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In my experience there is no such thing as "popping" anywhere on a boat, especially not in a fattie. Moving, finding a space, getting moored up then walking back to get the car takes ages. You might like to explore Newbury too. It's a straight and fast run up the A34 to Oxford. About 45 mins.

So if keeping a coal mine open means a forest big enough to absorb the whole of its carbon output of the mine is not cut down, does that make the coal mine 'carbon neutral'? Just playing Devil's advocate. This seems to be the sort of stupidity underpinning the term.

Best wishes for the Hip operation.

Thank you all for input I wanted to know when to adjust tappet clearance but in a state as boat in midlands and me in Canterbury waiting for hip replacement this Saturday Mind was going haywire It is now clear to me tappet has to be set (.254mm or 10 Thou/in as per rocker cover /manual)when push rod fully down ie valve fully closed irrespective of stroke will have to wait to get back to boat in about 5 weeks thank you all again Richard

I'm quite trusting that the boat is well managed and fine. To tell the truth, I'm just curious at what a survey report looks like. Plus we get to wait a year to see the boat, and any and all information is something to toy with while waiting. I'm not making it a contingency on the deal. We signed the papers. Always happy to sign a contract sporting verbiage like this: "The parties agree as follows: 1. THE singular shall include the plural and the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter and obligations entered into and burdens assumed by a party consisting of more than one person shall be deemed to be entered into and assumed jointly and severally so as to apply to and be enforceable against all both or any of such persons and their and each of their personal representatives." How excitingly inclusive! I'll have to get some new pronouns for the occasion.

This whole argument started from Mr Jupiter claiming over and over that it is carbon neutral. When he was pulled up on this, it was all taken out of proportion. HVO will see, as most of us accept, about a 90% reduction in net CO2. I'm not sure if that takes into account the reduction in trees caused by any HVO produced via deforestation. Yes, it has ended up with you either: 1- inventing your own meaning of carbon neutral Or 2- telling blatant fibs. It is debatable if it is better than coal. These wood chips are leading to unnecessary deforestation in places like Canada. So not only are we emitting the carbon stored in the trees, but we now have less trees and so no ability to absorb the CO2 produced by the wood chips. You are probably better off keeping the Welsh coal mines open, and keeping the Canadian forests to help offset it.

Ive ordered Huawei B535-232 which is about £87, saving £55 , aparently. (Amazon). Its supposed to be 12v and has twin aerials attached, not sure if i can replace them with my outdoor aerials. Ive got great internet from the pub next door ( they sell White Rat, a rather nice IPA style beer).

Large clearances generally indicate cams ground with quietening ramps .

Five different kinds of zinc coating..........hot dip ,arcspray ,inorganic zinc ,epoxy zinc ,zinc paint ...............effective in that order.

We're definitely not doing it to save money, well aware that whilst it can be done, theres plenty to consider in terms of maintenance and fuel etc etc. We've had to do extensive renovations on our boat, and even we might even be able to make back that money, the boat is not finished yet to be able to sell it for a decent price, still lots of finishing touches without which the boat will look VERY unfinished. So hence hoping we can put that off for a couple of years. So we're not opposed to moving into a marina, its just if they have space, and can fit the boat, and so far its been slim pickings. We are currently paying about £900/month for our central London mooring, hoping that outside of London it will be cheaper, but still the availability and travel distance will be a factor. As for space and a second boat, that would be a great option if we could afford it and it would allow relatives to visit us and see the baby more and even help out with that too. But there's the big big cost element of an extra boat and mooring fees. Im wondering if we could perhaps find a marina 'close ish' and then for the days that my partner needs to be closer to a work site, hope that its near a river or canal, and move the boat closer for those days, and then it would only be the 24hr mooring here and there and pop back to the main mooring for the rest of the time. Is that too intensive to move the boat that much every week? (Not done it yet, just been stuck in the marina).

Cockney rhyming slang!

