As a small yet niche business servicing the civil engineering, construction, rail, utilities, maintenance environmental & ecology sectors, supporting & training the ‘Search & Rescue’ sector, clients are assured of a one-stop-shop approach to having the project supported from the initial tendering process to completion.
In 'signs from the times', Robert Grindley looks at signs and symbols which have been created and used through time, from early cave paintings to modern emojis. Part 1 covers the gods of Ancient Egypt, the Romans and Ancient Greece
Newly single and plunged into life on the water, we follow Hannah as she quickly learns to live with Argie Bargie, her 45-foot narrowboat. In this compelling account of her slightly chaotic but certainly never dull life aboard, we follow Hannah as she tries to hold down a hectic career and social life while learning to navigate the strange new world on the waterways of London.
Newly single and plunged into life on the water, we follow Hannah as she quickly learns to live with Argie Bargie, her 45-foot narrowboat. In this compelling account of her slightly chaotic but certainly never dull life aboard, we follow Hannah as she tries to hold down a hectic career and social life while learning to navigate the strange new world on the waterways of London.
Jan Vallance has been a roving trader for over ten years, and a boater for 14. All of her work is painted aboard, and even her prints are highlighted by hand.
The RNLI Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer will close later this year after the lifeboat charity terminated its lease at the seafront Rocket House building due to a chronic damp problem.
Fiodra was carefully designed to be a flexible, floating, event platform and a place to live. We have been running a successful programme of our own events since 2018, as well as hosting a huge variety of events for hirers.
CRT report on UK storms. As we ended 2023 and a new year began, Storms Gerrit and Henk swept across the country & our canal network did not remain untouched.
Seventeen-year-old Apprentice Engineer, Lewis Douglas, explains how he has progressed within his role at The Rothen Group during the first year of his career.
There are many mysteries that occur throughout the world, which are mostly unresolved; some are too terrifying to contemplate, others aretoo hard to believe...
The Canal & River Trust is today confirming an increase of 6% in boat licence fees from 1 April 2024 for both private boat owners and boating businesses.
In Canal Boat Lives, award - winning photographer Gill Shaw celebrates the variety of people living on canals today, through photographs and the boaters' own words,
The owners of Stone Lock Cottage, which is part of Beeston Stone Lock (a Grade II listed structure) on the Shropshire Union Canal, have applied for planning permission to demolish this historic lock keeper's cottage and replace it with a modern dwelling and separate garage.
The owners of Stone Lock Cottage, which is part of Beeston Stone Lock (a Grade II listed structure) on the Shropshire Union Canal, have applied for planning permission to demolish this historic lock keeper's cottage and replace it with a modern dwelling and separate garage.
RCR is calling for boaters to check terms & conditions if they have a third-party insurance policy, as they may be unable to recover costs if their boat sinks.
We have to know our planet to love it… then we can take care of it Introduction: Welcome to “The Blue Planet Expedition," an unprecedented expedition with a mission to explore the depths of our planet…
The Waterways management Show should be of interest to anyone who operates, manages or has responsibility for the upkeep of our inland waterways, including volunteers.
A comprehensive research study examining two species of rare plants in the Montgomery Canal, is underway. These plants are known to improve water quality.
A comprehensive research study examining two species of rare plants in the Montgomery Canal is underway. These plants improve water quality, provide shelter for aquatic organisms, and act as a primary food source for waterfowl and fish.
After many years of having a land-based shop we contemplated trading from our 69ft narrowboat, and at the end of 2017 we put the plans in to action, changed the boat licence to a business licence, got the appropriate insurance and joined the RCTA.
CanalsOnline Magazine were approached by NothingbutPadlocks, and asked to conduct a survey with boaters, to find out which padlock they favoured for security and water protection.
Waterside Cottage, owned by Wyvern Shipping Co. Ltd., is now a stunning 6 bedroomed holiday cottage that can sleep up to 11 people. With all mod cons, and in an ideal location, it is well worth considering for family get togethers or for friendship reunions.
Listening to the birds and our surroundings while cruising is great, a real bonus, but sometimes the anglers get a shock when they don’t hear us approaching! We love our life on the waterways and we feel we are doing a little bit to help the environment by living off grid, and more so by having an electric boat.
