearbox oil in case the gearbox oil cooler has an internal leak.

If it’s still a clear amber, this is unlikely.

Inspect the area below the water pump pulley for a failing water pump seal: a torch and mirror can help if the engine’s position makes close inspection difficult.

Try a cold and warm pressure test using an automotive cooling system pressure tester: your local garage may be able to lend/hire you one; national tool hire services may list them.

Pressurise to about 10 to 15 psi (6psi if you have a Polar exhaust manifold) cold. If the pressure drops, you have a leak.

Next, run the engine up to temperature with the pressure tester and cap off then try the test again.

It may leak when hot, with the leaking coolant evaporating.

Next, run the engine with the pressure tester in place. If the pressure keeps on rising, you have a head gasket problem or crack in the cylinder head or wall.

Check for leaks under the water pump

Ask online...

Ask your questions and get the answers online at Canal Boat’s website – what’s more, you can read other people’s questions and answers by simply clicking on to canalboat.co.uk

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Canal Boat October 2015 69

BACK CABIN: Which water hose?

Q

Cutting the smoke Q

My keel-cooled Lister LPWS2 has rather more bluish/white smoke coming out than I feel there should be. It is worst idling or at low speeds: we recently ran it at 3/4 throttle for several hours on the Ouse, which seemed to improve it. I change the oil every 100 hours as recommended. There is a small amount of oil consumed (2-3mm on the dipstick) in that time. Any ideas?

R A EDGAR, via email

Is it essential to use food grade hose to fill your water tank, or is standard garden hose okay?

FAVOURS, via the CB website

A

TONY REPLIES... As the plasticisers used in some plastics may be carcinogenic and may leach out into any water lying in the hose, I must tell you to use food grade. However, note the word ‘may’ used twice.

I am personally perfectly content to use good quality branded garden hose but I always flush the hose well before putting it into the filler. The choice is yours.

TONY REPLIES... One characteristic of direct injected diesels is that in smaller cylinder capacities they tend to suffer poor combustion at low speeds and power, hence some smoke. I have found using Wynn’s Diesel Power 3 or a similar product with a cerium content helps reduce the smoke, but gets a bit expensive over time.

When you ran it on the Ouse you got better combustion and probably burned some carbon out of the exhaust. I try to find a river at least once a year where I can run harder than usual to help minimise the smoke.

On the bright side, it should be an easy starter when really cold.

A

Water hose...

Our blacking’s taking a knock Q

My boat was built in 2001, I have had the hull re-blacked four times and it needs doing again. Every time the hull gets the slightest knock or scrape, the black comes off and reveals a light grey that I assume is the original undercoat. I am considering sandor shot-blasting before the next re-blacking.

Will this make any difference?

P HODGES, via email

TONY REPLIES... If the grey is a zinc-rich primer not formulated for use under bitumen, there could be an adhesion problem. Unless you go down the shot-blast and two-pack epoxy blacking route, I doubt this is easily solvable.

My inclination would be to just buy some cheap brushes and spare blacking to touch in the scraped areas.

A

Cabling up to the bow Q

I need to rewire the horn and headlamp on my narrowboat. I want to wire the horn and headlamp to the same positive cable and wire separate negative cables back to the back end via respective switches. I am told I need 44/030 cable: I have a roll of cable that looks right; it has about 57 strands and a lot of info on it (almost unreadable) but nothing that looks like 44/030. How do I make sure it’s okay?

DAVID FARNELL, via the CB website

A

TONY REPLIES... I don’t like switching things in the negative for marine use because the equipment will be live all the time and in a damp environment. Personally, I would reverse your plan and switch two positives with a common negative (or run two separate circuits).

Unless whoever said you needed 44/030 size cable knew the rated consumption of the lamp and horn and the out and back run length, this cannot be trusted. You need to minimise volt-drop, rather than just choose a cable with the required rating. I know of one cable that uses 56 strands; however, that has a cross sectional area of 4sq mm as opposed to 3sq mm for 44/030.

The formula for calculating the volt-drop is 0.0164 x the current in amps x

70 October 2015 Canal Boat

... versus garden hose

total cable run in metres divided by the conductor cross sectional area (CSA).

Say you have a 55ft run and a 55W lamp. Because of the way the horn works, it is better to overestimate its consumption rather than measure it, so say 5 amps – 55 watts @ 12v = 4.6 amps (say 5 amps).

56ft as metres = about 17 metres.

The batteries are close to the back and the horn and tunnel lamp are close to the front, so say an out and back run of 25 metres allowing for two cables one way and a single on the other.

Volt-drop = 0.0164 x (5+5 = 10 amps) x 25. Then divided by the cable CSA, say 3sq mm = a volt-drop of about 1.4 volts with both the horn and lamp working at once (or 0.7 volt if only one item is in use).

Maximum recommended volt-drop for this sort of equipment is 0.5 volts so 44/030 is too small. My guess is that the 56/0.30 cable will do the job.

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If you have any boating related query, then our team of experts on all things boating are here to answer it EMAIL: editor@canalboat.co.uk WRITE TO Canal Boat Magazine, Archant Specialist, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 2EG

We’re slipping out of control Q

Our 14-year-old Morse control has started slipping back to idle if I leave it at low revs – when passing moored craft for example. I have dismantled, cleaned and tightened everything I could find inside the lever mechanism. Can you advise me on a solution?

C R DIXON, via the CB website TONY REPLIES... The words ‘Morse Control’ have become generic (like ‘Hoover’) so although Morse-branded controls are available, yours may not be a true Morse – then there is which model, and maybe which engine. The model of true Morse-branded control often fitted to narrowboats does not have an adjustable friction control. Many of the non-Morse ones do, in which case, see if you can find an on-line manual: possibly it might only require a nut or screw adjusting.

If, when you took your control apart, you found a ball bearing at the top, held against the radiused top of the throttle lever by flat spring blades, you could try packing the spring so the ball exerts more pressure on the drum. I would also tend to fit the ball and drum dry to maximise the friction.

It is also possible that the governor spring in the engine’s injector pump is forcing the lever towards idle. If so, and if there is a return spring on the throttle lever on the engine, try removing the return spring. Failing that, try fitting an ‘opening’ spring (a return spring in reverse) to the throttle lever to counteract the governor action. Finally, you are left with the option of hanging a small bag with some weight in it on the control lever.

A

Amps on show Q

I have a Durite ammeter to measure the alternator output. In the installation instructions it requires that the cable being monitored be cut and the two ends connected to the ammeter.

Is this the wrong type of ammeter, or is it satisfactory?

GEOFF HOLAH, via email TONY REPLIES... It’s more suited to automotive use – will it give an amperage reading? Yes. Will it be really accurate? No. Will it introduce other

A

canalboat.co.uk

Getting (rid of) the vapours Q

My barge’s Scania six-cylinder engine crankcase breather vents to the outside of the wheelhouse through a long pipe. When working hard, some (rather caustic-smelling) vapour can be seen to be issuing, although it burns no oil and I have no reason to suspect anything amiss.

Modern engines recirculate this emission back into the intake manifold, and I wondered whether I should use the connection point adjacent to the air filter to try this – or might it suck oil through the pipe and into the intake manifold? The crankcase breather on the side of the block only has a mesh filter, but no oil escapes.

TIM HACKETT, via email

A

TONY REPLIES... Crankcase fumes do have a sort of exhaust/hot oil smell. If you do a lot of slow running, the fumes could be steam from condensation from piston blow-by being boiled out of the oil.

I would be reluctant to connect the breather to the inlet manifold because diesels will run on any hydrocarbon that gets into the manifold. This could be caused by wear, overfilling with oil, or internal fuel leaks – and a runaway might cost you a new engine and a lot of cleaning up. Only do this if you are sure about the lack of oil from the breather, and don’t do it if the connection is on the outside air side of the air cleaner, or it might block the filter.

problems? Quite possibly. I am not certain such ammeters have the range required for modern boat alternators so it may spend a lot of time showing its maximum, and the cable supplied can often also be too thin for use in a boat. This means it will introduce volt-drop on the main charging circuit, leading to a slower and lower maximum charge.

Ideally, you should buy a shunted ammeter: a special very, very low resistance known as a ‘shunt’ is let into a main charging lead (usually the negative) and then two thin wires run from either side of this to the meter. The meter is actually a milli-voltmeter that is calibrated in amps to suit the shunt.

Canal Boat October 2015 71

BACK CABIN: EXPERTS

WEB Q&As TRACKING DOWN DECKING

Q

Where can I source marine plywood with a non-slip surface to renew our locker and engine cover board?

SARAEB59, via the CB website TONY REPLIES... Try searching online for Buffolo Board or Hexa Grip. I suspect it is likely to come in large sheets, so see if you can find a local truck body builder/repairer or someone making or repairing trailers. They may have suitable offcuts, or even cut to size for you. Otherwise, try the larger marinas or boatyards. It is important that you seal the edges to prevent deterioration.

A

TACHO TROUBLES

Q

When starting from cold in the morning, our tacho acts erratically, the starter battery indicator lights up and the buzzer sounds. After this initial trouble, all is well for the rest of the day. Do you have any ideas?

