Mandy

I live on a mooring without shore power and had an old 12v fridge which started giving up the ghost. As it did it started messing about with my power and was draining my batteries which meant I had to run my engine much more. I then went for a 240v household fridge with tiny freezer compartment and ran it off my inverter. That took far too much power for my liking so I eventually shelled out for a new 12v shoreline and I love it! It takes less than 2 ampers, it is almost silent and I can keep the dial on 1 or 2 in summer and everything stays cold. It has a reasonable sized freezer compt too. Downside - it cost best part of £400. But I'll save that much diesel in less than a year.

That's really useful thanks. I'm on a non weight bearing cast till Tuesday week, then it should be easier. It's getting in and out of the cratch that I'm most worried about and getting down my steps into the cabin as there is nothing to hold on to. I can go down on my bum but then how do I get up again!

I was pulling my boat onto its mooring by the centre rope when I slipped and snapped 2 bones in my leg. At present whilst I can't put any weight on it at all, I'm staying with shore based friends. I was interested to hear from anyone else who has coped with this sort of injury whilst on the boat - any tips on how to cope - apart from wearing my friends out?

I have just returned from my cruise and was on the Shroppie for most of June. I have an 18" draft and didn't once have a problem mooring. The wonderful Shropshire Union Canal Society have ensured that there are plenty of sites, with rings where you can moor. I had much more difficulty on the Macclesfield finding mooring spots than on the Shroppie. Oh and the Llangollen (which is of course part of the Shroppie) was excellent for mooring too. I have travelled extensively over the last few months and can say the Shroppie is my favourite canal! Ledge, what ledge?

Going back to the original question, I keep a generator for emergencies only so I didn't want to spend loads on something I hardly ever use so I bought a Clarke 1000 watt inverter charger which is nearly as quiet as the honda suitcase at a third of the price from Machine Mart (or at least it was when I bought it a couple of years ago. ps I am with those who can see no reason for generating power after 8pm!

Hmm, Now do I go to the expense of getting a dish so that I can watch even more rubbish than I watch now, or do I take the hint, ditch the TV, save on power and get a life? Oh well, off to Maplins for me then!

Yes, Yes, Yes. I am in my fourth year and love it too. I thought it couldn't get much better but I am on my first really lengthy cruise and am loving it. So far I've been waved at on the T and M, Staffs and Worcester, Shroppie, Llangollen, Maccy and Peak Forest. Yes, I've met the occasional grump but mostly people have been lovely, the canals (mostly) wonderful and despite it being the summer holidays, not at all busy. And best of all, when I get back to my mooring, I'll still be living on my boat!

I would think it will be harder to find a residential mooring than getting the the government to pay you benefits!

I am currently on the first really big cruise I have done (3 months). Having listened to other boaters and read this forum regularly before I left, I had got the impression that boaters nowadays aren't like they used to be - helpful, friendly and non judgemental. Well I am here to say that in my experience during this first month they really are all those things. Everyone I have met so far have greeted me with a friendly smile and chatted when they had the chance. I have had people wait for me to arrive in a lock rather than nicking it for themselves. I moored at Coole Pilate (great name) and the next door boaters marked good moorings on the Llangollen for me in my book. In Nantwich a couple long term moorers chatted to me for an hour or so - rather than moaning about visitors mooring near them! All in all I have been really pleasantly surprised and wanted to share this good news with the rest of you. Oh and if you were any of those friendly boaters, then thank you!

Interesting idea. I didn't think socks, however I got my brother to buy me a ukulele for my birthday and bought myself Ukulele for Dummies book and so making some not so sweet music on my boat! My sympathies for all who have to travel in this weather - quite a few blowing past here at Tixall and not just hire boats. I set off from Fradley a week ago today and this is as far as I have got! Ah well, obviously meant to be.

Thanks for your best wishes and encouragement peeps. So far it has hardly stopped raining, my dog ran away for 8 hours and a gale is forecast for later today. But am I downhearted? well, actually yes. However I'm sure things will get better. And I'd rather be out and wet than in and dry - if you know what I mean!

Having lived on my boat for 3 years, endured 3 interesting winters and having frightened myself silly as a lone boater, I am finally experiencing the best about boating. I have quit my wage slave, soul destroyingly boring job and have set sail (figuratively) into the blue yonder. Actually it is more grey than blue at present as it is hissing down and I am moored up for the day at Wolseley Bridge on the T and M. Having only been allowed 2 weeks out at a time while working, I am now intending to be out for 3 months. I'm planning to go down the Staffs and Worcester then up the Shroppie, across to the Maccy and on to the Peak Forest. Give us a wave if you see 'Don't Panic' and please forgive any silly mistakes I might make in your presence!!

I doubt even a solar powered washing machine will help you in your search for a woman!!

I was hoping to show you my happy live aboard Cairn Terrier but I can't figure out how to post a picture! I started off by leaving her just for a few minutes and then praising her hugely and now I can leave her for several hours and she just sleeps. I do leave the radio on though so she isn't too disturbed by outside noises. Re heat, it's nothing like a car as you are sitting in cool water (well, not you - unless you have a leak, but your boat is!) However I do shut the sunny side curtains and leave windows open.

I went through the pain three years ago of going from a three bed house to a 50 ft narrowboat. I managed with a great deal of angst to get it down to the 'absolute, can't live without essentials'. Within a year of living aboard at least half of those precious things were given away, sold or binned - I just didn't need them any more. Bite the bullet - downsizing is good for the soul!

Thank you Mr Moam - firstly because if I ever question why I am a single, female lone boater and wonder whether I would be better off with a man, you have answered that question beyond any doubt. Secondly, thank you because I have just been told off by my boss for chortling out loud at the till whilst reading all the comments - not supposed to be happy workers! Lastly a little tip - women, unless they are very odd, don't like aggressive men so I suggest you modify the tone of your responses and lighten up or I fear you will be forever alone.

I would have fitted a solar panel much sooner. Re the security issue, I tend to leave my door unlocked and not keep anything worth stealing on the boat (not difficult as I don't have the money to buy expensive stuff). That way, if thieves do want to check it out, they won't do any damage breaking in. This form of 'security' has worked for 3 years and counting!

and your blacking costs / servicing etc... If I read your last post right, it looks like your most expensive outlay will be finding and keeping a wife!!!

Check out the difference between residential moorings where you have all the facilities and pay council tax and live aboard moorings where you don't!

Marinas aren't your only option. Check out BW's auctioned moorings (search Waterscape). Some are a lot cheaper than any marina and if you can cope without shore power, there are plenty about. I started in a marina but found it very claustrophobic with boats on either side of me, lots of fences and rules - especially about my dog. Two and a half years ago I got an online (on the canal) mooring through the auction site. I have boats either end of me but only fields to look out at and a great little community to belong to. I have loved every minute of it. It is more work as you don't have facilities on the doorstep, but I manage it on my own and still fit in 4 days work a week. Good Luck to you. The only other advice I would give is whatever figure you come up with as a budget - double it and you won't be far off!

Oh - I see - thanks! I'm so glad it's nothing to do with mucus

excuse me displaying my ignorance (again) but what please is a 'greenie'? I see them all over various posts. When I was at school, it was something you obtained through nose mining

How do you feel about road kill? I'm with you on that one. I just don't want to sign on until I absolutely have to because I don't want my hard won freedom compromised.

Amen to that brother, from an occasional wigwam dweller!

Well I watered all my salad leaves, tomatoes and carrots with the rich mix that is canal water last year, ate a fair amount, gave some away to my fellow moorers and we are all still alive and thriving! I would say I had a third more tomatoes with canal water and they were much juicier.