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I would simply get rid of those small side pipe fenders. They don’t do any good, are not necessary, and tend to get ripped off in locks creating a potential problem for other boaters. Quite anti-social in fact. Fenders are for mooring, not to compensate for bad driving!

The weed on the hull shows that the ducks have been on lock down somewhere else. Now that they are able to travel to their second home around your boat it will give them something to eat. You aren't supposed to sleep on board overnight yet, so the rat a tat tat of their pecking in the early hours of the morning won't wake you up. Much cheaper than shop bought duck food. Locally sourced and organic too. ? The fenders attached to the gunwale thing has been torn to shreds by other posters already, but I thought I'd add my bit. When I first got this boat and on its first trip I decked it out with fenders attached to the gunwale eyes with old retired climbing carabiners once I was on to the wide locks of the Trent and Mersey. Thought the krabs would make them easy to remove. Unfortunately I was right! The action of rubbing along the lock sides coming in unclipped every one of the fenders and I lost the lot. Live and learn. I now hang fenders with long ropes from the hand rail while mooring only. Jen

Actualy old boy they should be lifted at all times when underway

Quite agree. We had a 25Kg Delta on our lumpy water boat. Not the easiest to set and pretty useless if trying to set when the sea bed is getting deeper ie you are moving away from shore. The only need for an anchor on a NB is in an emergency and it must set first time. If near a river bank but being pulled towards the centre, the bed is getting deeper and no chance to set (unless snagged). As the river gets shallower on the other side then the anchor is going up hill and will far more easily set. As its unlikely you will recover your anchor, peeps wont want to spend £500 plus on a Mantus or a Rocna (the best). The best answer is dont get yourself in a position where you need to deploy your anchor! We spent 3 years living aboard and anchoring many many times. I am still crap at anchoring. God help anyone who has to do it first time in an emergency!

The green 'tool' is used to hold several supermarket bags. Thread it through the handles and put the spade end through the slot. It is easier to carry them than the individual plastic finger cutting handles. I'm assuming that it is flexible, we've something similar.

I, and many others, worry about what the police are not doing, such as investigating burglaries and prosecuting shoplifters. Not so long ago we were being told that the constabulary was dangerously under resourced, now they seem to have the time to drive up and down quiet mountain roads and deserted streets at night. Ever been on the receiving end of police harassment? If you ever are, you will change your view.

Help - I'm at a loss to understand how staying overnight on a boat you can visit two days running is any more a threat than the two visits?

Firstly, many thanks for the many PM's and Emails, I've only just gone 'back onto the computer and seen them. It has been a weird couple of weeks with all sorts of 'ailments' rolled into one - I'm still very short of breath just walking 50yards, but it is getting better - so - stand by for the old 'me'. You'll all be boating soon.

More on the Mosel. The line alongside still had steam haulage, the electrification plan having hit problems in the tunnels. One of these things came to a stand one evening in this position on the bridge and we got the full display: the hissing of steam, the clatter of fire-irons, beams of light when the firebox door was opened, then the wailing of the whistle and the gathering of power as the signal turned to green.

Many of you will know George and Helen Smith from their UCC camping boat days. This is their barge a Belgian registered spits which they worked for around 20 years before retiring back to Braunston a couple of years ago. Picture at Conde sur Marne on Bastille day but George wouldn’t stop. Load going to a cement works on the Rhone from Belgium.