BRIAN R, via email

A

TONY REPLIES... Check the alternator belt for tension and condition. A loose belt can slip when under a high load (such as first thing in the morning) and then grip as sections get hot. Once the initial high charge is over, a slack belt can drive the alternator perfectly well.

Ask online...

Ask your questions

TONY REPLIES... One product I know, Protectacoat, contains ground up rubber granules. Some floor paints already have the non-slip additive mixed in; alternatively you can buy special fine ‘granules’ to mix with paint of your choice or to sprinkle on to the wet penultimate paint coat.

I have also used sieved dry sand. If sprinkling something on to wet paint, do make sure that you have already built up the correct number of coats; then when dry, brush off the surplus and apply at least one more

A

What’s the trick to a hot ‘click’?

Q

My BMC 1.5 engine starts beautifully from cold but when hot, the starter motor (or solenoid) clicks three or four times before engaging the engine and starting it. Sometimes I have had to turn the master switch to ‘All’ to get the engine to start.

I have had the starter motor reconditioned, fitted a new ignition switch, fitted a new earth to the engine and checked all the connections.

I have fairly new batteries.

The only thing I haven’t yet tried is replacing the thin wire to the solenoid from the ignition switch with a thicker one. Do you have any other suggestions?

DAVID FARNELL, via email TONY REPLIES... If there is a multi-plug in the wiring harness from the engine to the control panel, first make sure all the connections in it are clean and tight.

Be sure to clean the battery terminals (both the lead and the clamp) and dress with Vaseline, then measure the voltage between the terminal clamps as you try to start. It should only drop maybe 0.1 to 0.2 of a volt as the solenoid clicks. If it’s over 0.5 volt then you may well have a faulty internal battery interlink.

The symptoms could be caused by burned/dirty contacts under the solenoid cap but that wouldn’t just happen when hot. It could also indicate worn or sticky brushes in the starter, but the reconditioned starter should have eliminated that.

We are now left with something jamming (probably the starter solenoid) when hot, or volt-drop between

coat. If using an additive, follow the instructions.

I recently guessed and ended up with an anti-slip paint that takes days and days to dry and tends to crack!

the battery positive and the starter solenoid windings.

These are soldered into ‘tags’ located under the solenoid to the motor terminal and on the solenoid blade connector. Clean these up to see if you have a dry joint.

It might be volt-drop on a ‘car-sized’ switch-tosolenoid cable. Run a temporary thicker (at least 44/30) cable between the ignition switch and solenoid, and, if it cures the problem, make a proper job of it.

Make sure you have a thickish supply cable from the engine battery (or starter solenoid terminal) to the ignition switch and double check all the connections.

Is something leaking into the flywheel housing like engine oil, gearbox oil or bilge water? The flywheel will throw it into the starter with inevitable results.

A

Check battery terminals first, then the starter

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Q

What are my options regarding non-slip surfaces? Can special paint be purchased, or can an additive or grit be added?

FAVOURS, via the CB website

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Canal Boat October 2015 73

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BOATING BUSINESS : BACK CABIN

Who you gonna call?

RCR is known among other things for its rescues, but last year it suffered an emergency itself WORDS BY NICK WALL PICTURES BY RCR

E

ven though it’s a double that would comfortably take a king-size bed, the upstairs bedroom of a terraced house in Stafford isn’t exactly how you might envisage the current nerve centre of what is essentially the AA or RAC of the waterways – but then these are extraordinary times at River Canal Rescue.

The bedroom, and the whole house, were pressed into service as an emergency measure when the real nerve centre of the operation (much more the kind of thing you’d expect) went up in flames after a firework warehouse next door exploded nearly taking RCR’s staff with it.

Looking back to that dreadful day last October, Stephanie Horton, RCR’s Managing Director, recalls just how lucky they were. “It was one of those days when we said ‘right, we’ll finish on time today at 5pm’, so we were just preparing to leave and if that hadn’t happened we could have had casualties.

“As we opened the door it was as if someone had sucked all the air out, then all hell broke loose. There was a huge boom, the roof fell down next door and our place rapidly filled up with smoke; fireworks were coming up through the floor and windows, shooting everywhere.

‘It’s a vocation’ – Steph

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Raising boats in locks can be a challenge

“We called the emergency services and then had to find another way out. There was a door to the next unit and one of our apprentice engineers, Sam Johnson, ripped it open. We got down to the ground floor and crawled on our hands and knees to a roller door which Sam managed to raise by 3ft, allowing us to crawl out.”

Hearing Stephanie talk in the quiet confines of the former bedroom about the incident, it all sounds very matter of fact, but there are plenty of news stories on the web that show just how bad it was and there’s no question just how close a shave they all had. And, of course, it was the start of a whole new chapter in the history of RCR. Once the initial shock was over, the immediate concern was to keep the operation running; incidents and breakdowns on the canals and rivers weren’t suddenly going to stop because RCR had its own problems.

“Trevor [Stephanie’s husband] drove down from Preston to pick me up and we got to bed at 2am; by 4am we were up

getting emails out to cover breakdowns for the next morning and sorting out everything that had to be done. The most important thing was to find somewhere to operate from. We decided on Charlotte’s [the office manager] dining room and went out and bought six laptops and six mobile phones. We camped there for two weeks before moving in here, a family home which we’d just prepared for sale.”

In some respects, moving into the house was rather like the first days of the company. Back in 2000, Trevor, a diagnostic engineer, was cruising up the Trent and wondered what would happen if someone broke down. There had been a couple of previous attempts at setting up such a service, but both had failed to succeed, so he and Stephanie, who was working as a chartered engineer, decided to give it a go.

For four years the fledgling company was based in the couple’s front room at their home in Haughton, Staffordshire, and they faced the dilemma of people remembering the previous attempts to

Canal Boat October 2015 75

RIVER CANAL RESCUE

Out on the rounds

Rescue training

set up such a service, making comments such as “how do we know you won’t end up just like them?”.

Despite these reservations and a spanner being put in the works by the foot & mouth outbreak in 2001, around 100 people signed up to the service in the first year: “We had some rocky years,” says Steph, “with a low income, but the team we had were very good and worked for bread and butter wages.”

By 2007, the company was growing and Steph, who was working as an electro-mechanical engineer in London, had to make a decision whether or not to work for it full-time. “I was worried I’d miss the type of work I was doing,” she says, “but I decided to do it. Now I love the challenges, but it can be a bit stressful in the summer.

“It’s a vocation not a job, I was on the phone last night until 10pm as duty manager… and this year, in particular, has been challenging because of the extra work coming in from ‘rescues’ (sunken boats, grounded, stranded).

“Our in-house rescue training, which is based on RNLI and RYA white water rescues, is the key to teaching the skills needed to deal with the challenges we face on emergency rescues, but as a ‘team’ is needed for each one, it can put

a strain on our resources. We’re one of only two companies pre-authorised to raise boats on the waterways and we’ve had a rescue pretty much every week, so we’re on target for 40-50 rescues before the end of the year.”

Many of this year’s rescues have been boats grounding, perhaps to do with the lower than average water levels on some

Rescuing a stranded boat on the Ribble Link

‘This year they’re having to pick up the reins again after the fire which, despite being insured, cost the company £150,000’ rivers, and there have been a lot of sinkings, too.

The weekend before we spoke, RCR had been called out to a boat at Winsford Flash, near Northwich, where a 55-footer had become stuck on a sandbank; a 40ft Sunseeker had become trapped on a bank at Dunham Bridge on the River Trent, and in London, a boat had sunk in a lock on the River Lee – and all this was in addition to the usual boat breakdowns.

You’ll probably have guessed by this stage that to cope RCR has had to grow

The staff do have fun, too

and currently has 13 engineers (and recruiting for two more), 13 people in the office, five people at Key diesels with whom they work and three apprentices to service the now 10,000 full members (there are 5,000 insurance members, too).

So what about the numbers, how to they make it work? A typical breakdown would cost around £120-£150 if a contractor was used, but most of the work is done by in-house engineers and, of course, the company gets good discounts on parts and anything that needs to be out-sourced.

So, if you spread the cost of attending breakdowns and rescues across the income from membership, the numbers do add up, plus the company has been diversifying into other areas ranging from training courses to an online chandlery, supplying additional services though their Canal Contracting service and they even offer finance options up to £25,000.

Unsurprisingly, and like many businesses which demand bucket-loads of passion, all of this doesn’t leave Steph with much spare time – Trevor has now taken more of a back seat but is called in as necessary for his knowledge and can-do attitude. But during the winter when things tend to quieten down with fewer boats out on the water, she takes time to read and – at the moment – write a book on boat maintenance (we’d call that a busman’s holiday…).

Plus, of course, this year they’re having to pick up the reins again after the fire which, despite being insured, cost the company something like £150,000.

A new purpose-built office with a training room and storage is being constructed on the old site and should be ready by the end of September – then they can decamp from their temporary ‘home’ and return to the kind of nerve centre you’d expect for such an organisation. CB

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Canal Boat October 2015 77

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COOKING :BACK CABIN

Vicky Blick

Getting saucy with chicken It’s nuts to the birds, as the captain and I tuck into delicious chicken thighs in cream sauce

T

he poor old Captain has a lot to put up with as many of our friends on the cut will testify. Now there’s another demand on him. Each time we moor up he knows it has to be near somewhere I can hang up my collection of bird feeders.

