After all the waiting and a considerable amount of badgering, chivvying, and eventually harassment, Pentargon was handed over, with very bad grace, at 4.15pm on Friday 27th January 2012.
Nobody was available at the Marina who could show me anything and I had never been given a chance to do "sea trials" so I knew nothing about the boat. The person left to mind the office could not even locate the spare keys. All they could offer was a brown envelope containing 'documents'
Nobody was available at the Marina who could show me anything and I had never been given a chance to do "sea trials" so I knew nothing about the boat. The person left to mind the office could not even locate the spare keys. All they could offer was a brown envelope containing 'documents'
I couldn't wait to escape into the waning light, moor up somewhere and try to figure out the boat. The nearest I had previously got to 'driving' Pentargon was on the day I looked her over the previous November.
(2011-11-24 13.02 F2516)
On that day, the engine had already been started, with the gear-lever and tiller fitted. Pentargon was tied (I nearly said 'moored'), between two large narrowboats.
(2011-11-24 13.10 F2517)
My 'drive' consisted of pushing the gear-lever forward to check the prop-wash and reversing the lever to see if she strained on her warps
(2011-11-24 13.02 F2516)
On that day, the engine had already been started, with the gear-lever and tiller fitted. Pentargon was tied (I nearly said 'moored'), between two large narrowboats.
(2011-11-24 13.10 F2517)
My 'drive' consisted of pushing the gear-lever forward to check the prop-wash and reversing the lever to see if she strained on her warps
They would not even let me untie her!
Going for a drive was out of the question. "Because you do not have insurance in place". This is not unusual obfuscation at 'brokers' during the buying process.
Going for a drive was out of the question. "Because you do not have insurance in place". This is not unusual obfuscation at 'brokers' during the buying process.
LET - ME - OUT - OF - HERE
I'd come by car and parked it by the BW depot gate after the lads had
locked up to go home for the weekend. Walking up the towpath, I noticed
a real workboat, Aldgate I think, chatted awhile with Nick Wolfe and
soaked up some of his wisdom. I always listen when boatmen talk. I
learned that out on the briny. The conversion was short at the time as I
was keen to get down to the marina and lay claim to my new life on
I arrived at the brokers on foot at 4.15pm looking for my boat. I had rung them up earlier to tell them I was coming.
The 'car' was a large people-carrier stuffed with bedding, ocean sailing gear, toolboxes and just about anything I might need to shift Pentargon on to Hillmorton over the next few days.
The short walk up the towpath brought me to the marina to take possession of the boat I had just laid £1000s out on without ever even being permitted to take a test drive.
The sun was sinking into a January horizon.
Sunset that day was about a quarter to five.
Then maybe forty-five minutes of twilight?
The 'car' was a large people-carrier stuffed with bedding, ocean sailing gear, toolboxes and just about anything I might need to shift Pentargon on to Hillmorton over the next few days.
The short walk up the towpath brought me to the marina to take possession of the boat I had just laid £1000s out on without ever even being permitted to take a test drive.
The sun was sinking into a January horizon.
Sunset that day was about a quarter to five.
Then maybe forty-five minutes of twilight?
Removing the canvas stern-cover which weighed a ton, had a zillion press-studs and 20 gallons of water in the middle looking for trouble, I located and fitted the gear lever and the tiller. Having completed pre-departure checks, I figured out the isolator switch and started the engine.
By the time I was ready for the off, with the sun's orb dropping out of the western sky, I only had to crank up the walkway blocking my exit. Meanwhile the engine warmed up
With some trepidation,
warps were let go ...
Reverse was engaged ...
on the mildest of tick-overs ...
she gently made sternway ...
into the limited open water ...
in the middle of the marina.
Freedom beckoned.
With some trepidation,
warps were let go ...
Reverse was engaged ...
on the mildest of tick-overs ...
she gently made sternway ...
into the limited open water ...
in the middle of the marina.
Freedom beckoned.
Forward was engaged with the tiller hard to sta'bord, allowance made for the breeze as I lined her up for the exit. A kind 'resident' undertook to wind down the walkway so ...
... with a little bit of banging and scraping, Pentargon emerged onto the cut and was pointed south towards Norton Junction and the Grand Union Canal mainline. I was free.