Lock keeper's garden ornaments on the Marne à la Saône canal (now renamed the canal Champagne à Bourgogne, but just to confuse things generally called the Heuilly canal by the boat people.) Tam

If your small alternator only has the one wire going to the battery, plus of course ground through the case, then it is probably a 6 diode machine that needs battery power to get it going (ie to send some current through the stator to create a magnetic field). Since you had disconnected that source of initial power, and put a low resistance load on the alternator, there is no way the alternator could get going. All you saw was a tiny bit of output from the residual magnetism. When you touched the battery wire on, this supplied power to excite the alternator and get it going. I’m not sure if the alternator would have continued to work having touched the wire and disconnected it again, it would depend on whether the load was much greater than the alternator could supply, alternator rpm etc. The best thing to do would be to leave the starter battery connected and measure both the current into the load and any current flowing in or out of the battery, using a clamp meter etc. Do you have one? For the reasons above I also think you measurement of unloaded alternator voltage is probably false as the alternator probably wasn’t working properly. Again, leave the starter battery connected and wait for the voltage to stabilise after starting the engine and it putting the starter current back in (just a couple of minutes, probably) to properly measure the regulated voltage. The way you did it, at best you are measuring a voltage with a large amount of ripple on it, and that is likely to confuse a digital meter.

How do you know that? I'm 36 and I've done a lot seen a lot and went through some serious crap before the age of 13 so.....she has an opinion, you certainly do so she is due hers as you are yours. Just because your older does not mean yours should be listened to any more than hers, in fact yours are perhaps more deeply entrenched due to age so perhaps it is you who is less able to open yourself up to conflicting opinions and your ability to see both sides...note i said perhaps.

I am just waiting to see if I can get a local CRT number that might work better, but yes it should be an official request. When I have been emailed with a request asking if anybody is available and I am I usually sort out meeting with the boater directly so we have contact before the day and I turn up at the right time and place and are expected

, And you know what they say. We end up similar as when we were born, outspoken and naughty, often tyranical and irrational, height and size deminishes as well as the brain, No hair, no teeth, can't see much, , often need nappies again, can't walk far, start crawling again and burbling and bubbling at the mouth.

Well no. The UK government (in their wisdom - we voted them in) have decided we are not in a total lockdown and are relaxing the rules. I agree with the relaxation as this virus is not going to go away and locking us up for another month or two is just going to delay our exposure later in the year. The only advantage of a total lockdown is to delay our exposure until they get a better handle on how to treat us, but at the cost of peeps dying for all sorts of other reasons. The summer is coming. Transmission will be less while we are outdoors and as the NHS has lots of capacity, now is the time (for me) to relax the rules. It seems from all the studies out there that less than 10% of the population has had this disease so locking us up is not going to achieve herd immunity. Letting it spread slowly is I think the best idea today. The big problem is that the government advice/laws are so confused that no one really knows what to do and the SUV brigade can flout what we think the laws are. I just hope they find the medical solution to treat the worst cases to stop people dying as soon as possible. That is to me the best cases scenario.

Wow we are all allowed a viewpoint...i get that, its a discussion but id love to see you stand in front of her and say all this stuff folks, i couldn't hurt someone feelings like that....you all need to have an argument or something cuz there is some serious attitudes towards her here. If i was sat in my house and a dog came up to the windows jumping at them barking or scratching at them id have a thing to say and so would you I'm sure....so if it is true and I'm sure it is i know emma and her mum as im one of these (ex) youtubers we've met (and yes i always worked very hard not a jobless uneducated bum) then they have every right to complain. Don't like watching don't do it and try not to rip her apart as she may be on this forum. This is supposed to be a place for knowledge and celebrating a common passion. If that was my boat and i was there and that happened to me id be polite the first time asking them to please stop there dogs jumping at the windows... the second again id ask poltely but as my pride and joy was being potential damaged and my health put at risk id let them know they are pushing there luck the third. You all discussed in depth about how its dangerous to travel and against government guidance etc but for this its her fault she should move....they are not in front of the house, they do not engage with the home of these people, they are just trying to live there life and keep safe. Honestly sometimes i wonder where all those lovely people on the cut are that I've met and would do anything to help others.......not here obviously. (No not true I've met a few on here and they were perfectly lovely).....try it!