Whether it’s summer or winter, my feeders go out.

It’s amazing how quickly the birds find the food. Robins and blue tits will happily colonise their towpath territory but, more unusually, my feathered feast has attracted lesser species.

A family flock of delicate little long-tailed tits and several pairs of nuthatches who stole away whole nuts to hide them in the bark of trees as their winter larder. It’s just another great way to enjoy the many pleasures of boating.

Curious, isn’t it, how birds that today we delight in feeding were happily eaten by our ancestors?

Everything from swans to skylarks went on to the plate.

Sadly, some of our delightful little birds, that weigh less than a pound coin, still get trapped in the most inhumane

‘I can’t sit on the fence here because this month’s tasty meal is chicken but, whenever possible, I buy free-range’

ways and served as a delicacy in restaurants when they migrate to parts of Europe to overwinter.

The most common form of capture is by snaring the birds in netting or by applying a sticky glue to branches on popular roosting sites.

Statistics show that up to half a million songbirds are lost every year to this illegal practice. Price Charles has spearheaded a campaign to abolish this barbaric sport and obviously I applaud any effort made to stop it.

Where do we draw the line?

I guess it’s a personal thing – I’m happy to sit down to a dish of duck, pheasant or pigeon where others wouldn’t be.

All the same, official lists of

Method

Ingredients Four chicken thighs 1 red pepper Mushrooms Spring onions Garlic to taste Lardons of bacon or sliced bacon A pack each of mange tout, baby sweetcorn and green beans New potatoes Small tub of double cream

canalboat.co.uk

ready, take the lid off the sauté pan, remove any stock from the cooking process and pour a small tub of cream over the chicken. Replace the lid and allow to stand for a few minutes so that the cream is heated through. Save the liquid from cooking the chicken as a stock. Serve the chicken and cream on to plates, arrange the vegetables and serve with a crusty hot roll.

Canal Boat October 2015 79

CHICKEN IN CREAM

Fry the spring onions, garlic and lardons of bacon in olive oil using a large sauté pan with a lid. Add the joints of chicken to the oil having removed as much fat as possible first when preparing for the pan.

Then add some chopped mushrooms and a washed, de-seeded and sliced red pepper. Fry together with the chicken for at least 40 minutes with a lid on the pan.

Meanwhile, scrub sufficient new potatoes, cover with cold water and boil and then simmer until cooked. Wash the mange tout peas, baby sweetcorn, and green beans in cold water and prepare by top and tailing the ends. Place them into a boiling steamer over the potato pan and steam for about five minutes.

Once everything is

game birds and waterfowl that can legally be shot at certain times in the UK still make depressing reading if you happen to be a bird spotter like me.

And, of course, few of us quibble about eating chicken.

Indeed chickens by the million are reared then killed every day to feed us.

I can’t sit on the fence here because this month’s tasty meal is chicken but, wherever possible, I do buy free range so at least it has lived its short life scrapping around on grass.

Tonight’s dinner, then, is chicken thighs in cream sauce. Not good for the Captain’s high blood pressure but delicious all the same.

CB

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80 October 2015 Canal Boat

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Canal Boat October 2015 81

BACK CABIN: BUYING SECONDHAND

Go-anywhere boats Our choice of boats around 57ft will let you explore the whole waterways system

2003 58FT SUNSET SONG THIS TRAD-STERN with a shell by Liverpool Boats is a little longer, at 58ft, but you should still be able to get around most of the canals and rivers. The fit-out was by the first owner, a professional joiner who put a lot of time and attention into the boat – there’s lots of oak with an attractive panelled ceiling.

The saloon has a multi-fuel stove, free-standing seating, a drop-leaf table and a TV. The galley is equipped with a

82 October 2015 Canal Boat

£49,950 four-burner cooker and a fridge. The shower room has a fully tiled cubicle, basin and cassette wc, and the bedroom has a fixed double berth with a full-height wardrobe.

There’s an Isuzu 35hp engine, and electrical power is supplied by a bank of batteries maintained by two large solar panels; there is also an 1800W inverter. A portable twin-tub washing machine is also a part of the boat’s inventory.

Contact: 01327 342211 rugbyboats.co.uk

Verdict: A very solid fit-out in oak and with an attractive panelled ceiling

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BUYING SECONDHAND :BACK

CABIN

GO-ANYWHERE

2003 57FT BODVAR

£37,950 A VIKING AFLOAT Medway Class narrowboat that will be available in November, at the end of this year’s hire season.

There are up to six berths available with a fixed double in the forward cabin, a convertible dinette in the saloon and a rear cabin with a choice of a double berth or two singles.

Besides the forward bathroom, which has a shower, wc and hand basin, there’s also another wc and hand basin at the rear of the boat. The central galley is equipped with a four-burner cooker and a fridge.

There’s central heating to keep you warm and a Nanni diesel with a PRM gearbox to take you places.

Contact: 0330 3330 593 everythingcanalboats.com

Verdict: You could cruise in style in this ex-hire boat with up to six berths, two wcs and a high spec

2011 57FT DESTINY’S DREAM

£64,950 A TRAD STERN built in 2011 by Mike Christian and fitted out by Dream Narrowboats to a high standard as a liveaboard boat From the bow, the saloon has a solid-fuel stove, flat-screen TV and a custom-built settee. The galley follows and is equipped with a washer/dryer, two fridges, a microwave, full-size cooker and oak units.

The off-corridor bathroom, which is fully tiled, has a shower, pump-out wc and a vanity unit. While the rear bedroom has a fixed double berth, flat-screen TV/DVD player and two large wardrobes. The boat’s high spec includes a Vetus 42hp diesel, a 3.5kW Travel Power generator, Victron 3000/120 Combi Inverter and LED lights throughout.

Contact: 01283 707 357 newandusedboat.co.uk

Verdict: Well equipped and well kept, this comfy boat is ready to take you cruising

1997 44FT 5IN RHIANNON

£36,000 WITH A TRAD-STYLE stern, built by G & J Reeves and fitted out by Aynho Wharf, Rhiannon provides sleeping for up to four with a fixed double in its own cabin and another double on the saloon’s sofa bed.

It contains almost exclusively 12v appliances, including the lights, fridge and the TV and stereo equipment. Light and bright, the galley has a four-burner gas hob with a separate oven/grill, while the bathroom has a bath with a shower over, a cassette wc and a basin.

Dining solutions are met with a large saloon table that can be easily folded away and stored against the hull side. It has a Beta 28hp diesel to take you places and central heating to keep you cosy.

Contact: 01788 822 115 abnb.co.uk

Verdict: Light and bright, very well looked after and with lots of 12v appliances

2007 57FT TOPAZ

£49,995 THIS TRAD-STERN packs a lot into its 57ft. It was built by Liverpool Boat Company and fitted out in light oak by the first owner.

It has the potential for six berths with a fixed double in the bedroom, a rear cabin with a bench seat that converts to another double, and a large saloon which has plenty of space for a sofa bed.

The galley has a gas oven, grill and hob, a fridge with an icebox and a microwave. The bathroom is equipped with a tiled shower cubicle, inset basin and a cassette wc.

There’s central heating and a solid fuel stove, and the boat was repainted and blacked in 2013.

Contact: 01270 760799 boatfinderbrokerage.co.uk

Verdict: Smart with a repaint in 2013 and with the potential for six berths

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canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 83

B R OA G H E Q TS VO U I R U R LU ED GEN M DU T E O E LY F S TO AL ES HI

Telephone: 01788 891373 Website: www.braunstonmarina.co.uk

At the Heart of England’s Waterways

Email: sales@braunstonmarina.co.uk Fax: 01788 891436 Braunston Marina Limited, Braunston, Nr Daventry, Northants NN11 7JH

BLUE TOAD 62ft (18.90) Traditional - Stern Narrowboat 1997 Built by Graham Parker / Fit - Out Streethay Wharf BMC 1.8 Diesel Engine + Beta Marine Diesel Gen Four Berths £42,950

TILLY 58ft (17.68m) Traditional Stern Narrowboat 1999 Hull GJ Reeves / Fit Out Aynho/Mathews Yanmar Shire Diesel Engine 50HP Four Berths £44,950

WANDERING STAR 57ft (17.38m) Traditional Style Narrowboat 2004 Hull: Mike Christian/ Fit Out Andrew Thacker 200 Beta 38 Diesel Engine 35HP Four Berths £49,950

SARAH LOUISE 57ft (17.38m) Trad - Style Narrowboat 2007 Hull Mercia Marine/ Fit Out Lime Farm Beta 38 Diesel Engine Fixed Double £49,950

KEVIN WILLIAM 57ft (17.38m) Cruiser Style Narrowboat 2008 Hull Liverpool Boats/FO Orchard Marine Isuzu 35 Diesel Engine Four Berths £49,950

C’EST LE VIE 17.07m (56ft) All Steel Cruiser Style Narrowboat 1996 Hull by Colecraft/FO by Utopia Lister Canal Star Diesel Engine 36HP Six berths £39,950

FLEUR DE LYS 50ft (15.24) Semi - Trad Style Narrowboat 1995 Hull By Tim Tyler / Fit Out Braidbar Boats.

