David Schweizer

There is no way I would have a centre line fairlead on a Narrowboat. Some years ago, whilst waiting for the lock at Marston Doles, I witnessed a fairlead being ripped out of the handrail by a particularly strong surge from the lock, sending it flying though the air and narrowly missing the head of someone standing on the towpath. The experience led me to believe that they are just an accident waiting to happen.

Very Funny, I think you know it isn't Alan. I am not sure how it happened, just a simple double posting of the same image, Double post now corrected.

Very interesting, I have a very simililar stool which Ron painted for me something like fifteen years ago. Not that I have any plans to sell it in the near future, but maybe one day.

Agreed.

Optimist!

Yes we were, We had a habit of "inheriting" them almost brand new from people who had bought them for use by grand children on camping/caravanning holidays.

We left two clean Porta Pottis on Helvetia when we sold it, along with a spare cassette. We were giving up boating and they were of no use to us.

Surely no one uses a car battery to start their boat engine. The starter battery fitted on Helvetia was a heavy duty 643 battery, designed for use on a lorry. It lasted for more than ten years and never failed to start the engine, even in very cold weather, after having been left for several weeks.

Do I get a prize for guessing which last longer?