Slim

Nor have I and I picked up the thread at about post 3. Unlike Brexit my views are with the majority.

2 points. Many years ago I used tow and launch a Drascombe Lugger. At the time I was a strong, fit 6' 2" man. Even then it could be challanging. Many of the slips I could find fell well short of the description given. I've just looked on the site linked to earlier. I looked more closely at one (no names) that I know to this day. At least 6 years ago I and others struggled for several hours to help someone recover a sub 20' GRP cruiser out. Basically the slip had broken up completely . In the end the owner gave up and arranged to be craned out at a later date. The only slips i ever found that were practical to use for day sailing belonged to sailing clubs most of which required membership. Should add that the slip referred to above has got worse since then. Not sure the marina even advertises a slip any longer

That represents totally my views on my AGMs. Access for checking is the deal breaker for me. If I have to replace them in a couple of years that will be a plus for me. To the OP. Point out to whoever pointed out that we only have 2200 mils of canals that I've just done a journey that could take one 2 days in a boat (Cropredy to bottom of Napton flight) in 25 minutes on flooded, potholed country lanes. I would still love to see tthe Rockies though

It's not the bolts fixing the flexibles down. Those holes already exist. It's the holes through the casting llugs that the studsgo through from underneth. To mark with scriber or pen would mean looking up from below. Not possible (for me) Frank. Just remembered, forgot the Blue Tack. Wonder if the shop in Cropredy stock it??.?

I've got a Pilot gas detector fitted. I bought it years ago. 12v it's wired into the same circuit as the 12 v ignition for my hob / oven. Every time I turn that circuit on it bleeps. I don't know if the sensor head (which I've placed below the oven ,just above the bilges) has a limited life. I'll read the fitting instructions next time I'm on the boat. Will also try to give it a test by dangling above an unlit burner.

Simple but brilliant Far less messy and much easier to re-position if necessary. A spin off benefit is that I'll have to dig out the Christmas decorations sooner rather than at the last minute. Thanks, Frank

When it stops raining I'm back to the boat to replace the flywheel housing. Very similar but different make to existing one. The housing incorporates the rear mounting lugs. The lugs need to be drilled to accept the 12mm flexible mounting studs. The flexible mounts have a little lateral adjustment but no fore and aft adjustment. The front engine mount positions is effectively fixed (the mounts are presently loose}. The fixing holes for all four flexible mounting are existing. I'm thinking of :- 1. Lifting engine 2. Installing flexible mounts with bolts nipped up 3. Dab of Engineers Blue on top of rear 12mm studs 4 Lowering engine (with slight angle to front) until front studs enter brackets and rear lugs rest on rear studs (leaving a smudge of Blue (hopefully) ) 5. Raise engine, remove flywheel housing and drill holes. Can anyone suggest another way? I hope the above is sufficiently clear. I don't have any photos The engine is a BMC 1.8. The housing is a Calcutts item The original housing is an unknown make. Frank

I've had solid 18mm Oak T&G laid on 18mm WPB for the last 10 years + . No issues

Bring back I Player or get Sounds to work before introducing it! Also, why are IT 'upgrades' always introduced without a hint of user advice. Back to the subject, I'll make it bedtime listening

I would agree. The nearest would be the Reindeer . Old Hookey. I always feel the pub could do with a good clean.

Yes, he mentioned the CRT bit to me. He wanted to 'travel' with a boat CRT wanted him to remain at specific locks.

I've encountered him on a couple of occasions. The first time i felt aa little uncomfortable not knowing quite what was going on. The second time (maybe a year later) we had a relaxed conversation over a few 'tinnies'. He gave me a card with his phone number . Well worth the couple of beers and a bottle of wine. Thought of offering cash but it didn't feel 'right'.

As a child I loved black pudding, used to pick out the bits of fat. Then i found out what it was made of? Never touched it since but I still remember the taste with pleasure.

Unfortunatly the way things work when you reach a stage where driving becomes impractical travelling distances by public transport is not an option. Frank

Driving to the boat (75 miles each way) is easy. Boating in general gets harder each year. As a consequence distances covered becomes less. Walking a few miles for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk is more of a challenge. I can envisage that there will come a day when I treat the boat as a floating cottage but not yet. Waiting for this rain to stop before I go back to the boat to finish replacing the flywheel casing, engine mounts, drive plate etc after finding a broken casting whilst replacing the propshaft, sterntube and rudder bearing. Could have paid someone to do the work but it's a challenge. Frank. Aged 73 (almost)

I have a Whale Gulper and on balance it's excellent. However, a couple of years ago at the bottom end of the Leicester arm of the GU it failed. Fortunately I was able to get a replacement at nearby Wilton Marina. Stripping the original pump down at home I found that the choker/joker ?? valve had lost it's flexibility and was no longer sealing. The only liquid it had ever handled was my shower water. I managed to get a replacement but only as part of a complete head overhaul kit. Out of curiosity I looked on a couple of offshore cruising forums and there the Gulper doesn't receive such universal praise.

My Mastervolt MICC shows that when my Mastervolt 2000/100 combi is in powersave mode the draw on my batteries is 1.7 a. When you look about the boat and see all the various indicator lights gauges and devices on standby it's hardly surprising. Remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch and whilst some can be turned off not all can.

When I was there (up to last July) I paid extra, about £250 pa, for a spot nearest dry land. They also took me to task for using a battery powered Dremal to open out a hole from 1.25" to 1.5" in a 2mm thick plastic shower sump with it balanced on my lap in the cockpit of my semi trad NB. That was the day I decided to move. No, they weren't worried about my 'health'. Some miserable g#t complained about my using a power tool.

A couple of your Pros I would put down as Cons (after mooring there for a year) Wi Fi. Signal regularly dropped out (with aerial and router). Often very slow. Parking. Insufficient parking with very narrow bays. Often forced to park on mud/clay

The scrapyard

I'd have said that the one behind is a totally different design. A couple of things crossed my mind (not location) whilst reading this topic. Did the children ever think that 55 years later people would be looking at the photos on something called 'an internet forum'. Also if those scenes were 'captured' today the children would be plugged into their 'phones and the mother would be talking on hers Happy days

I did in fact mean scarifier not a lawn scarifier. That's what it was called when I hired one and what hire companies call them. Tried to a provide a link but couldn't .

I would hire a scarifier and take it back to bare steel.

No, couldn't have been 1974. I got married in 1975 by 1974 my wife was firmly on the scene