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Covering the entire boat with blacking isn't a good look.

I would welcome a definitive statement from Daniel regarding protocol for a moderator to edit the spelling and grammar within other people's posts please. I can fairly say that if someone was ever rude enough to do that to me I would throw a pretty epic flounce. If someone pointed out to me that I had spinach in my teeth or my skirt tucked in my knickers, I would likely be grateful. But I would not be so happy if the girl in Subway told me I was too fat to order the meatball marinara and she'd make me the veggie delight instead... She might be totally right, but she's also way overstepping her boundaries. If a hairdresser accosted me in the street and started snipping at my split ends.... If a random boater re-tied the knots on my boat simply because they were not "correct..." If the cashier in Debenhams refused to sell me a dress because that style won't suit me... I could go on for a while here, but seriously though, don't correct another grown-ass adult's spelling and grammar for its own sake within their own posts without their permission, that's a bloody liberty. ThankyouPlease.

I've put my tin hat on, as I know this will raise some hackles! Fact: Whenever I pass moored boats, I always slow down as a courtesy. My boat is not fast even on a good day - 13 BHP and some of those horses have probably escaped! However for an obsessive minority, however much you slow down, it's never enough. So you slow from 4mph to 2mph, they expect 1mph. You slow to 1mph, they still glower at you, and in some case yell or even swear at you because you are doing more than 1/2 mph. This can make passing long lines of moored boats (e.g. miles long on the GU approaching London) a very protracted affair. Or is it simply that they just resent any moving traffic on the canal disturbing their tranquillity, and expect it to be just like a watery suburban housing estate? Or is it mainly a perception caused by the engine noise? We've all seen these obsessive types, their boats are often festooned in signs saying "SLOW DOWN" and "PASS AT TICKOVER" , which itself is a nonsense, as tickover is so different between different engine types e.g. Russell Newbery versus modern buzzbox? Making their inability to secure their boat adequately into somehow becoming my problem seems a bit unreasonable. Perhaps if some people actually learned to tie their boats up correctly and securely, there might not be such an issue? If the rocking of your boat really does bother you so much, sell it and buy a house, they don't (usually!) rock with passing traffic! In the days of working boats there was none of this, there was a job to do, although in fairness there was probably little offside mooring then, and certainly no residential. I'd better get my coat!

The water pump is at the front of the engine and is driven by the same drive belt that turns the small alternaftor that charges the engine start battery. It is a normal diesel engine style water pump. No maintenance needed apart freom checking the tension on the drive belt. Not too tight, not too slack. When it fails it is replaced. Follow the two big hoses from the skin tank. One will go to the water pump. Probably the lower hose with cooled water returning. Jen

Got it in one, so called paint job, he is a low life worm hope he gets what's coming to him.

If you have the original type of oil filter with a single bolt through the bottom, it is easier to dismantle and replace the sealing ring if you remove the whole assembley from the block, and service it on the bank/bench. (remove the two bolts - visible in the photo below)

I dare say I should read all the posts before commenting but would not want to start a trend. :-)

