|
Post by Mr Stabby on Sept 18, 2024 17:09:59 GMT
You would all have nothing to do if Tony didn’t post. I find it hilarious how Vince uses sock puppets to respond to Tony. To keep up the ruse that he’s got him on ignore and doesn’t read his posts. And you're still here 😁 Rog But only because Dunkley is still here and Dunkley tows Kris around by the nose using his bum crack.
|
|
|
Post by dogless on Sept 18, 2024 17:17:25 GMT
Cloudy and grey to start, but certainly not cold.
I did get up at 3 am, but the moon was obscured by clouds.
Lovely cruise and enjoyed doing Calcut and Stockton locks.
A C&RT volunteer at Stockton set the lock ahead for me all the way down to Blue Lias ... excellent bit of assistance and certainly made the journey more speedy and smooth.
Lunch in the Two Boats (well breakfast actually) at about 2.30pm by which time it was gloriously sunny with blue skies.
Rog
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Sept 18, 2024 17:36:24 GMT
We were going to Stratford, but it took me a long time to sort the new starter battery because I dropped a deck board and the edge caught the Victron BMV712 shunt and ripped the RJ45 socket out. Ooops! I tried to mend it but no good. It’s used by the charging system but fortunately there is a fallback.
New fenders attached, they look good. Repaired horn bracket attached. Jeff came back from shopping, I had to out on a “mystery mission” because it is his 50th birthday on the 21st.
Then we looked at the weather for weekend and decided there was no point planning long cruising days. So we turned right at Fazeley and might potter up to the Ashby.
Fazeley Mill seems to be turning to worms, Jackie and Angie “taken redundancy” and services are closed for the time being despite shiny new Rothen FMM sign boards canal-side. Several boats turned into the marina to be disappointed to find no services, even though the new FMM website says they are open. Not great.
But never mind, a lovely afternoon’s cruise in the sunshine.
|
|
|
Post by on Sept 18, 2024 18:37:35 GMT
I got to use three different Boats today.
Floating electric beer drinking platform, Podium and the Taskmaster which now has another electric drive.
Work needed and bigger batteries plus one 405w black solar panel on an elevated frame. The ERB low wash coaching launch hulls are easily driven. Its not fast but will break the speed limit with a 1.6kw electric outboard.
Just makes ripples. Put a 10hp outboard on and they do make some wash flat out but cruising around slowly there is very little. I will keep a Honda 2 outboard as a backup but this does look like a potentially useful camping launch. Loads of room for a proper bed frame in there. Cooker. Diesel heater, double glazing etc etc. I could live on it !
|
|
|
Post by dogless on Sept 19, 2024 7:19:53 GMT
Grey and cloudy but forecast to be a sunny afternoon again.
More locking today.
Counting down to our final week on board.
Rog
|
|
|
Post by on Sept 19, 2024 7:48:39 GMT
Forecast to be a nice day but its certainly a bit bleak at the moment.
Not the end of the world and not particularly cold.
Worse things happen at sea.
|
|
|
Post by Andyberg on Sept 19, 2024 11:19:06 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Jim on Sept 19, 2024 11:21:32 GMT
Lovely here at Rhos on Sea, just having a light lunch, LEDs are so crunchy. Then off down the prom on the tandem. I think we'll go far right today. Towards Rhyl.
|
|
|
Post by on Sept 19, 2024 13:41:29 GMT
Also they made an error with the newer Eton Racing Boats launches not having the windscreen folding down. The older version is certainly better in this regard. The windscreen is basically for spray in choppy water so when it is calm there is no need for it. Folding is definitely the way to go. In many regards the Taskmaster is a nicer Boat. Its also common to see this with cars but the Podium is a better unit overall and very reliable. If I were forced to decide between the two I'd probably just jump off a cliff and forget about it.
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Sept 19, 2024 14:11:38 GMT
Whizzed up Atherstone today behind a single hander who was super fast (for a single hander) and we only got slowed down a bit when he caught up with another single hander, who was apparently moaning that there were no volockies on. Whereas we were celebrating! I think this is another downside of the volockie thing, people come to expect someone else to work the locks for them and when it doesn’t happen they feel aggrieved.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Stabby on Sept 19, 2024 17:46:49 GMT
Been a pleasant September day today, September can be the nicest month of the year I find.
Am in Bordon, Hampshire tonight. It's a nice part of the world.
Had a reply from DVLA abouth the Scoopy's V5C which says...
"Thank you for your enquiry. I have checked the record and the application has been received and is being processed. You should receive correspondence within 2-4 weeks. I trust this information is of assistance to you".
No, actually it isn't of any assistance to me, Taffy.
|
|
|
Post by on Sept 19, 2024 17:50:36 GMT
Been a pleasant September day today, September can be the nicest month of the year I find. Am in Bordon, Hampshire tonight. It's a nice part of the world. Had a reply from DVLA abouth the Scoopy's V5C which says... "Thank you for your enquiry. I have checked the record and the application has been received and is being processed. You should receive correspondence within 2-4 weeks. I trust this information is of assistance to you". No, actually it isn't of any assistance to me, Taffy. Did they hear from Tony about how your motorcycle is illegal?
|
|
|
Post by Mr Stabby on Sept 19, 2024 17:59:42 GMT
Been a pleasant September day today, September can be the nicest month of the year I find. Am in Bordon, Hampshire tonight. It's a nice part of the world. Had a reply from DVLA abouth the Scoopy's V5C which says... "Thank you for your enquiry. I have checked the record and the application has been received and is being processed. You should receive correspondence within 2-4 weeks. I trust this information is of assistance to you". No, actually it isn't of any assistance to me, Taffy. Did they hear from Tony about how your motorcycle is illegal? They didn't mention Tony but if they do suggest that he has involved himself in any way then they will just be referred to Lucy Barry. Juicy Lucy waives her usual £300 per-hour fee for me. I just don't think they give very high priority to issuing V5Cs for 36 year-old mopeds and this is understandable given that there will be applications for vocational driving licences to deal with.
|
|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Sept 19, 2024 18:36:33 GMT
Finished off fitting the greenhouse from hell today. Being inside it for 3 hours, with the sun shining through, wasn't at all pleasant.
Back on the boat hunt. I've now ruled out the Alaska 500. A 75hp 2 stroke outboard burns around 1 litre of fuel per mile. And then there's the (very expensive) marine 2 stroke oil. This cost would bother me and likely prevent me using it enough to get value from it. The Strikeliner, that's in the background really. I have concerns about the transom. Also the fixed cuddy would make mooring tricky. It will be on a swinging mooring, in a strong current.
What would really suit would be an open boat. Slightly shorter and lighter that can provide the necessary speed with a smaller engine.
There's one 40 miles away in Caenarfon. 15 ft 240KG. Can achieve 25mph with its 30hp outboard. The outboard is a 4 stroke Tohatsu. More economical, 4 strokes. It has a canvas cuddy which can quickly fold down. Easy access to the bow then for anchoring and mooring up. The unusual thing about this boat is that it's constructed from polyethylene, rather than fibreglass. Claimed to be unsinkable. These are often used for work boats or club safety boats. It has a centre console with remote steering. It's not the most attractive looking boat, quite heavy in the bow, but it seems to suit my requirements well. It's a 'Fun Yak', a French brand. I'm going to have a look on Sunday.
|
|
|
Post by dogless on Sept 19, 2024 18:56:26 GMT
First photo that came up. Rog
|
|