The whole of the canal system and a new world was there waiting to be claimed on
Muddy Brown Water
... with a little bit of banging and scraping, Pentargon emerged onto the cut and was pointed south towards Norton Junction and the Grand Union Canal mainline. I was free.
The whole of the canal system and a new world was there waiting to be claimed on
Muddy Brown Water
Near Norton Junction , (and noted on the walk up) were some large derelict butties with substantial mooring posts ( correctly named "bitts", The 'bitter' end of a rope is not sour: it's the end that is tied to a bitt! ) where a few minutes was spent learning how to make up and secure a boat against all comers, including Anthony Ernest Finch.
The butties were on the other side of the cut from the towpath, which the working boatmen of old knew as "The Outside".
I happened to tie up opposite "Aldgate" and its owner noticed. He thought I might be in trouble but I explained that things were ok and told him what I was doing.
It was my first experience of how the canal community is inclusive and everyone looks out for each other. I would meet Nick often over the next few months. Always a cheery wave or a chat over a Gongoozler's breakfast by the Stop House.
Gems of advice or information for which I was all ears. Stories of his time on the cut. Never a week passed when I didn't learn something just by listening or watching or noticing or asking questions.
The butties were on the other side of the cut from the towpath, which the working boatmen of old knew as "The Outside".
I happened to tie up opposite "Aldgate" and its owner noticed. He thought I might be in trouble but I explained that things were ok and told him what I was doing.
It was my first experience of how the canal community is inclusive and everyone looks out for each other. I would meet Nick often over the next few months. Always a cheery wave or a chat over a Gongoozler's breakfast by the Stop House.
Gems of advice or information for which I was all ears. Stories of his time on the cut. Never a week passed when I didn't learn something just by listening or watching or noticing or asking questions.
This stop was but a practice session, though editing now ten years later, I note it was a stroke I have pulled on many occasions for added security in 'dicey' places even in the centre of London. Be aware though that such mooring is 'technical trespass'.
The 'outside' will be privately owned and you are supposed to have tacit or implicit permission of an owner or landlord to be wholly legal.
The towpath, where you may unreservedly moor up, is legally the property of the canal authority and is available for mooring as a condition of licencing.
The 'outside' will be privately owned and you are supposed to have tacit or implicit permission of an owner or landlord to be wholly legal.
The towpath, where you may unreservedly moor up, is legally the property of the canal authority and is available for mooring as a condition of licencing.
Once my mooring practice had been sorted and the engine shut down and restarted, (using the decompression levers because the shut-down had not yet been figured) it was time to get the boat up to the Junction, breast up to a CRT work-boat and unload in the gathering gloom.
Piles of kit was transferred from the wagon to the boat and a bunk of sorts was made up so I could sleep that night.
(2011-11-24 13.00 F2513)
Then, Pentargon was hand-towed to a legit mooring ring in rapidly-fading light. It was at this stage it became obvious I hadn't a clue how to use the boat lights.
Piles of kit was transferred from the wagon to the boat and a bunk of sorts was made up so I could sleep that night.
(2011-11-24 13.00 F2513)
Then, Pentargon was hand-towed to a legit mooring ring in rapidly-fading light. It was at this stage it became obvious I hadn't a clue how to use the boat lights.
Having a car and an excuse, I drove three miles to an ATM at Long Buckby, which had a shop that I hoped would stock candles.
Basics for the morrow's breakfast and subsequent needs were opportunistically procured - and so - back to bed down for the night by candlelight.
No heat on board of course (apart from the candles) so early to bed. A good night's sleep was had on the last warmish night before a vicious cold snap commenced on the morrow which lasted indefinitely.
Many months later I would discover, when I joined London Boaters Facebook Group, that a couple of flowerpots and the candle would have warmed up the whole boat.
Early on Saturday, to Whilton Chandlery for a new ash-barge-pole and pay off another instalment for the previously ordered Air Head Composting Toilet departing USA by sea and due to arrive in six or eight weeks.
There will no talk about "cassette v pump-out" on my boat. Both systems are ... shyte. Composting, as learned in childhood, is the only way to go on an off-grid mancave.
I got previous experience of both from my hygiene training at Canalability. As for recent attempts at 'composting' by urbane London Boaters, the less said the better ...
They really haven't got a clue.
