nipper

Bums! I was planning to use my three weeks holiday cruising from Pillings Marina, down the Trent, turning left at Keadby Junction and then along the Aire and Calder via the Sheffield and then across the Leeds/Liverpool in a big circular route, getting perhaps as far as Heritage Narrowboats on the Macclesfield. Someone else has volunteered to complete the last bit for me. Last thing I want to be doing is giving them too far to return the boat in their week onboard. What now? Is it busy up there in June /July? I'm leaving on the 18th June Any suggestions? Nipper

Hi Cariad. I have a quarter share in a GT boat. She's 18 years old now, but a nice boat and far better than many others that I have handled on the cut. Pity they don't make em anymore, but I'm always looking, as there well worth considering. As you have found, they do come up for sale now and then and there are a couple or three about right now. Just a tad too early for me as I haven't sold the house yet, but soon. Best of luck! Nipper

I have a flexible tank on board my sailing boat. Although a lot smaller than the one your thinking about, it is self supporting and deflates when emptying. I believe it is a Vetus and made of neoprene. I think the bigger ones are the same and deflate as water is taken from them. Nipper

Not much use for inland boating, but it was 64p/94p in Cowes this week. Why it is so expensive on than inland waterways i don't know. nipper edited cus i can't spell!

Just drop down Isis lock. You can turn as soon as you clear the gates. Best to turn hard to starboard into whatever stream there is at the time. You can then use this stream to help you manoeuvre to go back up the lock! I've think I've made it sound complicated, but if you look at the layout below the lock before you go down, it all becomes clear. Plenty of water and loads of room. Enjoy your trip. Nipper

their put there just put there to prove that BW has a sense of humour. there's a lock down around Paddinington somewhere, who's bottom gate does that! You close it, walk up to the top gate to let some water in only to find that it has opened! Great if your single handing!

Back in them good old days, Quarry tiles used to be grouted in with normal sand and cement, indeed, the same mix as they were fixed down with. I can't remember ever having then sealed. Perhaps, if you would prefer to use what you have bought, then maybe a bottle of sealer would be of use. the grout ma stain otherwise. Myself, I'd grout them in with sand and cement and wiped them clean as it is setting and buff em up with a cloth when dry. Nipper

Well the best of luck in your quest. It really is a minefield choosing a good pair that you will be happy with. It took me ages to sort out what would be best for me and in the end iIended up with two pairs, one for my pocket and one to get a bit more serious. Best advice I could give is have a look at this site. http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html It might give you an idea or two. Nipper

There are others available and indeed Midland did have a small selection of rather good looking shiny ones when i was looking for a locking fuel cap. But the ones they had, had three fixing holes where I had four. Midland, at that time, a few weeks ago, did not have the Fuellock available, and indeed, I had to try very hard to get one at all! I was told that it had something to do with the fuelock company not producing anymore! To be honest, if someone wants your fuel, their going to have it, but the Fuelock will make the casual fuel thief think twice. Nipper

I have very recently reinstalled our Squirrel stove after taking it out to retile behind it. I had to replace the collar section that goes between the fire and the flue. this, as usual, broke whilst trying to free it from the grip of the original fire cement. Whilst purchasing the collar, I was given the red fire silicone to seal it with along with the exhaust wadding to wedge it all in place! It was suggested, by me, that fire cement was needed and the reply came, from the salesman, that the red fireproof silicone was the stuff to use nowadays! The fire is installed and apart from some burning off of vapours when lighting the fire for the first time all seems to be well. Nipper

Yes, some lovely boats. But a right pain, if you bought one, or two, to get em away! •Public Liability Insurance •Licensing •Suitable Method Statement •Risk Assessment •Permits to Work •Capability and Competence That lot will make a cheap boat very expensive. What ever happend to just putting it on the roof rack and driving home! Nipper

Try piece of wood with a V cut in it to go onto the knob and wedge the wood against a galley unit opposite! Works for me, when required. One simply has to have toast done in the grill, second only to toast done on an Aga. And as for toasters, Can anyone call that toast? Nipper Edited to add You can have that rant now!

As far as I remember, I read somewhere that the canalplan.tty. was a version used that is still in build. It was suggested it be used as a stop gap when Canalplan AC was down a couple of years ago. But I could be totally wrong, so take that with a pinch of salt, unless others can confirm?

Seems fine to me using the first one! and having no problems at all! http://www2.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/index.cgi Are you sure your not using this one? http://canalplan.tty.org.uk/ Nipper

Now that looks good. Any ideas of the make of the item? I could possibly manage to fit that, although I'd have to get hold of a tap and die set and some sharp drills! Nipper

Mmm! Thanks Nick and Allen. That sounds a bit too fiddly for some of the owners to get to grips with and I can foresee problems ahead with that cap! Thanks also NB Innisfree, That It looks a good bit of kit! If only I had the wherewithal to make one myself, but living down here and the boat in Northampton would pose other problems. I was up at the boat yesterday too, if I wasn't such a muppet I could of taken some measurements while I was onboard! But there must be other designs about surely., Nipper

Hi all! I have been given the job, among others, of fitting a locking fuel cap to Water Jester, our share boat. I remember a couple of years ago there was a thread or two about fitting lockable fuel caps and there were several versions available. I remember one type being the "Fuelock", but there are others. I've tried doing a search on here, but as usual have lost patience with the search engine. Can anyone recommend a locking fuel cap and how easy was it to fit? Nipper

Um, try clicking "Options" then click "Standard". Hope it helps! Nipper

I'll be doing that cruise in a week or two's time! Grand Union, Limehouse to Teddington and up and down the River Wey and then on to Oxford to do a crew swap! I hope the weather improves from yesterdays dismal autumnal day. Give us a wave! Nipper

Elm also use to be used to line the bottom of main sewers. I know of one area in Surrey where, i was told by council workers, the original elm lined sewer is still in use today and indeed connected into it from the building i was renovating at the time. It's good stuff, but don't be tempted to use it in your garden furniture. for sure as eggs are eggs, you'll have a different style of furniture after only a few days! Nipper

And a life ring!! You don't see too many of those sunk! nipper

Mmmm! Best be getting a fitting price first! There must be someone local who could do that for you? Try asking in the locals, Pub, Shop, Post office. Maybe ask somebody who has had a kitchen fitted by a local chap. Recomendations are always a better and safer bet than Yellow Pages etc. I know the fitters from B&Q will probably do a grand job, but it is the company who will make a great deal out of your fit, not the fitter. If you have a Howdens close by, they may have a board with local fitters cards pinned to it. Best of luck. Nipper

There’s not much difference to fitting a kitchen on a boat as apposed to in a house. Units can always be cut down and as long as the water pipe work and electrickery are in the right place all should be ok. Your levels can be taken from what was there previously and adjusted accordingly. To be honest, most kitchens are designed to their optimum, so it is usually the norm to just replace what was there originally. Maybe just changing the doors and the odd panel would completely change the look to your tastes, rather than ripping it all out. Units from B& Q, Howdens, Travis Perkins etc, and it is surprising how close some of those stores are to the Canal. Good luck Nipper

Looks like Elm Burl to me! Nice bit of tree wood, as long as i don't have to play with it! Nipper

Try Gripfill. You’ll have to get your hand on a dispensing gun or buy one at the time your purchasing your Gripfill. There is other stuff out there you can use, but I’d use that. Hold your panel in place whilst it goes of and it will never fall of again! Nipper