My name is Melanie and I operate Tiller Girl Canal Holidays at Aquavista Sawley Marina & Waterside in Notts. Tiller Girl is our beautiful 57ft narrowboat.
John Evans lives a mile away from the Rochdale Canal. He loves Britain's industrial heritage, and enjoys the urban sections of the canal as much as the more picturesque parts. His book on the Rochdale canal is a 'must read'.
John Evans, author of 'The Rochdale Canal', has always been fascinated by canals. He now lives close to the Rochdale canal and walks and sails it regularly.
Little did the producers or author Ian Fleming know, that one James Bond film in1962 would be the start of a humungous franchise in film entertainment industry.
Project boat for sale: 55ft cruiser stern narrowboat 'Cashflow' is currently lying in Kinver on the Staffs & Worcs canal. In need of some regeneration and tlc.
‘To build or not to build’ was the question facing Land and Water's marina team after buying the 22-acre site on the River Avon in Stratford upon Avon in 2016.
We are only too aware of the country's economic problems. Prices continue to rise, and belts are being tightened all round. It seems the UK only avoided being technically ‘in a recession’ by the skin of its teeth (zero growth).
Quick, go get me something to stop this water getting in!” Not something you want to hear usually. Definitely not something you want to hear if you’re on a boat, that’s for sure.
Different metals have different electrical charges. When connected, the metal with the highest natural voltage will try to discharge its voltage to the other metal.
Finding furniture to fit narrowboats can be difficult, but OK Joinery makes easy work of it, providing sit-sleep solutions that combine comfort and style. OK Joinery Ltd is a family-run business based in Kidderminster, where its saloon, dinette furniture and sofabeds are handmade to order.
Stuart Atkinson is an amateur astronomer who lives in Kendal. He has written many books for children, both fact and fiction, and is passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of stars and the universe.
I have to be honest and tell you that I have never been on a boating holiday, so I am not qualified to talk about boats, sailing or other aspects of a boating holiday. However, I am a very enthusiastic camper and caravanner and I am aware of many similarities between the two pastimes...
I live aboard our historic narrow boat Trout (built in 1936) with husband Lloyd, aka Bacon Boy!! Lloyd has been around narrow boats most of his life, he started at 14 helping steer horse drawn barges in Godalming…
River Canal Rescue reports it responded to 130 major incidents in 2022; emergency situations either involving submerged, partially sunken or grounded craft, plus salvage work.
Over the Spring Bank Holiday 27th – 29th May 2023 the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association will be hosting a boat rally at the Great Northern Basin at Langley Mill.
In May 2023, Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association will be hosting their 55th Anniversary boat rally at the Great Northern Basin at Langley Mill.
Last summer, River Canal Rescue highlighted the problem of sticky fuel and how this was causing an uncharacteristic peak in fuel-related component breakdowns not linked to diesel bug.
Abigail Joy Tobler has been writing poetry for many years, and her love of our waterways is often reflected in her poems, especially in 'Tales from the Towpath'
With commercial tiller pins from Yorkshire Bespoke Tiller Pins you can be sure of making a lasting impression with your customers. Made to your own requirements.
RCTA donate £500 to each of two waterside charities: Waterways Chaplains and the Forces Vets Afloat. The charities selected are chosen each year by RCTA members
RCTA make annual donations to waterways charities, voted for by members. This year they have presented £500 each to Waterways Chaplains and Forces Vets Afloat.
Roving Canal Trader of this season is Wendy Witch, a white witch and a Celebrant. Wendy does Tarot readings, and conducts handfasting and baby naming ceremonies
Clive Edwards' article on the action packed MNA Boat Club's AGM is enhanced by David Cornes' account of their voyage on the Norfolk Wherry 'Albion' - through sunshine, varied winds, torrential rain and lightning.
Boaters who enjoy football will be happy that the 2028 European Football Championships will be staged here in the UK, with each home nation housing matches. Robert Grindley looks at the wealth of stadiums that can be used.
Hydrogen and fuel cells have long been used in industrial, scientific and specialist applications, and I was sure there was a way to harness their potential to provide power on my boat. I set about connecting the dots and created the prototype ‘HyArk’, named for the fact that it’s a vessel and that hydrogen molecules flow into the fuel cell two by two!
