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All of this is true, as I distinctly remember Remainers arguing when pointing out we'd end up following European regulations anyway, but would be sacrificing any influence in making them...

Now we've left the evil clutches of the Brussels Bureaucrats and their evil, over-prescriptive regulation of how we can build boats, there are now new, red-white-and-blue regulations more suitable for the use of free-born Englishmen with a copy of Magna Carta tucked under their arms, which apply after Freedom Day at the start of this year. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950712/Guide-to-recreational-craft-regulations-2017-tp.pdf But, wait, they seem to be exactly the same as before! Boris, what have you done? Where have you gone? MP.

Wrong colour, surely?

If you recall, boaters used to be able to use red diesel for everything, the self-declaration, pay more for propulsion, less for heating, arrangement was brought in at the behest of the EU, or at least to attempt to conform with EU law. I was expecting our newly-freed government to take us back to the status-quo ante on this. Also to remove the prohibition on vintage engines in new boats, and the general one-size-fits all construction rules which don't sit well on English vernacular narrowboats. In fact I expected those changes to be just a small subset of all the "quick wins" we were assured would happen once we were freed from evil Brussels rule. I'm starting to worry that the government is not actually on our side with this. Maybe they've headed off EU tax avoidance rules, and got the ability to revoke EU employment rights, and used crude nationalism to destroy the Labour Party, and they're not so interested in helping us little people anymore? Maybe that Bullingdon club photo shows reality, and not students doing cosplay? Ah well, at least they've stopped immigration. Well, apart from 3 million Hong-King Chinese, and however many visas for Indians they're exchanging for the new trade agreement to replace the EIU-India agreement. MP. MP.

How can you say that? I'm looking for the upside here. I was looking forward to no paperwork, no ban on vintage engines, maybe go back to unrestricted red diesel. Just can't actually seem to find any upside. Help me? MP.

It is definitely a narrow beam whale, so my guess is that it is trying to get to the Oxford Canal.

That could be significant. If the float switch was working earlier on while you were away and the pump was regularly removing water, then this could have discharged the battery. Once the battery was flat, then the pump might have struggled, leading to the amount of water you had to remove when you got the engine running. Moving the bilge pump on to the house batteries would be better as the current shore line charger will top them up in between pumping sessions. Jen

Rainy day in 2016 The dog decided to let the humans get wet.

And are any of them potato?

For the record, the book is still available at around a fiver (despite an online book search giving prices from the USA of between £441 and £1185!) from a variety of sources - notably the Canalbookshop.uk at Audlem Mill (who, although currently out of stock, are expecting a delivery 'at the end of the month') and the boatshopbraunston.co.uk at Braunston Bottom Lock, who just told me they received copy(ies) 'a couple of weeks ago'. HTH, Chris D

Just Photoshop your boat into this photo. If it's good enough for the photography competition it should do for the silver propeller!

I thought Hammersmith bridge was closed?

That is good news - it always saddens me when I learn that manufacturers of good honest and useful products cease trading. For what it's worth, the fresh water tank on 'Alnwick' is lined with nothing but rust and after 16 years we are still alive . . . That's me standing upright in the tank (during cleaning) and I am 6 foot tall! I have wondered about getting it grit blasted and epoxy coated - it is a big tank!

Nah, whales - they like a community. It'd be headed for the K & A and Bath!

It is also one way of saying - why go through the EU, when it isn't necessary. Or understand it.

I know that is what the blurb claims but the question is does it actually work and how does it work. A number of years ago this type of battery conditioning (pulses) was discussed on this forum. I looked for independent research and found two papers. One German and one Australian. One said it worked and one said it did not. Gibbo who was working intensively on batteries said he had tested some units with mixed results. The results of using such devices had result t hat seemed to be random were between apparently working as stated, apparently doing nothing and destroying the battery. I doubt use for such a short time would do much damage but keeping the batteries fully charged as often as possible is likely to give a better battery life. If it works for you then that is good whether its a real result or psychological one but i would not recommend a charger based on that claim.

