Use the boats

I FOUND when I was on the Grand Union the best diesel and coal prices were always the coal/diesel boats, and there are plenty of them too, so there was never a long wait for one to pass by, writes Keith Gudgin.

Most boats do various coals, diesel and gas. I found that the diesel was anything up to 10 pence cheaper and a bag of coal could be more than 30% cheaper than the local marina. (At the time £10 a bag from the coal boat, £13.50 in one local marina).

Debit card facility

Some boats also do wood, pump-outs, blue/pink for toilets, fire-lighters and other accessories too.  Most now also have a debit card machine for payment if needed.

Give them a ring or send a text to find out where they are and when they'll be along.

Always from a boat

I spent the winter along the southern Grand Union last year and never needed to pull into a marina etc. for gas, coal or diesel. I always got it from a coal boat, so I didn't have to cart any of it to my boat or move my boat to get it either.

I shall be looking around for the coal boats this winter around the Midlands as I find them so good on prices and service.

Here's the link:

http://www.lock13.co.uk/boats/coaldiesel.htm