Recoheat makes a unique pumped-air heat recovery unit for solid fuel stoves, and this year’s Crick show was their first customer-facing event. The device fits into the flue of a stove and pumps air through a steel coil to super-heat it.
At OK Joinery, we specialise in Bespoke Boat Joinery, Woodworking and Carpentry to repair, alter and fit out Narrowboats, Canal Boats, Widebeams & Dutch Barges.
The Pig Place has to be one of the most delightfully different pubs we have ever come across, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were one of very few truly 'outdoor' pubs in Britain.
WaterNav is the UK’s only free mapping and route planning tool that works offline – giving peace of mind to thousands of boaters who have previously been reliant on an internet connection,
Angel Community Canal Boat Trust hosted the 1st London Plast, a Ukrainian scout group who had been raising money for trauma kits to send home to the front line.
Angel Canal Boat Community Trust were hosts to 1st London Plast, a Ukrainian Scout Group for a weekend. The Scouts loved it and said it had been 'the best day of their lives'!
With more than 1,500 lakes throughout the country, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to scenic lake cruises in Switzerland. Whether you want to admire fabulous untouched nature or discover a big city’s landmarks and attractions from the water, you’ll find a couple of appropriate lake cruises right here!
We are husband and wife team Pete and Jules and we live aboard NB Molly with our dogs Polly, Milly and young Eric. We continuously cruise the river and canal network, setting up our extensive outdoor display of Fair Trade Festival Style Clothing, Bags, Accessories, Incense and other ethically sourced merchandise at Events, Festivals and various towpath locations.
Aqueduct Marina, based on the Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich, is encouraging customers to install River Canal Rescue’s Bilgeaway filter on their narrowboats.
After a couple of months getting used to canal life , we decided we wanted to start some sort of business. I had noticed that my dad would scribble things down in a notepad, about the moorings we found, the diesel we purchased, what the Wi-Fi was like etc. and was always rummaging through his pad trying to find where he had written something. And that's what gave me the idea of producing a Logbook and Journey Planner.
Keith Harris describes his journey from early days in the Sea Cadets to his discovery, age 30, of the inland waterways of Britain and Europe. His books describe his voyages on Dutch Barge 'Saul Trader'.
Joseph Gasgoigne, who lives on a widebeam with his father Steve, describes how he set about creating & publishing his 'Narrowboat Logbook and Journey Planner'.
My name is Sophie Doyle and I am a magnet fisher. I clean up our waterways by using quality Magnets, grappling hooks and winches. I remove items which are harmful to wildlife and a danger to those who use the waterways.
Our voyage into the world of composting toilets began during lockdown! We had been out on our narrowboat and experienced huge issues with broken Elsan points...
In 'Back to the Drawing Board', Robert Grindley looks at the world's greatest inventions that have enhanced, enriched, saved or simplified our lives in some way.
RCR 2021 call-out figures
River Canal Rescue reports it responded to 171 major incidents in 2021; emergency situations either involving submerged, partially sunken or grounded craft, plus salvage work. The figure is lower than 2020 and is primarily due to a reduction in boat use until lockdown restrictions eased in June 2021.
Hello to the wonderful world of the inland boat ways! We are very new to the world of canal boating. Being based in Plymouth we have always dealt with the ocean-going variety of boats, but we realised that there is much more to boating than life on the ocean waves.
Black Prince Holidays are to launch a new design of narrowboat following two summers of record bookings. The new layout features a larger kitchen area with more worktop space, multiple USB sockets and wireless charging pads, plus black-out blinds and bespoke mattresses for comfortable nights.
Black Prince Holidays will be investing more than one million pounds over the next year on the new Signature range of narrowboats targeting the family market.
bullet polish offers advice on how to clean and polish your boat, telling you what pitfalls you should avoid and how to get the best shine without having to repaint or spend a fortune.
John Skull, author of the season for Spring 2022 tells us how he came to be living aboard a narrowboat after a lifetime of travel. His book 'Narrowboats - It'll be fun, they said' is published on Amazon.
Wayne Sadler describes how Stoke based 'Barge-Inn Booze' came into being, and how it has progressed into an award winning business over the last few years.
