castles and rosesMarch 20, 2020by adminPhil 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…
a fresh water warningMarch 17, 2020by adminElliott 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…
overwater marina celebrates 10th anniversaryMarch 12, 2020by adminOverwater, 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…
your post, sortedJanuary 4, 2020by adminThousands of narrow boats, barges, cruisers and houseboats populate our rivers and canals... without a letterbox between them! Whether you live on a 40 foot working ex-colliery barge, or have retired…
battery management systemsJanuary 1, 2020by adminTwenty-seven years of study and development have gone into optimising alternator battery charging which, presently, permits only 60% - 70% state-of-charge using conventional voltage regulation. The result is the well-proven…
what is a galvanic isolator?December 4, 2019by adminWhen 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…
talking anodesDecember 4, 2019by adminTalking 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…
coping with rising and falling water levelsDecember 3, 2019by River Canal RescueRiver Canal Rescue (RCR) reminds boaters how to cope with suddenly rising and falling water levels. At the end of October, RCR was called to assist six stranded or precariously…
musings from the boat painter’s workshopDecember 3, 2019by adminIt 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…
gailey wharf training centreDecember 3, 2019by adminAs 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…
bow thrusters you can trustDecember 2, 2019by adminThis (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,…
clear blue loo, brought to youDecember 2, 2019by adminEstablished 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.
tv on boardSeptember 1, 2019by canalsCello Electronics have a proud tradition of UK TV manufacturing and have been pioneers in the development of low voltage, well specified 12 volt TV’s. More recently they have re-…
diesel bug – a layman’s guideJune 1, 2019by adminDiesel 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…
co alarm testingJune 1, 2019by adminfrom april 1st 2019 the BSS mandates that all boats with an accommodation space must have a co alarm fitted
batteries – a brief encounterJune 1, 2019by adminWhen 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…
electric boatsJune 1, 2019by canalsElectric boats (EBs) are a lot more diverse, complicated and varied than cars, because they have to tackle some very tough conditions, but they share some common features. This brief…
protection mattersApril 1, 2019by adminHaving 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…
pigs to plasticsApril 1, 2019by adminA 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…
lasting powers of attorneyApril 1, 2019by adminThis 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…
bilgeawayApril 1, 2019by adminInland 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’.
a brand new chapterApril 1, 2019by admin2009 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…
how safe is your boat?March 1, 2019by canalsBoats are often seen as easy targets for theft, and break-ins can happen during off peak times when the canals are quiet, or at high season when they are at…