Beta Kubota Diesel Engine 35HP Fixed Double £39,950

TUG O WAR 47ft 6 ins (14.5m) Tug - Style Narrowboat 2005 Hull: Colecraft / Fit Out Owner Beta BD1703 Diesel Engine 39HP Fixed Double £35,950

DYLAN 43ft (13.11m) Traditional - Stern Narrowboat 2001 Hull: Colecraft Fit - Out: Bill Mathews 2003 BMC 1.8 Diesel Engine c.35HP Four Berths £39,950

NIPPER 26ft (7.93m) Cruiser Stern Boat 1998 Built by Sea Otter. Vetus Yanmar 2.06 2cyl c.16HP Four Berths £29,950

MOORINGS ~ NARROWBOAT SALES ~ SERVICING ~ DRY AND WET DOCKS ~ BLACKING

84 October 2015 Canal Boat

canalboat.co.uk

NEW

WILLOW Price: £24,950 Style: 4 berth cruiser stern 56ft Description: 1996 Liverpool Boats Location: Farncombe Boat House 01483 421306

NEW

NEW

Price: £45,000 BEZ Style: 2 berth traditional stern narrowboat 60ft Description: 2001 Pinders Location: Worcester Marina 01905 734160

Price: £80,000 MALCARRY Style: 2 berth traditional stern narrowboat 60ft Description: 2013 Collingwood Boat Builders Location: Hilperton Marina 01225 765243

www.vcmarine.co.uk Email: cbad@vcmarine.co.uk

updated daily

01784 432111 Boats listed in price order NARROWBOATS – LYING IVER, WEST LONDON

NARROWBOATS – LYING ELSEWHERE

SPRINGER 9m (30ft) TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built believed in the mid-eighties . Fitted by Springer. Vetus diesel engine.

3 berth - fixed double in own cabin and single convertible in dinette. Solid fuel stove. Thetford cassette toilet. BSC to 03/2018. Ref: Kayleigh .. Lying High Line Yachting, Iver ............................................................. £12,500

MORSE MARINE 7m (23ft) TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT

BANTOCK BUTTY (SHORTENED) 15m (50ft) TUG STYLE NARROWBOAT Built in c.1860, and possibly the oldest hull still in daily recreational use.

Lister FR2 18hp diesel engine. 3 berth - fixed double in own cabin and single in saloon. Solid fuel stove. Chemical toilet. BSC to 10/2015. Ref: Equus. Lying High Line Yachting, Iver .......................................... £22,500

STEELCRAFT 15m (50ft) CRUISER STERN NARROWBOAT

TIM TYLER 17m (57ft) TRADITIONAL STERN PROJECT NARROWBOAT Built in 2001 by Tim Tyler with all pothole windows. Professionally spray foamed and fully ballasted and floored. Riga 2cyl 24hp diesel engine. Stainless steel water tank. Some 240v wiring. Solid fuel range in Boatman’s cabin which is partially fitted. BSC to 12/2016. Ref: Raymond.

Lying High Line Yachting ............................................................ £27,500

HARLAND & WOLFF 18m (60ft) TRADITIONAL STERN

TRITON BOATS 15m (50ft) SEMI TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 1999 and fitted by Triton Boats. Lombardini 33hp diesel engine.

2 berth - fixed double in own cabin. Solid fuel stove and Mikuni diesel heating. Pump out toilet. BSC to 03/2015. Ref: Harmony. Lying High Line Yachting, Iver ............................................................................ £29,500

Potti chemical toilet. BSC to 10/2016. Ref: Satellite .Lying Aylesbury Arm,

COLECRAFT 18m (60ft) CRUISER STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 2000. Fitted by High Line Yachting Ltd. Calcutt BMC 1.8 diesel engine. 2 berth - fixed double in own cabin. Alde gas central heating.

Pump out Blakes Lavac toilet. BSC to 9/24/2016. Ref: Tranquility Lying High Line Yachting..................................................................... £34,000

Built in 1996. Beta 3cyl diesel engine. 2 berth - fixed double in saloon.

Solid fuel stove. Porta Potti toilet. BSC to 2/1/2018. Ref: Stumpy ,Lying Kennet & Avon Canal ................................................................ £12,000

Built in 1994. Fitted by G.H Bryant. BMC 4cyl diesel engine. 4 berth - fixed double in own cabin and convertible in saloon.. Alde gas boiler. Pump out

RESIDENTIAL BOATS

toilet. BSC to 5/2015. Ref: Meander. Lying Newbury, Kennet & Avon Canal ................................................................................................. £35,000

NARROWBOAT Built in 1935 as a butty. Converted to a motor and internally fitted by M E Braine in the mid 70’s. Iron / steel hull and timber superstructure.

Armstrong Siddeley 3cyl 30hp diesel engine. 5 berth - fixed double in own cabin, cross double in Boatmans cabin, and further single in saloon.

Eberspacher diesel heating and solid fuel stove with back boiler. Porta Grand Union Canal ................................................................... £37,500 STOKE ON TRENT BOATBUILDERS 16m (53ft) TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built and fitted in 2000 by Stoke on Trent Boatbuilders. Beta Prop Gen 2203 30hp / 11.5kVA diesel engine with hydraulic drive. 4 berth - fixed double in own cabin and convertible double in saloon. Eberspacher diesel central heating. Electric flush remote pump out toilet. BSC to 10/2016.

Ref: Little Blue. Lying Newbury, Kennet and Avon Canal.............. £42,000 LIVERPOOL BOATS 18m (60ft) TRADITIONAL STERN

FELLOWS MORTON AND CLAYTON 22m (72ft) TRIP / PARTY NARROWBOAT Built in 1913 as a horse boat and then converted to a motor with diesel engine. Now fitted for use as a party / trip boat. Lister HA2 22hp diesel engine. Webasto diesel fired warm air heating. Pump out toilet. BSC. Ref: Lapwing. Lying Paddington Arm, Grand Union Canal .................. £34,000

NARROWBOAT Built in 2007 and fitted by Darren & Keith Roberts. Isuzu 42 diesel engine.

6 berth - fixed double in own cabin, convertible dinette and convertible double in saloon. Kabola Old Dutch diesel stove and Eberspacher diesel central heating. Thetford electric flush cassette toilet. BSC to 06/2013.

Ref: Stavros. Lying Newbury, Kennet & Avon Marina ................... £45,000

CASTLE FIELD NARROWBOATS 17m (55ft) TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 1992. Perkins D3 diesel engine. 4 berth - fixed double in own cabin plus convertible double saloon. Alde gas boiler and solid fuel stove.

Thetford cassette toilet. BSC to 03/2017. Ref: Miranda Jayne Lying High Line Yachting, Iver ..................................................................... £35,000 DRAGON BOATS 17m (55ft) TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 1999. Fitted by Previous owner. Barus Shanks 38hp diesel engine.

2 berth - fixed double in own cabin. Solid fuel stove and Eberspacher (radiators). Thetford electric flush cassette toilet. BSC to 02/2019. Ref: Simba Lying High Line Yachting, Iver .......................................... £42,500 COLECRAFT 18m (60ft) SEMI TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOATBuilt in 2008. Fitted by High Line Yachting. Mitsubisi 4cyl 40hp diesel engine. 3 berth - fixed double in own cabin and single cabin.

Solid fuel stove and Alde gas boiler. Porta Potti toilet. BSC to 01/2016.

Ref: Staceysu, Lying High Line Yachting,Iver ................................ £51,500

BLUEWATER BOATS 21m (70ft) x 3.8m (12ft 6in) REPLICA DUTCH BARGE £285,000 Built in 2007 by Bluewater Boats and fitted by David Jones. Vetus Deutz 6cyl 170hp diesel engine. Mastervolt 4kw Combi inverter / charger and Whispergen 6kVA diesel cocooned generator. Bow and stern thrusters.

4 berth - 2 double cabins (1 en suite) and occasional single in wheelhouse. Eberspacher diesel central heating and wood burning stove in saloon. 2 x Thetford electric flush cassette toilets. BSC. CE Marked.

Ref: Jane Sav Lying River Severn, Gloucestershire...................... £285,000

WIDEBEAM & BARGES

SPRINGER 14m (45ft) CRUISER STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 1981. Fitted by Previous owners. BMC 1.5 30hp diesel engine.

2 berth - fixed double in own cabin. Morso solid fuel stove. Pump out toilet. BSC to 14/09/2018. Ref: PICKLE. Lying High Line Yachting, Northolt ................................................................................................. £29,000 JACK POWLES 12m (40ft) x 3.3m (10ft 10in) GRP BROADS CRUISER Built and fitted in 1973 by Jack Powles. Perkins 4.108 diesel engine.