It depends how you want to approach things. There are wild moorings all over the place where you can tie to trees. Shillingford bridge hotel worth investigating but I think they are full. Ask lock keepers and possibly get an EA mooring on one of the lock islands. Abingdon is good but I expect he already has plenty of askers. Its going to be a bit tricky because although Boats seem like a cheap option they actually aren't once you start looking into it and needing to be somewhere. Its OK I have been through this process 15 yars young free single and rich with an amazing narrow Boat followed by another 15 yars of dealing with woman and children interaction issues. All the while remaining on Boats but spending a lot on moorings and a barge. The Woman and the girls have gone ashore now so I am on my Boats with my dreams and aspirations and some beer. Which is ideal as far as I am concerned because I am entirely dedicated to living in Boats. If the Woman is demanding more space then you have to think about what is happening. A lot of blokes really want to have a partner. I am not of one these blokes. Reproduction is a biological imperative.

Ah, so this raises the perenial question of what it means to "live" <somewhere>. Could you borrow an address to tell them you "live" at? Or is the actual question "What is your postal address?" perhaps? (It might be different from where you sleep most nights.) What if you tell them you live on your boat in the Oxford area and move around? How would they know where you were on any given night? Just questions for you to consider. No need to answer them here. Another idea if you need more space on the boat is to get an additional boat. Then you could be living in two places at the same time!

Rochdale Canal is open at the moment, no?

I'll check out the marinas mentioned, thanks. As for the boat, its actually a rare widebeam with a V shaped hull, so apparently better suited to river use, but I do understand a river is still very different to a canal. I fully expect we'll move back to land one day, but was hoping it would at least not be for another couple of years, especially after the financial and time investment we put into this boat. We both want to try and make it work on the boat, so I'm going to keep hoping for options. There's plenty within the 55x10ft that we can do to make more space for our young one. Will be heading over to Oxford in a week or so for a couple of days, so will check it out. If theres any areas people recommend I check out, please let me know. I guess theres also the bonus that technically we wont have to be working IN oxford, its more working on different sites in the area, the 25KM area around Oxford, so potentially maybe theres other rivers or canals? We have a car, so its flexible in terms of getting to work sites. Other than the Oxford Canal, are there any other canals/rivers in that radius that have locks suitable for 10ft wide, and more suitable for our purpose? Should also mention that my partner only has to work a few days a week on site, the rest can be from home, and I work full-time from home, so I'm flexible. The thought about Reading is also worth an option. Better than a commute to/from our London marina. And Thames and Kennet Marina is worth calling up, thanks. Only thing I can think as of a problem is that there is literally a requirement to be living within 25KM of Oxford, thats part of the job spec

I think that is the Wye invader 2- they have traveled up Maisemore and Llanthony weirs. Saves bothering the lockie at Gloucester I suppose ?

Below the bridge. Lechlade always a fun run. Might try again in the light cruiser this summer. Its funny when people ask how it goes under bridges. Its very low air draft with the gear down but 3ft4 water draft is interesting above Oxford. The Boat on the right this morning at the country estate. Its been a while since I had the the other one at Lechlade must be a decade or more.

I was wondering if Stimpson was actually the author of that set of websites.

Unable to turn around, presumably?

In my world, the least capable engineers sink to working for insurance companies. I've no reason to think it is any different in the sphere of narrowboats.

Isn't it the barrus engine where there is some convoluted arrangement between the run/stop solenoid and the starter to avoid having a stop switch/engine stop position on the ignition switch ? That could possibly explain then issue and RCR might have it right... 🤔

I avoid mooring near these things as there is a very high probability of getting woken up early by engine droning noises. Its just the way it works. Nobody would ever have such a vessel and use it as a Boat. There will be power and hot water demand. Its a rotten situation but in the end it is better than clutching your nuts, everyone's going to pieces, guns being pulled for a mercy clipping and all your intestines is mashed out through your balls. There were several at Lechlade last time I went up there a few yars ago.

Fatties strike me as quite unsuited to river use. Ok, unsuited for any sort of proper boating.

the wide bean situation on the River is crazy. I saw three of them in the Cliveden reach yesterday on various random towpath side moorings. I hope these are not being used as floating apartments or reality is going to kick in.