Narrowboat and UK inland waterways ( canal and river )

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/7307475

Eastern entrance to Pentonville Tunnel and tunnel keeper's cottage, Regent's Canal, London

Credit 1905: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/980309/view/pentonville-tunnel-regent-s-canal-london-c1905 credit 2013: Google Streetview

We are considering doing two weeks on Leeds - Liverpool on a rental boat in near future. I should think we are looking at one week one way and the other back. Where would you recommend we start?

This is for new boaters on the UK waterways. As experienced boaters have worked this out for themselves.

Of course the most usefull tool is your windlass. Without it you really cannot travel far on our canals.

But the application of a rear ended lock level detection device. Can seriously ease your time amd stress when passing through a lock. Of course not any device will be usable. There is a disturbing fasion for people to own hand held sized portable devices. Such RELLDD are unsuitable for most UK canal lock gates. Industrial sized devices are very much required. Fortunately you will find many stores along the canal. That specialise in providing enhancement solutions to your RELLDD. At very little expense. You may be able to enhance your device over just a few years.

If this is an unsuitable solution for you. Then please considers the option of other crew members with a more suitable RELLDD. Or you will often find other boaters very willing to help out. By adding their own RELLDD to the lock gate.

Now if you are single handing. And lacking a suitable device. Then over the last 30 years or so. Many Internet sites have started to help link the owners of such devices together.

Now I need to urge extream care with this approach. It is first important to remember many owners of such devices are unwilling to allow them to be used on the UK canal system. But more complex. Many with a suitable device whom may be very happy to travel the network with you. Tend to be uncomfortable with the suitability of their device. Due to this they will often also photograph the device using methods that limit its perceived suitability.

I strongly advice. That if the device seems desirable in other ways. Do not reject the owner purely based on photos indication of its UK lock gate suitability. Ensure you meet the owner and inspect the device. This in genral seems like good advice for any boating related acquisitions.

Here I feel I should remind members of our community. If you feel the urge to share pictures of your device. In the hope of finding other boaters willing to join you on you travels. Please ensure you check the rules of this community.

If ever you feel the need to thank rhe vollenteeer crt guys at some of the busy locks. Giving them a packet of biscuits to share with their cuppa. Go's down very well.

I tend to have loads of foxes jam rings on the boat. Due to T1d. But have heard from others that anything is loved. A d it seems like a very cheap way to reward these people for the time they spend.

Not much being posted atm. Given recent news, what little we have is negative.

I'll share my plans for posting at the end. But would like to request all our members try to post a bit about their use of our network. Pics are great. More so any wildlife. Personally, I love that about our network. But many also love the urban canal landscapes and infrastructure. Also, just a paragraph about issues you may see or fantastic history or questions you may have about our network. While boaters are a huge part of the canal. I really want this to be a group dedicated to all users that love our network.

The recent news about funding. Makes it clear this network is hugely valuable to the physical and mental health of our nation as a whole. Let's create a friendly environment where we share our feelings together.

Personally, I am off my boat until the 28th July. My brother, who is a much more skilled photographer than me, Currently has the boat at Ellesmere. He has agreed to send his photos to me once edited. So I will be posting those in aug. I also have acquired a camera that is easy for me to use as I am travelling single-handed. So will be sharing some myself when I take over. (They will be crap compared to my brothers).

A little about my brother and I so folks know what to expect from me as the admin.

