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Droitwich Barge Lock
The Droitwich Canals are under restoration and will provide a new route to cruise in the foreseeable future. Today was the ceremonial opening of the Barge Lock which links the River Salwarpe to the Barge Canal. After much hard work over recent weeks by the Waterway Recovery Group, British Waterways and many others the lock is ready for navigation. 
The gates were bowed. Not distorted but equipped with a large ceremonial bow and ribbon fastened along the gates. After the speeches the dignitaries pushed the gates to open them on the count of three but nothing happened. To hold the gates shut until the vital moment the organisers has let a couple of inches of water into the lock. A quick wind of a paddle and the waters were levelled and the ceremonial opening happened as planned on the second count of three. More info to follow in further blogs soon. Posted on Friday, 26 September 2008 at 20:55 Comments (2)
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Hi i would just like to ask how your hybrid engine is working out,is it proving reliable?
Comment by Iain smith — On 20-11-08 at 16:47
Iain – thanks for your comment.
Our hybrid installation is working well and I would happily recommend it to anyone else. It’s lovely to cruise along quietly listening to the birds singing and the sounds of the countryside, or cruise through the centre of Birmingham and chat to people on the towpath without shouting.
It’s best of all at locks when we’re using no power at all for much of the time and you can exchange instructions with the crew very easily.
For our filming, the silence and lack of vibration is wonderful and that’s the reason we paid for the electric system.
I still watch the prices for solar panels and I’m sure we’ll fit some one day soon – particularly as their prices are gradually coming down and diesel has gone up tipping the economic balance in their favour.
We just have to remember to run the diesel to charge the batteries, unless we’re returning to our home berth to plug into the mains there.
We’re always happy to show off the system if you passing Birmingham (our home moorings) or anywhere else if you see us passing and say hello – but watch carefully as you may not hear us coming.
The big batteries also power the 240v and that gives use the added bonus that we can use the television, microwave, several computers, an electric emersion heater and even electric fan heaters (although not quite all at once) without worrying about the power use during the evening.
I also feel safer on big rivers since we have an (almost) independent means of propelling the boat if there any problem with whichever engine we’re using.
There are just two “funny problems”. The first is that fishermen don’t always hear us coming and move their rods out of the way. The second occurs on busy days when there are queues at locks and people expect you to leave the lock quickly. If the opening of lock gates isn’t accompanied by loud revving of our diesel engine and clouds of diesel smoke you get cries of “come on mate we’re all waiting” even if you depart at twice the normal speed – and you can speed because nobody realises you are doing when the engine is quiet.
Are you considering getting a system? – and are you the “Iain Smith” of the River Nene publications?
Comment by Paul Balmer — On 20-11-08 at 18:07