tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034446380466742432024-03-06T03:16:54.889+00:00nb Lucky DuckAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.comBlogger998125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-43400295503317388602013-07-01T16:52:00.002+01:002017-05-13T06:59:15.667+01:00Archive Blog<div style="text-align: center;">
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This blog is the archive of our five years of adventures on narrowboat Lucky Duck from looking for a boat to buying, living on, cruising, doing up, and finally selling the boat in July 2013.</div>
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We now live on <i>Willow</i>, a converted ex working narrow boat, built by the Severn and Canal Carrying Company in 1935. You can find our new blog here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.severnerwillow.wordpress.com/">www.severnerwillow.wordpress.com</a><br />
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Lucky Duck can now be found moored on Midsummer Common, lived on by her lovely new owners Melissa and Quin.</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-44775451450492840872013-07-01T16:45:00.000+01:002013-07-01T16:45:04.451+01:00New Adventures for Lucky Duck<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lucky Duck is now officially sold. The money is in my account and the new owners will be taking it on tomorrow, July 2nd 2013, nearly five years after we moved on board on August 1st 2008. At this point I should say a big thank you to <a href="http://www.hartfordmarina.co.uk/">Hartford Marina</a> in Huntingdon, who managed the sale of the boat. I wholeheartedly recommend their brokerage services - not only did the boat sell quickly, but the process was stress-free, the service was professional but friendly, and I was kept well informed throughout. A stark contrast to our experience of trying to sell privately earlier this year!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think it helped to sell the boat locally- out on the canals there are hundreds of similar boats but in this part of the country there are relatively few, so a well priced, sound boat with a recent survey sold quickly. It was only for sale at Hartford for a week before we accepted an offer!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For the moment, the Duck will be moored as a non-residential craft at the Fish and Duck marina at Popes Corner, until her owners' names come up to the top of the waiting list in Cambridge. Then, we may be neighbours! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We are sad to see our first boat go, but I also feel a sense of relief that we can now fully focus on Willow and all the work we still need to do. </span></div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-52690319550489108592013-06-12T14:23:00.002+01:002013-06-12T14:24:00.683+01:00Update on Lucky Duck<div style="text-align: center;">
The brokerage has taken a deposit on the boat, so fingers crossed it will all go through this time!<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-90447727524787216502013-05-17T14:43:00.002+01:002013-05-17T14:43:33.935+01:00Lucky Duck for Sale Again<div style="text-align: center;">
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Unfortunately we learned last night that the person (whose offer we accepted on the Duck back in late February) has changed his mind about buying the boat for personal reasons. So the Duck is back on the market. Tonight we are moving it out of town and will either take it to a mooring near Littleport and continue to sell privately or to brokerage in Huntingdon, we’ve not yet decided.</div>
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Details of the boat <a href="http://nbluckyduck.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/exciting-future-boat-plans.html" style="color: #82bd1a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">are here</a>.</div>
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Lucky Duck is a 48ft traditional stern narrowboat first registered in 1986, with a reliable BMC 1.8 engine. It sleeps 2, makes a great live-aboard boat and is well adapted to coping with being away from shore power. Easy to handle and well laid out inside with a traditional ‘saloon forward’ layout, it would be a good starter boat for anyone looking to begin a life afloat, or enjoy some holiday cruising. All systems are in good working order.</div>
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Last backed August 2011, BSC until 2017. Hull survey carried out 2013 and available for viewing.</div>
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<i><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nbluckyduck">twitter</a> // <a href="http://www.facebook.com/atillson">facebook</a> // <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5S__YnyNohVtI0g_kalLamW72UHfmb68kjt5OGNY7r-fj0oz3txzhPFOmxkOCHOx-NFLF9_VlfDDTY83_CkoGTSdntbd8jeBMI0dJfxuAQlD5tw5q8mXtYMJnvUg5SXrr04BUWYtbqA/s1600-h/email+address+photo.jpg">email</a> // <a href="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/settings/edit?smpl=true&st=e%3DAOG8GaCfIchw9bntF%252BuHeP1vDErRpdHaXvAk557VKfiaE4Iz%252Bj%252BFJ7SkK7SXTivt1FK5cgwIVoopGtyS2dxpdSsYC0OorxfDa%252Bq2MCSuxfcumbyNKn1UzGNBhlLAYhyN5%252FJtZG4zSeiFRgqc0C15aHGO66uO6GmJRuc3ynDHh8SrA2eChu7IxS2vNuCYVA7aJnnfKscp%252FdIIdSTJt8HbOjnEQzr27Q4ZV9JMaGWq9C0%252BLoP00xqahSLgy%252FBg%252Fu7iBmm7kOxBHgKY%26c%3Dpeoplesense">follow</a> // <a href="http://www.formspring.me/nbluckyduck">any questions?</a> // <a href="http://nbluckyduck.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/exciting-future-boat-plans.html">want to buy the Duck?</a></i></div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-16416377901365582252013-03-01T10:38:00.003+00:002013-03-01T10:38:31.488+00:00Meanwhile, over on our new blog...<div style="text-align: center;">
