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.... and this is what happens when no one gives way... boats get stuck! Boats were log jammed outside Tooley's in Banbury. We were moored up, when two boats passed, neither giving way! After half an hour of tugging, rocking and pulling, washing up liquid was applied..... result! Got to say, people all pitched in, all with good humour, and the guy from Tooley's was brilliant!

As someone guilty of pretty much everything Pete accuses him of Id like to offer a counterpoint to his post regarding historic boat websites. I started my research 40 odd years ago as a kid, raised by ex working boat people my every spare moment was spent on boats, talking about boats and if I am honest dreaming about boats (steering our boat along a road like a car, turning into our drive and taking the boat through the entryway between the two houses like a tunnel and mooring it in the back garden... yes, I had that dream a lot). I had exercise books full of boat names, where I saw them, whether they were converted or not, along with little snippets of information uttered by my granddad or uncle about the boat if they knew it. I had the a5 ish size Robert Wilson/Alan Faulkner books as presents when other kids were having toys and games because I loved old boats and needed to know as much about them as I could. I could identify a boats builder from its name or the style of its bow/stern as easily as other kids my age could reel off footballers or pop stars, I still couldnt tell you who sang what song or when even now. As with most kids school exams and then starting work got in the way of my boating and the collection of information and in my own particular case numerous nervous breakdowns along with deaths in the family saw my information lost in house clearances and meltdowns of my own volition. But I still had that love, that deep seated connection to old boats and canals in general so I began to build it back up from a point of having lost everything, I had the intensely good fortune to meet and speak with others who shared that passion before I became as good as housebound and through those connections we shared and collated what we had and put the lists online as a means of spreading our passion. We knew we hadnt got everything right, we never claimed we had, in fact my website has disclaimers on its front page even now saying any mistakes are genuine and totally my fault and that if pointed out they will be rectified. About 2 and a half years ago I was in a very dark place, I was at the point of taking the site down and letting everything go but kind words on this forum and some amazing (to me) offers of help and support meant that the site not only survived but it is being rewritten, its a long job, not helped in the least by my own mental health being shite most of the time, but it is happening. People who have done the research hard yards are helping, I know I havent, mea culpa, not wishing to excuse it but I am extremely shy in person and the thought of actually meeting people and going somewhere new fills me with a terror I cant explain while at the same time making me feel wholly inadequate as a person, so its correct, I personally have not gone to the places where the information is held, not through want of desire or dedication but because I actually cant do it, for that I am sorry. The people who are helping rewrite the site have been brilliant, I wont name them unless they want to come forward themselves but they have not judged me disappearing for almost 2 years, or cut me out of the loop for being the flakey idiot I am and for that I am eternally grateful. So while the point Pete makes is accurate, as in my opinion he is about everything narrow boat related, it doesnt tell the whole story. Hopefully Ive shed a bit of light on what that story is, at least for me. For my own peace of mind I have to say that this is in no way critical of anyone nor is it written with any malice or ill intention, I just feel bad when I see it as me letting people down with my not wholly accurate information on the website, I am trying to be better. Sorry.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/05/17/ford-waze-app-sync-3-voice-commands/?guccounter=1 I dont know if any of you still attach a Sat Nav to your windscreen when out and about , but if so I can recommend this WAZE which is a free download . Stick it on your Smartphone a Windscreen Mount from the Local Market and off you go , this thing warns of everything from Potholes in the Road to Police in the vicinity , it really is excellent . I run a fleet of Vehicles in the course of my Business and it has totally eradicated theft from vehicles , give it a go if you haven't already , I think its probably the best out there .

I can offer a slightly different view for if you mostly cruise rather than moor for longer periods. The first phase of charging to get back to 80% goes in fairly quickly - the batteries will take a high current at first, diminishing as they fill. After that, the charging current tapers off and it takes a long time to achieve a 100% charge. A decent cruise with reasonable alternator ought to fill your batteries, but even a fairly short cruise will get you quite a way up the percentage fill, with a tank of hot water as a bonus. After a short cruise, or a hour or so engine run alongside, you'll only need maybe a 10 or 20 amp capability to finish the job - so a couple of hundred watts could cope if used to "top off". Same caveat applies about the shorter, darker days though. Still, it might work quite well for much of the time and could very well easily cope with many a leisure boater's needs. Not right for everyone, but another idea to consider.

Bear in mind no matter how much solar you get, it more or less stops working completely in the three winter months, in my personal experience with several installations. Edit to add: So no matter how much solar you have, you'll need to be able to replicate its performance with fossil fuel in those three winter months when your leccy demand is highest.

"OK Dougal" "Wuff" "Navigate to home" "Wuff wuff"

Copy of the metro picked up at the station. Makes a nice wrack when it hits the fly, when you finshed with it you can used it for lighting the fire or if your a northern as loo paper.

In the black and white corner, weighing in at 168 lbs Iron Mike "The bruiser" boilerman. In the red corner, weighing in at 161 lbs and 5' 10" tall WotEver "The Waze Worshipper"

Fight, fight, fight fight

Or know what a red traffic light means.

I think its both sad and wrong when people use boring facts to destroy these wonderful urban myths, you'll be telling us next that Captain Pugwash's crew did not include Master Bates, Seaman Staines or Roger the cabin boy ?. ...............Dave

CSI tree huggers. Seal off the scene. Oh too late.

You eat Ariel - just cos it smells like fish doesn't mean it is fish !!!

Nope, just Wubbl-ewes.

Can’t get on with Windows, can’t get on with Waze... you have a bit of a problem with technology don’t ya

My favourite road guidance is this from 1929.

I bought one of these only last week after years of messing about. I'd have bought one far sooner if I knew exactly which one to buy, but on this occasion I was able to try it in my boat and it fitted perfectly. After an easy, perfectly sealed pump out, where for once I didn't need to keep pressure on the nozzle, I paid the 17 quid. Expensive, but worth it for a well-sealed, hands free pump out.

I'd say that worrying about a possible gearbox failure is well down the list of priorities when choosing a new boat. If the subject boat ticks lots of other boxes, its gearbox type is unimportant provided that it is currently fully operational!

Now I find that comment bordering on the unacceptable. You asked a question that was impossible to answer because you gave virtually no details. You also declined to give answers to the questions I posted so to be better informed in the absence of further clarification from you Alan felt it might be a good idea to see if you had given more info in the past. That is far from stalking, its trying to be helpful and maybe protect you from yourself. For myself, when you declined to clarify I just gave up and noted you as a - well you decide how your conduct looks. Especially as it seems this is the second time you have failed to answer valid questions and provide more information. We still have no idea exactly what this "hatch to the engine" is or how its fitted. For you to get the best advice we need the best information. What is obvious to you on your boat and looking at it is far from obvious to us on the end of the internet. If you think that you may need more help from the forum in the future It might be a good idea to make an apology to Alan.

Proud enough that I squeeze in a picture of her when ever I can ?

Hopefully yes!!

The plastic?

Are they also banning disposable nappies? Does that mean no small children are allowed in BWML marinas?

I think BWML are correct here .... after all there's enough conflict between pump-out and cassette, we don't need another option to complicate things any more than at the moment

That's awfully good knitting - they've even done a little crew neck affair around the withers! Rubbish fashion sense though - no wonder you don't see those little ponies in London: they'd simply die of embarrassment, darling.

Only if you don't wrap up warm!

I will keep all informed on it's progress LOL Might take photos when I next empty LOL

Exactly as I stated, it works for 2 or our particular model compost toilet does anyway. Is an inaccurate statement. and not all compost toilets are the same.