We are both legally blind. IE, we have some vision, but it is very limited. As we have both now been forced to retire due to our health. We went together and purchased a tiny, narrow boat between us. (Our gran passed and left us 10k, She loved the canals as well, so we feel we are also filling her wishes)

So we got the 25ft Narrow Boat Alfred Wooley. She is slow with a tiny 12hp single cylinder engine. But we have done her up to the point we are happy travelling the network. But she is not big enough to spend much time with Me, my little dog and Chris and his guide dog together. So during the spring and summer we plan trips around the network, swapping over every few weeks. This is the 2nd year we are doing this. But are planning to continue for as long as our vision allows us. (Our home mooring is in central Oxford. Should anyone want to meet for beer sometime over the winter)

Chris is a very dedicated photographer. While he has no interest in social media. He is happy to share his pics via myself. So during the year many will be posted here. Myself. I have DSLRs etc. But amateur radio is my main hobby. So the boat is kitted with the option to add lots of antennas when moored (ill share some pics of that). But being less skilled than Chris at the photography. Also having a very old DSLR that is not suitable to use while travelling. I only have an older snapshot camera I use on the boat (canon g10). So will share pics and updates on my trip. But they will b more as I am passing records with Chris providing the good stuff.

Interview with CRT boss on funding and future plans.

Fund Britain's Waterways is a group of 30+ UK waterways charities unified in an attempt to change the government's mandate to reduce waterways funding for the next 15 years.

DARFA has recently announced its funding for the canal and river trust. Their statement is available on the link shared.

But a fair summary is.

We spent ages evaluating the value for money we get from the UK inland waterway's system. Where we proved, it was a great value for money investment in both national health and our environment. But despite finding no evidence to support the idea. We will carry on with our original plan. Reducing funding by £300m over the next 15 years.

Just received our new quote. Ouch! Does anyone have any recommendations for good (and well-priced) narrowboat insurance?

Very pleased to see that Tesco have enabled WiFi calling on my phone.

Now I hopefully won't have to go outside to make and receive calls in patchy areas! Hopefully it'll lengthen battery life (and not warm my brain as much) if I turn off mobile connectivity inside too.

Is WiFi calling as good as I dream it to be on a narrowboat?

Recommendations for Holiday Hires.

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to such a topic but I have always wanted to take a short break on a #Narrowboat

I was hoping this would be a place to ask for some recommendations on good ethical people/companies to hire from?

As for location I would be looking for somewhere near where i grew up #Stourbridge #Stourport .

@narrowboat

A place for member to tell each other about themselves.

Welcome we now have 50 members. 2 have kindly offered to help mod this community.

I have updated the rules. More to help define the community we are looking for here. So please check the side bar. The basic gist is friendly and helpful.

Please share you desires for this community as well. Ask any questions and share any suggestions.

Hopefully we can build a place for anyone interested in the UK inland waterways to come share or ask questions.

Also if any one knows of history related blogs on the UK waterways. I'm always happy to read on it. So please share.

Over time I'll add a collection of liked sites related to our waterways, to the side bar for others to checkout.

I went for a little walk on a stretch of the Oxford Canal in the Cherwell District area today, so I thought I would share a few pictures that I took. It was very peaceful. It makes my day when friendly boaters say hello when passing by.

I don't have a fancy camera or anything but I still like taking some pictures while I'm out. :)

We're heading down the K&A to Reading. We don't have time to travel anywhere on the Thames before we have to head back, but vwe were wondering:

Is it worth dipping onto the Thames for a day or so, just "because"? Does the licence seem worth it, just for a few hours to "feel" the Thames?

Hi! Does anyone have any recommendations for lights to put on mooring pins? I've seen solar powered garden lights stuck next to them, but if anyone knows of anything better, I'd be keen to find out!

OK. We know many boats have pets. We also see loads of wildlife along the canals and rivers.

This thread is a spot to share these critters with the community.

Hi we want a polite and friendly environment within this community. Moderation here basically just involves removing inappropriate content/comments. And removing persistent offenders from the community. If you feel up to this task as you are reading through. Please let me know.

If you fancy a nice banner. Feel free to place links to pics of your boat etc here. Ill randomly select up voted ones and post them as banners to the community. Till then you will have to tollerate my little scuffy boat.

This is a friendly community to discuss subjects related to the UK inland waterways network and the boats that use it. Feel free to ask members for advice on living or leisure within the waterways network. Boat repair handling. Anything related really.