The Wooden Canal Boat Society,based in Manchester, is busy not only saving a small fleet of wooden narrow boats, but also putting them to good use. Museums are all well and good, but boats were made to be used.
Argy Bargey canal board game was designed and created by brothers Henry and Tim Biglowe and their partners. Find out how the game was developed and made.
Robert Grindley looks at the history of pinball machines, from when they first started to appear in bars, to when they were systematically destroyed because they were thought to have a corruptive influence on people.
River Canal Rescue is warning boat owners about the perils of buying cheap third-party insurance after finding some insurers will not pay out if a boat sinks.
Inland waterway businesses and boats owners are coming together to help the newly-established Forces Vets Afloat Project restore a boat so it can be used and enjoyed by British forces veterans.
Chris Hicks has been a roving trader for the last 5 years, making Vintage Tin and Cigar box Guitars and Ukuleles. He makes them aboard or alongside his narrowboat and sells them on the towpath or at festivals.
Birmingham & Midland Marine Services Ltd offer a wide portfolio of services to the Civil Engineering, Rail, Utilities, Environmental, and Ecology sectors, working in an open water environment.
Canal living is particularly attractive to retirees… as a result, the boating community tends to be significantly older, on average, than the population at large (the latest reliable estimates suggest that, since the turn of the millennium, the mean age of a permanent boater had risen by a little over four years, to 59).
Why do boat owners decide to live “afloat”? Are the reasons changing? If affordability was important then how do you know what it’s going to cost? Has the pandemic made it more difficult to pay for where you and your boat live? Can you help all UK liveaboards achieve the best deal for each of us?
The Malt Shovel in Shardlow was built in 1799 and is set by the side of the Trent and Mersey canal. The free house pub has been run by long time friends Ksenia and Lena since 2016.
The Folly Inn at Napton, already a popular stopping off point for boaters on the Oxford Canal, has now become even more popular after Mark and Caroline have developed the outside area into something quite incredible.
The Canal and River Trust is to start the use of body worn cameras for its customer service employees whose role includes day-to-day interaction with those on the towpath.
The Canal & River Trust is to commence the use of body worn cameras for its customer service employees whose role includes day-to-day interaction with those on the towpath. The cameras will initially be used daily by its boat licence customer support team in the Trust’s London & South East region in response to increased concerns about the potential for confrontation, abuse or harm whilst conducting their work.
Stephanie Horton says “I wrote Narrow Boat Engine Maintenance and Repair to help boat owners keep their engines operational and moving. This single reference tool combines RCR’s practical advice with our engineers’ specialist knowledge, who through years of experience have unrivalled skills and repair techniques"
Warpfive Fans introduce us to their British Made, eco friendly, beautiful Stirling engines. Stirling engines are amazing miniature engines. Three things make them special… they use only heat as fuel, they are almost silent plus they are extremely powerful. Furthermore they have no electrical components and are purely mechanical. Consequently they’re extremely reliable and with care will last a lifetime.
Cook anything, anywhere, anytime with the revolutionary, award winning barbecue by Cobb. Probably the most versatile & greenest portable oven in the world.
Ian Douglas lives aboard a narrowboat and has been telling stories around the UK and abroad for 24 years. He has now written his first book, Folk Tales from the Canal Side.
Ian Douglas has been a storyteller for about 24 years, working all over the British Isles at festivals and events, and in schools, colleges and universities.
This season the roving canal trader is Peri Pigott, trading as Gillyflower - the narrowboat weaver, and as Gillyflower - handmade crafts. Everything is naturally sourced, and each woven item promises to be unique.
With technology and engineering evolving at such an alarming rate, spare a thought for the humble bridge. How many people have crossed bridges across the globe without giving it a second thought?
It is so good when you get to see a narrowboat completely made over through the superb skills of a couple of traditional artists.
Julie Tonkin, trading as Art by Julie, has been in the business for 20 years, but on this occasion she was joined by a relative newcomer Kerri Williams, also known as 'the heritage crafter'.
Analysing data on each counties’ access to lakes, canals and beaches, new research by Aquavista reveals that the residents of Cornwall have more access to blue space than any other county in England.
