lockgategirl

Your fridge, if it is anything like ours, will decimate your batteries if you leave them without charging for days at a time. Also we have found that the lap top can take a lot of power if you are, for instance, playing on line games. In addition to all this I think that 12.2 volts is not a fully charged battery bank to begin with.

I agree. Tying with two ropes is not only ridiculous but completely unnecessary. When working uphill in a narrow lock we leave the boat in ahead gear and open the paddles gently. The boat stays at the front of the lock. If you have a front fender we would recomend lifting it onto the fore deck so that it can't snag. Going downhill we take the centre line onto the lock side and take one turn round a bollard. In wide locks we try to share whenever possible but if we are alone we use the centre line to control the boat. Opening the ground paddle on the same side as the boat will help to keep it to that side (except in some of the locks on the Leeds and Liverpool). Most importanatly, work at your own pace, never let anyone rush you.

We've had our boat about ten year and done most of the above. We have found, having tried hot air heating and diesel fires, that the good old Morso Squirell is best. We have no radiators and it works great. We have also re-wired the boat and run the new wiring in trunking. The first two things we got rid of were the hot air heating and the pump out toilet(we use a cassette). The best thing we have done recently is to change to L.E.D lighting.

Having been on the canals for many years we have also come across many nice boaters. We have also been able to help others once or twice. One day it will be your turn and no doubt you will remember the kindness of others as you offer to help some poor soul.