Only joking! Or am I? Check Odershet
Basics for the morrow's breakfast and subsequent needs were opportunistically procured - and so - back to bed down for the night by candlelight.
No heat on board of course (apart from the candles) so early to bed. A good night's sleep was had on the last warmish night before a vicious cold snap commenced on the morrow which lasted indefinitely.
Many months later I would discover, when I joined London Boaters Facebook Group, that a couple of flowerpots and the candle would have warmed up the whole boat.
Early on Saturday, to Whilton Chandlery for a new ash-barge-pole and pay off another instalment for the previously ordered Air Head Composting Toilet departing USA by sea and due to arrive in six or eight weeks.
There will no talk about "cassette v pump-out" on my boat. Both systems are ... shyte. Composting, as learned in childhood, is the only way to go on an off-grid mancave.
I got previous experience of both from my hygiene training at Canalability. As for recent attempts at 'composting' by urbane London Boaters, the less said the better ...
They really haven't got a clue.
Only joking! Or am I? Check Odershet
The AirHead composter was designed (and fabricated) in USA! for use on ocean-going yachts, which can and do roll and pitch all over the place. Narrowboats operate on much more sedate water.
In 2012 Pentargon was the only narrowboat on the system known to then use a working composting toilet. Even today, ten years on, hardly one narrowboat in a hundred uses a 'composting' system of any type.
Only a tiny few (I believe it to be less than ten as of March 2022) have been able or willing to justify the outlay on an AirHead.
The latest price, early 2022, is $1500 at the dispatching port. Because of the latest delivery charges and new tariffs, I don't even want to know what the sterling price is landed, but the quoted lead time is nine to twelve or fifteen months.
That is a helluva wait for an ecological crap in an ecological person-cave attempting an off-grid existence on UK waterways.
In 2012 Pentargon was the only narrowboat on the system known to then use a working composting toilet. Even today, ten years on, hardly one narrowboat in a hundred uses a 'composting' system of any type.
Only a tiny few (I believe it to be less than ten as of March 2022) have been able or willing to justify the outlay on an AirHead.
The latest price, early 2022, is $1500 at the dispatching port. Because of the latest delivery charges and new tariffs, I don't even want to know what the sterling price is landed, but the quoted lead time is nine to twelve or fifteen months.
That is a helluva wait for an ecological crap in an ecological person-cave attempting an off-grid existence on UK waterways.
LEARNING CANAL TIME
My due date to enter Hillmorton boat yard had been 7th Feb. 'give or take' so I vowed to get on on with it. I am not by nature a worrier, but I do like to get my retaliation in early and tend to look forward for reasons to leave anything off til tomorrow ...
If I can't find or justify cogent reasons I will launch myself into the future 'dreckley'
Hence, on the afternoon of Sat.28th Jan 2012, I set a westward course for Braunston tunnel having established that the spotlight was working. I'd discovered the leisure bank isolator key in the bilge.
The starter isolator had been left in and on; hence my ability to get out of the marina and my non-ability to find a working light on board. Now I had lights. No water though! Pentargon had been 'winterised' so the water pipes had been drained.
No heat either as the existing 38yo Therm-X was not up to it. It was good enough for a cool August day and the boat had never been used in Winter. I would not have heat for another fortnight ...
If I can't find or justify cogent reasons I will launch myself into the future 'dreckley'
Hence, on the afternoon of Sat.28th Jan 2012, I set a westward course for Braunston tunnel having established that the spotlight was working. I'd discovered the leisure bank isolator key in the bilge.
The starter isolator had been left in and on; hence my ability to get out of the marina and my non-ability to find a working light on board. Now I had lights. No water though! Pentargon had been 'winterised' so the water pipes had been drained.
No heat either as the existing 38yo Therm-X was not up to it. It was good enough for a cool August day and the boat had never been used in Winter. I would not have heat for another fortnight ...
Through Braunston tunnel then, Pentargon sailed without any trouble and down the top lock in the January twilight. While I'm here though, let me let me lay to rest one hoary old chestnut.
There are boaters who swear that Braunston tunnel has an s-bend and you cannot see right through. There are those who say Braunston tunnel has no s-bend.
There are boaters who swear that Braunston tunnel has an s-bend and you cannot see right through. There are those who say Braunston tunnel has no s-bend.