5 berth - double in own cabin, convertible double in aft cabin, and occasional single opposite galley. 240v free standing radiator. Chemical toilet. BSC to 01/2017. Ref: Old Roamer. Fully residential berth, Molesey, River Thames ............................................................................. £35,000 R & D FABRICATIONS 21m (70ft) TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 1989. Fitted by Owners. BMC 1.8 diesel engine. 2 berth - fixed double in own cabin. Morso solid fuel stove. Pump out and porta potti toilet. BSC to 2/16/2017. Ref: Sunflower. Fully residential berth, High Line Yachting.................................................................................... £38,000 EVANS &SON 21m (69ft) SEMI TRADITIONAL STERN NARROWBOAT Built in 1994. Calcutt BMC 1.8 40hp diesel engine. 4 berth - fixed double in both cabins. Solid fuel stove. Remote flush chemical toilet. BSC to 01//2019. Ref: Helter skelter. Lying at High Line Yachting, Iver. .... £45,000 DAWNCRAFT 12m (40ft) x 3.6m (12ft) CARIBBEAN STYLE WIDEBEAM Built in c. 1980. Perkins 4.107/8 diesel engine. 4 berth - double in own cabin and convertible double in saloon. ‘Pot belly’ style solid fuel stove.

Remote pump out toilet. Ref: Bacchanal. Pied-a-terre berth, River Thames, central London. ......................................................................... £85,000

LIVERPOOL BOATS 18m (60ft) CRUISER STERN WIDEBEAM Built in 2007. Fitted by Liverpool boats. Isuzu 55hp diesel engine. 4 berth - fixed double in own cabin and convertible sofa. Solid fuel stove and Webasto. Pump out and Porta Potti toilet. BSC to 06//2016. Ref: Maltose Falcom. Lying Kennet & Avon canal ........................................... £69,000 COLLINGWOOD BOATBUILDERS 19.5m (64ft) x 3.7m(12ft) NARROW BOAT STYLE W/B Built in 2011 with interior fit by Colingwood / current owner. Barrus Shire 70hp diesel engine, with twin alternators and hospital exhaust. 5 berth - double cabin, single cabin and convertible sofa in saloon. Heritage ‘Duette’ diesel range. Theftford electric flush cassette toilet. BSC to 07/2015. Ref: Mollie. Lying High Line Yachting, Iver .................. £135,000

STATIC HOUSEBOAT 14m (46ft) X3M (13FT) Built in 1987 by Bullsbridge Dry Dock as a static houseboat. 2 double bedrooms. Electric heaters. Remote to shore pump out toilet. BSC to 08/2018. Ref: Canace. Lying Willow Wren Wharf, Bulls Bridge ..... £95,000 COLLINGWOOD BOATBUILDERS 19.5m (64ft) x 3.7m(12ft) NARROW BOAT STYLE W/B Built in 2011 with interior fit by Colingwood / current owner. Barrus Shire 70hp diesel engine, with twin alternators and hospital exhaust. 5 berth - double cabin, single cabin and convertible sofa in saloon. Heritage ‘Duette’ diesel range. Theftford electric flush cassette toilet. BSC to 07/2015. Ref: Mollie . Lying Fully residential berth, High Line Yachting, Iver ......................................................................................... £145,000

These details are believed to be accurate but cannot be guaranteed as they are compiled from information supplied by the owner and observation only. They are not intended to, and do not, form any part of any current or future contract.

Prospective purchasers are strongly advised to have an independent survey carried out to satisfy themselves as to the condition of the vessel and the information / inventory contained in these details and / or to have an engine trial conducted which if conducted by us shall not imply any liability for such engine on our par. No appliances or systems have been tested. No guarantee is given or implied as to the condition or legal title. All measurements stated are approximate. In any transaction we are acting as Brokers only. All sales subject to contract.

www.vcmarine.co.uk

Visit our website for up to the minute listings of boats for sale.

Multi page specifications of the boats are available on request. For appointments to view please contact us.

NARROWBOATS - WIDEBEAM - LONDON RESIDENTIAL - COMMERCIAL

Tel: 01784 432111

Mobile: 07860 480079

Fax: 01784 432777

(Office only - no boats): Delta House, Delta Way, Thorpe, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8RX

Vacancy

Technical Sales Advisor

Lee sanitation Limited are a long established, well known and respected Brand both at home and across the world. We specialise in sanitation systems taking in most major manufacturers of toilets, pumps and systems.

LeeSan are now embarking on a period of expansion and seek to appoint a technical sales advisor to complement the existing team.

Successful applicants will be self-motivated, prepared to work both in an office environment, also at boat shows and have a strong desire to succeed within a team environment.

JOB DESCRIPTION • • • • • •

Technical sales advisor Based at Fenny Compton, Warwickshire Position reports to Sales manager To assist in Sales enquiries as required Maintain and develop a computerised customer database Develop ideas and create offers for direct mail and marketing to existing customers and clients • Respond to and follow up sales enquiries by post, telephone, and email • Maintain and develop existing and new customers through planned individual account support, and liaison with internal order-processing staff • Attend training and to develop relevant knowledge and skills

Please email CVs to mike@debdalewharf.co.uk or telephone 0116 279 3034 for more information

Toilets, Spares Tanks, Fittings & Much more Please contact Karl Sutcliffe - Sales Manager email karl@leesan.com Tel 07527 871346 www.leesan.com

LW910 HOME FROM HOME 43ft Liverpool cruiser, extended in 2005 from 30ft, BMC 1.5, 2+2 berths, Alde boiler, calorifier, on hard standing, BSC to Dec 2016

LW876 PENNYMORE 55ft Castleford trad, 1988, Thornycroft diesel (2007),4/6 berths, c/h, h/w, 2 x pump outs, on hard standing, new BSC

LW920 ANDICIY 36ft Springer cruiser, 1980, BMC 1.8, 4 berth, replated c2000, refurb bathroom and galley (part) s/f, solar panel, satellite, BSC to March 2018

LW899 BUDDLEIA DAVIDII 52ft Clubline cruiser, c1986 recently used as a floating restaurant or can be converted, currently on hard standing

£32,500

£29,950

£17,000

£15,500

NB292 NEW STOKEBOAT semi trad, Beta 43hp, 2+2 berth Crick showboat, Vetus bow prop, Victron 3kw inverter, contemporary reverse layout, price held at:

LW884 LYRA 58ft Johathan Wilson tug style, 2005, Vetus 4.17hp, 2 berth, c/h, s/f, open plan saloon/galley, walk through bathroom, ideal liveaboard. BSC to June 2017

LW901 LILIAN MAUD 55ft ABC Boats cruiser, 2009, Barrus Shire 50hp, 2+2 berths, c/h, s/f, w/m, f/f, fully equipped for extended cruising, BSC to May 2018

£97,500

£52,950

LW916 JABEZ 57ft trad by Tyler Wilson/Les Pointon, 2005, Beta diesel, 4 berth, Travelpower, inverter, c/h, s/f, w/m, solar panel, BSC to August 2018£

£53,500

£48,500

BOATS URGENTLY REQUIRED DUE TO RECENT EXCEPTIONAL SALES Longport Brokerage | Longport Wharf | Longport | Stoke-on-trent | Staffordshire | ST6 4NB T: 01782 824635 E: sales@longportbrokerage.co.uk

canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 91

DIARY :BACK CABIN SEPTEMBER All month Derbys/Notts: Regular boat trips on the Chesterfield chesterfieldcanal-trust.org.uk All month Sussex: Regular boat trips from Loxwood weyandarun.co.uk Until 30 Oct London: Hackney Heritage Then and Now at London Canal Museum canalmuseum.org.uk 3 Thu London: Conserving our Canal Heritage, 7.30pm at the London Canal Museum canalmuseum.org.uk 4-6 Worcs: Floating market at Stourport rcta.org.uk 5 Sat Staffs: Birding for Beginners at Fradley Junction, book on stuart. collins@canalrivertrust.org.uk 5 Sat, 9 Wed, 16 Wed, 23 Wed, 30 Wed Suffolk: Work party on River Gipping in Ipswich 01394 380765 5 Sat, 22 Tue Staffs: Work party at Middleport 07976 805858 steve.wood@ waterways.org.uk 5-6 Salop: Whitchurch Gathering of Boats whitchurchwaterway.org.uk 5-6 Cheshire: Middlewich Boat Share Show at Kings Lock boatyard, 10am-4pm 07961 574231 andrew@ boatshare4u.co.uk 5-6 Staffs: The Cheese Boat is at Fradley Junction 6 Sun London: Angel Canal Festival, 11am-5pm at City Road Lock, Islington angelcanalfestival.org 6 Sun Wilts: Melksham Food and River Festival melkshamwaterway.org.uk 6 Sun Torfaen: Canal-a-Thon from Pontymoile to Brecon 6 Sun Bucks: Open day at Wendover Arm Trust, St Mary’s Church, Drayton Beauchamp, 12-4pm 01844 353927 WPvaluers@aol.com 8 Tue Middx: Maintenance work by the Canal & River Trust, 8pm at Hillingdon

