More Mooring Mishaps, Engine Trouble, and Hats - it is all happening on the Oxford Canal (Part 2)

Описание: Welcome aboard the Grey Wagtail for another episode of narrowboat life.

In this video, I cruise back up the Oxford Canal to Cropredy Marina after spending a peaceful night moored just north of Banbury. After the chaos of the previous day — a rosebush collision, mooring mishaps, and a worrying engine issue — I slept surprisingly well and woke up to birdsong and the breathtaking sight of hawthorn in full bloom.

This cruise is short in distance, but is packed with the highs and lows of boating life: engine diagnostics, a lock delay caused by a broken-down boat, some seriously cheeky mooring by a hire boat, and a gusty, chaotic final approach to the marina that saw me blown out the other end!

In the video, I talk through the ongoing engine saga — the mysterious rev counter behaviour, the oil pressure readings, and the elusive fine adjustment screw that just doesn’t seem to exist. I think I’ve now got the throttle set correctly. Or have I?

Along the way, you’ll get:
Stunning spring scenes along the Oxford Canal — the hawthorn (or May blossom) is out in force, and it’s one of the best displays I’ve ever seen
A dinosaur sighting on a boat roof (can you help me ID it?)
Some wonderfully random canal sights, including a welly boot with a new purpose and a sudden explosion of baby ducks overnight
A quick nod to the 1644 English Civil War battle at Cropredy
And the all-important question: Which hat should I wear while boating? Is it the floppy rucksack hat, the posh gentleman-on-the-cut option, or the rugged Australian Outback number? I need your help deciding — vote in the community tab or leave a comment below!

Things start to go wrong when I return to the marina and try to moor up, with a crosswind that has other ideas. What followed was an awkward ballet of understeer, overcorrection, and eventually, help from the wonderful marina staff.

🔧 Boaters — any advice on rev settings, throttle tweaks for a Beta Marine JD3 engine, or wind mooring strategies? I’d love to hear your tips.
👒 Fashion experts — what’s my best boating look? Let me know your favourite hat in the comments!

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📍 Location: Oxford Canal, between Banbury and Cropredy Marina
🛥️ Boat: Grey Wagtail
🎥 Filmed: Spring 2025

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