Slim

Nothing on the scale of whats happening further north but the level just north of Cropredy (South Oxford) rose overnight. In Cropredy marina I awoke at about 4am listing. Went out and eased my lines to the fixed jetty and boat levelled. Guess the port side had been about 5 " down (significant due to exceptional circs). Eased the lines on a couple of neighbouring boats, looked around but no other boats seemed in distress. Dozed in a chair for rest of night . About 7 am someone, don't know who yet, came by checking moorings. He told me he'd been out since 4 am checking/easing lines. Whoever he is, Cropredy moorers owe him their thanks. In the meanwhile it seems all boaþs in the marina are safe. At 7am the water about an inch below the jetty woodwork. Frank

I've got a large shed/workshop full. A few examples, Jabsco foot operated water pump, couple of Sterling inverters, couple of A127 alternators, blocking diodes, etc etc, etc. In the loft , Mahogany trim/planks, ditto English oak. When I was fittiing ou I was known for having bits the on site chandlery didn't.

I agree fully with your comments re tools. Didn't own but had access to a radial saw. Apart frm quality tools , blades, cutters etc i found that the two most useful power tools were a thicknesser and a faceplate sander. The only downside of doing just one fitout is that you end up with eny number of fittings and fixings that were cheaper to buy in bulk.

When I first saw the post my immediate reaction was to think my tablet had had a 'senior moment'. Anyway, thinking about the matter more many fitouts would require a RCD of the electrical nature. Mine has 2.

XP, the best ever.

My bare shell was delivered by the buolder to a marina about 6 miles from home in May 1996. I got it for therapy after my wife died. It was a budget hull (Eastward Engineering). I had absolutlely no experience of narrowboats though I had had several smallish yachts and a fair amount of sailing experience. I was a reasonable diy'er and a lifelong office worker. It was the best thing I could have done in the circumstances. One day I might finish it !!!. Think Triggers broom. Cost? No idea and it matters less. If i sold it tomorrow it doesn't owe me one penny. Sitting on it as i type this . Every day i'm on it i look around and think " i built this" Apologies for typing/spelling but ths tablet has a mind of it's own. Frank

What amazed me was that I saw no evidenc of acid burns on his hands.

If you decide to remove the slider it's very easy, guick and safe to do. Wind down on the greaser to make sure there's grease in the gland & stern tube Remove the 4 nuts on studs Slide the slider out to give access and clearance. You may ffind that some form wooden levers help. Measure using chosen method, Replace slider and nuts Adjust as appropriate

I've got a 3 mobile router and a couple of unused pre paid sims. In reality I use my mobile phone as a hotspot. I have been known to hang it outside in a plastic bag as the boat's got portholes. Works for me. As for data whaever yoou go for you'll get too much. There was an article in a paper recently that said that most people buy too much and that people taking 'advice' from shops waste more than others. Personally I'm with GiffGaff on O2 and adjust monthly according to cruising .don' t forget that most pubs have wifi. A great excuse if needed.

Beat me to it. Think go / no go guage

Neither actually.

I thought that the main purpose of an Eco Fan was to indicate how hot the stove is ! When it gets too cold to sleep in the back cabin and I sleep on the dinette I position the fan so that I can see it from under my douvet. I know that if it"s turning in the early morning I can have a lie in . (bladder permitting )?

Yet another vote for the South Oxford. For all the reasons given.

Ditto

I would echo the above comments fully. Consider a genuine average weekend :- Arrive at boat straight from work, start engine to charge batteries & heat water (if before 8pm). Cruise Saturday, making time to fill with water and empty toilet /pumpout. Cruise Sunday am, find somewhere safe to moor with car parking nearby, get back to car by bike, taxi. drive back to boat to pick up clothes for washing, unueaten food etc, drive home. I give such arrangements 3 months. No, get a home mooring.

Interestingly I replaced my stern tube, shaft (and other bits) on the slip just north of Cropredy (Richard *****'s) slip in late September. Originally Richard was going to do it for me but in the end I wound up doing it myself. I sourced the parts from Midland Chandlers. Pretty sure the threads on the tube were 14 TPI and that other thread pitch tubes would have been more difficult to source. If your 12 TPI tube has to be replaced with a 14 TPI one the threaded boss welded into the hull will have to be cut out and replaced. I replaced the tube and shaft because the stern gland leaked badly. When I pulled the shaft it was really badly worn down from an original 1.5" to 1.2" !! at the packing end. Compared with the new tube the old one was fairly worn, mostly at the inboard end. Heaving on the prop didn't show up any appreciable movement/wear. As a guide parts cost the following 24" shaft £100, stern tube £68. Had I needed one the stern gland would have been about £170. I think a new boss would have been about £40 I hope the above info will be of help. Frank

I've got a friend who has one on his Bruce Roberts 44' ketch. It eats bearings. Also I was with him when he approached a pontoon in Brighton Marina and it jammed. Another friend got some serious rope burns trying to stop the boat tee-boning a jetty. Wasn't there when it was lifted so didn't see it jammed first hand. A lift, bearings, anodes etc. Not cheap. Frank. Should add that I've got one of their SigmaDrive 150 flexible drives on my NB. Works fine.

What, you infer that on occasion you travel TO Watford1!. It really IS the pits! (note location). If I knew 35 years ago what I know now...…………….. Just noticed that 'location' has disappeared from my details. It should read Watford

Yes, it was. I REALLY hated it.

As a child I HATED the pressure cooker. Resolved never to have one and so far have stuck to it. Rather eat burnt, gritty chestnuts..

I get them everytime I'm on the boat and they're in the shops. In the ashtray they're gritty and often burnt. I do them on the top but haven't tried them wrapped in foil (yet) Last year I brought some back from the boat and did them in the home oven on a baking tray,. Forgot to nick them before putting them in. The explosions were impressive! Cleaning the oven afterwards took forever particularly the burner.

You forgot 'how good is your hearing'

I saw it as a form of saying Thanks.

Thanks. Don't think Tooleys is suitable for private painting. Given that when I was looking to get VS painted last I couldn't make contact I'm doubtful. Richards slip at Varney's lock is part covered but only about 40' . VS is 55' Richard is very accommodating so would move boat back and forward as needed. I'll have to do some thinking. As a general point the slip is available for short term DIY and has power etc. It was there that ì did my stern tube / propshaft swap about 6 weeks ago. .

Before I start troubling Robert does anyone know of a wet dock for hire in the Cropredy area . I'm pretty sure that the one in Cropredy marina is not available for paint jobs but I'm there tomorrow so will ask.