92 October 2015 Canal Boat

Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge middlesex.socials@ waterways.org.uk 8 Tue, 27 Sun Northants: Work party on the Northampton Arm geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk 9 Wed London: The Work of the Watersays Recovery Group, 7.30pm at Primary Room, United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove 07787 077179 alan. smith@waterways.org.uk 9 Wed W Mids: Work party on the Staffs & Worcs 07976 746225 david.struckett@ waterways.org.uk 10 Thu, 26 Sat Staffs: Work party at Denstone 07743 628091 robert.frost@ waterways.org.uk 11-20 Hants: Southampton Boat Show southamptonboatshow.com 11-13 Gtr Man: Leigh Canal Festival canalrivertrust.org.uk 12 Sat Bucks: Canoe and paddleboard open day at Aylesbury Basin, 10am-4pm 12 Sat Cheshire: Heritage open day at Anderton Boat Lift 12 Sat Warwicks: JW Ultra relay race starting in Stratford-upon-Avon canalrivertrust.org.uk 12-13 Northants: Stoke Bruerne Village at War weekend friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk 12-13 W Mids: Black Country Boating Festival at Bumble-Hole Nature Reserve, Netherton, 10am-6pm 0844 800 5076 info@bcbf.com 12-13 Berks: Slough Canal Festival at Bloom Park, Middlegreen Road, Langley, 11am-5pm 01753 875194 lynsey.hellewell@slough.gov.uk 12-13 Salop: Ellesmere Festival and CRT repair yard is open canalrivertrust.org.uk 12-13 Staffs: The Cheese Boat is at Fradley Junction 13 Sun Yorks: Naburn Locks heritage open day, 9.30am-4pm 0113 2816810

enquiries.northeast@ canalrivertrust.org.uk 13 Sun Glos: Cruise to Purton and Sharpness from Gloucester Docks, book on 01452 318200/1 13 Sun Lincs: Work party on the Sleaford Navigation 01522 689460 13 Sun, 27 Sun London: Boat trips from London Canal Museum canalmuseum.org.uk 16 Wed Staffs: The History of Gloucester Docks, 7.15pm at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield 17 Thu Staffs: Work party at Cheshire Locks 07926 204206 18-19 Surrey: River Wey Festival in Guildford, 01483 561389 riverwey@ nationaltrust.org.uk 18-20 Cheshire: Winsford Salt Regatta rwns.co.uk 19 Sat W Mids: Stillwater Angling Championships at Blythe Water, Solihull anglingtrust.net 19 Sat Salop: Merefest at Ellesmere, 11am-9.30pm canalrivertrust.org.uk 19 Sat Wilts: Rock & Roll Night, Melksham Conservative Club, Bank Street melkshamwaterway.org.uk 19 Sat Gtr Man: Work party in Manchester secretary@ manchester-iwa.co.uk 19-20 Staffs: Huddlesford Heritage Gathering, 10am-5pm http://lhcrt.org.uk and the Cheese Boat moors up 19-20 W Mids: Tipton Canal & Community Festival, 11am-5pm tiptoncommunity association.com 19-20 Derbys: Tapton Lock Celebration, 11am-4pm chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk 19-20 Oxon: Open weekend at Piper Boats, Henley andrea@piperboats.com 20 Sun Essex: IWA Waterways Triathlon on the Chelmer & Blackwater at Hoe Mill Lock, Maldon 01494 783453 ext. 611 toby.

gomm@waterways.org.uk 20 Sun Staffs: Discovering mini beasts at Fradley Junction, 11am-2pm canalrivertrust.co.uk 20 Sun Oxon: Banbury Activity Day at Spiceball Park, 10am-3pm canalrivertrust. org.uk 22 Tue Derbys: The Ashby Canal, 8pm at The Wilmot Arms, 49 Derby Road, Borrowash, Derby 23 Wed Bucks: Leonardo’s Canals, 8pm at Little Chalfont Village Hall, Cokes Lane 01932 248178 colin.bird@ waterways.org.uk 25 Fri Cheshire: Work party in Congleton 07710 054848 25-27 W Mids: Floating market at Brindleyplace in Birmingham rcta.org.uk 26 Sat London: Fun and games at Limehouse Basin www.limehousebasin.london 26 Sat Cheshire: Work party in Chester 07795 617803 mike.carter@ waterways.org.uk 26 Sat Worcs: IWA AGM at Salwarpe Village Hall, Salwarpe stephanie.pay@ waterways.org.uk 26-27 W Mids: Historic Boaters’ Gathering at the Black Country Living Museum bclm.com 26-27 Warwicks: The Cheese Boat is at Hawkesbury Junction 27 Sun Bucks: Open day at Bradwell Windmill, Milton Keynes, 1.30-4.30pm canalrivertrust.org.uk 30 Wed London: Group canal jog starting in Bethnal Green canalrivertrust.org.uk

SEPTEMBER WALKS 6 Sun London: Walk from Little Venice to Camden, 2.30pm at Warwick Avenue tube station 020 3612 9624 8 Wed W Mids: Walk around Cross Green, meet at 10am at The Fox and Anchor,

Brewood Road, Cross Green 01827 282298 clive. walker@waterways.org.uk 12 Sat Surrey: Walk around Shamley Green, meet at 2.15pm in the car park of Shamley Green Church weyandarun.co.uk 13 Sun Surrey: Walk around Shalford, meet at at 2pm at the Gunpowder Store, Stonebridge Wharf weyandarun.co.uk 19 Sat Worcs: Sponsored walk along the Droitwich Canals 01494 783 453 ext 604 jenny.black@waterways. org.uk 19 Sat W Mids: Birmingham canal walk and run starting and finishing at Ackers Adventure Residential Centre canalrivertrust.org.uk 20 Sun London: King’s Cross to Camden, 2.30pm at King’s Cross station taxi rank 020 3612 9624 27 Sun London: Walk along the Regent’s, meet at 10am at Angel tube station regentsbowler@gmail.com 30 Wed London: Group jog from three different starting points along the Regent’s Canal canalrivertrust.org.uk

OCTOBER 1 Thu London: Talk on the Canal & River Trust, 7.30pm at London Canal Museum canalmuseum.org.uk 3 Sat Staffs: Work party in Middleport steve.wood@ waterways.org.uk 4 Sun Oxon: Banbury Canal Day. 10.30am-5pm, and the Cheese Boat moors up 8 Thu Staffs: Work party in Denstone 07743 628091 robert.frost@waterways.org.uk

OCTOBER WALKS 4 Sun London: Walk from King’s Cross to Hackney, 2.30pm at King’s Cross tube taxi rank 020 3612 9624

canalboat.co.uk

To advertise on these pages contact our sales team on 0118 974 2522 or ads@canalboat.co.uk

BOAT BUILDERS

CLASSIFIEDS BOAT HIRE

Chas Hardern Boats

Est. 1972 Family Run

Individual warm & comfortable 2-6 berth narrowboats for cruising on the Shropshire Union, LLANGOLLEN & adjoining canals. Excellent central heating for all year cruising. Short breaks available out of main season. Pets welcome. Comprehensive instruction given.

• 24hr breakdown & repair service. • Gas Safe Registered.

• All canalside services plus gift shop.

Chas Hardern Boats T: (01829) 732595 E: chasboats@aol.com W: www.chashardern.co.uk Beeston Castle Wharf, Beeston, Near Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9NH.

Lengthen, Re-bottom, Re-fit your boat at

BRINKLOW BOAT SERVICES ★ Boat Fitting undertaken 01788 833789 ★ Repairs ★ Paintwork ★ New and Replica boats built to order. ★ Visit our yard at Stretton-under-Fosse Steel Work Tel: 01788 833331 info@brinklowboatservices.co.uk www.brinklowboatservices.co.uk

BOAT COVERS

John's Boat Canopies All canopies tailor-made to your boat.

Repairs & framework.

Mobile services covering the Midlands.

Tel:0121 6861888 Mobile:07837 489632

THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION

NORTHERN DELIGHTS Start from the heart of the northern waterways, and discover a new Yorkshire.

Tourist Board assessed boats. Comprehensive training.

Tel: (01422) 832712 www.shirecruisers.co.uk VisitBritain Assessed

www.johnsboatcanopies.co.uk

Manufacturers of tailor made covers for all types of crafts. Midlands based.

Personally made and fitted by David. www.dbboatcovers.co.uk

TEL: 07944 295924

BOAT HIRE ABROAD

Private narrwoboat for hire.

Stylishe 4-berth 57ft traditional Hudson with modern engine and 240v. Very well equipped and serviced. Based Napton.

07712005444, nick@nbfandango.co.uk, or waterwaysholidays.com (search Fandango)

BOAT HANDLING Luxury Trad style narrowboat available for hire, based on the Macclesfield Canal For further details visit our website at

www.braidbarboats.co.uk or contact Susan on 01625 873471

LUXURY CRUISING AT REASONABLE PRICES Meander through peaceful, rolling countryside on the beautiful Chesterfield Canal on our luxurious, modern narrowboats.

Spacious, centrally heated, 4 to 8 berth boats at reasonable rates.

For details/brochure contact: CHESTERFIELD CANAL BOAT COMPANY (01522) 514774. Fax: (01522) 538893

Need Crew for your Narrowboat or want to crew a Narrowboat?

Then register on the online noticeboard at www.narrowboatcrew.co.uk

Inland waterway helmsman courses. Intro to waterways, ICC & CEVNI training and assessments, VHF SRC, diesel maintenance and first aid.

