Chris G

Known as a Sunny Day in Suffolk.

Aren't the "gates" called "doors" on the Nene, Great Ouse and Middle Level?

It didn't 16 hours ago!

Well said.

I'd be worried trying to start any engine that might have water in the cylinders. Water is incompressible, but something has to give - a con rod perhaps!

Sounds the obvious answer. Needs someone with a press and knowing what they're doing. Where I worked they used to straighten shafts after heat treatment.

Are you working in US tons? 1750kg = 1.93 US tons = 1.72 Imperial tons.

I call it a tiller. To me a tiller extension is a "stick" hinged to the end of the tiller so you can control the tiller when sitting on the side of a dinghy.

I'm sorry, I don't understand the issue. I would expect a left-handed person to steer from exactly the same position as a right-handed person. I've never seen a nb with a tiller extension - only seen on racing dinghies and some yachts😊.

I sailed dinghies (Cadet, Firefly, Fireball, 505, Scorpion, Wayfarer, Mirror, Laser, Osprey, National 12, Merlin Rocket) for over 50 years and I've never seen anyone not holding the stick in the aftermost hand (LH on starboard tack and RH on port tack) with the main sheet, stern or centre, in the other hand. You live and learn.

But a dinghy sailor would be used to using either hand for steering, so I wouldn't expect it to be a problem. My 18ft RIB (30knots +) had the throttle on the right; the nb I'm familiar with has the throttle on the left. Surely, as someone has already said, it's a non-problem?

You would have spent half the time steering with each hand. Port tack: RH. Starboard tack: LH!!

You could abandon the existing skin tank and fit a new internal tank on the other swim - possibly no need to disturb anything. Chris

We always dished out chewing gum to any sea sick dinghy sailors we "rescued".

I think it's butane which stays liquid. Propane is OK in winter.