>I couldn't sleep tonight thinking of Helen. Last week I called BW and spoke >to a girl who runs the mooring waiting lists. Actually, she's been promoted >now and told me that she runs all the little men who hand out licence >infringement notices. She was very angry that there were too many boats and >not enough moorings. She said that she was recommending a mooring auction >site to her bosses so that the highest bidder would secure their favourite >mooring. She laughed hysterically to my, "So it won't be free then"? Anyway, >she told me not to bother putting my name down on any waiting list. Nobody >looks at them anymore, they're completely unmanageable. > > >So, where am I going to moor my boat? During the winter, Helen told me she >could find me a winter mooring at Knowle Locks for Dutch Oven - no problem, >but she'd have to throw me out on 1st April and it wasn't a joke. Well, >that's OK, we'll just cruise about for 6 months until I find a kind farmer >who backs onto the canal. Alternatively, get me a Vodafone connection and a >laptop and I'll run the world. Well, my world. I'll do that until an >interesting and worthwhile mooring comes up for sale for the same price as a >70 foot 1 inch diameter copper pipe. > >Anyway, I'm sticking at 70 foot. Thanks! > >Callum >No nb (yet) and if I get my way, which is rare in this house, we won't be >calling it Dutch Oven. They'll all laugh at me.
I've snipped most of your reply and the previous messages as I am on mobile connection. Get used to it if you want to live on the boat. Two of the editors of glossy waterways magazines post here so you may hear from them again. You can have your galley at the rear - you have the gas lockers at the rear as well, we have. Putting gas in the front locker is a pain as the shape is wrong and the wife won't be able to get them out. They always run out at an awkward time. If you haven't got a mooring you have to be prepared to cruise around the country, moving every two weeks. Ok if you have no commitments but not if you have school children that you would like to see sometimes. So my advice is get a mooring then order your boat, unless you have a tame farmer who is prepared to do battle with BW to allow you to moor. The farmer may own the land but he is unlikely to own the mooring rights. BW want their pound of flesh. We abandon our boat on the towpath but not many are pr epared to leave their pride & joy with all their expensive gizmos. Go for 70' if that is what you want. You may have to live on it and sell the house. Boats / licenses / moorings cost by the foot. Good luck and keep posting, we miserable boaters need cheering up. Sue nb Nackered Navvy