01844 238041 training@watercraft.org.uk | www.watercraft.org.uk

canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 93

CLASSIFIEDS

To advertise on these pages contact our sales team on 0118 974 2522 or ads@canalboat.co.uk

BOAT NAMES

CHANDLERY

EQUIPMENT

Come and see our extensive chandlery offering: Large range of solid fuel and diesel stoves, Thetford cookers and hobs.

Shoreline refrigeration, Victron solar panels, Balance flue water heaters, Epifanes paint, Thetford range of toilets and chemicals.

ALL ON DISPLAY Plus many more items at a competitive price.

100 Acres, Sanderson Road, Uxbridge, Middx UB8 1NB Tel/Fax No 01895 239811 Email: office@denham-marina.co.uk Bridge 184 on the Grand Union Canal. Est Since 1969.

Moorings Diesel Calor gas Pumpout Coal Boat repairs Beta engine centre

VERSATILE NON-SLIP PLASTIC FLOORING 300MM SQUARE EASY TO CUT AND FIT GREAT RANGE OF COLOURS Buy online at:

OFF

ALL 10 ON % LIN E

QU OT E

SE O PT RDE 15 RS

www.versatile-flooring.co.uk Why pay high imported prices when you can buy British made from a British company

FLEXIBLE TANKS & LINERS FOR INTEGRAL TANKS High Quality – expertly tailor-made

Maintenance-free, hygienicwater storage without losing capacity.

We also make flexible tanks for effluent WWW.DURATANK.COM 8 HAZEL ROAD, WOOLSTON, SOUTHAMPTON SO19 7GA T: 02380 686666 | F: 02380 686686 | E: sales@duratank.com

Industrial Plastics Supplies Limited

0113 2579000

SEALS + DIRECT Solve your sealing problems. Products include door seals, window rubbers, extrusions, fenders, hoses, adhesives, etc. Free Catalogue. Unit 6 Milton Business Centre. Wick Drive, New Milton, Hants. BH25 6RH Tel: 01425 617722 www.sealsplusdirect.co.uk

BOAT STOVES BOATMAN STOVES

ENGINEERS

CAST IRON STOVES Tel: 01925 757979 or 07831 624822

www.boatmanstove.co.uk

MOBILE MARINE ENGINEER Specialising in Diesel engine - service and repair. Operating on the Grand Union, Oxford and Thames. Contact Ed Boden 07941 048847

eddie.brooke@btopenworld.com

ENGINES

The home of narrowboats Harworth Heating 01302 742520 www.bubbleproducts.co.uk

Made in the UK

FOR THE VERY BEST BOAT STOVES THINK

For sale: Beta Marine JD3 Tug 3 cylinder Diesel engine with PRM 260 gearbox. Only 800 hours from new. Purchased 2006.

Regularly serviced and in excellent condition. Located at boat yard in Stourbridge. £4200.00 Please call 07785 558696 evenings.

EQUIPMENT

TANK SPECIALISTS Polypropylene water or sewage holding tanks, battery boxes, etc. Made to your requirements. Telephone, fax or email for a quotation anytime.

BOATS WANTED

GOODWIN PLASTICS LTD Tel: (01270) 582 516

Fax: (01270) 251 221 | Mobile: 07740 404 938 Email: sales@goodwinplastics.co.uk | www.goodwinplastics.co.uk Unit 1 Winterley House, Haslington, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 5RU

GENERATORS edgetechnology.co.uk call: 01270 509 296 LPG petrol

94 October 2015 Canal Boat

Typically 3” x 3” x 12”

FREE

Quote: ‘Canalboat’ when ordering for a free Service kit

HOLIDAYS 160 YEAR OLD CANALSIDE COTTAGE Next door to the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne. Fully equipped for four. Pets welcome. 01604 864098.

INSULATION COSY BOATS USE WEBSTERS...

FOAM INSULATION...When re-fitting or ordering your new boat remember your comfort. Foam insulation sprayed by Websters, backed by 20 years experience. PREVENTS CONDENSATION, REDUCES NOISE and helps keep you COSY!

GUA ALL RAN TEED

FREE PHONE 0800 581247 OR WRITE TO: Crow Tree Farm, Thorne Levels, Doncaster,

South Yorkshire DN8 5TF

Email: info@webstersinsulation.com See also: www.webstersinsulation.com

canalboat.co.uk

To advertise on these pages contact our sales team on 0118 974 2522 or ads@canalboat.co.uk

CLASSIFIEDS

INSURANCE

COLLIDGE & PARTNERS NARROWBOAT & INLAND WATERWAYS CRAFT

INSURANCE Wide policy cover £3,000,000 T.P.L Specialist Inland Waterways Scheme

Get a Quote at

www.collidgeandpartners.co.uk Call us for a quote 01843-295925 Fax 01843 290063 COLLIDGE & PARTNERS 15-16 HAWLEY SQUARE, MARGATE, KENT CT9 1PF Email: enquiries@collidgeandpartners.co.uk www.collidgeandpartners.co.uk Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Our Comprehensive policy features: ■

■ ■

Cover for all risks of accidental, physical loss or damage to your vessel and specified property £3 million third party liability cover Up to 20% No Claim Discount.

0800 559 3194 saga.co.uk/boat

stating reference GP2425 BASIC BOAT LIABILITY COMPANY UK’S NUMBER 1 MARKET LEADER IN BOAT LIABILITY INSURANCE THIRD PARTY LIABILITY NO EXCESS £5M LIABILITY £50K WRECK REMOVAL

03333 219 430 WWW.BASIC-BOAT.COM

THIS COMPANY IS PART OF HOWE MAXTED GROUP LIMITED WHO ARE AUTHORISED AND REGULATED

BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY

MAIL FORWARDING WWW.BOATMAIL.CO.UK The boaters mail forwarding company.

Unique ‘pay as you go’ service.

Tel: 07984 215873 Email: info@boatmail.co.uk

SAFETY EXAMINERS MIKE SHAW - BSS Examiner covering Staffordshire, Cheshire and surrounding counties.

Tel: 07913 388524 or 07758 756192 Email: mikeshaw@live.co.uk

canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat October 2015 95

To advertise on these pages contact our sales team on 0118 974 2522 or ads@canalboat.co.uk

CLASSIFIEDS

INSURANCE

SURVEYORS

0345 2607 888 Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

MOORINGS

TRANSPORT CPL TRANSPORT

SERVICES (UK) LTD

MOORINGS AVAILABLE Fully serviced on Oxford Canal in beautiful, peaceful countryside.

Cathiron, Nr Brinklow, Rugby, Warwickshire CV23 0JH

Tel: 07711 803430 | www.brinklowmarina.com

HAREFIELD MARINA BRIDGE 180

MOORHALL ROAD HAREFIELD, MIDDX UB9 6PD

The Specialists in Moving Dutch Barges and Narrowboats throughout the UK and Europe

GRAND UNION

Rural non-residential moorings in secluded countryside setting 5 minutes from M25/M40.

Only 1 days cruising from R. Thames.

All marina facilities inc. chandlery, crane, slipway, wet dock, elec. diesel p/out, gas, coal, boat sales.

SERVICES

Tel: 01895 822036 Fax: 01895 825729 K&A Secure Moorings Available, Aldermaston £46.75 per foot, per annum. Phone Richard 07966 138123

NORTH KILWORTH WHARF LTD - Grand Union (Leicester Section) All boat services available including:

01225 872226 info@saltfordmarina.co.uk www.saltfordmarina.co.uk River Avon between Bristol & Bath Easy access to K & A Secure marina with all facilities Narrowboats, Widebeams, Cruisers welcome Live aboard & non live aboard

OUTBOARDS OUTBOARDS-DIRECT LIMITED STOCK EXTRA SPECIAL OFFERS... save £££s on 2010/’11/’12 model year Evinrude Mariner ✫ Yamaha ✫ Suzuki ✫ Johnson Honda engines ✫ Phone for FREE unbiased advice ✫ Engines & spares delivered throughout the UK

OUTBOARDS-DIRECT Established 1953

• • • • • •

Boat painting Hull blacking (up to 70 foot) Slipways Hard standing Steelwork & fabrication Boat sales

• Boat building • Engineering (electrical & mechanical) • Hire boats • Day boats • Moorings available

Shop open including groceries, chandlery and off licence

Tel: 01858 881723 Mob: 07977 909806 Email: northkilworthwharf@tiscali.co.uk www.northkilworthwharf.com

BRAUNSTON BOATS LTD Hull blacking from £7.80+vat per foot plus VAT. Diesel, gas, coal, anodes, hardstanding, moorings, slipway.

Other services on site include: Steel boatbuilding and repairs.

Boat fit-out and chandlery. Gas safe installation/servicing and engine servicing. Surveying available.

Contact: 01788 891079 Email: braunstonboats@hotmail.co.uk

Blisworth Tunnel Narrowboats Ltd

Tel: 01273 603322 / 604432 sales@outboards-direct.co.uk www.outboards-direct.co.uk

NEW! BLACKING AND TOPSIDE REPAINT PACKAGES FROM £1500 07720779436/01604858868 blisworthboatservices@googlemail.com

SELF STORAGE

SURVEYORS

Oakley Marine, Edward Street, Brighton BN2 OBA

A reputation for service, excellence & delivery. Located 30 miles from Dover - the gateway of Europe Tel: 01233 758126 Fax: 01233 758127 Email: info@cpltrans.com

www.cpltrans.com

A.B. TUCKEY BOAT TRANSPORT SERVICE A reliable personal service provided by a family business, based on 3 generations of transport experience. Narrowboats moved up to 70ft in length and 25 tonnes in weight.