W = A x V Assuming 100% efficient charger will be using W = 7 x 13 W = 90 1000 / 90 W = 11 hours for 14p I reckon just over 1p per hour when running flat out at 7 amps, as the batteries become charged / fully charged and it drops to 2 or 3 amps, less than 0.5p per hour. Say roughly £1 per week You will need to keep an eye on the water levels in the batteries and check they are not getting hot.

If it needs significant steelwork ie replacing bottom and sides, that's probably about ten grand. I wouldn't bother about redundant outlets, why would you? They aren't going to leak, though might be draughty. If you think it needs internal refitting, then you don't really like the boat anyway - they're all the same apart from what's inside, just a tin box with furniture and windows. Moorings are rarely secure, you can be booted off for any number of reasons. Some surveyors have weird ideas as to what they should be commenting on. The one who we wasted money on on my last house purchase marked it down for the colour of the paint in one room and the council estate half a mile away. All you need to know is: will it keep floating, will it explode or catch fire & does the engine work. It's a boat. What else matters?

City aiprort flight?

Somebody, somewhere, has gained from the Brexit fraud...... Someone spent millions and much effort conning people, who knew no better, to vote for it. There are some here who were taken in by it, evidenced by the fact that they can provide no benefits or opportunities of it. Instead, they try to defend the debacle, or tell us we will have to wait, for some imaginary stuff in the future. Some just tell us that they won and we need to get over it, and that is all they have. There may be some here who know exactly what someone has gained from the Brexit Fraud, but they definitely don't want to tell us what it is. Given that the EU would have happily extended the transition period under the circumstances, the fact that Boris had to "Get Brexit Done", and made it a top priority, gives the lie to your suggestion. It seems that it was critical to him to do a deal, no matter how bad, that ended transition on 1/1/21.

Thanks for the reply SG.As one used to the reassuring sight of dry land a couple of yards either side I found your post interesting but I don't have enough brave pills in stock to attempt to cross The Wash.

And worth every penny

Are you sure he said burn the thermostat out because its to hot?

We beached at the same spot in 2018. I caught two mackerel on the crossing, which we ate at Wisbech. Daryl didn't catch anything, much to his annoyance!

Its gone now. They sent it to a whale weigh station. OK, I'm taking my Silk boa and mink.

Yes, that's right, for people who don't want to pay to go through the lock when the weir is in place. Here's a photo taken at low tide, from upstream, you can just see the end of the rollers on the left and the slope on the right. This was taken during the annual "drawdown" when the weir is left in the "up" position for a month each autumn for maintenance. The river dries out between Richmond and Teddington. https://scholargypsy.org.uk/2017/11/18/what-happens-if-you-leave-the-paddles-open/

How anybody can still think we have gained anything from the brexit fraud is a mystery.

I've never swum it, but I have crossed by all six of your methods, and also in a Brixham Trawler.

Hi, The batteries in Cypress are just 2 years old, the engine starts well normally, but it's not a 'quick turn of the key' starter, it'a vintage job! and needs some respect, It's dead easy to flatten the battery by just turning it over without any thought and cables do become hot under these circumstances. I would not let anybody have a go a starting it without some thought and instruction. That engine needs careful use of the de-compression lever, easy starting on that engine is achieved by using the lever to decompress the engine, turning it over a few times with the starting handle, then turn it over on the starter motor getting revs up, then throw the decompression lever and away she goes. Sometimes, with that engine a blast from a blow torch helps, it's a good engine that one, but takes a knack to start it, it sounds as though the 'numpties' trying to start it have not got the experience and just keeping a digit on the starter button will not get it going, doing that will just flatten batteries and heat up cables. The charging system was modified to overcome problems a few years ago, it now has 2 alternators and a Battery management system, and the engine had new pistons and a through overhaul at Watford some years ago. Letting anybody loose on a vintage engine, even down to trying to start it is not recommended. It's a difficult times for engines and batteries, my 2LW started perfectly, after lockdown, but the batteries needed renewal. Hope this helps. Mike

people who come here legally (student/visitor visa) but have overstayed often go to countries like italy where they can get permanent residence easily...

Well we have zero, can we get a Silver Propellor but with a reverse screw?

And now tied up alongside Belfast just inside the basin.

Do you still have your rare unsigned first edition of Chris's book?