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[GaryM]

I'm having trouble finding a place to test my model for leaks and ballest and have no bath. 
Living in the south of Birmingham, the only club is in Bournville, I've been down to see but they only seem to sail yachts.
I tried at Lifford Lake - the warden wasn't sure if they were allowed or not and said he would find out and phone me - I'm still waiting.

I have several canals close to me and was wondering whether the 'powers that be' allowed sailing on them.  I guess there are hazards IE barges etc, and you have to watch out for the wildlife.

regards
Gary :)

[wideawake]

Hi Gary

I'm not sure if there are any byelaws which allow or disallow sailing models on canals but I certainly use the pound between the locks where I keep my full-size boat to sail my steam launch.  No BW bloke has ever told me I shouldn't!  Obviously,as you say, one needs to watch out for full size narrow boats.  In my case I also need to watch for people emptying either of the locks.  Though they're more than 200 yards apart, the water movement is considerable when the paddles are drawn.

Cheers

Guy

[BarryM]

After being banned from using the family test tank, I found an inflatable paddling pool on offer at Halfords and for £9 acquired my own test tank which can take models up to 8'LOA and 1' draft. Will that kind of thing suit you?

Barry M

[GaryM]

Thanks Guy and Barry.

Unfortunately my garden is quite small and choke a block with my dad's herbs and greenhouse, I haven't got room to swing a cat, not that I would if I did!

I think I'll visit the local canal a few times to see what can be done.  Are all canals a certain depth?  Just wondering in case I have to go in to retrieve it.

regards
Gary :)

[nhp651]

depths vary greatly, garry. i've fallen off my narrow boat a few times over the years, and some you can stand in, others come over my head and i'm 6'. there is also the danger of hidden crap in the water like old furniture, shopping trollies, and other things NOT SO NICE, just be carefull out ther. neil.

[portside II]

Hi Gary . we use the canal for sailing at goole when we have events at the waterways museum without any problems .
Like it has been said just watch out for traffic and debris , oh and this years ducks  they are into every thing  .
daz

[tigertiger]

When I tested my hull for leaks in our local pond I have it tethered on about 2m of string. I then sat and watched the world go by for half an  hour. I am sure the locals thougth I was mad.

[GaryM]

Hi Neil, Daz and Tigertiger
I think I'll do the same.

regards
Gary :)

[nhp651]

don't get me wrong, gary. i enjoy sailing a model on the canal, especially next to a nice pub, hic!**. lovely peacefull passtime with no rough water ( or salt ) to gumm up the works.
just make sure she doesn't leak. there's some nasty stuff at the bottom of canals stuck in the mud.............we've even had chunks of farmers barbed wire wrapped round the prop of our narrow boat,nasty stuff to stand on.

[OMK]

Re: canals.
If you grab a grok of the photo, this is the last time my Fairacre was seen alive. A few moments after the shot was taken an angry swan came from out of nowhere and sank the sucker in three seconds flat. In other words, wildife and canals and model boats don't mix too well.
I don't think you'll have any issues with the powers-that-be, but, if your canals are anything like ours, you might want to stick some sort of mesh or grille around your prop' to counter the weed messing up your day.

[Ghost in the shell]

well I sailed Celestia from Westport lake to harecastle Tunnel, a total distance of 4km, the boat attracted some attention of passers by, and one boat skipper slowed down to pass Celestia whist I kept it close to the tow-path.  wasn't even stopped by the tunnel keeper at Harecastle, though I practically sailed right to the tunnel doors. 

[Wiggy]

Hi Gary, simple solution, build yourself a 'test tank' that you can take apart when not needed.
I had a similar problem in getting to a water to do simple checks and built a box affair from chipboard with a raised base to save having to get down too far to see the waterline. Simply screwed together with a piece of 'pond liner' sheet laid in from a garden centre and then when you empty it, you put the water on your dads herbs.
Mines about a foot wide and three foot long with a water depth of nine inches and you can leave your boat in for as long as you need to check it for and then unscrew it and flat pack it away.

Cheers,

Paul.

