Slim

I'm in the wet & dry camp. I have a Karcher and agree it's quite bulky. I bought a slightly smaller one from Screwfix some time ago but can't bring myself to use (and cover it in oil). As for the noise?...............ear plugs????

Without seeing it it's difficult to suggest a solution but I have my rigid fuel lines secured with rubber lined P clips. If space permits a 360 degree coil in the line may also help.

I would have thought that if the brazing was done by someone who is competent then the repair will last. My spill rail (bmc) is brazed from new. A friend had a problem with a spill rail out in Greece some years ago and as far as I know the repair has held up.

No, you need to acquire some manners. Just accept you were wrong and apologise.

totally uncalled for Also, had you read the original post you would have seen that the boat is 18' by 1.5 m

When I bought Vital Spark's bare hull in 1996 it was delivered into the water 'blacked' by the builder. It was about 3 years if not a bit more before it came out of the water for blacking. There was significant localized pitting on one side. 1 -1.5 mm. During that time it was moored alongside a new (1995) Colecraft that was used residentially. My boat was not permanently connected to the mains with all power for tools etc coming via a cable that was disconnected when not used. There were no 12 volt electrics, indeed no engine. Fortunately over the next few years I was able to fill in all the pitting with weld. Soon afterwards the Colecraft moved mooring and there was no more pitting. Strangely the Colecraft didn't ever suffer pitting itself. Draw your own conclusions but I always put it down to the other boat. I still take the boat out of the water every 12 - 18 months to check. Due out in about 2 months so fingers crossed. Frank

I once saw a transistor radio 'repaired' with Marmite. It was dabbed on an overheating component as a heatsink. It lasted about 30 minutes then had to be re-applied. A bit messy We were in the middle of the English Channel on a balmy day wanting to listen to live reports of the first crossing by a man powered aircraft. Gossimer Albatross.

Is that still true? These days they use a hub sensor shared with other functions and seem far more accurate. Whenever I check my speed viewing the digital option on my 'Driver Display Module' aka speedo against roadside speed check cameras they agree to within 1mph.

I don't wash mine either, I buy new ones

Your faith in the Ambulance Service is touching but a little misguided. A few months ago a friends 80 year old partner got aphone call from her GP at 10 am to the effect that following the results of blood tests she had a serious medical problem that required IMMEDIATE hospitalisation and that an ambulance would arrive to take her to nhospital within an hour. Under no circumstances should my friend take her to hospital by car. Dispite any nùmber of phone calls (including 999) no ambulance responded. In the end , at around 7pm my 77 year old friend took his partner to hospital by car where they spent an hour plus waiting to be seen after which she was admitted. To put this into context this all took place in Hertfordshire within the M25 boundary and about ONE mile from Watford General hospital.

OK, I'll admit to it, too much happy juice at a BBQ yesterday and when I wrote it I shouldn't have been in control of a keyboard

I've timed myself between distance parkers, used GPS on my phone, several speedo apps on both phone and tablet and have never achieved the 'magical '4 MPH. Sub 3 MPH is far more realistic. My forward speed always seems on a par with other boats. When planning a journey I use an expected speed of 2.5 MPH and am never far out. Remember a GPS speed app gives a point to point speed not an actual speed

It is. When I was fitting out VS I was working. It was moored 6 miles/ 20 minutes away from home. At the end of a working day I could get to the boat for an hour and, in the modern idium ? 'Chill'. I could also work on the boat without having to completly clear up at the end of a day. When I retired I moved the boat onto the Oxford canal which involves a 75 -90 minute drive. So far it''s been really good but I still miss the opportunity to pop down to the boat for an hour or so. Ideally I should (and did plan) to move back closer to home as I got older. Unfortunatly whilst I could get a marina berth where I was tomorrow there's nowhere to day cruise to anymore. Everywhere is taken up by continuous moorers.

Encountered an 'all electric' boat in Market Harborough last year. The couple on board seemed quite happy with the setup. Don't remember the boats name. Often wondered how they've got on. I've got a diesel generator (Pagura 4 Kva) in a soundproofed cacoon which in turn is in a soundproofed locker. Very little engine noise but the water cooled exaust is fairly audible. Wouldn't want to run it after 8pm or even before on a balmy summers evening such as today.?

Can't talk about tiller v wheel on a canal boat but having sailed a number of yachts with both tthere's no contest . Tliier in all cases. More responsive, feel and general sense of being in control. Offshore you can develop some pretty impressive blisters as well but you don't normally encounter genuine gale force winds on the 'cut

Can't comment about oil mine lives in the shed. However I've got through several petrol ones over the years, all recognisable names. Without exception they were a pain. About 4 years ago my b in L lent me his 2200w ? Lidyl special. Really impressed. When they were offered again I got one. Mostly used at home I've had it on the boat several times. Lived in a strong bin liner and no petrol. (I do have a 4 Kva generator). Never go back to petrol.

Gunk is a brew of the devil.For normal degreasing Hypaclean or Jizer is much better For degreasing prior to painting I suggest you use panel wipe available from any vehicle refurbishment outlet. Frank

The garden of my cottage in Devon was, for years, the stable for a neighbours pony. Things grew well for many years.

I'm in the 'store the can upside down' school.' My tunnel band ? Is cream and the Masons paint for that, a 2.5 pint tin is about 20 years old. I used it a few months ago and it was fine. I always take shelf life dates with a pinch of salt.

As I recall they dug out the hole , broke into the canal, floated the boat in then 'reinstated' the bank. Their actions were obvious from the disturbed ground. Others may know differently

I do and I have??