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... I've <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/about-this-blog/">explained a bit about the decisions to move to WordPress</a>, received an <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/hempex/">exciting parcel</a>, and documented what we know about <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/other-severners-ash/">the history of one of the other Severners, <i>Ash</i></a>. </div>
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<i><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/nbluckyduck">twitter</a> // <a href="http://www.facebook.com/atillson">facebook</a> // <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5S__YnyNohVtI0g_kalLamW72UHfmb68kjt5OGNY7r-fj0oz3txzhPFOmxkOCHOx-NFLF9_VlfDDTY83_CkoGTSdntbd8jeBMI0dJfxuAQlD5tw5q8mXtYMJnvUg5SXrr04BUWYtbqA/s1600-h/email+address+photo.jpg">email</a> // <a href="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/settings/edit?smpl=true&st=e%3DAOG8GaCfIchw9bntF%252BuHeP1vDErRpdHaXvAk557VKfiaE4Iz%252Bj%252BFJ7SkK7SXTivt1FK5cgwIVoopGtyS2dxpdSsYC0OorxfDa%252Bq2MCSuxfcumbyNKn1UzGNBhlLAYhyN5%252FJtZG4zSeiFRgqc0C15aHGO66uO6GmJRuc3ynDHh8SrA2eChu7IxS2vNuCYVA7aJnnfKscp%252FdIIdSTJt8HbOjnEQzr27Q4ZV9JMaGWq9C0%252BLoP00xqahSLgy%252FBg%252Fu7iBmm7kOxBHgKY%26c%3Dpeoplesense">follow</a> // <a href="http://www.formspring.me/nbluckyduck">any questions?</a> </i></div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-55624727835753935432013-02-26T17:07:00.000+00:002014-03-06T14:21:00.363+00:00Lucky Duck, 48ft trad stern<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Our boat, based in Cambridgeshire is for sale </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>(Update: July 2013: The boat is sold)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Lucky Duck is a 48ft traditional stern narrowboat first registered in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1986, with a reliable BMC 1.8 engine. It sleeps 2, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">makes a great live-aboard boat and is well adapted to coping with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">being away from shore power. Easy to handle and well laid out inside </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">with a traditional 'saloon forward' layout, it would be a good starter </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">boat for anyone looking to begin a life afloat, or enjoy some holiday </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">cruising. All systems are in good working order.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Last backed August 2011, BSC until 2016. Hull surveyed 2013 and available for viewing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Guide Price: £23,500 ono</b></span></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> </b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Accomodation</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Starting at the bows, there is a large storage locker, with water tank </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">below, and an outdoor space, with a vinyl cratch cover. Rolling up the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the sides makes this a lovely space to sit outside in the summer. In </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">winter there is plenty of room for fuel storage without resorting to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">using the roof. The two 19kg gas bottles are also out here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Entry into the cabin is through a pair of beautiful unique curved </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">metal framed doors with glass panels. The boat is lined with a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">combination of T&G and plywood, with polystyrene insulation. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It was completely refitted by the previous owner, with new wood floors, in 2006. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Moving back through the boat there is a comfy living room, with shelving, a two seater sofa</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, a fold out table and some </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">fixed seating with storage under. The boat is heated by the Morso </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Squirrel solid fuel stove, with a back boiler to a radiator in the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">bedroom.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In the kitchen, there is a domestic sized gas oven and four hobs, a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">very efficient Shoreline 12V fridge freezer, a sink and lots of storage space. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">All the oak cupboard doors open to reveal sliding drawers, maximising </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">storage and access. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">There is a wet room with a Morco instantaneous gas water heater (no </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">need to run the engine to get hot water!), a shower, sink, and a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Portpotti toilet.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The bedroom again maximises storage space by having a double bed which </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">folds away in seconds on gas struts when not in use. Underneath is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">top access wardrobe, lots of deep shelves for storing books and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">clothes, as well as two chests of drawers, and a step with a lid for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">even more storage. Part of the space under the bed used to be a desk, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and could be easily converted back. Up the step and through the door is the engine </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">room, housing the reliable, skin tank-cooled BMC 1.8 diesel engine, which has been </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">regularly serviced and run. I 2009, we had the engine re-aligned and new skin fittings installed by Fox's boatyard at March. Its relatively short length for this size </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">engine means that it is a nippy boat. