OldGoat

There seems to be a modicum of agreement here, so I won't cover existing ground - except to echo that Hatton is NOT a good first introduction. Down to Banbury and back would be the most sensible route, for once you have discovered the joys of working narrow locks, you'll wonder what your fears were. Your boat was designed for narrow infrastructure and easy to work in it's own environment. Great for two to work. One at the helm, one working the locks. Light enough for both to alternate. Broad locks are a bit heavier and require more effort in "doing them right", rather than faffing around as most folks do. The Oxford is lovely, you'll get through Napton quickly and the rest are pleasant. Banbury a surprisingly quiet overnight mooring. An alternative (check the timings) is up to Market Harborough, or turn above Foxton, or even visit the Welford arm - ovenight there and return. You'll get:- A mix of broad and Narrow locks Two or more tunnels One or two staircase locks Much better than flogging down to Stoke Bruerne

Quite an interesting document. The sample is small because of the relative inaccessibility of some stretches of the South Oxford (poor towpaths etc) We visited the Oxford a month ago and experienced the usual blocking of most pleasant rural moorings by permanent boats. This raises a dilema - is it unreasonable for normal cruisung folks to complain or be annoyed by empty boats stopping me from mooring overnight? Should I as a cruiser have more rights than a CC? Should CCers be able to pinch the best sites? Should Canals and rivers be used for residential purposes (other than designated sites) more importantly because there are no facilities for waste disposal - particularly for sewage? What do folks think?

You're probably right, but there's such a mix of RCD / MCBs duplicated - for no good reason as far as I can see; certainly would confuse a non electrician - that I lost the will to live. I didn't stop to work outr the advantage of such duplication. I always rely on the KISS principle....

The simple answer is - "No problem; go ahead" An extended answer is:- The "base feedstock" is supplied to blenders for a specific grade (usually by Esso who specialise in lubricant oils). The blender then adds industry wide components to produce an oil to an agreed industry standard. The major brands add their own version of "virgin's wee" of magic ingrediant or wehatever they can foist on the public (cyninc moi?) SO provided the two samples are of the same grade and type (mineral / semi / synthetic) then it's no problem. All producers cooperate on standards to avoid conflicts between brands otherwise there'd be interminable claims of "! mixed Castrol with Mobil and my engine blew up"

Lordy, lordy, that looks quite complicated (especially for folks who are fazed by 'lectrickery) My solution - and I'm still around to prove that it's not dangerous is to have a multi pole rotary switch (wih break before make contacts) which selects mains, inverter1, inverter2 as the power source. This feeds directly into a garage/ site supply consumer unit with a RCCD trip and 3 MCBs. Has worked succesfully for the last 12 years with no tripping. I'm wondering whether it's the genny that's causing the circuit to trip?? I always start / connect the source power first and THEN switch to select it (I once heard that inverters in particular caused a spike when they start which can blow tv etc. Perhaps the OP could try that method before chucking all his kit away?

FWIW - Sky say "not possible" because they think youy're buying a NEW installation - which implies sending out an agent to fix the dish etc. Obviously it's foreign territory for the sales team - so they say no. I'm given to believe from Satellite forums that the staff turnover is high - so that their training is likely to be very basic.

Yes, had it for some years - but we treat it kindly. You'll kill it if you overload it. Only proble is tproblem is that you have to stand it in a sink / shower to drain it out.

2 above is almost universal on the Oxford, coupled with loose chains anchored to the Armco type bank protection. Either the owners don't care or do it deliberately, hoping that folks will go even slower. It's no great deal to put (even) shallow springs fore and aft which will hold the boat tight in and if a couple of decent fenders are used to save the paint, even a fast moving boat will not cause distress.