The first truism on Inland Waters:
Everyone has their own opinion.
Everyone's opinion is 'gospel'.
Here is one of mine.
Braunston Tunnel HAS an S-bend
and you CAN See Right Through
Everyone has their own opinion.
Everyone's opinion is 'gospel'.
Here is one of mine.
Braunston Tunnel HAS an S-bend
and you CAN See Right Through
I'm perfectly willing to accept that if the tunnel is full of boats and smoke, you may not be able to see the other end but when I entered the tunnel at 1600hrs on 28th Jan.2012 the sun was shining and setting. I saw the exit 1.25 miles away and never lost sight of it until reaching the exit some 35 minutes later. Sunset that day was 4.45pm.
The so-called s-bend was due to a slight miscalculation of gauging in 1795 which was somewhat earlier than theodolites or laser by men who although excellent engineers were not familiar with the Brú na Bóine architects of 3700BC.
Braunston was dug from both ends to join in the middle and was out by a foot or two.
The shaft is 16' wide. Narrowboats can and do pass each other in the tunnel, which is why a spare pair of brown trousers might come in useful. And a brolly. My ocean gear has been useful for the cascades.
The so-called s-bend was due to a slight miscalculation of gauging in 1795 which was somewhat earlier than theodolites or laser by men who although excellent engineers were not familiar with the Brú na Bóine architects of 3700BC.
Braunston was dug from both ends to join in the middle and was out by a foot or two.
The shaft is 16' wide. Narrowboats can and do pass each other in the tunnel, which is why a spare pair of brown trousers might come in useful. And a brolly. My ocean gear has been useful for the cascades.
Having 'safely' negotiated Braunston top in fast-fading light, it made sense to moor up by the next until the following day. It's harder to find a drowned body by night and nobody would hear the splash anyway.
I did feel quite chuffed that in less than 50 hours I'd taken the boat out of a marina, along a cut, moored it, overnighted, gone through a 'difficult' tunnel and down a lock.
My grand entrance into Braunston was achieved inauspiciously in the morning by stepping down the locks one by one and walking back for the wagon.
By midday, I was moored by the Stop House with eight miles of cut ahead and no locks til Hillmorton. That night I moored near Barby and slept like a baby.
I did feel quite chuffed that in less than 50 hours I'd taken the boat out of a marina, along a cut, moored it, overnighted, gone through a 'difficult' tunnel and down a lock.
My grand entrance into Braunston was achieved inauspiciously in the morning by stepping down the locks one by one and walking back for the wagon.
By midday, I was moored by the Stop House with eight miles of cut ahead and no locks til Hillmorton. That night I moored near Barby and slept like a baby.
This is the first day of the rest of my life and it is fekkin freezin even with ocean gear.
Little did I know then just HOW much time I had. Pentargon went into dry dock on Wed.28th March by which time I had done the Braunston-Hillmorton run twice, been up to Bridge 42a near Ansty, gotten to see bridge 56, travelled colourfully through Newbolt 'tunnel.
(2mins as opposed to Braunston's 24).
(2mins as opposed to Braunston's 24).
I had learned how to moor up beside the No.4 Bus-Stop in Brownsover. I had lost my Samsung Galaxy Tab, my false teeth, a fork and a pair of reading glasses to the cut.
On the cut, it is not a matter of whether it will fall in; it's a matter of when! And that includes skippers, dogs, cats, but oddly I have no experience of crew going in.
(The old boaters called it "having a look" and I might mention that it was a frequently fatal incident, not by drowning but by fatal bacterial infection especially near towns.)
My own first dunk was at Brownsover ... on my back ... in mud ... my clothes stank for weeks. I don't have a snapshot of that, but I did consider marketing the perfume or designing the stew ...
On the cut, it is not a matter of whether it will fall in; it's a matter of when! And that includes skippers, dogs, cats, but oddly I have no experience of crew going in.
(The old boaters called it "having a look" and I might mention that it was a frequently fatal incident, not by drowning but by fatal bacterial infection especially near towns.)
My own first dunk was at Brownsover ... on my back ... in mud ... my clothes stank for weeks. I don't have a snapshot of that, but I did consider marketing the perfume or designing the stew ...
©MMXXIV
[email protected]
[email protected]