The Canal & River Trust is beginning a six-month trial looking at the benefits of changing the mowing regime along its towpaths. The trial, which starts in April, seeks to balance the needs of boaters, anglers and others accessing the water, with the benefits to wildlife and biodiversity that a change in mowing frequency will bring.
After many years of planning, design and head scratching, the Royal Marines have finally showcased their brand new “War Drone” piece of equipment. The latest piece of high tech kit that is now available to soldiers and military personnel on the frontline, promises to change the face of modern warfare.
As part of the Spring Budget announcement, the Government stated that it is not changing the treatment of private pleasure craft in Great Britain where they will continue to be able to use red diesel.
River Canal Rescue reports the number of rescues it undertook in 2020 yet again reached a new high. Storms and lockdown restrictions were the main reasons...
River Canal Rescue reports the number of rescues it undertook in 2020 yet again reached a new high. In the period from 1 Jan to 31 December, engineers attended 231 incidents (186 major and 45 minor), 55 per cent more than the 149 (105 major and 44 minor) in 2019.
Robert Grindley looks at the history of the British Canals and Waterways from the Romans to the present day. He gives us many useful facts and shows how the waterways system is becoming ever more popular for holidays and for permanent residences.
Heather is a writer, poet and singer / songwriter as well as keyboard and accordion player. She has published 8 collections of poetry, two of which relate to the canals.
Heather Wastie is a writer, poet and singer/songwriter and has published 8 collections, two of which relate to the canals. These two were published under the umbrella of Alarum Theatre / Alarum Productions...
For the past twenty years, Fi Lewis has been a self employed Festival / Event Trader, making most of her own stock. She moved onto a boat in 1917, and found it was fairly easy to transfer her creative skills onto the water.
A magnet fisher who caught a grenade in the Kennet and Avon Canal was given the kit he used as a Christmas present. Friends Tony Scott and Elliot Bromfield were using the equipment - which is similar to metal detecting but in water - when they pulled up the object. Elliot, who is ex-army, said he knew it was a World War Two hand grenade and they called the police immediately.
Neil & Bev McGarry are the owners of a very rare 1973 Caraboat (both caravan and boat) which they bought as a shell before spending years restoring her.
Canal & River Trust (CRT) was forced to return a seized boat following the threat of legal action by its live-aboard owner. The charity had seized the boat, which actually had a valid licence at the time, on 6th August 2020 without obtaining a Court Order, which is unlawful if a boat is used as a home.
Canal & River Trust (CRT) was forced to return a seized boat following the threat of legal action by its live-aboard owner. The charity had seized the boat, which actually had a valid licence at the time, on 6th August 2020 without obtaining a Court Order, which is unlawful if a boat is used as a home.
River Canal Rescue reports there’s been an uncharacteristic peak in fuel-related component breakdowns not linked to diesel bug. It cites two identical jobs where fuel injectors were diagnosed as needing an overhaul, yet their replacements stopped working within a week, and injection pumps were found to have failed even though the diesel was clear and bright.
A look at the pros and cons of boating in France, the type of boat you would need, essential qualifications, and the growing popularity of co-owning a boat
The Caravanboat is just at home on the road as it is on the water and can be towed down those scenic country routes with ease. Plus the best bit is that you can use waterways to get to those hard to reach spots that a car just can’t reach, meaning it's perfect for a quiet holiday or a romantic getaway.
Melanie Franklin-Pryce, Tiller Girl, explains how she made the change from being a NHS Midwife to becoming the owner of a narrowboat hire business. Babies to boats!
Bill Savage's book ‘Canal is King’ is about a canal journey-with-a-difference. From idyllic tranquility to urban grunge. Travelling with Bill is a bit weird, often hilarious, always eventful, inevitably informative, chatting with quirky characters along the way.
Sam Keay is the owner of Gangplank Spirits and Preserves. She makes foraged fruit gin, whisky, rum, vodka, chutney, jam & cordial. She also opens as a café selling soft drinks and crepes, and has a fully licenced bar. All on a narrowboat!
Robert Grindley considers the possibility of future deliveries being made to our doors by a robotic vehicle - bringing goods to us without the need for human contact.
All of a sudden I had a stack of glowing coal that looked good and all I had to do was top it up. In fact what I soon realised was that I could actually put an amount in that would last me all day with no constant topping up and no over-filling of the stove base. The pyramid of coal was no more!