I'm confused - so many posts referring to different things, so here's my thoughts but some points may relate to different posts from different people. Sky supplies Broadband / telephone speech services AND satellite broadcasting depending on how much you want to spend. Simple so far. Folks can receive satellite broadcasts via their broadband connection as part of the satellite subscription Go boating and the telephone line connection is lost (obviously) so no tv on the laptop. Sky+ works on our boat so no problem there unless a multi-room subscription is involved - where a connected phone line is required. An ordinary Sky receiver works and will receive all the free to air broadcasts (BBC ITV etc) without a Sky card and some extras with an expired SKY card as well as other Sky channels if you have an active subscription card. The SKY program guide (IMHO) is the best on the block and easy for all condition of folks (!) to use. You get a 7 (or is it 14) day guide - useful. Any satellite dish will work. We use a Triax version as the boom that holds the LNB (Low Noise Block) folds; we store the dish when we travel. The suitcase kits are basic but good value but they are NOT FREESAT - so you only get a basic programme guide. Freesat - if you like - is a poor man's (or perhaps sentient man's) alternative. You get all the free to air channels plus some others that are not. It has a 7 day EPG, not as good or quick as Sky's but very usable. Recorders are available and a plus is that you can watch recorded programmes without having a connection to the satellite. You can't do that with Sky Satellite signals only require a clear view to 28.2 SofE at about 26 deg: elevation - it's always in the same place so easy to estimate before you stop for the night. Freeview changes in direction depending on where you are and it's a complete pain to work that out even if you don't move huge distances. That's why we use satellite. As to what dish - you pays yer money and takes yer choice. All will work with any receiver. For me the easiest is a vertically (in two directions) mounted socket (short tube) on the front deck, into which I pop the adapted dish and rotate it slowly until the sat finder beeps loudly. If the dish is not true vertically then you'll never get a signal. Been there, done it. Hopefully the above may help some people...

The organisers were extra careful about safety and "overcrowding", some cruisers and Little Ship boats were grumbling on the ybw forum about bein restricted to three. It was probably about having to rescue numbers if any one boat got into trouble. Remember like the Olympics, nobody had any real experience in running such an event before.

Brill suggestion! The Severn is no big deal and not a lot of places to stop and see ('cept Worcester) so you might as well go rocketing down and enjoy (Worcester again) and the canal system. The Severn is a disappointment because you are generally under the scenery and can't see anything and moorings are scarce. The bit about Tardebigge is excellent as the bad thing about the flight is having to fill/empty the locks twice - if you see what I mean.

Folk (generally) have difficulty understanding the energy requirements of domestic facilities. Gas only and 3-way fridges all work in the same way and the process is VERY inefficient. They are attractive to liveabords without a mains 'leccy supply because it saves endless running of a generator. If the calculations were done on how much gas energy was consumed, then they would have a fit. Electric fridges are better because the use a heat pump method of conversion which is more efficient than heating up a bulb with a flame - wihich is what the absorbtion type does. Modern electric fridges are now about as efficient as one can get due to more advanced compressor controls. Likewise modern inverters are 85% + efficient so little power is lost in the conversion process. I poin this out because a modern A+ or A++ mains fridge is much less expensive than a 12V fridge (which if an inland waterways unit probably uses a mains fridge case anyway). For those who like home comfort they are likely to want a big fridge and a decent sized freezer as well. I think (not confirmed) that a modest fridge freezer (I've got an old Batts 1.5 / 5 cu ft fridge freezer with one compressor) will consumre less power than two separate units. I prefer to put foward the details as far as possible in the hope that peeps will understand the "theory" behind the suggestion rather than rubbishing alternative solutions. The OP is clearly working in the day and hasn't lots of time to spend in provisioning the boat or running the genny plus a lot more beside. The choice of overwintering in a marina only (I suspect tha she doesn't enjoy lots of folks doing their own thing 24/7) will disappear when she discovers that most marinas are quiet and solitary places - except at wekends... Any help?

Agree, The only time we've ever had any "challenges" is on the southern Oxford and in the last two or three years. With no indication from other boats it's difficult to know what pre-emptive action to take. Unlikely on a canal, but if an incident came to a claim the use of some form of acceped signal could be a deciding factor. With more and more expensive boats on the canals it could become a real issue. On a river sound signals are more use because there is more room to turn or more space to do "something different" - but nobody (except me and it annoys SWMBO) uses them. Another point of contention for me is how to deal with oncoming boats. Having boated for more years than I care to admit, I was always taught to approach an oncoming boat in the middle of the channel. When bot boats are two (?) lengths apart, slow down, each would incline slightly towards the right. When nearly past each boat inclines back to the left and proceeds. Result - a smooth transition and neither boat is inconvenienced. Nowadays the other boat does not understand the process and passes annoyed because he thinks I was trying to bully him and steal the canal. Am I right, or am I right???

The shroppie on its own is a bit boring. Part of a ring such as the four counties makes more sense, but the 4C in a week is not leisurely cruising.

