Shaggy

Hi Thanks for the advice, the engineer visited the other day and he thinks its just the battery monitor has got 'out of flunter'. So he advised connecting to shore power for a couple of days and see if it helps. haven't got shore power at moment so am just "over-charging" and then resetting the battery monitor. Will see what comes of it. Cheers Shaggy

Hi Just got a new boat and at handover they said that I shouldn't let the leisure battery voltage drop below 12v. At first this was easy as the voltage seemed way above 12v. However a few weeks in and now the batteries drop below 12v at only 85% charged. Is this normal? or is there somekind of problem? Many thanks Shaggy

Thanks, turns out it was the water pump not turning off and it was over pressurising the calorifier. Or something like that. A friendly bloke on the Rufford helped me fix it Shaggy

Hi Hope someone can help, we recently ran out of water (water guage was faulty). I filled up and let the taps run to get the air out of the system. Now the calorifier bangs when the hot water tap is not on. I have opened the pressure valve at the top and this relieves the problem temporarily - but the release of pressure banging quickly returns. Any ideas? Much appreciated Shaggy

I may have a job for you, getting a new boat delivered in September to Hanbury Wharf. Like your stuff though - pm me with prices or request more info. Thanks Shaggy

Thanks guys, very useful stuff as usual ! Although depsite listening to everyone saying cream is the best I have decided to take a chance with blue - suppose i can always cook eggs on it and save on gas:) Shaggy

Hi Just ordered a new boat and thinking whether to do the roof in cream, I will be living aboard all year. At the moment the plans are to make it dark blue but with houdini hatch in galley. Does a cream roof work well in reducing heat or is there not much in it? Many thanks Shaggy

Thanks for that, had wondered about usb extension and suppose I could put a plastic bag over the 'sensitive part' and put it on the roof - just wondered if people found that necessary in order to get 3g. Good to know the USB modem works well though Thanks Steve

Hi Just signed up to t-mobile eb and walk and got the usb modem and not the pcmcia card (which constantly crashes my os). However the 'newer' USB modems do not appear to take an external aerial. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of t-mobile and whether they find they need an external aerial to get reception? Thanks Shaggy

Hi Just a quick one to say thanks to everyone for their contributions. I dealt on the Aqualine on Monday - expecting arrival mid September - so really looking forward to that and hopefully catching some last glimpses of some good weather - but sod's law will prevail no doubt. Thanks again, it was all really useful stuff. Shaggy

Hi Thanks for the welcomes. Sorry for my inactivity on the thread I started:) - been moving out of the house - so am now homeless for a while. Thanks for all the responses, they are all a big help to me and certainly give me some food for thought. I've looked at a 57 footer and smaller but as this is going to be my main home and my office and a place for my friends to come and visit I feel I need the space in the saloon that the extra 3 feet gives - I appreciate that people manage on a lot less. CarlT - I think the 'company' I was referring to wasn't necessarily social just a case of not being moored alone for 3 months (although I appreciate to some this might be their idea of heaven:) Alastair - I'm a programmer rather than a designer, so not really bandwidth hungry. Lady Muck - I've heard sprayfoam is good - aqualine fit Styrofoam which is meant to be good, maybe whammy has some insight into this ? Whammy - seems like you have a very similar boat to my intended boat, will pm as would be great to pick your brains. ROUTE HOME & LENGTH I suppose I'm still clinging onto the idea of 'home' as a place (I suppose this may go over time) - so want to have the security that I will be able to get back to Glasson Dock (Lancaster) on a 60ft boat, everybody says this is ok, from my maps there appear to be two routes to get there, can anyone provide any insight into this. Where will I find it difficult/impossible? Anyway great to have resource with helpful folk! Thanks Shaggy

Hi All I'm planning to step off the housing ladder madness for a couple of years and go and do something 'less boring instead'. I work for myself and don't need to 'report' anywhere. So I am looking to liveaboard and continuous cruise for a couple of years - Singlehanded. I appreciate this may be challenging. This is my situation:- INTERNET CONNECTION I'm an internet developer but can work 'locally' on my machine for a couple of weeks or so - before needing a connection. Any advice on 3G availability and related systems would be welcome. WINTER LIVEABOARD I intend to try living on the boat all winter - but have sufficient funds to escape to rented property if I decide its too much. The boat I'm looking at is an Aqualine Madison 60ft (cruiser stern with galley at the stern) I want a boat which is a good liveaboard, a nice 'home' but which is sociable for when I have friends staying the summer. It seems to have most mod cons and can specify 3kw inverter and such like. This is the location of the specification http://www.aqualinemarine.co.uk/spec_madison.asp - I wonder if anyone could tell me which of the optional extras a good liveaboard should have? or what is optional extras are just not worth the money. Also could anyone tell me if this is totally the wrong kind of boat for a liveaboard? SECURITY If I'm continuous cruising in the winter, how many people are on the network - would i be isolated or would it be easy to find 'company' if I could go anywhere on the network (remember, I won't have a residential mooring) OR is it just a terrible idea to cruise single-handed in winter. Any insights views on any part of this question much appreciated. Thanks in advance Shaggy