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Electricity<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The battery bank consists of 4 100Ah Elecsol deep cycle semitraction </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">batteries and a dedicated started battery, which are all two years </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">old, but have been well-looked after and continually charged by the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">136W solar panel on the roof, which charges the batteries through a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">top of the range MPPT (maximum power point tracking) regulator. There </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">is also an alternator and a 20A charger which can be used to charge </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the batteries when connected to a generator or shore power. A 2000W </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">inverter allows you to use mains powered devices when not connected to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">a shoreline or generator</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> boat has a 12V circuit which runs the fluorescent lights, water </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">pumps, fridge and 12V sockets, and a 240V system which runs additional </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">lights, and power sockets. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The solar panel means that from March until September, the boat </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">is entirely self sufficient for electricity, This is great for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">live-aboards, but also means peace of mind if you are leaving the boat </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">for extended periods of time, as you know the batteries will be full </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">when you get back.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Exterior</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We repainted the boat (taken back to bare metal) in 2011, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">refreshed in Summer 2012, using Craftmaster Grand Union Blue on the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">sides and International Atlantic Grey on the roof. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We don't know who the boat is built by. Best guess is a Colecraft hull with a bespoke, one off cabin. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The roof is double skinned as it seems to have been extended from a cruiser stern to a trad stern at some time in the past, and a new roof put over the whole lot.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The hull was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">blacked in 2011 with two sprayed on coats of International Intertuf. There is some minor, historic, pitting on the hull </span>which<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the survey picked up, but this has not advanced at all in the five years since the previous survey, so are not of concern. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">All mooring lines would be included in the sale. There is a double </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">skinned chimney.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Bilges/Ballast</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The boat is ballasted with shingle in the cabin bilge and with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">moveable paving slabs for adjustment in the bows.</span></span><br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-90310679322347146432013-02-24T23:05:00.001+00:002013-02-26T12:14:30.231+00:00Willow's History<div style="text-align: center;">
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For us, one of the best things about owning an historic boat is the history behind it, and the cargoes carried and routes used, along with the people who worked the boat. Here's what we know so far after a little research; we're planning on visiting the waterways archives to discover more!</div>
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Willow was built by Charles Hill of Bristol, one of eight new motors ordered by Severn and Canal Carrying Company at a cost of £700 each. It was registered at Gloucester (no.533) on 18th February 1935. These eight boats were composite of wrought iron (from Hingley's at Netherton) with elm bottom boards. The hull was welded rather than riveted together, and was one of the first to have this revolutionary construction. They were built to carry the maximum load possible, specified at the full 72' long, and the welded construction, very bluff fore-end and short double curved swim allowed a capacity of 33 tons on a 3'9" draft. The design was not pleasing to all, as Rolt called them "ugly and clumsy". </div>
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A number of additional features distinguished Willow and the other "tree class" motors; the 9hp S-type Petter Semi diesel was located in an engine room at the back of the cabin, with the accommodation between engine and hold. This was very unpopular, for the steerer was subject to all the noise and exhaust smoke, and could not tend the range when travelling. Other features included water ballast tanks under the cabin floor (Willow still retains traces of the in-built tank) along with very pointed sterns, bell-mouthed ventilators, engine exhaust funnel and portholes being very much like those fitted to the seagoing ships that were Charles Hill's normal output. In addition, the tee-stud on the fore-end was sideways and the counter was fitted with two small tee-studs rather than dollies; this was to prevent ropes from high tidal dockside walls such as at Gloucester Docks slipping off. The engines were problematic; although apparently never intended to tow a butty, the 9hp engine was inadequate for a single motor on the fast-flowing Severn (earlier wooden S&CCCo motors had 15hp and 20hp Bolinders) with, for example, Willow once being swept downriver and becoming stuck on Maisemore weir. </div>
