Westyman

We originally had two Elite single chairs that made up into a bed. After a few years we changed to an Elite sofa bed and this works better for us. And the dogs like the space between us too as it’s 2m long. When we have guests on board, we use it and let the visitors use the cross bed. We’re near the galley then for the morning cuppa!

Regarding off grid usage and the appliances, we have 4 x 110Ah lead acid leisure batteries and a 3kVA inverter/charger thingy. The 230V appliances on board are microwave, larder fridge, tv, DVD/amp. Apart from the fridge, the other items are intermittent use. On the roof we have 2 x 120W solar panels feeding through a 20A MPPT controller. Overnight I turn the inverter off and the A+++ insulated fridge stays cool enough. We find the solar panels and 2-3 hours cruising a day keeps the batteries upto 100% on the meter. Over 6 years of leisure use we have found this an acceptable compromise for battery usage. At their age they may be due for replacement soon. The benefit of a wide beam is all that roof for solar panels! So I think would worth investing for off grid usage eventually.

The pin in the fixed part has a knurled ring to provide interference within the housing. I know this because the un-knurled part has corroded and the pigeon box lid came off the end with the knurling on ?

Dunno - just taken us 2h50 to get down the 9. Pretty busy with loads moored or winding at the bottom.

I am at top of Napton now. Boat passed on way down at 6am. We’re off very soon too

Thanks all. SWMBO decided M&S was what was wanted! Now at top of Napton. Just got CRT notification of temporary closure on Wednesday (Monday today) so glad we’re going down tomorrow (Tuesday). This will bugger up returning hire boaters to Napton!!

Another South Oxford Q: Can I access Tesco in Banbury from either br 162 or 161? There are designated moorings around there but the towpath is on the opposite side to Tesco and the A423 that’s alongside that bit. AFAIK it’s that or an expensive M&S in the gruesome Castle Quay thingy.....,

Made it to Oxford, dropped down through Isis Lock, spun around and back up again. As has been said very limited moorings in Oxford but I loved the murals under a couple of the bridges. Now moored at Kiddlington.

We are now at Thrupp - the Cherwell bit was good, lots of water, boat likes lots of water! Moorings in Thrupp are err...scarce. Oxford tomorrow, turn and head home.

Thanks for all the replies and help. Much appreciated.

You perhaps mean Chirk tunnel? And, yes, its damn slow going though there

I am part way up the Napton flight tonight, just below lock 14. Oxford was an ambition, plenty of time, and noted the “not exceeding 50’ boats” winding in Nicholson’s which seems to be above Isis lock. Looking at Google satellite view, there seems to be room to wind below Isis lock without going down Sheepwash channel to the Thames (boat is 56’) or what’s to stop you entering the Thames under the railway bridge, winding, and returning to Isis Lock? I am aware of one day licences for the Thames purchasable from lock keepers but no lock is involved if wind and return? Or am `I being stupid.....

We called in at AJ Canopies at Braunston when we were passing through. Nice product but too far away from you. They offered a plastic leathercloth, an acrylic canvas and, best of all, a mohair which is like the hood on my Mazda and really nice.

And Carefree Cruising are holding an open day on 17th and 18th March. I was going to take our share boat there (but stoppages prevent a sensible route) as we have our sahrtes for sale. This will be at Elton Moss Cottage at Sandbach on the T&M

I have just chucked our eon one in the bin. We ended up with two of these devices an nPower one and the eon one. They read completely differently though the clamps were within inches on same wire. A check with a clamp meter gave more credance to the nPower one.

I used to live there and was never more glad to leave the place.

Cambridge has always been up its own back passage, I know, used to live there and was glad to leave it.

You could try a caravan accessory shop. Though NB seats can tend to be a bit high for them. I made up a small table for one caravan with a Desmo leg, a surface female mount for under the table top and a recessed female mount in the floor.

When we get our new boat in 2013 will there be any canals left with water?

Cambridge Audio do some small cube type speakers and a sub about 8" cube. Pricey though.

Slightly related, when we were having our caravan built the standard fit was a JVC DAB car radio unit with some lithle speakers. I went for a £500 Alpine set up and then added a sub when we got the caravan. We have a new-build slot for next year and am pondering on audio-visual setup. At the moment I fancy a Teac unit that does FM, CDs, DVDs, has a iPod dock. Teac do A 2.1 speaker system to go with this. Hook it up to a 22" flat screen TV and job done!! Not a DAB fan or Sat TV fan and have included a Status 540 aerial. FM aerial is a bit of a worry but am thinking of an amplified extending rod aerial like the caravan has.

That's a similar price to a good bespoke nb!!

First time we did the Middlewich we believed Nicholson's and took our life in our hands and walked from the road bridge along what seemed to be a motorway rat-run only to find it closed. We never tried the walk across the fields as we assumed it was still closed. Hope it succeeds this time around. The smoking ban was blamed for pub closures for a while but I didn't really believe that The "pubco" explanation sounds more believable.

I was born in Meriden!! Not that this adds anything to the query LOL