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So was the Titanic.

No I should be the one apologising. I misread your post and answered a question you didn't ask!

Yes that’s the right Mary Gibby….she mainly single handed Swan around the network too…and made starting it’s Gardner semi diesel look easy….something which I found hard when I tried…and failed! Truly one of the cuts great characters and one I’m very much going to miss.

Is it only me that thinks that CRT should only issue keys to registered license holders and not sell them to every Tom, Dick, or Harry? If facilities are "Boaters Facilities" how the frick is it that cyclists, fishing people and anyone else seems to use the same facilities just because CRT have sold them a key? License holders pay for the facilities, not Charlie Farnsbarns who cycles down the towpath in his lycra with the rest of the pelaton. That's the same facilities that CRT claim CC'ers use more than anyone else hence why they've increased the license...if that's the case then only issue keys to genuine license holders.

Readily available at the local garage.

I am rather against bow thrusters on narrowboats, but on a widebeam I think it is excusable!

There is something on Mary Gibby on the Hospitalfield website: https://hospitalfield.org.uk/garden-talks-this-autumn/ (I hope I have the right Mary Gibby, I think I have). Select the slides link (Part two), there are images of staff. Some may recognise Mary therein. Many years ago Mary invited us to go along to Chelsea for a visit, sadly we never made it.

I would have stopped in Salcombe and relocated the wife 😀 You can probably tell I have spent far too much time skulking around marinas.

I think it is a lot harder than you imagine, living in a marina is a word apart from continuos cruising. Many YouTubers give up after a few years, it is so much easier to switch on a light, run the tap, flush a loo, turn up the hating, without a worry, and you have so much more space. No engine, batteries, fuel, water tank, to worry you or mooring to find. The shops, the laundrette, and the railway station. Life is so much harder, off grid, out on the cut. So, the answer of between a quarter and a third of your time seems reasonable, the general upkeep of the boat takes longer as well. I am in a marina, and it is hard enough, I seem to spend more time sorting the boat, and doing boat chores than I like, but my friends who continuously cruised London, say they would never go back as it was so much harder, and a lot less secure Cycling to work in the rain, taking a wet, oily bike with muddy wheels on a crowded train, minding the city commuters in their office clothes, is a pain, I have done it. Then you have to store your bike somewhere, hang your wet gear up out of the way, and look smart for work. Then there are train strikes, cancellations and delays. I gave up and bought a bus pass. Of course, you will find out for yourself. You will enjoy the good times, forget the hard ones, and your work may let you lead a Bohemian life. Who are we to judge. I couldn't be bothered to nitpick, life is too short.

I answered it! The OP also rolled in the amount of time cruising to his question, which is why I came up with 10 hours a week. I maintain this is a realistic average estimate even though the actual time required can vary widely. One week it might be half an hour, other occasional weeks it might be 30 or 40 hours.

Now since Brexit, when importing a yacht from Europe, it incurs a 20% VAT charge. Likewise, anyone in the EU will pay VAT on imports from the UK. This has severely reduced demand from overseas on both sides of the channel. VAT is not paid on yachts traded privately, either within the UK or in Europe, so long as it was paid when new. A company owned yacht may not have had VAT paid, and would be due on sale. So there is little demand from overseas, except for new yachts, often luxury ones, where they are exported VAT free, and the buyer pays any tax due in the country of import.

That’s so sad….Mary was responsible for me getting into boating via a mutual friend of my fathers…we visited her on Swan in battlesbridge basin and I was immediately hooked…that’s now probably 35 years ago now….I last saw Mary at Audlem last year and was looking forward to catching up again soon. I’m a little lost for words right now….

I would allow an estimate of 10% of the black water tank can't be got out & 10% space needs to left at the top. You do NOT want the sewage standing in the inflow pipe. If the winter was bad I would get it pumped out when half full when possible, leaving 30 days capacity from that point. Mascerators are great. Drop throughs are primitive. Depends on your perception of quality of life. For me mascerator every time, with a nice china toilet. The amount of water my mascerator used was adjustable on each visit. Its visitors that block mascerators. You won't. I took mine apart several times and it wasn't a dirty or smelly job. Remember that female visitors if you aim to have any tend to be more picky about toilet facilities than (more practical) men. Winters are getting much milder so stock a little sunscreen cream. Some on here recommend the banging 2 stones together method of laundry washing - I could not manage on just 2 loads per month and a decent washing machine is a must-have. I have used laundrettes when necessary, an awful faff but effective. Can't comment on the rest.

I could respond but on balance I think it will be less painful if I just concede that I am a fool. JP