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Showing content with the highest reputation on 21/09/21 in all areas

  1. My advice? Put it back in the skip. Whatever it is, it's broken - that's why it was in there. (It's a skip, so there'll be a mattress in there shortly too - that won't be worth having either)
    5 points
  2. What’s done’s done. We all make mistakes. Are you ready for the winter if you have to stay aboard? I don’t want to teach you to suck eggs, sound condescending or be a doom bringer BUT if you think it’s shit now it’s gonna get a lot shitter if you have no heating come winter. A cabin can be a lovey place in winter to read your books, listen to Melvyn and drink yourself merry IF you’ve plenty of warmth. If you haven’t already, start making some preparations, whether it’s ordering coal or sorting/checking/servicing whatever heating system you have. If it means paying someone to do that then get it done sooner rather than later. 👍
    4 points
  3. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  4. I cannot get the image of my grandma's old bath which was carpeted on the sides out of my head reading this thread! 😳
    3 points
  5. It’s a “does the end justify the means?” question. Yes I do want CRT to keep inconsiderate boaters under control. But I want them to do it within the law. Once we want them to operate specifically outside the law, where does it stop? I suspect in any other field, you would expect a large QUANGO-type organisation to operate within the law and would be up in arms if it didn’t. Is your opinion that CRT should do whatever necessary to keep inconsiderate boaters under control, regardless of the legality of it? Masked dead of night towpath gangs with baseball bats to scare the shit out of generator runners would perhaps be a good start.
    3 points
  6. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  7. Yes, but the wallpaper on the floor looks nice ...
    3 points
  8. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  9. Aha so we've smoked out the limit of your doom and gloom. You don't actually want to sell the boat, even when asked to name your price! SO you must, on some level, want to continue living aboard. Your determined helplessness is actually quite amusing. I too have been wondering where this marina is, with staff and a chandlery, but one which does not sell multimeters, and it a 20 mile round trip to the nearest shop but with no public transport. I was thinking you've posted enough details about it for the board to figure out exactly which it is, just for amusement to clarify. Some of the things you've said are pretty jolly unusual for a marina that takes liveaboards! In particular, I'm wondering how you get your food, and more importantly, BEER! I would not be surprised if there were not at least one forum member living in the same marina, who might be willing to pop in and help you out.
    2 points
  10. 45+ years plumbing and heating experience. I disapprove strongly of solid fuel heating systems on a boat that rely on a pump for circulation. Consider what is likely to happen when in the depth of winter with a big roaring fire going, the pump stops working.
    2 points
  11. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  12. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  13. I agree. Magnet for a speaker.
    2 points
  14. Well I am glad you made the effort to post, your sense of humor has made me giggle when I should have been working, particularly when I would have been listening to radio 4 and slurping a tea myself asking for and actually accepting help is a thing I often struggle with funnily enough, happy to help others when I can but accepting help from others can be difficult, odd isn't it
    2 points
  15. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  16. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  17. Its the magnet off the back of a PM loudspeaker, the anvil in the centre goes through the speech coil.
    2 points
  18. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  19. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  20. Although records no longer survive for much of the infrastructure, much can be deduced from what survives. This is one of the locks at Wigan, and you can see from the vertical 'join' in the stonework that the curved wall which guides boats into the lock was a later addition. L&LC locks often had right-angle corners at their entrance, particularly on those built in the early phase of construction. The photo also shows how the stonework has been raised to compensate for mining subsidence. Wigan locks were 'equalised' at least twice to even up lock falls and thus control excessive water usage. The type of stone dressing also varies according to date, with later reconstruction often having stonework with detailed edges, rather than the simple stone dressing of the earlier locks. Even without the written records, there is much to be discovered about the history of canals.