Maybe shes a Rolling stones fan

The riparian owner was renting the mooring to Leigh, and refused to allow CaRT onto his property, so they [apparently] cut the ropes to tow it away to the other side of the river, and then on to a marina to haul it out of the water and onto a truck. It is nothing to do with trespass either, and in fact [though CaRT argue otherwise] ownership has nothing to do with CaRT’s statutory powers. They are granted powers to manage their waterways whether they own them or not. The beef CaRT has, is that Leigh was not paying for a Pleasure Boat Certificate for all the time the boat was moored to the bank, and according to them he was required to do so. So they seized the boat under s.8. They refused to return it until Leigh had paid, not only their costs of removing it, but also the 4 years of ‘licence’ fees they claimed were owing. Leigh’s argument is that the relevant legislation mandating Pleasure Boat Certificates of registration apply very specifically, only to the main navigable channel of [in this instance] the river Trent, and that BW/CaRT for nearly 50 years have held that that term applies only to a central channel within a waterway of a specific set of dimensions, not including the banks. The same interpretation should apply to the same term where used for the registration requirement, so for so long as he remained outside of the main navigable channel, he did not need either licence or certificate. He had only re-purchased the boat a year before; was not cruising it, and was only doing it up to sell. CaRT on the other hand, claim that MNC when it comes to 'licensing', means something altogether different to what it does respecting their maintenance obligations - see page 31 here: http://www.waterways-ombudsman.org/media/1016/annualreports201to11final.pdf Further, and in the alternative, even if he HAD been required to register it, then the appropriate course of action for CaRT was to pursue him either for the fees alone as a civil debt, or at most to take him to the Magistrates Court for the alleged offence. The use of the draconian measure of s.8 where a legislated remedy existed as a lesser intrusion into his Human Rights to peaceful possession of property, was contrary to law. CaRT's defence to this is simply that s.8 is not disproportionate, and there are any number of [specious] reasons why acting under the law is silly and ineffective. What is more, according to Leigh, in refusing to return his boat unless he paid the disputed arrears, they were acting against the very terms of s.8 they were relying on, so that they were using extortion, against both the Torts Act and Marlborough. This last CaRT have agreed was a “mistake”, but see no reason for any court findings on the issue. They say he owed the money anyway, so suffered no damage; ergo: so what? A judge has not thrown the case out because in the first instance it is Leigh who has brought the case against CaRT, not the other way around [though CaRT did try to have his case thrown out on procedural grounds], and secondly because the primary issue involves a matter of statutory construction of considerable importance to CaRT and its customer base, while the other two issues are inextricably entangled together.

Oh well, that is reassuring, I only know a Yamnar engine and "The Beast" looked very unfamiliar, I imagined having to start it with a bit of string, a starting handle, and a lot of knobs and levers

Agreed! As has been said many times before, just because a canal has wide locks does not mean it is designed/suitable for wide boats (rather than fitting two NBs into each lock).

No link needed,the Temperature controllers are easily available from sources such as ebay,just ask for 12 volt digital panel mounted Temperature Controller,will come complete with probe on a1 Meter cable,if you go ahead with the modification feel free to P.M me for installation details,the mod to the Alternator Field wire is simple and Quick,no dismantling required. CT

In total agreement with you on this, I think my tickover (according to the Tachometer) is about 1000 revs and carries me at a bit less than 1mph. If windy I'll run at probably 1300 revs (slightly over 1mph), but since they are probably already being buffeted by the wind I don't think it makes much difference to moored boat. When I moor up in an ideal location (armco) I now use a short piece of rope permanently attached to a 'nappy pin' as a spring. With it I can moor the stern in seconds then go and sort out the bow line. When finally moored I have the bow line leading forward to a chain, the stern line leading aft to a chain and this short spring rope attached to the stern bollard leading forwards. Feel free to come past me at whatever speed you wish, the boat wont move more that a couple of inches forwards or back.

It is said that everything on a boat is a compromise and its very true. One of the big compromises is internal space, especially for a liveaboard, against good looks (fine lines) and handling. A longer front deck looks good and longer swims help a boat cut nicely through the water. Some boats maximise internal space by bringing the cabin right up to the front, even curving in at the front, pig ugly to my taste, but your boat, your decision. A trad stern and a tug deck puts these concepts into focus. ................Dave

My guess is that the two panel 'halves' (left and right) drive a form of H Bridge. Scroll down this page and you'll see the schematic. It's pretty simple. http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/io/io_7.html

No point. Red wine is best not kept in the fridge, and white wine is only useful for cleaning the bath.

I think what would probably be a better question regarding narrow-boat insurance would be to address specifically to those who have made an insurance claim asking what their experience was. You will probably get fewer answers but they will have more value than what we (myself included) have said about those that we insure with. All Insurance companies are good, until the claim goes in, that sorts the men from the boys

Better still widen all the poxy narrow locks so we can all buy comfy boats

PM sent as requested On the editing point NO THERE ARE NOT. If a post complies with the posting guidelines then you have no business fiddling with it. A post should either stand or be deleted in its entirety in my opinion. If the soelling or punctuation troubles you send them a PM requesting permission to edit or suggesting they do it themselves. Editing posts is bang out of order in my personal opinion. Whatever the reason. Leave or delete. Those should be the only options a mod can choose from. If deleting, a PM containing a copy of the deleted text is good form, as it gives the member the opportunity to re-draft their text in a compliant manner and re-post.