Following the death of two friends from carbon monoxide on a boat, the Boat Safety Scheme is urging boaters to read the Marine Accident safety flyer and adopt the safety advice immediately.
The Canal & River Trust (CRT) consultation on changes to the Boat Licence Terms and Conditions ends on Sunday 20th December 2020. The NBTA believes that CRT's proposals for changes to the Boat Licence Terms and Conditions are unreasonable and unlawful.
The Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association (NSBA) have joined forces with the Merchant Navy Association Boat Club to promote the MN Boat Club's new WaterWatch safety & surveillance scheme in East Anglia
Canal River Trust publishes its Boater Report for 2020. The Report sets out how the Trust generates its income, including the contribution from boaters, and how that money is invested in the network.
Bill Savage's book 'Canal is King' tells of the author's training sessions along the towpaths of the inland waterways. They are full of unexpected adventures, sometimes a tiny bit weird, often hilarious, always eventful and inevitably informative.
The completion of a £2.2 million project to restore storm-damaged Stainton Aqueduct in South Cumbria has been marked by its owners, the Canal & River Trust charity, with the launch of an exciting virtual tour along the disused Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal.
Colin Ogden uses lockdown as the opportunity to do something momentous in his late wife Lynda's memory. He completely restores her beloved boat, Whimbrel, and relaunches her.
The Canal & River Trust is asking boat licence holders for their views on licence terms & conditions. They are being encouraged to complete an online survey which highlights the changes between the proposed and existing terms and invites feedback on the changes. The consultation gets underway on 28 September and will run for twelve weeks.
Hundreds of talented wordsmiths responded to a call from the Canal & River Trust to enter a new summer ‘Words on the Waterway’ writing competition. Competition was judged by Ian McMillan, presenter of BBC Radio Three’s popular word cabaret, ‘The Verb’
Fern Floating Fine Art is a nomadic arts illustration business, currently making its way around the inland waterways of Britain. I live on, work in and sell from my little boat ‘Fern’. I am a painter of fauna and flora and resident artist at Fern Floating Fine Art.
'Steph's packed lunch' is the new lunchtime television programme on Channel 4, broadcast live from Leeds Dock by presenter Steph McGovern of BBC Breakfast fame.
The Canal & River Trust has teamed up with partners, including King's College London, and is appealing for people aged 16 or over to take part in its largest ever study of the wellbeing benefits of spending time beside water.
The Canal & River Trust has teamed up with partners, including King's College London, and is appealing for people aged 16 or over to take part in its largest ever study of the wellbeing benefits of spending time beside water.
With the world in a very precarious state at the moment due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, it is reassuring to find that apart from the medical experiments and research tests that are being conducted 24 hours a day throughout the world, that another form of vaccine / protection is being developed and is proving to be a considerable success.
Narrow Boat Engine Maintenance and Repair is an essential maintenance tool and perfect for those keen to keep their vessels in a good condition, inside and out.
Established in 2006, Stoke Art Pottery was perhaps a bit of an accident. First of all, we are not a pottery or even "potters". But an online store, selling high quality pottery and ceramics.
In The East End Canal Tales, Carolyn Clark interweaves memories from over 50 people with historical accounts to tell the intriguing, humorous, moving and sometimes surprising stories of life and work on the Hackney and Tower Hamlets reach of the Regent’s and the Hertford Union Canals.
In 'The East End Canal Tales' Carolyn Clark interweaves memories from over 50 people with historical accounts to tell the intriguing, humorous, moving and sometimes surprising stories of life and work on the Hackney and Tower Hamlets reach of the Regent’s and the Hertford Union Canals. Over 130 photographs and images, many never published before, bring the stories to life.
The RNLI in conjunction with HM Coastguard are calling for people to be extra vigilant when enjoying the beaches, coastal and inland waterways this summer.
The East End Canal Tales weaves the memories of over 50 local residents together with historical accounts to tell of intriguing, humorous, moving and often surprising stories of life and work on the Regent’s and Hertford Union Canals over two centuries.
When choosing colours, ensure that comparisons are undertaken in daylight. It is always advisable to compare colours with a painted boat as it is difficult to appreciate the colour in large areas. Our printed colour charts have accurate colour rendition but the enamel will appear to be lighter when applied to large areas, especially when adjoining complementary colours.