[GaryM]

Thanks  Guys
Nhp - will do,
PMK yes I've heard a swan can break a mans arm, I'll 'steer clear of them,
Wiggy - darn good idea, I've gust had to clear the loft out and I have some chip board.
Ghost, it sounds like a good time was had.

regards
Gary :)

[Stavros]

Gwynedd Model Boat Group canal day,we go at least twice a year to the LLangollen canal with no probs at all


Stavros

[GaryM]

Lovely setting Stavros.
I'll take my Marie down on sunday I think and get her bottom wet, I'll get some photo's as well.

regards
Gary :)

[funtimefrankie]

Hi Gary, simple solution, build yourself a 'test tank' that you can take apart when not needed.
I had a similar problem in getting to a water to do simple checks and built a box affair from chipboard with a raised base to save having to get down too far to see the waterline. Simply screwed together with a piece of 'pond liner' sheet laid in from a garden centre and then when you empty it, you put the water on your dads herbs.
Mines about a foot wide and three foot long with a water depth of nine inches and you can leave your boat in for as long as you need to check it for and then unscrew it and flat pack it away.

Here's mine
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3210.0
it does not dismantle, joins sealed with   er...... sealant
Would be improved with a plug hole for draining

[Philipsparker]

Gary

We have quite a few Brummie members at the Knightcote MBC. The water is not far off the M40 and you are welcome to join us.

More details on our website: http://warkcom.net/kmbc

Phil
philsworkbench.blogspot.com

[GaryM]

Thanks Guys
Funtimefrankie - I have some wood so I think I'll build one.

Phil, thanks for the invite, I will come down, looks a nice and ideal setting.

regards
Gary :)

[Philipsparker]

Gary

Look forward to it. Most of the Brummies come down on Thursday morning but we have the water anytime. Take a look on the web site at the Slingshot racing sessions and try to time your vist for then as you'll be guaranteed to meet a few of ut. Don't worry, the racing doesn't take long and most people bring something more sedate to sail as well !

Phil

[GaryM]

Thanks Phil
looking forward to meeting you guys.

regards
Gary :)

[wideawake]

hi Gary

I'm a relatively new member of the same club and can vouch for both the warm welcome you'll get and the excellent facilities

Cheeers

Guy

[OMK]

Birmingham is home to some of the best canals ever.
And at the risk of sounding like I love Fred Dibnah too much, look up the word 'canals' in your dictionary.
Lucky old you, living near that neck of the woods.

Not only do Brummies build heap good canal, they also churn out some of the finest musicians in the world.
If by some quirk of fate you should happen upon a bloke by the name of Roy Wood while you're there, would you please ask the dude if he'd be interested in sharing some of his chords with this bumpkin.

You better buckle-up, GaryM, because where you're going means you'd better prepare yourself for a pretty good time.

[OMK]

Jeez, Stavros, take another butcher's of this photo again.
So is this how it is in Wales?
Look at all them arches there. Each and every one is dead spot-on symmetrical as can be.
Who built that? The Victorians?... the Romans?

Man, I never knew you had all that sort of stuff there. I know you Taffy boyo's are pretty hot on singing, and I know you've got some pretty neat scenery on your side of the bridge. But I didn't realise you had all those sort of structures there as well.

Nice photo.
Mucho respecto!

[nhp651]

you want to sail over it on a narrow boatpmk..............a 120' drop and on one side, whilst you are sitting on your boat all that keeps you from a fall to iternity is a 6" thick piece of cast iron making up the canal aquaduct :angel:.......a fantastic buzz if you have a head for heights.
On my first sailing over, my father, who flew mosquito's in the pathfinders during WW2, and who was on a trip with us locked himself in the bog on the boat as he found it too frightening. .............you want to try it.
There are two of them close together , the Pontychisyllte and the crick aquaducts near Llanngollen.
British engineering at it's finest.
I think the one in the picture is the Crick aquaduct with Crick tunnel in the background??

[wideawake]

Yep that's definitely the Crick one, with the railway viaduct alongside and the Crick tunnel in the background.  The Pontcysyllte really does only have the thickness of the iron trough between the boat and the long drop!   I've crossed it on a boat a few times, on the last occasion in a procession of boats following a towpath wedding blessing between two boating friends.   I was making a video of the event and spent part of the crossing hanging out of the side doors of the boat getting the classic shot panning up from the fields below to  the trough and  the boats crossing.

The "Akkie" must be one of the most spectacular sights on the canals, though for scenic grandeur I always vote for the Upper Peak Forest canal.

Guy