Weed Cutting Background In 2017 Rotherham MYC with the Sailing Club purchased a Reedman Weed Mate which is a 5ft wide reciprocating cutter on an adjustable shaft, driven by a 12v electric motor. The cutter is mounted on a bracket on the front of a Dory, and can be mounted on the transom next to the outboard. This replaced an old weed cutting boat that had to be scrapped. Weed has been an increasing problem in the reservoir since the floods of 2017 when the nitrate fertiliser was washed off the fields in the catchment area. Harthill reservoir is a Chesterfield Canal filler built in 1780s, with three higher smaller reservoirs. Blue dye cannot be used the water is flowing into the canal. Cutting When weed is cut, the wind and water-flow move the majority of the weed to the bank where it can be dragged out It is difficult to cut the weed on adjacent tracks in Sailing Area, so some weed is always missed. Cutting at right angles or on diagonal tracks cuts more of the missed weed. In the following days / prior to sailing the floating weed is raked from the Dory, but some is always left behind which catches on keels and rudders During the summer the water level falls and the weed grows, so weed cutting is an ongoing need. Finding sufficient number of volunteers especially with older and less agile members, is always a problem. Alternative Methods of Cutting Reedman who are based near Lincoln, offer a day based weed cutting service bringing a weed cutting boat on a trailer which cuts and collects the weed. They cut many rivers and canals for the Environment Agency and Canal & Rivers Trust, so you need to be make your bookings as early as possible to get into their diary; there are restriction on the distance of weed cutting near nesting birds.