CanalsOnline Magazine's featured author for summer 2020 is Irfan Shah. Irfan's short story 'the Cyclist in the Canal' is available from Amazon for £1.99
It is very early days. I have a range of tiller pin bodies now and there will be more designs in the future. I am passionate about brass ware and love to repair figures that are broken – it gives them a second chance with a fantastic view from the tiller for their retirement. I find it very warming to know I have turned a personal object into a lovely tiller pin for someone.
Irvan Shah's short story, ‘The Cyclist in the Canal’, tells of an imagined encounter between two couples and a less than considerate cyclist on the towpath of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.
RNLI advice to boaters before putting to sea after Covid 19 forced period of inactivity. The advice is for sea going boaters, but applies to inland waterway boaters as well.
A listed canal bridge was damaged by a motorist at the weekend, leading Canal & River Trust to call on motorists to take greater care when crossing canals
Canal & River Trust is calling for motorists to slow down when crossing historic canal bridges after a driver caused major damage to one of the most ornate bridges on the waterways network. Bridge 65 on the Grand Union Canal, known as Ornamental Bridge, was hit by a driver over the weekend causing extensive damage to one of the parapets, or walls.
Richardson and Ask are working with the Trust and its neighbouring developments, including Mustard Wharf, to improve a 200-metre stretch of the towpath, from the Canal Office to the Railway Bridge to provide a route by the water to and from Leeds train station.
Design work is currently underway which will improve the section of towpath adjacent to the Tower Works site in the heart of Leeds and a start on site will be made as soon as the current restrictions allow.
River Canal Rescue (RCR) has extended its range of Bilgeaway filters with the addition of a new smaller midi filter, suitable for boat owners who have little or no bilge pollution, but want peace of mind they will not pollute the waterways if anything does happen.
Phil Speight writes of his motivation in producing a series of tuitional DVDs on traditional narrow boat decoration: He takes us back 40 years, when he first started to paint castles and roses...
Elliott Berry, member of IIMS tells us how he once contracted Leptospirosis and warns us of the dangers of contaminated waters. He also outlines the symptoms, telling other surveyors and water users what to look out for.
Overwater, on the Shropshire Union, near the vibrant canalside village of Audlem reaches its milestone in the spring and to celebrate its first decade the owners, Janet & Angus Maughan are planning a big giveaway of gifts to moorers.
I was born and grew up in the north of England. From an early age, my parents were heavily involved in Scouting, so I spent many weekends and school holidays camping and sailing. My family holidays were spent in the north west of Scotland. I suppose this is where I get my love of wildlife and countryside.
Sue Meades and Colin Shearer have been trading from their canal boat 'That's D'riculous' for over three years. They started trading as Mugs Afloat, but have now extended their wares to include fresh cheeses. They are now trading as Cheese Aboard inc Mugs Afloat. They also sell chopping boards and other wooden items with Celtic designs created by Colin.
I got the idea to live on a boat when I saw one for sale whilst walking along the towpath around Alvechurch. After much research I discovered the rules and regulations would allow me to live aboard as a continuous cruiser.
When most people buy a National Lottery ticket or other various money- making ventures, the majority who win fantasise about fast cars, helicopters, holidays of a lifetime or real estate. How many think, Super Yacht? Not many I would imagine.
When you connect your boat to a marina electrical supply you also connect your boat to all the other boats in the marina via the earth connection in your shore power mains lead. This creates a pathway for small electrical currents to flow from one boat to another. Unfortunately this pathway leads to increased corrosion of the underwater metals...
Talking anodes for most people would consist of a series of questions. Every boat owner knows that anodes are needed, but what are they, exactly, what do they do, and why do we need them? What follows is an attempt to answer all of these questions.
It can be a quiet life, the painting of boats. After the hard work of boat surface preparation is done there is time for quiet contemplation and communing with one’s paint brush. Rather like Mr Miyagi’s instruction of “wax on, wax off”, we spend many hours moving a paint brush from the bottom to the top of a 1 metre cabin side.