So now you don't lke teenagers or anyone who does not agree with your moral code/ethics/ethnicity/ religion/or wearing socks with sandals., pathetic. I am glad she has overcome all the negative and spiteful comments on here, but has had to turn off comments. I don't usually watch her stuff as it's not my style, but I subscribed and gave her a thumbs up, for courage in the face of adversary! Keep going girl, don't let the old gits on here get you down.

Very true - 'flat water' use can be very demanding, requiring the anchor to instantly set and to take the shock loading of 20+ tons of NB being pulled to an almost instant stop. Lumpy water boaters do not use the anchor as a brake. Lumpy water boaters generally plan to anchor, will choose a suitable place, lower the anchor and as it hits the bottom will slowly pay out more chain whilst engaging reverse to help to set the anchor properly. If it doesn't set 1st time, you can haul it back in motor forward and repeat the operation.

I'm still happy to police myself, which is largely how the country used to run itself when I was a lad.

The rule is designed to deter long distance travel which in itself offers opportunities for virus transmission eg calling at service stations. If people can't sensibly make the two way journey in a day they should stay at home. If people are allowed to stay overnight on boats then staying overnight in holiday homes or caravans etc should be allowed too. Staying in holiday homes etc also may involve long distance travel and potentially brings the virus into area that are otherwise relatively free of it. Staying overnight on a boat may involve a need to use communal toilet facilities which is another means of spreading the virus . People need to be given simple rules - they may appear illogical in some circumstances .

The idea of a curtain twitcher would suggest someone who has an unwarranted interest in their neighbour's activities even though they may have no impact on their own life. This isn't anything like that. The idea of one rule for the 'rebels' and one for the rest in this situation just doesn't wash. Play the game ffs or else it will keep spreading

Can't see how it would be possible for staff to check the overnight properly. Torchlight through the windows at midnight? Now people can get to their boats guess some are going to take the proverbial. At the end of the day though, staying out at second home is against the law so the police could prosecute if irrefutable proof. Marina, just like other businesses, should have stated distancing and sanitation policies/guidance in place before reopening, eg one off - one on the jetty, Not dismissing the Q; someone staying over on their leisure boat at the moment is simply claiming to be more important, more privileged and more entitled to put everyone else at greater risk than the rest of us.

Would it be possible to have a forum where if people take over a thread with gripes at each other they can move onto? It's getting difficult to get info as I subscribe to lots of useful threads, or started off useful but they degenerated into 'mines bigger than yours' threads and I don't really want to get notifications about when they post their next rant? I love these forums to bits as they are so useful but some conversations at the moment are of no interest to anyone other than those having a go at each other, losing the thread entirely? Hope that makes sense?? failing that can mods lock threads that go waaaay off topic?

Yes sorry, 40A for a Beta 38 and 45A for a Beta 43. I notice that the current Beta 38s come with a 100A secondary alternator. Yes an auto-electrical place. Sorry I don’t know how much a repair would cost but I wouldn’t think it a lot if you take the alternator to them and collect it again. But piece of string territory I suppose, and it will depend on whether they want work or not. As you say, phone around a bit. No, perceived wisdom is that if you try to take 70A from a 70A alternator for long periods, it won’t last very long. But of course it will last longer if it is spinning fast and in cool ambient air. An engine bay usually doesn’t have nice cool air in it!

It sounds a bit melodramatic, but 12V wiring overheating because the fuses, or breakers are the wrong size to protect it, or bypassed can lead to a fire that can burn a boat out in only a few minutes. Just because the voltage isn't high enough to give a shock doesn't mean it isn't to be treated with respect. Jen

Our mooring is non-residential I'm afraid. Cowbrook Farm just above Bosley locks used to have people living on, but there was no parking and no water, though there are facilities at the top of the locks. There is a farm on the lower Macc with moorings just north of Heritage marina but I don't know the name of it and it does have the irritating bloke who runs his genny every night until late. There's also moorings just north of the tunnel on the T&M by the old coal yard.

