OUR FACILITIES
As it has done since it was formed in 1938, the Club continues a program
of improvement to the facilities available to it's members.
The Moorings.
We accommodate around 130 boats on individually allocated moorings most of
which are stagings projecting into the waterway but some are within our own
basin.
The moorings stretch for about one third of a mile along the bank of the canal and
go back about 80 yards.
They are fully grassed and a tarmac road runs the whole length of the moorings.
We own our own moorings and so have an interest it keeping them as attractive as
possible.
The grass is always kept neatly cut by an external contractor, who also attends to
some of the tree pruning.
We have several members who, as their contribution to the life of the Club, keep
the flower beds neat and attractive.
Our policy is to strike a balance between doing work ourselves yet making sure that
burdens do not fall too heavily on individual members and interfere with their boating
activities.
We have one work party weekend in the Spring and one in the Autumn to keep the
moorings up to the standard we wish to enjoy.
Members are invited to attend for the weekend and do the smaller maintenance
jobs - sometimes bribed by bacon sandwiches!
This helps to keep costs down but does not become an onerous task.
Indeed many members regard the work parties as an ideal way to meet fellow
members.
The Stagings
Most of our stagings are "finger" type,
i.e. the boats are at right angles to the bank.
Fortunately the canal at this point is fairly wide and we do not obstruct the waterway.
Some of our moorings can accommodate boats up to 40ft. maximum length but we
have a club rule which limits new members to a maximum boat length of 10 metres
for the first two years of their membership.
We have an ongoing program of replacing the wooden stagings with a more
durable steel and timber design.
Water and Electricity.
Each staging has water and electricity close to hand.
There is no charge for this although we do expect members to be reasonable in their
usage.
A major upgrade to the electric and water supply system has been underway.
Work on the electricity supply is completed and the water supply is largely completed and
operational; further improvements to the water system will be completed during 2010.
Slipways.
We have two slipways equipped with purpose-built haul-out trolleys for members to
carry out routine maintenance.
The trolleys are hauled on rails by an electric winch and have hydraulic arms to
stabilise single keel boats.
With a major upgrade completed in 2009 these slipways are now covered so that members
can work on their boats irrespective of the weather.
Power washing facilities are also available.
Members can book a full week each year on the slipway without cost.
Painting Bay.
We also have a covered Painting Bay which can be used by members who wish to re-paint their boats. The boat remains in the water. There is no charge for this facility.
Childrens' Play Area.
There is a childrens' play area which was built using a donation from a long-term and much loved member of the Club, Bill Attenborough, now deceased. There have been several improvements to this area.
Headquarters Building.
We do not have a clubhouse or clubroom. We have a portable building which serves as the club headquarters/first aid post and is used primarily for meetings. In the summer months a large awning is erected to the front of the HQ building for use by members as a meeting point and occasional organised social evenings.