As a canal based business we are quite unusual; based at 'Gailey Wharf' on the Staffs & Worcester Canal we are predominantly 'commercial' trainers for personnel working within three metres from the water's edge and of course, on boats as part of their job.
This (r)evolution from VETUS is a combination of our renowned electric bow thruster series and the latest induction motor technology. We are pleased to present the all-new BOW PRO thrusters, the best of both worlds!
Established in 1983 by Mike Borowski, Wessex Chemical Factors has grown into one of the most respected manufacturers and distributers of chemical solutions in the UK.
In a bid to reduce the number of incidents on our waterways, River Canal Rescue (RCR) shares the main causes of this year’s call-outs and offers some maintenance, grounding and lock cill tips to help boaters enjoy stress-free cruising in 2020.
The Vine Inn, Rugeley is a real ale drinker's delight with its own micro brewery on site producing a core of their beers along side seasonal guests and the ever present bass.
With winters getting colder and sub-zero temperatures becoming more common, River Canal Rescue has put together some tips on how to winterise your narrowboat and so avoid costly repair bills.
We are back again at the Piesse of Piddle, one of our very favourite pubs of all time, and one which has been recommended to us by a good many boaters over the years. And it is a pub which needs a mention, because it is not in many canal and river guides.
Lorraine Stevenson, trading as The Mad Hatter, has been a member of the Roving Canal Traders Association since 2016. She creates imaginative and quirky hats for any occasion. They are very distinctive and are easily spotted amongst the waterways community and festival goers.
Diesel bugs are microbes that live at the interface between water and diesel fuel. In some places it's also known as diesel fungus or the diesel virus. The presence of Diesel bug in your fuel tank can be a potential risk to your engine's fuel system, can cause serious damage and eventually lead to engine failure.
When it comes to choosing leisure batteries for your narrowboat, you need to check the existing batteries for size and amperage rating. If you're living on the boat you will be reliant on the batteries,
Following the national licensing consultation last year, the Canal & River Trust is announcing changes to the short-term licences the charity offers to visiting boaters.
This is the first edition of the all new CanalsOnline Magazine and we could we find no better way to start the pub of the season than with the All New Canal Turn in Carnforth on the Lancaster Canal. This is where we sat and agonised over all the changes to our website, and it is due largely to the pub managers and staff that we remained sane ( if not strictly sober).
Having the right insurance for your boat is so important as it will cover you for the unfortunate situations that could turn a great day out in the water, into a bad one. Buying a boat is a big investment, so you must protect it against damage or theft. Insurance for your boat is just as important as car insurance and regardless of how experienced you are, you should make sure you protect yourself against inexperienced or careless boaters. You do not want to be left with an inoperable boat and huge repair bills.
A long long time ago, almost as far back as I can remember, my father had a pig farm. While growing up on the farm my friends and I used to catch rides on the backs of the pigs. We used to get covered in muck - well you know what pigs are like for wallowing in it!
This is possibly the most important legal document that anyone should have in their life time; in fact the Office of the Public Guardian states that everyone over the age of 35 should have one!
Inland waterway emergency assistance and breakdown firm, River Canal Rescue (RCR), has launched Bilgeaway – a product it describes as ‘the world’s first truly environmentally-friendly bilge discharge filter’.
2009 was an eventful year, Barack Obama became America's first black president, James Cameron’s “Avatar” was smashing all box office records to become the highest grossing film of all time and 155 passengers aboard an Airbus A320 flight experienced a miracle on the Hudson River. 2009 was also an exciting year for Aqueduct Marina, as this was the year we opened our doors for the very first time, following years of planning and hard work from the Parton family.
Brian Greaves has a fully operational forge on his narrowboat tug 'Bronte'. His wonderful pieces of ironwork, from pokers to delightful sculptures, are created on board, and it is always a special privilege to be able to watch him at work.
I’m upset Yorkshire Waterways Museum was forced to close, despite being so closely linked with other partners, including the Canal and River Trust and that since its closure, little has been decided about the site.
From 1 April 2019 at least one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm became a requirement on nearly all private and non-private boats in scope of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Requirements. BSS Certifications will not be issued to boats without alarms..
Water fern: This invasive plant from North & Central America has almost entirely taken over the waters of the Lancaster canal between UCLAN sports arena and the locks at the top of Savick Brook.