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Willow had a very short working life with S&CCCo, being worked by Walter James Tonks and others.Major contracts included carrying chocolate crumb for Cadbury's to Bournville - this contract and Cadbury's presence as a director on the board of S&CCCo secured the construction of the "tree class" boats - along with (reputedly) Typhoo Tea, England's Glory matches, and other cargoes such as timber, wheat, canned goods and metals from the Bristol Channel ports to Birmingham. In the 1940s it was leased to FMC who used it, and 4 others of the tree class, around the Midlands and North-west region, before 1949 when the DIWE relegated them to maintenance craft. Willow (along with Ash) had a crane fitted in the hold and languished in Hayhurst Yard in Northwich, before being bought by Malcolm Braine (along with President, Holland, and Ash) in the late 1970s.</div>
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It was advertised for sale, and was sold into private ownership in 1979, despite it being sunk at the time! It was rebottomed in steel in 1980, replacing the elm, and a wooden framed full length cabin added for the owner, who lived aboard since then, with the cabin being recently skinned in steel. It was rebottomed and refooted in steel in 2010 at Langley Mill.</div>
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<b><u>Links: </u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=42879&view=findpost&p=786250">Photographs of Willow (not Oak) at Hayhurst Yard in the 1970s</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/people/families/tonksfamily.htm">The Tonks family, who worked Willow in the 1930s</a></div>
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<u><a href="http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/vessels/nwmnarrowboats.htm">Photographs and details of Oak, another Severner, still in original condition and unconverted</a></u></div>
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<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4036/4353857165_7f30666360_z.jpg">Photograph of Oak, looking in need of another refurbishment, showing the original arrangement of chimneys, marine style ventilators and exhaust funnel</a></div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-58728513541388850352013-02-23T22:15:00.001+00:002013-02-23T22:16:54.054+00:00Fitout of Willow is in progress<div style="text-align: center;">
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See <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/">http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com</a> for lots of photos of Willow in dry dock.</div>
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646174143519854448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-4551678193827706342013-02-22T23:30:00.001+00:002013-02-22T23:39:15.035+00:00Historic Boat Owners at Last!I've been teasing our blog readers with a few images of our new old boat for a while, not wanting to tempt fate by revealing which boat we had made an offer on, but now, I can say that our new old boat is the 1935 Severn & Canal Carrying Company motor, Willow. <br />
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Today, the boat was surveyed by a specialist in historic boats, and he assured us that the hull, rebottomed three years ago, was in good shape, and that in general, the boat was an excellent buy! So, we are going for it! <br />
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The boat is in need of a lot of work on the interior but we are very excited to be embarking on our next adventure! We have started a new blog for Willow, at <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/">http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com</a><br />
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We can also show some photographs of the boat now we can say what it is....<br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-88021273636416383462013-02-19T18:07:00.000+00:002013-02-19T18:07:29.568+00:00Midsummer Common<div style="text-align: center;">
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Whilst we wait impatiently for Friday's survey of the New Old Boat, and to hear if anyone wants to buy the Duck, it is good to remember that living here, in this city, on the river, on a boat (a boat!), is simply wonderful. And that whatever happens over the next few days and weeks, however stressful it is, we are lucky. Lucky ducks in fact (for now at least!).</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-48776306213998212282013-02-18T13:51:00.000+00:002013-02-18T13:51:35.159+00:00The Key to the Kingdom<div style="text-align: center;">
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Some years ago, we needed to get hold of a BW Key and Sarah (then on Warrior, now of Chertsey and Bakewell) <a href="http://nbwarrior.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/keys-to-kingdom.html">came to our rescue to lend us hers</a>. It was a symbolic moment - once you have the key that opens up all the waterways locks (both the navigational and the door sort) you are officially a boater. </div>
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So it was with great pleasure that we gave this EA key as a gift to our friends who have just bought their first boat. I bought a mini picture frame and put a photo of them and their boat inside it. It's got an extendable string and a clip too for attaching it to your belt whilst boating (I find this is more reassuring than having them on a cork ball).</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-4854344116107444912013-02-17T19:11:00.001+00:002013-02-17T19:13:28.358+00:00Inside the Duck <div style="text-align: center;">
