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Post by JohnV on Feb 10, 2019 21:04:36 GMT
It went something like this ...................................... "We don't allow Fibreglass boats" "Why not" "Because they might break down" " Why should it do that, my engine is almost brand new" "Outboards are unreliable" " I have an inboard engine on a conventional shaft drive" "We don't allow petrol" " It's a diesel" "You might sink" " Why should it do that ?" "You might hit something and get a hole" "It is extremely heavily built, was designed for the canals and has heavy steel capped fendering and is probably tougher than many of the corroding hulks you do allow through" "Fibreglass boats don't fit the profile properly" "mine does, it is narrower beam, lower airdraft, smaller draft and smaller cabin profile than almost all narrowboats" "We don't allow Fibreglass boats" and yet oddly they don't mention anything about not allowing wooden boats through ..... I have often thought of turning up in a little plywood boat and demanding passage as it is not forbidden by their rules sounds like you got some mindless jobsworth and if you really wanted to go through it would be worth pursuing with higher ups. To be fair the argument was with BW (well after the start of accompanied individual boats) but I have got the impression that there are even more jobsworths in CRT (possibly they are the same ones wearing a different uniform) than they were back then. I suppose it might be worth having another bash at them when I start bringing Shapfell north. ......... I really don't expect it will be any different though
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Post by kris on Feb 10, 2019 21:05:46 GMT
I think it all depends who you talk to john.
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Post by JohnV on Feb 10, 2019 21:07:12 GMT
suppose so Kris ...... it still rankles though, even after a few years
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Post by kris on Feb 10, 2019 21:20:50 GMT
Yes I can imagine, that's why I think it's worth following up on.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:32:03 GMT
Was that back when they towed the boats through in line, and you weren't allowed to stay on board?
Just a thought, trying to understand why they wouldn't let you through.
You steer, and accept responsibility for your own boat now, albeit with accompaniment, so I can't see you being refused now.
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:36:37 GMT
"sadly, fibreglass boats and petrol engine boats are not allowed through the tunnel" canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/standedge-tunnel-and-visitor-centre/boating-through-standedge-tunnelThe way its written looks suspiciously like someone was confused at some point. Its true that the majority of early fibreglass narrow beam boats were petrol powered. So perhaps an assumption was made about fibreglass=petrol. Of course these days the majority of fibreglass narrow boats are probably still petrol (outboard) but a lot of those with inboards will be diesel. It does seem an odd rule otherwise.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:42:29 GMT
I understand petrol engined boats ... but a blanket ban on fibre glass makes no sense does it?
Am I missing something?
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:44:15 GMT
I added a bit above It does seem odd. Unless it is due to the tendency for fiberglass boats to spontaneously combust when it gets dark during daytime.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:44:21 GMT
It went something like this ...................................... "We don't allow Fibreglass boats" "Why not" "Because they might break down" " Why should it do that, my engine is almost brand new" "Outboards are unreliable" " I have an inboard engine on a conventional shaft drive" "We don't allow petrol" " It's a diesel" "You might sink" " Why should it do that ?" "You might hit something and get a hole" "It is extremely heavily built, was designed for the canals and has heavy steel capped fendering and is tougher than many of the corroding hulks you do allow through" "Fibreglass boats don't fit the profile properly" "mine does, it is narrower beam, lower airdraft, smaller draft and smaller cabin profile than almost all narrowboats" "We don't allow Fibreglass boats" and yet oddly they don't mention anything about not allowing wooden boats through ..... I have often thought of turning up in a little plywood boat and demanding passage as it is not forbidden by their rules When we went through with our narrow boat we did end up with a few battle scars. There are some jagged bits which stick out (above and below the waterline). I’m guessing that if you were unlucky in a GRP boat. it could punch a hole through. They had a wooden profile template which they used to check the cabin would fit through the tight bits. Unfortunately they don’t have a template for the underwater profile. We got stuck behind the boat which went in front of us at the first lock after the tunnel as a result. TBH, although it was nice to ‘tick the box’, it is a long time to be stooped over just to allow one’s vessel to penetrate a very long dark wet tunnel.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:49:29 GMT
Is it really THAT easy to puncture a GRP hull? The Broads cruiser we hired (our first boating) back in 1979 was tough as old boots ... I know because we hit EVERYTHING it was possible to hit ... sometimes twice No damage done. Rog
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 22:01:37 GMT
Is it really THAT easy to puncture a GRP hull? The Broads cruiser we hired (our first boating) back in 1979 was tough as old boots ... I know because we hit EVERYTHING it was possible to hit ... sometimes twice No damage done. Rog You may have a point, however many GRP boaters do worry about sharing locks with narrow boats and worry about passing boats which are ice breaking. I did own a GRP boat in CRT waters and had the same fears. Whether my fears were justified I don’t know. I suppose it’s a lot more hassle for CRT if a boat sinks in the longest tunnel in country, compared with a river or broad. Having said that the integrity of the hull could be dodgy with any construction material.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 22:02:25 GMT
So how do you get on with a GRP topped sewer tube?
Computer says no? Or AN UNEXPECTED ERROR HAS OCCURRED - PLEASE REBOOT YOUR SYSTEM
Tosspots 🤬🔨🔨🔨🔨🖕
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 22:26:14 GMT
So how do you get on with a GRP topped sewer tube? Computer says no? Or AN UNEXPECTED ERROR HAS OCCURRED - PLEASE REBOOT YOUR SYSTEM Tosspots 🤬🔨🔨🔨🔨🖕 I know that “computer says NO!” feeling. Initially we were told by CRT’s computer that we couldn’t get onto the Monty because my draft was too deep. After chatting to the lockie...no problem Conclusion - find a human being who knows what they are talking about and be nice to them. As regards a GRP top narrow boat, I had one of those too, but the GRP had been used as a layer over the wood. That would confuse the computer even more! Mind you that particular boat was a complete pile of shit, I would never have taken that anywhere near Standedge tunnel.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 8:18:49 GMT
Conclusion - find a human being who knows what they are talking about and be nice to them. Good advice and a something to remember in all walks of life. It works
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Post by Jim on Feb 11, 2019 12:58:28 GMT
That's rude. I mean disallowing FRP vessels. Would it be worth altering the registration details to say its been wood sheathed? Get Andyberg to scumble the Hull. They'll never know.
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