Not sure I agree with this. When I bought my boat at the age of 33, I had two choices: Use that money as the deposit for a mortgage that would tie me to one location and see me working full time until I was about 60 to pay it off and retire, and hope that I was in good health and ready to start again by using the money from selling the house to buy a boat. By then I would have waited 27 years to start the lifestyle I wanted, and also would have been pretty much obligated to work full time to pay off this mortgage. Or: Use that money to buy a smaller, cheaper boat at that juncture allowing me 27 additional years (should I choose) of my lifestyle of choice knowing that I would at worst, get to do it for a while when I was young enough to have my health and lots of options, in case I was unable to for any reason when I was older. Now I am 39, living on the same little cheap boat with no desire at all to ever go brick, working less than 20 hours a week, and in a freelance job that I would never have even considered trying in and that became obvious as an option only as a direct result of getting the boat and joining this forum. To me it was a no brainer to not waste all those years in a house with a full time job, or wait all that time being a good little minion to retire and find out for sure if it wasn't for me? for-after all, I could be dead by then for all I know, never mind in poor health! I am not trying to say it is an easy thing-Sometimes, some boat stuff sucks, where you are sucks, or there are boat-related people who you can't get far enough away from fast enough for whatever reason, and you will never know what exactly it is that you will find so sucky until you get there-it is different for everyone. The last five years that I have been on the boat have in fact included the top scorers in the ranking of the very darkest times of my life for various reasons, and even the logistics of managing things like that (whatever your equivalent "like that" is) can be harder on the boat too. But I think there is a big difference between "dreaming" and "wanting something nice that you can actually get." Sometimes people are too programmed to do what is expected of them without questioning it, and questioning if that is actually what they want-why SHOULD someone work until they are 50 or 60 if they don't desire to and have other options that they prefer? There's a trade-off for everything in life, innit. That doesn't mean the trade is necessarily a poor one.

Denebola.

Again Fair Enough Hopefully you will go on to embrace boating and all its benefits . If so you will find it very worthwhile & it can go some way to rebalancing your work / life outlook . Its good that it is not your friends who' ve given any advice re 20 miles . If as you say youre 33 and without excessive bills and financial ties then you re pretty much in ideal position to go about doing what you hope to . Therefore go for it , lifes too short to look back at regrets . I wish you well and hope it provides some level of " escape " or peace & that it helps with coming to terms with your loved ones health concerns . As for my comments re hard work . It seems i was incorrect & you indeed do know the meaning of hard work more so than i ever will . For my poor judgement i apologise unreservedly. Good luck

Chubby thank you for a much more civalised reply with regards to my drive to live on the canals. My friends are not the ones who only travel 20 miles its a documentary i have watched that illudes to this that people are doing 50 miles plus and being sent letters and denials for winter moorings from the crt. Yes 50 miles is not alot but its adgering to tge rules is it not...... I will not be cc i will be paying for a mooring and traveling from a base location whatever the costs but i was suprised perhaps naively to see these prices as i pay alot to keep my salt water vessel in a marina also but i expected a slightly lesser fee for some reason. I also stand by my position that agressive and attacking stance with people starting out will do you no favours so perhaps refrain from commenting on newbies trying to make a life change instead of degrading and disheartening them. I assume you were not born on the canals.... well you started somewere too and i hooe you got the time of day from others just as i have. As for hard work..... 1 tour of iraq and 1 tour of afghan and a mortgage paid means i know how to work hard!!!!