I rarely post photos of the interior of the Duck, because photographing the insides of boats is notoriously difficult and the Duck is rarely tidy enough! But we had three viewings scheduled this weekend so the boat was looking nice and the sun was shining so I took a few photos both for the the blog and to use on the Apollo Duck ad, which is now updated.<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-43965932204883090422013-02-14T10:36:00.001+00:002013-02-14T10:36:22.674+00:00Still Waiting<div style="text-align: center;">
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Well, we had hoped that by Valentine's Day we would have our New Old Boat, but we are still waiting. The dry dock was booked for the 8th but the boat being worked on in the dock was not finished due to the bad weather. (It is not a covered dock unfortunately). So we re-booked the dock and the surveyor for the 22nd and went up to the boat anyway. Since the boat is not lived in (due to not being fitted out!) we were able to stay over in it for the weekend, make more plans and take measurements. It was really useful to have the time to poke about and get our heads around the task we will have ahead of us if the survey comes back with good news. Thankfully the stove is installed and proved to be quite wonderfully warm, we had a shoreline and a sofa bed to sleep on. </div>
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As well as drawing plans, we also went over to the current owner's garage to see the things he took of the boat when he removed the fit out to have it rebottomed. There were a lot of very useful bits and pieces like a nearly new Spinflo oven/hob, a gas water heater, table and chairs and a boat size mattress which would all come with the boat. Additionally we went to the nearby IKEA and spoke to one of their consultants about how much a kitchen would cost. We weren't sure if we'd like any of their kitchens but we found one very traditional looking style which we both liked, and when they helped us cost it up, we found that it was well under our budget. They also gave us a free lunch because we had to wait to have an appointment with them. Since we'd been planning to eat there anyway, this was a bonus! </div>
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We'd planned to stay the whole of the half term week at the boat had the survey happened on the 8th and gone well, so that we could make a start with the fit out, but since we didn't want to do any work to a boat that's not ours yet we only stayed until Monday morning. We decided to have a break anyway, and so spent two days in nearby Nottingham, somewhere neither of us had been before. The weather was fairly grey but we had booked a nice little hotel near the Arboretum and we enjoyed wandering round the city and taking rides on the trams! We walked the length of the Beeston Cut in two parts: from the railway station to the Trent on Monday and all the way out to Beeston on Tuesday. On Monday night we ate in the pub which now occupies the ground floor of the British Waterways building in the centre of the City. </div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-69416337510088827022013-02-04T14:37:00.000+00:002013-02-04T14:37:11.292+00:00Railings<div style="text-align: center;">
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The City Council have finally taken over ownership of the infamous railings area in Cambridge and have issued a consultation. If you have an interest in this please do fill it in - visitors to Cambridge should have their voices heard too.</div>
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http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-entertainment/boating-and-the-river-cam/riverside-mooring-consultation.en<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-26058924319263492442013-01-27T20:32:00.002+00:002013-01-27T20:32:59.361+00:00Quid Pro Tow<div style="text-align: center;">
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Well, not actually. We didn't really charge any money for towing, but I thought up that title a few weeks ago and have been dying to use it.</div>
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Right, let's start at the beginning.</div>
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Two friends, Other Amy and Kirsty, are in the process of buying <i>Pyewacket</i>, the ex-Merchant Navy lifeboat owned by another friend of ours, that <a href="http://nbluckyduck.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/pyewacket-rides-again.html">we towed to Waterbeach in 201</a>2. Unfortunately, the hull needs some work, and so we arranged to tow them to Ely to have the work done; their engine, a lovely Petter PH2, requires some cossetting and is on my list of fun projects to get involved in. Amy Duck just gave me a look that clearly meant, "we've got lots of projects already", though, so that's probably on hold for now...</div>
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Yesterday morning we took Pyewacket across from her normal mooring outside Jesus Green swimming pool to the visitor moorings, where the interior could be stripped out and taken by van to some lock-up storage, to be reinstated once the work has finished. We breasted up for the short trip, and despite the fairly strong stream, managed to turn and reverse into a handy space.</div>
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Sunday was to be the long trip to Ely, but it didn't get off to a good start. Strong winds and torrential rain resulted in the river level rising and the flow increasing, the Environment Agency calling and texting flood alerts at 3am, and a boat coming loose meant we had very little sleep between us.</div>