I didn't say it was a standard signal; for that matter neither is you flashing (!), but if the other boat has its radio on / is deaf, there's not a lot of other options. The least one can hope is that the other boat says "I wonder what he means" and might be prepared to take some sensible action. The only official signals are those publiched by the PLA / EA / Colregs: and Cart; even these have slight variations. The worst case is when folks proceed as they were and ignore the other party until BANG...

Staircase locks are absolutely "no problem" if you read the instructions. In particular Watford and Foxton flights are a complete doddle, the only downside is a possible wait 'cos N boats are coming the other way. The paddles are easy and colour coded to indicate which to pull first. There's no room for the boat to wander onto the mud between each (OK one apology for a pound at Foxton and three at Watford). Lockies are there to start you off at both and volunteers to do precisely nothing... What's the issue over water? We went through two weeks ago and there was too much on occasion. IMHO the only restrictions aer lockies hours out of season. Market Harborough is a bit of a disappointment (my info is two year old). Mooring is under trees unless you moor in the basin - fee payable - and the town has little to offer. We missed it out this year. Instead we found a pleasant mooring beyond the marina and wound round before the last tunnel. BUT the Welfford arm is nice, pub at the end and a small shop in the village. Ignore the advice about backing down the last 400 yds. The winding hole is a pain and there is room to wind a 70 footer in the basin (contrary to "advice"). We were complimented on our reversing - but was told it was unnecessary! The whole trip took four days (Norton to near MH and return) with two fuill half days waiting for passages.

The Oxford is lovely - but keep away it's my waters (haha). We're fussy about where we moor overnight and the M40 and trains are noisy in many locations. Additionally the only places where you can be certain to get ashore are where there is Armc bank protection. Many of the best locations are already taken by continuous moorers; one shoudn't complain is the boats are occupied, but so many are clearly just left from week to week. If you've never visited B'rum (and who would want to by road or train), then consider a ring that takes in the place - quite, quite different by water and several side attractions. Hire from Alvechurch at one end (only Knowle heavy locks to endure) or Napton's fleets, but that includes lots of heavy broad locks where three in crew would be more comfortable.

I don't understand who folks just wont use "proper" sound / visual signals. Accepted, horns spoil the tranquility of the canals - but so do most nodern engines and folks who play music loudly. If in doubt especially around blind bends - a long blast to say "I'm here"; take care. Tunnel light on to say I'm claiming this bridge hole Three blasts to say I'm going (or stopping to let you through - even though it's "my" bridge. Did all on a recent trip up the Oxford and clearly other boaters hadn't a clue... Similarly in a place such as Aynho or Banbury where there are wall to wall boats. Plenty of room - well perhaps a foot - for two boats to pass, BUT ONLY IF BOTH reduce speed in advance, then it's magic; gliding smoothly by, good navigation. What happens is that if you don't slow down you'll almost knock each other and the moored vessels as well. Spolis the fun and challenge of boating "properly".

You could always try an independent installer - AFAIK you don't have to go direct to Sky, even if taking advantage of their "discounted" deals. I won't mention FreeSat as you mention "sports" which I implies Sky sports which is a subscription channel.

We found yeast to be not very effective. Odorlos OTOH works very well. You do have to use the correct dose - the marks on the bottle are very misleading. It also helps if you give the solids a stir and spray around the inside the tank with the rinse out pipe if you can....

DANGER - uninformed comment - If it is a thermostat problem (Q. Does the fridge get to the correct temperature?? - if not it may be the compressor), then they are usually easy to change and probably generic so that at replacement is inexpensive. There's nothing "special" about a marine fridge; mechanically that is. Suggest you try and find a local fridge repairer if such still exists. My Batts (!!!) fridge is getting on 1 year old and still runs well (but the unit always appears to be running....)

With the exception of a couple of special cases - boats with a direct connection to CART waters are not eligible for an Explorer licence. I could have worded that better... The licence application says just that. Now they are making it clear

[anorak on] To help folks understand why - Most greases absorb water - they are made from sodium compounds Stern tube grease is water repellant (made from calcium compunds) so doesn't disolve and wash away. Thus it's very useful for anything on a boat that comes into contact with water - as indicated in the post quoted [anorak off] I'm the sort of chap who likes an explanation for things, but that doesn't suit everybody. Sorry.

I think they are just remotes ucing the lock office as the base.