Rochdale Canal:New Islington Marina

As advised, because of vandalism risk, we set off early for the descent down the Ashton Canal into Manchester but were somewhat dismayed to find a boat just about to enter the top lock at Fairfield.  Had we been first, the day would have turned out very differently.  As it was it turned out to be a day to remember.   Firstly the boat in front was slow with the locks, even though they had a lock-wheeler.  There was a crew of two, whereas we were still three with Philip.   So exiting each lock we had to wait.   Pat & Philip were walking ahead to wait for the boat in front and then turn the lock round.    Waiting at lock 13 there was an exceptionally long delay ahead with lock 12, including a wait for an opposite direction.   On exiting the lock the bywash which was very strong blew the boat bows across to the towpath side where the propeller and rudder got caught up on some rocks.  The helm jumped up and down as the rudder was lifted.   It seemed impossible to regain the correct line with the approaching boat uncertain of my intentions, so I elected to reverse into the lock as a way of regaining correct orientation of the boat and then rushed the bywash.  To my horror I discovered that the tiller was locked in a midway position and only by luck, a favourable wind and the fact that the next lock was close did the boat enter the next lock as if nothing was wrong.  It was evident that the rudder had been lifted out of its cup, the whole assembly had dropped and the rudder was now jammed against the skeg.    Attempts to lift it back seemed to succeed but then as the tiller was turned, it jumped out again every time. The inference was that the rudder stock was bent.  With another boat following we left the lock and moored up below and I got in the water which was only about 2 feet deep at the edge to confirm that our assumption was correct.    RCR was called but unfortunately no engineer was available until late afternoon and the prospect of being immobiolised on the Ashton Canal overnight was not the best.   Early suggestions were that we should return to Portland Basin, but the owner was on holiday.   However, we discovered that as by keeping the rudder lifted we could steer, so we advised RCR and they suggested we should try and get to New Islington Marina on the Rochdale - 2 locks up - where an engineer would be able to attend.  Unfortunately, just above Lock 7 the rudder fell off.   This left us with no steering at all.   Now, you might say why didn't I tie the rudder up.  That is what the hole is for.  Well, two boatyards had attempted to get the rudder off before, one with jacks and the other with a sledgehammer to replace the bearing, all to no avail, so I guess I had discounted the possibility that it could fall off.    It was now getting late in the afternoon and with still no prospect of an engineer and now little likelyhood of a quick solution, we had to do something.    So we lashed up the gangplank to the tiller with the end in the water as a rudimentry rudder.    This worked to a small degree and succeeded in keeping the boat straight in the centre of the canal, but would not cope with sharp turns and was hopeless if bank effect took over, so we used the bow line walked on the towpath where possible to pull the bows round, or stopping to push the stern out from the bank.   This was how we got the boat to the entrance of the Islington Marina where a favourable breeze gently wafted the stern round so that the stern rope could be used to pull the boat in.    Now it was 7pm.   The engineer was promised for the morning.   RCR in the meantime had been very busy researching options for us.   It was not looking good.   Seemingly little prospect of a tow being offered and the only boatyard seemingly capable, back at Portland Basin.