Own 45 tonne crane.

Tel 01926 812134 Fax 01926 810354 Stockton, Warwickshire

Website: www.abtuckey.co.uk Award Winning Boat Handler available to move your boat.

• 30 years steering experience of vintage and modern craft.

• Rates negotiable depending on journey • Can arrange road transport at good rates T:0774 777 8500 E:boatmoving@fastrack.co.uk

WINDOWS

DON’T BUY A BOAT WITHOUT A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY AND REPORT FROM A YDSA QUALIFIED SURVEYOR: Pre-purchase; Insurance; Damage, Valuation; B.W. certification; etc: All materials. NDT testing on steel & GRP. For prompt attention contact Tony Tucker

Tel/Fax: 01442 253775 www.tucker-designs.com Mobile: 07882 016471

96 October 2015 Canal Boat

canalboat.co.uk

BUSINESS WEBSITES DIRECTORY BOAT YARDS ■ CANAL TRANSPORT SERVICES www.canaltransportservices.co.uk

■ WHARF HOUSE www.wharfhouse.co.uk

■ OXFORD CRUISERS LTD www.oxfordcruisers.com

BOAT FITTERS

BOOKS AND GIFTS

■ MILBURN BOATS www.milburnboats.co.uk

■ CANAL BOOK SHOP www.canalbookshop.co.uk

■ WOODWORKS BOAT FITTING www.boat-fitting.co.uk

■ CANAL CARGO BOOK SHOP www.canalcargo.co.uk

BOAT HEATING ■ HARWORTH HEATING www.oilstoves.co.uk

BOAT HIRE ■ ANDERSEN BOATS www.andersenboats.com ■ COLLEGE CRUISERS www.collegecruisers.com ■ CRABTREE NARROWBOAT HIRE www.crabtreenarrowboathire.com ■ FARNCOMBE BOAT HOUSE www.farncombeboats.co.uk

BOAT NAMES ■ FUNKY MONKEY www.funkymonkeyboatnames.co.uk

BOAT SHARE ■ boatshare www.boatshare.co.uk

BOAT SURVEYORS ■ STEVE MOFFATT www.moffattmarine.com ■ BLUE STAR SURVEYS www.bluestarsurveys.co.uk

BOAT TRANSPORT ■ A B TUCKEY www.abtuckey.co.uk

BROKERAGE ■ VIRGINIA CURRER MARINE www.vcmarine.co.uk

CANAL SHOPS ■ CANAL SHOP CO www.canalshop.co.uk

CHANDLERY ■ PUFFER PARTS www.pufferparts.co.uk

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ■ CABINCARE www.cabincare.co.uk ■ TRADLINE ROPES & FENDERS www.tradline.co.uk

HULL BLACKING ■ MAINLINE www.rylardboats.com

INLAND WATERWAYS ORGANISATIONS ■ CANAL BOAT BUILDERS ASSOCIATION www.c-b-a.co.uk ■ THE BRITISH MARINE FEDERATION www.britishmarine.co.uk

INSULATION ■ WEBSTERS INSULATION www.webstersinsulation.com

INSURANCE ■ CRAFTINSURE LTD www.craftinsure.com

MAGAZINES ■ CANAL BOAT MAGAZINE www.canalboat.co.uk

MARINAS ■ BWML www.bwml.co.uk ■ HIGH LINE YACHTING LTD www.high-line.co.uk ■ MERCIA MARINA www.merciamarina.co.uk ■ NORTH KILWORTH WHARF www.nortkilworthwharf.com ■ OVERWATER MARINA www.overwatermarina.co.uk ■ SWANLEY BRIDGE MARINA www.swanleybridgemarina.com ■ TINGDENE MARINAS www.tingdene.net

TRAINING ■ BISHAM ABBEY SAILING AND NAVIGATION SCHOOL www.bishamabbeysailing.co.uk ■ WILLOW WREN TRAINING www.willowwrentraining.co.uk

WINDOWS

■ THE CANAL AND RIVER TRUST www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

■ CALDWELLS NARROWBOAT WINDOWS LTD www.caldwellswindows.co.uk

■ THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION www.waterways.org.uk

■ CHANNEL GLAZE www.channelglaze.com

ADVERTISE YOUR WEBSITE HERE & ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ONLY £15!

Encourage new business to your website by advertising your company, both above and on our popular website www.canalboat.co.uk by contacting us at: ads@canalboat.co.uk canalboat.co.uk canalboat.co.uk

Canal Boat September Canal Boat October2015 2015 97 97

To advertise on these pages contact our sales team at: ads@canalboat.co.uk

BOAT BUILDERS ■ COLECRAFT ENGINEERING www.colecraft.co.uk

‘Their greatest need is for tolerance’

BARRY TEUTENBERG Home Brew Boat

What are you reading?

I’m re-reading my favourite book of the last few years, I Never Knew That About England by Christopher Winn.

12

Who would be your ideal cruising companion?

The right answer, of course, is Sandra!

Apart from Sandra, probably my three best mates from New Zealand – John, Keith and Lee.

13 The Home Brew Boat trading at Hebden Bridge

20

Questions

Just one canal boat holiday and Barry Teutenberg was hooked – but how to make a living as continuous cruisers?

What first attracted you to the waterways?

As a New Zealander, I did my big overseas experience for six months in 1976 and travelled around the UK with two friends. At some point, we were alongside a canal and saw locks and a narrowboat and I recall thinking: “Wow! That’s neat. I wouldn’t mind doing something like that one day.”

1

Which is your favourite waterway?

That’s a very difficult question – and one with no absolute answer. Having navigated almost the whole system since 2009, I love everything about the UK inland waterways.

2

What do the waterways have to offer this country?

An opportunity for the average person to escape the busyness of general life; to wander serenely among the natural world. The chance to holiday in what is predominantly a living museum, or live in a floating, parallel universe.

3

98 October 2015 Canal Boat

What do the waterways need?

In my humble opinion, their greatest need is for tolerance – from everyone who uses them. Let’s respect each other and our differing passions.

4

What gave you the idea of starting up a Home Brew Boat?

I came over in 2007 with my second wife, Sandra, to meet her family and we had a short boating holiday – and I was hooked. We returned for two six-month trips in 2009 (when we bought a 45-footer called Northern Pride) and 2010. We loved it so much, back in NZ we brainstormed possibilities of making a sustainable living while continuous cruising, sold up, moved over in 2013, and I’m now in a five-year process of getting my UK visa.

I’d been an avid home brewer for many years and continued on Northern Pride.

I’d noticed a lack of home brew shops in the UK for boaters to access. Having built my own website as a professional photographer for 35 years, I did the same for The Home Brew Boat

5

Do you have a regular route on the canals?

No, it mainly depends on family and business priorities. During the spring, summer and into autumn, our route is planned around canal-related festivals.

6

What is your favourite tipple?

A pint of good English real ale, of course! It’s very hard to find anything quite so tasty in my native country.

I brew my own beer, wine and cider on the boat we have now AreandAre, and probably drink more home/boat-made red wine than anything else.

7

What’s the best thing about your job?

Making a sale of a starter kit to someone, knowing that I’ve converted another person to the pleasures of brewing their own. Oh, and the ‘research’ that is essential to the job!

8

What’s the worst thing about your job?

Finding inventive ways to store as much stock as possible, without infringing too much on our personal space.

9

Tell us about your boating experience …?

I began boating at an early age, when I hand-built a tin boat out of things I’d found in dad’s shed. I shared ownership of a wooden clinker-hullboat called The Final Cut, with one of my best mates in NZ. Hiring a narrowboat in 2007, I took to it like a proverbial duck to water, and fell in love, hook, line and sinker.

10

Have you ever fallen in?

Sadly and rather embarrassingly, yes – at July’s Kings Norton Canal Festival.

11

What did you want to be aged 12?

A photographer.

14

What is your proudest achievement?

Finding the perfect narrowboat for a floating business, me, Sandra and a succession of visitors.

15

What do you think of the folk on the waterways?

They’re mostly down to earth, friendly, amenable, companionable, with all kinds of people from different countries and walks of life. Infinitely fascinating.

16

Where do you hope to be when you’re 70?

I hope to be still narrowboating on the inland waterways of UK.

17

Tell us about your spare time interests?

Brewing is still an interest, there’s always more to learn, visiting British pubs, photography of the canals and rivers, learning more about England and its history, visiting friends or having them on board, and playing badminton whenever there’s an opportunity.

18

Where would you go on your dream cruise?

Across the English Channel by narrowboat. I may have a chance next year with a fellow narrowboater …

19

What superpower would you like to have?

Considering my recent experience, walking on water would have to be the answer here!

20

* Visit thehomebrewboat.co.uk to find out more.

canalboat.co.uk