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The planned 7:30am start was delayed by an hour whilst we remoored a rogue narrowboat, but soon we were underway. I put our pair of long cross straps on a Karabiner clip attached to a HUGE shackle on Pyewacket's stempost, where I think the davits and lifting blocks would have attached when it was a lifeboat on a ship.</div>
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We made very good progress out of town on the strong stream, only scaring a couple of rowing boats, and were soon at Baits Bite lock. The wind and the stream had picked up, and it proved impossible to get a line off the back of Pyewacket onto the lock landing stage, so it blew around 180 degrees and ended up alongside the Duck, facing the wrong way. Not a major problem, though- attaching a few ropes together let us pull it back around from the bank before we went into the lock.</div>
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The wind intensified as we got out of town, and by the time we got to Bottisham Lock, it was strong enough to rock the Duck around a lot and blow the unballasted, empty shell of Pyewacket about, making steering difficult. We made it to the lock landing stage, though, and Pyewacket again gracefully pirouetted around alongside. Not to worry though; Amy Duck set the lock, and Big John, who nicely took on the role of volunteer lock keeper for us, supplied some useful grunt to turn her around again so we could get into the lock.</div>
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Once through Bottisham lock, the Fen landscape opens out, and the wind, checked by fewer trees, was fierce and meant we had to crab along at times to keep the skittering Pyewacket away from the bank. But we made reasonable time in the stream, and arrived in Ely on schedule at just gone 12:45, so a trip of 4 and a quarter hours- the stream making up for the fact that we were towing.</div>
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We moored Pyewacket at the boatyard where the works will take place, and retired to the Cutter Inn to celebrate.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safe arrival. Other Amy and Kirsty celebrate.</td></tr>
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Unfortunately the increasing stream, and the lack of sleep last night, made us both extremely tired and unwilling to face the slow, upstream slog back to Cambridge, so we're going to stay in Ely for the next few days and commute to work by train, coming in one evening once the floods abate.</div>
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646174143519854448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-77338808419343081682013-01-23T10:24:00.001+00:002013-01-23T10:24:14.933+00:00Snow in ElyWe were in Ely at the weekend, as the snow started to settle properly. The Cathedral was looking magical in the snow, and we enjoyed a walk around the town, stopping into Waterside Antiques (aka the Gnome Factory) to look for things we might need for the new old boat. There's a brass bilge pump there which has been on display for about 5 years, and we have promised ourselves that when we cruise back through Ely on our new old boat, we'll buy it!<br />
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Hope everyone is staying warm and safe!<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-80466936189402922932013-01-21T09:31:00.001+00:002013-01-21T09:31:17.546+00:00Narrowboat Lucky Duck for Sale<div style="text-align: center;">
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At the weekend, we decided to officially put the Duck up for sale, in the knowledge that these things take a while. Here is the Apollo Duck advert: <a href="http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=287296">http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=287296</a>. Please share it widely!</div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: inherit, serif; line-height: 115%;">Summary</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: inherit, serif; line-height: 115%;">Lucky Duck is a 48ft
traditional stern narrowboat first registered in 1986, with a reliable BMC
1.8 engine. It sleeps 2 + 2 on a sofa bed, makes a great live-aboard boat
and is well adapted to coping with being away from shore power. Easy to
handle and well laid out inside with a traditional 'saloon forward'
layout, it would be a good starter boat for anyone looking to begin a life
afloat, or enjoy some holiday cruising. All systems are in good working
order.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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Last out of the water July 2011, BSC until Dec 2013. Hull
surveyed 2008.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<b>Guide Price: £27,500 ono</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-4074030453330782842013-01-16T16:50:00.001+00:002013-01-16T16:50:43.347+00:00And now we wait!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Having agreed a price for the boat and got all excited, we now find that we can't get it surveyed for another 4 and half weeks. It is the wrong side of a stoppage, there's another boat without a bottom currently in the only dry dock and it's not clear exactly how long it will take to get it watertight. Have booked a recommended surveyor nonetheless and he's aware that there's some uncertainty. Ah well, boat stuff always happens slowly, plenty of time to keep planning the fit out and talk to people about joinery etc. Our plan is to go to the boat for the survey and then if it passes (we don't expect it to have any major problems as the boat was rebottomed and refooted in 2010) we will get the money transferred and start work inside. </div>
