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Post by dogless on Oct 12, 2023 8:41:26 GMT
Those of you who live aboard , will you be seeking shelter in a marina or C&RT winter mooring, or carry on moving through the winter ?
The liveaboard cruisers I know, all choose to keep moving, keeping an eye on the forecasts.
I guess those who like to cruise don't like marinas and vice versa, and the take up on C&RT winter moorings seems very low based unscientifically on observation.
Rog
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Post by Mr Stabby on Oct 12, 2023 9:06:26 GMT
I'v always thought Winter moorings are a bit of an oddity. For a Band 2 mooring I'd pay £130 a month, why would I pay that rather than moving a mile, twice?
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Post by fi on Oct 12, 2023 9:12:08 GMT
The winter moorings closest to me still have last years occupants on them.....
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Post by dogless on Oct 12, 2023 10:29:38 GMT
I suppose the appeal may be that you don't have to move and you don't receive the harrassment of texts and notices.
Personally if the weather was really severe I may consider nipping into a marina ... more expensive but hook up and services all on tap and at least you'd be getting something for the money.
Rog
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Post by on Oct 12, 2023 11:06:56 GMT
When we were traveling full time on the narrow boats we never took winter moorings. Cruised all the time even in shocking gales. Quite good fun actually.
Trad narrow boats aloof attitude and lurchers running along beside the boats.
Good memories
But that was yars ago !
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Post by dogless on Oct 12, 2023 12:30:37 GMT
Heavy snows in 2009 ... that's us moored at Braunston just before the turn with our last dog Fletcher. Must admit we never took a winter mooring but we never lived on full time. We have been stuck due to ice twice, once at Long Itchington and once at Braunston (for 10 days there). Rog
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Post by metanoia on Oct 12, 2023 18:57:21 GMT
I was iced in at Braunston in nearly the same spot the winter before that .... Frozen in for about a week, frozen in at Banbury for 5 days one winter, frozen in for a week at Weedon, just for a few days on the Llangollen ... blah... blah....
Wouldn't dream of taking a winter mooring - that's truly the best time for moving and living on a boat.
I am seriously considering taking a summer mooring next year to escape the madness for a while, though.
eta - Fletcher looks a bit put out there, bless x
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Post by Mr Stabby on Oct 12, 2023 19:02:53 GMT
Wouldn't dream of taking a winter mooring - that's truly the best time for moving and living on a boat. Except that half the network is closed for maintenance.
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Post by metanoia on Oct 12, 2023 19:05:43 GMT
Wouldn't dream of taking a winter mooring - that's truly the best time for moving and living on a boat. Except that half the network is closed for maintenance. You ARE joking!?! Have you seen what's NOT happening this winter? Anyway, even in the good old days when work did go on, it wasn't difficult to be on the move if you planned for the stoppages. ETA - sorry - missed the smiley face/wink thing!
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Post by Mr Stabby on Oct 12, 2023 19:27:18 GMT
Except that half the network is closed for maintenance. Anyway, even in the good old days when work did go on, it wasn't difficult to be on the move if you planned for the stoppages. Yebbut why burn my own coal to keep warm when I can use the Boss's diesel?
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Post by metanoia on Oct 12, 2023 19:32:22 GMT
Anyway, even in the good old days when work did go on, it wasn't difficult to be on the move if you planned for the stoppages. Yebbut why burn my own coal to keep warm when I can use the Boss's diesel? You pays your money, you makes your choice. Whatever floats your boat ......
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Post by on Oct 12, 2023 19:49:29 GMT
I was frozen in near Wolfhampcote my first winter 94/95. 30ft narrow boat. Arctic fire in there I let it go out at night and started it in the mornings.
Loved it.
Ernie Kendall used to helm a restaurant boat called Bracken nice boat Les Allen built. He came out of Braun St On and back he would come past and smash the ice with a load of customers having their lunch. quite thick ice then he managed to turn before Napton.
He knew what he was doing that one.
The original magnet man he was always off on the bike dipping the sea searcher for lock keys then flogging them to passing boaters from the Poacher for £3.
Chatterbox also.
Good memories of early canal boating I was only 20.
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Post by dogless on Oct 12, 2023 20:37:30 GMT
I was iced in at Braunston in nearly the same spot the winter before that .... Frozen in for about a week, frozen in at Banbury for 5 days one winter, frozen in for a week at Weedon, just for a few days on the Llangollen ... blah... blah.... Wouldn't dream of taking a winter mooring - that's truly the best time for moving and living on a boat. I am seriously considering taking a summer mooring next year to escape the madness for a while, though. eta - Fletcher looks a bit put out there, bless x Sadly he had a cancerous tumour and was beginning to deteriorate ... about ten weeks later (on our thirtieth wedding anniversary) we had to have him put down. Rog
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Post by quaysider on Oct 14, 2023 10:03:00 GMT
I suppose the thing for me is that I DO travel a hell of loat of miles during the 'boating season' - this year since I left I've done circa 1100 (give or take)... that's a lot of travelling mostly single handing/baby sitting.
When it gets to this time of year, I really do need to have a rest - it's bit full on so whilst going into a marina is a bit depressing (view wise) it's also lovely to plug in, have a tap, have bins and my car handy. I also like the fact I can nip off to hotels for a few days of soaking in the bath and know the boat is "safe" behind locked gates.
Another benefit I find - given how lonely I get as a singleton, is that just having neighbours kicking around or the staff in the marina office, helps fight off mid-winter despair. I'm not built to be a alone... trouble is finding a mate (for more than the time a few orgasms takes) is proving very difficult... despite my best efforts (and STI's) :-(
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