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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 13:55:27 GMT
I like to use the coal boats where and whenever possible. I'd sooner support them and perhaps pay a little extra for the service. However many people have told me they always call at boatyards because they're cheaper than the coal boats. Well today I stopped off at Streethay and picked up a couple of bags of Excel. They cost £11.55 per bag. Two weeks ago I got 5 bags off Auriga, who charged £11 per bag. The last I bought before that was off Mark on Calisto who charged £10.50. I would suggest we support the coal boats whenever possible. Swings and roundabouts, but I don't think they're much more expensive, and they can be a 'life saver' at times. Just saying Rog
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 14:04:10 GMT
We would have always supported coal boats if we could, the problem is up North, especially on the North East Waterways like the A&CN they are like hens teeth. I cant recall ever seeing one other than on the Leeds & Liverpool and that was a rarity. I can't even recall it's name.
Getting gas and coal to the boat was a bit of a faff for us as it normally required the use of the car or for us to be within a comfortable distance from an on land supplier.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 14:06:34 GMT
Isn't the one at Wigan called Ambush?
It's a L&L short boat I seem to recall.
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 14:08:27 GMT
Isn't the one at Wigan called Ambush? It's a L&L short boat I seem to recall. Rog Yes I think so.
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Post by kris on Mar 7, 2018 14:08:58 GMT
Isn't the one at Wigan called Ambush? It's a L&L short boat I seem to recall. Rog its a leeds and Liverpool boat but not a short one its 72ft long built tto work the west end of the L@L. It's run by Derrick bent who has been very helpful to myself.
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Post by Andyberg on Mar 7, 2018 14:09:53 GMT
Isn't the one at Wigan called Ambush? It's a L&L short boat I seem to recall. Rog viktoriaambush.webs.com/Always use Derek when I'm on the mainline during summer👍
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Post by markhez on Mar 7, 2018 14:11:59 GMT
Nothing on the Lancaster canal at all, I always thought about starting up running one but not sure it would pay. For reference I pay £11.25 for excel (winter prices) from my local coal yard (handily next to the canal)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 14:14:50 GMT
Thanks for the link. Heading slowly up that way, so his phone numbers saved to my phone now Rog
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 14:17:18 GMT
Nothing on the Lancaster canal at all, I always thought about starting up running one but not sure it would pay. For reference I pay £11.25 for excel (winter prices) from my local coal yard (handily next to the canal) I briefly considered the same when I retired in 2011, even got offers of help and advice from Liam on CWDF (he runs/ran a coal boat on the bridgewater) but when I sat and thought about it logically it struck me that there is a reason for there not being one on the NE waterways and that is it's probably just not viable.
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Post by Telemachus on Mar 7, 2018 14:27:30 GMT
I do try to support coal boats when possible, but I think in the 7 years we’ve had Telemachus I’ve only bought fuel from coal boats twice, one from Bletchley on the nene and once from Auriga when I passed him tied up at Rugby. I wouldn’t use the former again as a result of the proprietor’s thuggish behaviour towards someone I know. But generally I find that when we need diesel, a coal boat is not around. I have passed Halsall on a couple of occasions, tied up with no-one home. Bought coal from Ozzie fuel boat having come across him just after buying some rather expensive Thames fuel, and failed to get fuel from Dusty once due to their running low on stocks and keeping it for their regular customers, and once because the boat was tied up and they were on holiday.
So overall it’s a bit like the old corner shop - people want to give them trade to keep them open but they don’t actually sell what you want and are closed when you want to shop there (this being before many such shops were run by our Asian friends!)
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Post by pearley on Mar 7, 2018 16:08:33 GMT
Excel from Sherborne Wharf, in John Jackson bags, is £13. Delivered from John Jackson, by van or boat, is £10.70
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 16:14:53 GMT
Comes down to lifestyle also, if you are chilling, taking your time, on the boat most of the day then you can plan to use the working boats, if you work all day then its often difficult, unless you have a good relationship with them and leave the cash hidden for them to sort you out...
I have used working boats, but more than often the marinas get my business, only because of the reasons above.
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Post by quaysider on Mar 7, 2018 16:18:54 GMT
I buy room heat from a local chap for 7.80 for 25kg - or un named ovoids for 6.50 from a chanp in barnsley cause as Martin says, no coal boats around here.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Mar 7, 2018 16:19:56 GMT
I filled up from Auriga today, A tad over 80 litres came to £61 so I'm guessing it's 75ppl, there or thereabouts. So more expensive than Turners which is 58.9ppl this week but cheaper than Springwood Haven which is 90ppl. Although I'm notoriously mean I don't mind paying the extra money it costs to use the fuel boats, and when I'm moored over Winter it's certainly a lot less trouble to fuel from Callisto than it would be to keep going back and forward to the garage with 20 litre containers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 16:28:30 GMT
I'd be interested to hear about the 'thugish' behavior if you'd care to relate the story, Nick. Can't picture Rick on Auriga being 'thugish'. Wouldn't have thought he had it in him I've always found the coal boats (if you're within their bailiwick) are very amenable to texts and phone calls to arrange meetings. But of course if you're an eight or more hours a day type cruiser, it will be more difficult to rendezvous. Rog
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