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We plan to fit the plumbing and electric systems ourselves but have the flooring and kitchen joinery done professionally. We don't want fitted furniture at all, and will be looking to fill the huge living/dining room with a nice second hand table and chairs as well as a sofa and lots of bookshelves! Many of the key bits and pieces come with the boat, such as most of the flooring, the shower cubicle and an oven. I will leave you with another taster - of the one thing that is fitted, a beautiful, gigantic, green enamelled stove. You can also see the quality of the ribbon grained oak with which the boat has been lined, in this photo.</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-88788380409908726192013-01-13T12:30:00.001+00:002013-01-13T12:30:01.598+00:00Boat NewsWe are excited to be able to report that we've had an offer accepted on a full length converted historic boat, subject to an imminent survey. Here's a taster!<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLjKNeCs46GvxXeLEzY4reRA59v8ufQufOjlAktED6dZBhhKNHnPOmPc7DCwA0qfdNOviwV1wU7HLIfTLU6DT-sHpbUsrbzZ_mgfwezY-fi2H2XUhK5ZzlGpg2QgVzQNCMSdzrIr7f-qE/s640/blogger-image--410857979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLjKNeCs46GvxXeLEzY4reRA59v8ufQufOjlAktED6dZBhhKNHnPOmPc7DCwA0qfdNOviwV1wU7HLIfTLU6DT-sHpbUsrbzZ_mgfwezY-fi2H2XUhK5ZzlGpg2QgVzQNCMSdzrIr7f-qE/s640/blogger-image--410857979.jpg" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-6065770691586857792013-01-09T15:49:00.002+00:002013-01-09T15:49:24.263+00:00Winter Cruise<div style="text-align: center;">
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On Sunday we went for a cruise, taking our friends Simon and Ann out to the Bridge for Sunday lunch. It was a grey, damp day, but despite that it was nice to be out on the water. We moored up, had a delicious lunch at the Bridge and then pootled back just in time to get back before dark. </div>
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Things are a little quiet round here because we've got a lot going on behind the scenes that we can't talk about right now. But rest assured that we will when we can and it's all positive at the moment!</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-64047691358154577802013-01-04T18:21:00.001+00:002013-01-04T18:28:52.133+00:00Hammer and TrickleToday I managed to get a lot of jobs done on the boat.<br />
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First up was to fit a new mounting for the bilge pump and float switch under the stern gear. I mounted them in a large Tupperware box so that hopefully any drips can be caught and dealt with. I used Sikaflex to glue the float switch down, and screwed a wooden batten across to hold the bilge pump itself down.<br />
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Working out the electrical connections was a bit harder. I wanted to wire it so the bilge pump could be turned on manually or by the float switch. A bit of thought led me to put the two switches in the circuit in parallel so that either can complete the circuit and run the pump.<br />
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I also had some modifications made to our mooring pins. We use cut off lengths of scaffolding pole as well as normal pins, which although they are far more fixed in the ground, the rope is less secure and can be just lifted off. So I bought two U bolts and had them welded onto the sides of the tubes by the Mackays metalworking workshop. A very good result, two pins - one about 3' long, the other nearer 4' - with loops on the side to stop the rope being lifted off.<br />
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Sledgehammering them into the ground was hard work, but we're now securely moored. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoftv4Zcgls-Z7ShgyfHkQWN_V9BvA6SjukUuh3Ookatpnoa5AFpxYdCeeBzvq24x48pI8k0y4x654nYG9PZG-U3_ykobOT1mz872s5IzzWL25hgwE2n_eoNCracBHxNF7fpF0FMKQfHV/s640/blogger-image--506429509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoftv4Zcgls-Z7ShgyfHkQWN_V9BvA6SjukUuh3Ookatpnoa5AFpxYdCeeBzvq24x48pI8k0y4x654nYG9PZG-U3_ykobOT1mz872s5IzzWL25hgwE2n_eoNCracBHxNF7fpF0FMKQfHV/s640/blogger-image--506429509.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzx722ZODfDpiqh5PqawfwMD2Oh_1Af6i2COv5NmFTIN7dQtt97Ktd9Tf9IOpMr6XybC-XuSskIl2B4spKotDgMsrWr5EdvaEOUGcggVfJ-gpwaUZ248MO4533N-RhbIjDtg0pFxxVQUv/s640/blogger-image-771352908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzx722ZODfDpiqh5PqawfwMD2Oh_1Af6i2COv5NmFTIN7dQtt97Ktd9Tf9IOpMr6XybC-XuSskIl2B4spKotDgMsrWr5EdvaEOUGcggVfJ-gpwaUZ248MO4533N-RhbIjDtg0pFxxVQUv/s640/blogger-image-771352908.jpg" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-13282120154988236962013-01-02T22:20:00.001+00:002013-01-02T22:20:47.028+00:00Happy New Year!Wishing everyone all the best for 2013! Our year began well - we went for a midnight cruise with friends and then breasted up with our friends' boat for a little party. <br />
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Here's a selection of photos from our Christmas holidays. First time I've used this app, so lets see how well it posts!<br />
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Branscombe beach, Beer Church bookstall, salmon & scrambled egg at Beer, Jurassic concrete, fishing boats, Christmas pudding truffles, Dundee cake and the Christmas dinner table<br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpXp4WR-UNXV9VlME-3mMf4yijP_-G-3cHBAJ0qKs-c0N5gqfnLSUFFXyJLSNM05WKQi5i7STlLw2Sv18nrS8muZxeoLx_MbSIxXffYmjqJ5E14HHzHOCVFuYXTACVsYQDRIbmJ0ZTB7b/s640/blogger-image-1640248559.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrroB781Yh51LH7iHpqW7WtfS5T0wMTS55XCIN-dsbBBJMRjMZr5FJYZ0ePAabtLxG1-nkfEcn1tR-npaO9EOIW114O5YvpcZvZfV47Zo7nkRlVA45HPJA_Kzr85xi5R5YyIi6WD7eXNO/s640/blogger-image-1578818423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrroB781Yh51LH7iHpqW7WtfS5T0wMTS55XCIN-dsbBBJMRjMZr5FJYZ0ePAabtLxG1-nkfEcn1tR-npaO9EOIW114O5YvpcZvZfV47Zo7nkRlVA45HPJA_Kzr85xi5R5YyIi6WD7eXNO/s640/blogger-image-1578818423.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv2g0gTaox5Or0qtTFXBkOptyrsyjqj7zFCvw1VWhqlrFc29Sx9prOR7tyXrlspduu2PasxbKX1cPvudSc6fpdeFC1Gl3lluGDuFVWp8eiJsYPWQ7w4DhEsitAsiGBxRRQX7DqNdZYz6l/s640/blogger-image-594817475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv2g0gTaox5Or0qtTFXBkOptyrsyjqj7zFCvw1VWhqlrFc29Sx9prOR7tyXrlspduu2PasxbKX1cPvudSc6fpdeFC1Gl3lluGDuFVWp8eiJsYPWQ7w4DhEsitAsiGBxRRQX7DqNdZYz6l/s640/blogger-image-594817475.jpg" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-88013903741736809422012-12-30T23:48:00.000+00:002012-12-30T23:48:11.978+00:00Out of Reach<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Bottisham - Upware - Cambridge</i><br />