    2 points
  21. Keelblack, used it twice, does what it says on the can. Needs a surprising long time to cure hard, before being put back into the water. Would not use this time of year unless heated dock is used. Easy to apply. Be sure to get fresh liquid, delivered from Keelblack, the day before work starts, don't skimp on preparation, all loose previous coating must be removed. Bod
    2 points
  22. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  23. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  24. I really do sympathise,I don't live aboard (my boat is too small,I would only live on it if it was a choice between it and a park bench) I do however spend odd weeks aboard and on a couple of occasions I have said "right,thats it,f---- it! That is not usual for me,but the last time was one wet and miserable day,heavy rain,cloud on the hilltops and cold.Had my waterproof jacket on and it was for about four hours and then I could feel icy trickles on my back and shoulders. No problem I thought,I will put my diesel heater on overnight and dry my clothes. Tied up for the night,switched heater on,and,nothing.The damned thing wouldn't fire up,just when I needed it the most.(Found out later that a considerable amount of water had entered the exhaust.) Had my tea and climbed into my duvet,and found it soaked through.(I had very stupidly left the skylight open all day) That's when I thought I had had enough of this boating lark! I am still boating (just) but reading your posts,I can't help but feel that it is your lack of knowledge of boats and their systems that may be colouring your judgement.Perhaps if you learn more about boats and their gubbins (you could download Tony Brook's instruction sheets) You may modify your feelings. There is quite a lot to learn about boats,especially if they are equipped with lots of home comforts,and trying to take everything in at once can be a bit intimidating. Best of luck with whatever you decide.
    2 points
  25. My choice would be hire from Alvechurch (easy access by train) and visit Birmingham and the BCN. Our 5 year old loves going to Birmingham by boat, and has done since she was a toddler. Plenty to entertain small children, sea life centre, legoland, science museum and plenty more. All next to or easy walking from canal. Then further on you've got Black Country Museum. You could head though Netherton tunnel and moor at a windmill end to let them run around, or carry on and stop at merryhill shopping centre with lots of kids entertainment. Our 5 year old likes to play guess which way to go at the many junctions on the BCN. Add in some loops to surprise them coming back out where you started! Another thing she likes to do in long tunnels is have a "tunnel rave " - some glow sticks and music and she's all set for the tunnels! Easy trip with as much or as little boating as you want, and just turn back after half your trip. No locks heading into Birmingham, then just an easy 3 locks to hop between the old and new mainline whenever you feel like it. Our 5 year old loves locks, but gets bored after 10 or so. She's just strong enough now to push the gates on her own, sometimes with a bit of help to get them started. Life jackets for the kids would be essential when outside on the boat and especially locking, but hire company should provide them. You would also avoid muddy towpaths in and around most of the BCN and it can feel surprisingly rural in places. It can be an interesting mix of urban and rural, new and old. Cruising under the elevated M5 and railway bridge on the old mainline, having just crossed the new mainline is one of my favourites!
    2 points
  26. The nonsense talked about what's in the Act and whether T&Cs are enforceable is generated largely by barrack room lawyers who care more about bending the rules than keeping the waterways a pleasant place to be and use. It's one of the reasons they aren't as nice as they were, or, for that matter, so well maintained. As they get populated more by these jobsworths, people care less and therefore bother less about any deterioration they may cause. As someone once didn't quite say, as soon as someone mentions the Act, I reach for my rifle. It's a bit like mentioning the Nazis in an internet argument - as soon as you do it, you've lost.
    2 points
  27. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  28. I didn't realised you peeked in when we were in Leeds
    1 point
  29. The system on my boat went one better - the emergency pressure relief valve dumped out into the bath! It's been replumbed since as a thermosyphon in 28mm tube, not as a forcibly pumped 15mm system.
    1 point
  30. Same here. Same here. Just to clarify, all the water in the back boiler turns into steam, many cubic metres of the stuff, pretty quickly and it all comes out via the open vent pipe and cold fill pipe into the boat. The mess it can make is unbelievable with rusty brown water sprayed everywhere and steam filling the boat. I've probably understated it...
    1 point
  31. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  32. I have not seen the data for a 1.8 but the maximum speed on the 1.5 was 4400 rpm - rather the chap who wrote that than me. Anyway, HP comes from torque and RPM so taking a more sensible long term maximum RPM will give a lower or much lower HP.