I think it would be fair to say that Rocna is one of "the mutts" - a New Generation anchor. On my way across the Med towards Greece in 2007, I was planning to call at a chandlers in Lefkas, (IIRC), to buy a Rocna. I had very quickly got sick and tired of my Harbourfast CQR type anchor, which would fail to set at any opportunity and I decided to buy either a Rocna or a Manson Supreme, wherever I could find one first. I would also have bought a Spade, despite them being quite expensive. The research I did at the time, and stuff that I have seen since, suggests that there is little to choose between these new generation concave anchors.

I think the girl has probably had enough, I know I have. I could hardly believe this is dragging on, so many hurtful and negative comments. I think it is outrageous, and really little to do with boating , a lot to do with ranting by some very unpleasant people.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-45064268

Sounds a bit like the small alternator isn’t working. It could have been faulty for a long time, masked by the other sources of charge and the VSR. If it is working “slightly” ie getting the voltage up to 13v or whatever, it could be that most of the diodes are blown just leaving a pair to rectify one phase. You mentioned the warning light earlier, is the warning light for the small alternator still illuminating when the ignition switched on and goes off when engine starts?

We have this type of fender holder which clip onto the handrail. They came with the boat so not sure where they came from, but any decent metal fabricator should be able to knock some up cheaply. They are lined with adhesive closed foam tape, so don't damage the paint and can be hooked onto.the handrail exactly where they are needed.

In other countries, the virus isnt able to travel sideways.

For information, the chart can be found on the Mantus web site - linkbelow https://www.mantusmarine.com/mantus-anchor-knowledgebase/anchor-choice/ Howard

They're not actually cooked in that mini fryer. If you see one in a shop they have warning notice that they are not for cooking.

Seconded.

On the subject of a big inverter, bear in mind you need a decent battery bank (3 x 110Ah minimum, I’d say) to run it if you want to use much power. It is not just about saying “right, I have 110Ah of battery capacity and I want to boil the 2kW kettle, which takes 6 mins so that is 20Ah which is no problem out of 110Ah”. It is also about the battery’s ability to deliver a lot of current for a short time, and taking more than about 50A from a single battery is going to be problematic. There is no point in having a “big inverter” if the batteries can’t supply a “big load” even for a few minutes.

It may have helped if people were told something like 'no staying away from your main residence for more than 24hrs,.' Like a mooring, return home would reset the clock. This would deter people from travelling long distances for a hol but would allow people to travel a significant distance to check their boat, have some proper rest and return home safely. Should any issue present itself on checking the boat then being aboard would be classed as 'essential' to preserving the integrity and safety of the vessel and you are no longer there for leisure. I also imagine that this is a bugbear with a lot of fishermen who may enjoy night fishing. Will easily be out pre/post midnight so being given their hobby back with one hand a a big part theoretically taken back with the other.

Will the foam/GRP sandwich be strong enough to walk on? The roof is a working deck on a narrowboat.

All charges dropped. Which was the fair and right result. thanks for all the comments. Its always a right mix bag on here! ??

It's definitely inside the arch. No wires on it now tho'. More information and pictures here: https://www.telegraphpoleappreciationsociety.org/pole-of-the-month-february-2017/

We had Schrodingers train once: -

Yes, indeed I dug out an essay I wrote on the subject many years ago. The attached cartoon (New Scientist 1976, I always put cartoons in my essays) makes a related point, namely that act of observing something - or measuring it - changes its properties. It then follows you cannot know precisely the position and momentum of a small (atomic level) object. The more precisely you know its position the less accurate you know its momentum. So I am not quite sure the title of this thread is really correct. Aren't we really having a debate about the precise meaning of the words "open" and "closed"? A particular canal could be "open" from the perspective of some observers (cyclists, pedestrians, liveaboards going to the Elsan) and "closed" for others (eg someone wanting to go from London to Birmingham, not for work purposes). This contested use of language is common in the social sciences, though it drives me (as a mathematician by training) rather bonkers. PS if you want to see my time machine, just let me know,