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<i>13 miles</i><br />
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We got back to the boat a couple of days ago, having left it at a secure mooring whilst we had our Christmas trip to see our families. Once we were back, we quickly refilled the water system (having drained it down whilst we were away to prevent frost damage) and arranged to have Lyra returned to us from the cattery.</div>
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After spending an afternoon with John aboard <i>Pippin</i>, when we went to get diesel from a very-nearly-flooded Jones boatyard in St Ives by car, provisions, and the obligatory visit to Emmaus, we set off this morning to try and traverse the navigable lodes.</div>
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<i>If the water rises two more inches, the carpark and chandlery will flood.</i></div>
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There are three dead-straight man-made lodes which form drainage channels, all of them accessed from a double guillotine gate lock at Upware, which can take boats up to 14' by 62'. They branch off one from the other to the nature reserve at Wicken Fen (<a href="http://nbluckyduck.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-camp-on-wild-side.html">where we went camping</a>), and the villages of Burwell, and Reach.</div>
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It was quite windy, and there was a fair stream on the river, so we made good time to the lock at Upware.</div>
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However, our cruise plans were scuppered by the EA's pumping station. The great, 2' diameter outlets were pouring out water pumped up from the lodes, which were at a lower level than the river, and the red light was illuminated at the lock, forbidding us from entering. That's the perils of boating on what's primarily a system for land drainage!</div>
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<i>Illuminated red light and official notice on the pump house.</i></div>
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A bit disappointed, we winded with less than the usual amount of elegance in the 50' lock channel- the very strongest flow was against the stern of the boat and I had to force it around with the engine, rather than using the flow to the advantage, so as not to clout the moored plastic cruiser we were heading towards- we set off back to town and our home mooring.</div>
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Progress upstream back to Cambridge was very slow. There was a good 4-5kph stream running from all the rain we'd had, a bit faster in the narrower places, and we managed to make a speed barely above walking pace, with the engine at 2,400rpm - our fastest economical cruising speed, which normally gives a speed of 9-10kph. Frustrating, but at least we were moving. The hire-boat sized skin tank put on by Fox Boats those years ago proved its worth, with us able to keep up this high load on the engine with no movement on the temperature gauge and no sign of overheating.</div>
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On the way back, we passed an eight from our rival boat club, X-Press BC. They were rowing to Ely- but I'm not sure if they were brave (or stupid) enough to row to Ely and back in a day <a href="http://chestertonrowingclub.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/to-ely-and-back.html">as I have with my club</a>! Certainly we've not seen their boat return into town yet.</div>
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<i>Flooded fields behind the towpath.</i></div>
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Finally we made it back and moored up happily in our usual space.</div>
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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646174143519854448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-50178043006736922402012-12-23T22:30:00.000+00:002012-12-23T22:30:17.913+00:00Devon Floods<div style="text-align: center;">
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We took the train down to my hometown of Exeter on Friday night. Amid all the disruption we were surprised to find that our train departed Paddington exactly on time.</div>
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We had booked seats in the Entertainment carriage, complete with TVs in the backs of the seats, for no extra charge.</div>
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We arrived in Exeter at 10:30pm and were soon at my mum's house, with mugs of tea. </div>
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On Saturday morning we looked out of the windows (my mum's house overlooks the River Exe) to see that the river had risen. Watching the news, it seemed that all trains to the South West were cancelled. We went for a walk to look at the river.</div>
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We trust that the Duck is still safe on its mooring in the Fens!<br />
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-903444638046674243.post-15775388890786043502012-12-21T10:23:00.002+00:002012-12-21T10:23:30.150+00:00Winter Solstice<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fen sunrise</td></tr>
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So, today is the shortest day, the longest night. Time to light candles and fires, and snuggle up in cosy blankets with mugs of hot chocolate! But from here on in each day will be a little brighter and longer - a cheering thought, especially for our solar panel! </div>
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Happy Solstice to you all</div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13190832458135017656noreply@blogger.com2