    1 point
  33. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  34. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  35. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  36. 1 point
  37. Its a Limpet Obfuscator, very popular in the 1930’s, nice to see it still works
    1 point
  38. A Victron GX device and a GPS-capable 4G router would do the job, if you also have or plan on installing 4G Internet. But that only fully makes sense if you spec the whole system as a Victron system, otherwise you lose most of the functionality and benefits of the GX being able to talk to and control the rest of your system. You can also get a GSM and GPS 'dongle' for GX, but I feel it makes more sense just to install a 4G router that can do GPS, as that way you'll also have Internet (with a data SIM from a mobile provider) That's the way I'll be going in the future, anyway, but all of my existing hardware (inverter, MPPT, battery monitor) is Victron. The 4G router I have is quite nifty for this sort of thing — it'll take unregulated DC in from something like 9-30V and so can by fed by the DC system directly with minimal bodging and no DIY electronics. It also does GPS, and is connected to a decent omni 4G/WiFi/GPS antenna on the roof.
    1 point
  39. 1 point
  40. I'm pretty sure that nobody can force CART to enforce the bylaws, especially if there is no effective sanction they can apply to the offenders. In the end it comes down to what is effectively antisocial behaviour by some people who just don't care, and if there's no usable legal way to make them stop then the only thing that might work is to retaliate by doing something which they don't like -- but isn't illegal, unlike GBH. Bear in mind that any action by an individual may not work and may lead to further retaliation by the offender... You could -- for example -- make a recording of their generator noise on your phone, and play it back to them loudly through a portable PA system every time they run their genny out of hours. If this then (rightly) annoys other boaters nearby, point out to them that you're not the one causing the problem you're the one trying to fix it. It's easy for the offender to ignore one irate boater, it's harder for them to ignore several... https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/SubZero-SZPA-P12-Portable-PA-with-Bluetooth-and-Wireless-Mics/21D5 If people aren't willing to do anything, their only option is to move away -- which is at least possible on a boat, but effectively means that the inconsiderate tw*ts have won, which will simply encourage more people to do exactly the same on the "I'm all right Jack" principle. Unfortunately this attitude seems to becoming more and more prevalent nowadays, as can be seen by some postings on this forum -- basically "Sod you, I'm going to do what I want regardless of the effect on others, because nobody can stop me" 😞
    1 point
  41. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  42. Having spent a week at Thrupp whilst waiting for the K&A to reopen during August, the moorings are mostly vacated by 9.30, but full again by 3pm. You need to be early to get a spot. Get the train from Lower Heyford into Oxford, loads of secure moorings available. However I also had no problem getting a mooring in Oxford after I got tired of the Thames. Southcote lock!
    1 point
  43. If you come off the cut at Isis lock via sheepwash channel turn left you will almost certainly find a mooring spot just below Osney bridge before the lock. Technically you are meant to have a Thames registration for this bit of the River but you have to buy these from the lock so IF you opted to just stop there (very close to Oxford city centre via Botley road) then go back onto the canal it's quite likely you would not be found out. Not sure what length boat you can turn there though so if you have a long boat it could be interesting. Locks are on public power all the time after lock keepers go home so can always travel outside of duty hours. EA on the Thames are terrible at enforcing registrations and although it is part of the River I really don't think a run from Sheepwash for ten minutes down to the moorings and back is going to cause any sleep loss. ETA worth taking a rain coat if the bridge is still leaking ! There was a persistent water main problem last time I was up there with a lot of water coming out.
    1 point
  44. Unless it's a heated dock at Stone, dont use Keelblack in October. We have seen quite a few boats previously Keelblacked at the wrong times of year with nothing left of the stuff below waterline. Also factor in 48 hours curing time for Fertan if you are using it first....plus washing it off and waiting for hull to dry again.
    1 point
  45. Needs to be done in a warm envioronment and the instructions followed to the letter re the rust treatment. Its quick to apply and stayed on for two years but it was 27degC the week i applied it.
    1 point
  46. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  47. 1 point
  48. On this day in 2006 Somerton Deep Lock Southern Oxford Compare 13Apr1996 8Feb2004 20Jun2018
    1 point
  49. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
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