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What a great experience today (well yesterday really). We legged horseboat Nb Maria through Standedge tunnel in a very respectable two hours twenty minutes, emerging to cheers from the local schoolchildren waiting for us at Diggle. We had a six man team, using three leggers at a time in rotation, plus three crew, using poles where the tunnel is too wide/high for legs to reach, And no scrapes on the back cabin either!

Well, I suppose getting rid of linear moorings would clear a lot of us off the canal system completely. I certainly could never have afforded a marina mooring and have happily sat on farm moorings for nearly thirty years. It would leave the system nicely set up for the rich and shiny brigade (bit like the way they seem to want the rest of the country to be!).

I remember hearing a dutch barge style boat approaching on the K&A once, somewhere east of the Bruce Tunnel IIRC. The engine seemed to be working hard and it was accompanied by a separate, high pitched 'roaring' noise a bit like a jet fighter plane makes. As it got nearer it became clear the roaring crunching noise was the boat dragging it's arse through the gravel of the river bed! MtB

Sell house, pay of mortgage, buy flat with remaining money, buy nice boat to live on, rent flat, live off rent and travel the network. God I've gone wrong somewhere!

I'm always happy for anyone to use my (non-CRT) mooring to the South of Milton Keynes, as long as they do the courtesy of asking first otherwise the neighbours have instructions to chase them away (and they have several dogs who will lick the intruders mercilessly until they go away) The one problem is that the access lane is owned by someone else and although we have permission to use it, it is somewhat debatable as to whether or not we have the right to delegate that permission for anything more than the first and last visits on arrival and departure. But there's an 80ft square of land so it's quite good if you only want to stay a short while and don't need the pub. Chesterfield Trust's Python stayed there recently and helped us by making it a bit deeper; if anyone else could use such a mooring, please PM me and I will see what can be arranged.

The procedure for CAV bowl filter units is to carefully unbolt them, open the engine room doors and throw as far as possible. This type of CAV filter is a leaky PITA , you can get an adaptor to change it to screw on filters like this........ http://www.go2marine.com/product/208435F/racor-parfit-filter-adapter-kit-in-cav.html

The reason for charging batteries setting off gas detectors is methane. This gas, related to propane and butane can trigger both CO and LPG alarms. Batteries being over charged are likely to give off methane as well as hydrogen. It can happen to new ones if the voltage goes too high, or old tired ones at normal voltages. The OP's 16V is plenty high enough to cause methane emission even from good batteries. We had this on CN earlier this year when our alternator regulator went mad, pushing the voltage over 16V regularly. Both our CO detectors and the LPG one would go off when this happened. Ear defenders were highly desirable! The OP needs to get his solar regulator fixed or replaced asap before his batteries are cooked. Oh! Methane is pretty poisonous too, so it's not something to neglect. Listen to your alarms folks, they will keep you safe!

Allan just out of interest when do you think will be a good time to start looking forward or maybe even live in the present. Just want to prepare myself.

Get that woman a Newky Brown!!

4.2.1 Exempt producers/usersIf you have produced or used less than 2,500 litres of: any biofuel, or any other fuel substitute or additive within the last 12 months, and/or expect to produce or use less than 2,500 litres in the next 12 months, you are an exempt producer and do not need to register with us and account for duty. However, there are simple record keeping requirements, which are described in paragraph 4.9.1. Production includes the manufacture or processing of road fuel, and the setting aside of any product that has not been charged with duty, with the intention of using it as road fuel. According to HMRC website - http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000205&propertyType=document#P219_26139

We just passed a boat called "Dances with Dragons" moored on the embankment in Nantwich. No sign of life so couldn't call out to anyone but will happily drive back once we're moored up and pass a message on.

On what terms is your deposit, if you pay one, held and on what basis might it be refundable? Is there a proper binding agreement that sets out the terms of the purchase process? Is your deposit going to be held in a protected Client Trust Account? Yes, I agree that Steve hand is a good and thorough surveyor. He once surveyed a boat for a customer of mine called Foot, which amused me.

I reckon it would take a direct hit to make the fridge open.... MtB (Wasn't me!)

I installed a reclaimed hardwood parquet floor onto the original plywood floor. Here is a photo of it finished. It was a lot of work cleaning the old bitumen off the back, laying and sanding and then 2 coats of oil. James

I managed to run both a 12v fridge and a 12v freezer for the last 3 years without shore power using just the engine, (2 hours in winter, less in summer) and 2x 180 w solar panels. So it can be done.

She looks a very nice boat and as for the 2K price tag, well she is worth that and more. As far as osmosis is concerned it is not the terrible killer of boats that it is made out to be. Granted a severe case is not a good thing but most boats with osmosis will outlive the owner. Phil

A thought: If I were to have an electric fridge, and solar panels, how about this for a strategy: Run the fridge during the warmer months when the electricity provided by the panels should be enough (is that correct?). During the winter months switch it off, keep my milk etc. in the bilges. Any thoughts? I really love all this talk of frugality! I'm currently in Indonesia for 2 months for a total cost of £1300.00. That's flights, accommodation, renting a motorbike, all meals, a few beers from time to time, rolling tobacco, the lot. I love to get the most out of life, and pay the least.