Ok Fair enough . Firstly i am sorry to hear of your personal circumstances and understand how these can lead to a shift of focus as to what is important & whats is less so . I had a similar awakening myself in my mid twenties . However My response was to the information contained within your posts prior to your latest one quoted above . I stand by all of it . Go back and read what have written previously and you will see that my reply addresses only the matters that you bring up . Whether its accurate or not your posts do appear contradictory - whinging about marina costs who set thier fees according to market forces as will you as a landlord . If you fail to see the hippocracy then so be it . There is nothing wrong with renting out a property to fund a lifestyle choice and as you suggest , there are probably several on this forum and many more away from it who benefit from it . But they dont appear to be moaning about marina costs and are therefore not being contradictory as you yourself are . You state above that its easy to travel 20 plus miles per year and its no hardship to have a car . But you are not talking about genuinely CCing with a car youre talking about shuffling around a bit with a car . If the friends you have who are " following the rules but still getting letters from CRT " have given you the idea ( maybe they did , maybe not - i dunno ) that 20 miles distance is sufficient to comply with the very simple & not very onerous rules then i am not surprised that they are being reminded of thier obligations as they are not meeting them currently . IF that figure came your friends then id think twice about taking much more notice of them to be honest . If im brutally honest the fact that you have brought up this figure of " 20 miles " will make it apparent to some that your intention may well be not to " cruise " but instead to just mooch up and down a familiar stretch . I dont think anyone else has used the 20 mile figure and the fact you have speaks volumes . Maybe you will go on to do more - many more and if you are genuinely looking to have a " boating lifestyle " you will want to . If you really want to go boating , grab life by the throat and make the most of now following your loved ones illness then that is to be commended and you should move heaven and earth to make it happen . Its not really gonna happen mincing around on the K&A though is it ? By all means get a boat and spread your wings - go boating , further & further afield and immerse yourself in lifestyle thoroughly as a way of not only coming to terms with the family issues but as a way making the most of your precious time . If you can afford to do it then do it and do it soon . But - i do stand by my criticisms which were based on the info from the posts you made before my reply and with respect you do come across from them , as so many do like a dreamer . As also stated - this kind of thing comes up very very often . Again , im sorry to hear that ill health has caused a wake up call that you are attempting to address . It is far from the ideal way to realise theres more to life than 9-5 & big salaries and if your enquiries are genuine then i wish you all the best with your endeavours but if you just wanna drift up & down the K&A 20 miles and back then you have to expect a bit of criticism . I hope you choose not to do so and instead go much further afield and make the most of the boat , the canal network ,& more importantly the time you have that misfortune has made you realise is so precious .

I dont like hard work? Chubby you make this assumption because you see me trying to go part time and take things easier. But you dont know why we want to escape the 9-5 inner city bull. You dont know that last year my wife was diagnosed with a life changing ilness and we need to make the best of the now as we dont know for sure what is coming later. You dont know that my sibbling has an ilness that they wont come back from so stick your jumped up comments up your tail pipe pal. 1 shot at life and im gunna live it how i want This is not a dream this is a chance so pipe down unless you have something constructive to say. Your not the only one who deserves access to the water ways. Most on this forum have been very helpfull but their are a few people who hate the idea of other adjusting to life on the canals. Its not a hardship to own a car and CC or travel 20+ miles a year, you can easily do 10miles a day but i know of people who stick to the rules and still get letters......yes thats right i know people living the lifestyle....... im getting my head around the practicalities as they are normaly far from the facts. I know CC is difficult hence looking and speaking with marinas......yes im suprised by costs but only from a pure financial aspect in order to make this work. I dont feel bad about renting out a house and why should i.....im sure it funds other boaters life styles. I keep hearing the boating community is so close and friendly...well chubby i dont wanna be anywhere near you......

Have you asked (in person) about a mooring at Caan Hill on the K&A? I suspect that it will not be a whole lot more expensive than a mooring on the GU. Rather than a 60 by 10 fugly boat why not get a 70 by just under 7 narrow boat? then you can actually visit your friends in Birmingham. You can also go all the way to Liverpool, go to the folk and boat festival in Middlewich, travel the Peak forest canal into the peak district, visit Stratford upon Avon, and get down the western end of the K&A without causing chaos. and instead of getting a boat built to your specification (you have lived on boats before I assume if you know how to specify a liveaboard boat?) why not get a nice second hand narrowboat now? If you really really don't like it Then you can think about a brand new widebeam. We passed several brand new fat boats on the K&A this year and somehow felt that most of them were taking their proud owners towards unhappiness. ..............Dave