OldGoat

Paint it all white, throw some light coloured cushions around and sell the boat for loadsa' monay...

Robbery - it's a grotty mooring (meaning the one below the lock... OTOH the ones in the town are much nicer. I wonder wheter you can moor by the church?

I haven't read all of the above (mea culpa), but from my own experience the 'issue' over survey reports is that they are only 'owned' or actionable by whoever commisioned and paid for the report. Others may look at if for information only - that is usually sufficient for most folk. The pracite has change in ecent years so that an interested party (purchaser) can - if the surveyor offers it - pay a fee for the rights to the survey. I've just gone through having a full hull survey - and I was mightly impressed by the measurements and comments of a Lloyds registered surveyor (just as well as I had connections with those venerable institution(s) carrying the mane in their title. A proper hull survey is well worth the money both for the current owner and for a purchaser.

Moorings around Henley-ya (joke) used to be managed (Excelently) by SRB moorings - but Steve has retired and I've no idea what current arrangements are (one reason was that he got so much hassle from all sorts of boaters that the joy was taken away. Time was when folks respected each other and usually a balamce could be struck. Now it's a matter of keeping schtum - certainly not a good idea to publish locations on any forum. We've given up boating for other reasons, thus I'm not up to date. It's not all doom and gloom - just sensible not to publish a list. If you can get a copy of Chris Cove Smith's "The River Thames Book" - available on Amazon at sensible prices - especially if you go fro what appears to be out of date. Its simple and clear maps indicate where moorings are likely to be. Especially on the upper -upper Thames (joke) - but you're not going there. Otherwise you'll be obliged to do a best guess and be prepared for changes in your plan.

Mooring overnight is not a huge problem of itself - the challenge is that mooring near shops (etc) can be a problem as CMers grab most of the space. Leaving a boat unattended for more than two days can be risky. Where there are short term moorings at locks these are not bookable in advance. There's more (but limited) information here:- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-locks-and-facilities-for-boaters#short-stay-mooring If you need more security then a boatyard or small marina is your best bet - but it won't be cheap. Anchoring "doesn't work" because the river bed is gravel and IME won't take hold and you'll need a big mudweight to stop the boat swinging. There's a good choice of potential moorings - but the CMers have got there first and the EA have given up the unequal struggle of moving them on.

It's amazing (well in all truth not really) how convolutely a seemingly simple subject such as steel hulled boats get a large number of discussions on these fora. Quite understanable as in reality it can be a real hornets nest. I submit that the issue is more of how well the structure has been built, mebe where where kept and how it has been used. I've recently had my boat surveyed and was amazed to see that the sides were in good order and amazingly the bottom (10mm) had hardly any pits or thinning in 23+ plus years of use. Our access to proper boating is via the Oxenford bit and canal - where you would have thought that the shallow gremlins would have thinned it - but No! No thinning and no wastage. Must tbe the Thames water... I suspect that - How well the hull was constructed and what care the fabricator chose his steel Whether bad practices were / are employed - such as wet bilges and unventillated dittos Where the boat was kepth What the cruising range was The style of ownership / 'navigating' all contribute to hull deteriotion - possibly more that thin hull construction in the first place. It's very unlikely that a potential buyer can evaluate or examine any of these as soo many boats are sold in the same way as cars are nowadays. Whereas looking at a car in a sales lot can - posibly give you a good gude as to its use - the same cannot be applied to a string of boats in a dealers yard... I'm glad - in some ways- that our boating days are over ; but now I must find someone why wil appreciate our life's boating passion for a good price....

Gentleme and boaters - What "we" forget that competant boaters (as in those who inhabit these fora) are in an huge minority. Volunteers are provided to give service to everyone else. Its the majority of weekend / hire boaters who provide a lot of CRT's income - and therefore need cosseting - and 'managing'. The occasional boater-who-knows-what-he-is-doing gets mixed up with the majority and thus becomes subject to whatever training the Volos get. This obviosly upsets expedrienced members on here - mebe steeped in 'that's the way to do it, I and my forbears have always done it that way' syndrone age get upset, thus creating a rant on here.... You can't pull rank as no-one understands Vexilology (I tried wearing a Blue once and everyone thought I was from the Antipodes.. The easiest solution mebe is to 'pass away on the other side' as harmonously as possible uttering 'pax vobiscum' as you proceed. These things are sent to try us. (My Management serves a more than adequeate libation before supper which may account for the verbosity of this post). Mea Culpa.

You'll pay through the nose for Shell branded oil. Over the years I've used fuel company oils (got staff discount...), Motor factor in house branded, motor factor supplied and lastly folks sellimg lubes on ebay. I've used the oils on PVT cars when I had them and all manner of other cars. The only magic is the lube business is the prose... There are industry standards published in the blend mix - otherwise its effectively the same stuff grade for grade Morris' is a good brand -they supply the trade and are respected. I think they do mail order.

Hmm - too many folks discharging what they didn't ought to into the cut and Nature can't compensate....

No, no a steaming pile of horse manure is a wondrous thing. Shirley what you mean is a dollop of male bovine excrement

"Society" is empowered today - it's me,me,me and devil take the hindmost. Whe I were a lad I was taught to raise my school cap to anyone who made eye or other contact. That always raised smiles of folks waiting for the 37 bus (London) - so I made it more exagerated as time went by and was rewarded with even more smiles and laughter. It made me feel good and I suspect so did the bus queue. Moral: have regard for your fellow man and woman and you'll be rewarded...

There used to be several discussions on here about reducing the odours in pump out systems I found some hospital grade washing machine detergent some years ago and that removed all the smell. 'Trouble is it's not on general sale so some research is needed. An 'alrernative' nearly as good is (sold in Tesco) is Oxy-gen.

It's all been said above. There was a time when folks avoided Brum - but that was years ago, now it's a go-to destination. The amount of change happening is fantastic - fine if you like modern archiecture or looking around. If still active try the pen museum, back to backs, the view from the Library or designing your trip to include the Black Country Museum.

I like the throway line "just a small 12v fridge"... Any fridge can consume a lot of power whether they'r compressor or absorbption type. The difficulty is measureing how many amp-hours yours consumes and then deciding hor to reduce it.

Shirley an easy way to test a 'stat 'specially one from Bognor unless they've boved it so change the setting porgreaaively to max temperature whille it's running. If it doesn'stop running it's probably a duff thremostat. I did than on my aged Batts / Lec unit and it sduddenly started doing what it oughta'

No it's not. reading through posts on thie (these) forums, there are 'hordes' of newcomers who don't understand (not unreasonably) that narrowboats is / are a craft industry - at leasdt it was until several builders started to make boats in bulk - thus for older boats at least there are no absolutes. 'Tis part of the charm. Even so having got a height might I suggest that it is quiet usual to put a lining box on the cabin sides because that tehds to make the boat look less boxy/ Probably out of date but I think a premade sign would not include this - not the least because its'easy' to do that your sself .. I'm not explaining well. Have a look on boats for sale on "the duck" and you'll se what I'm trying to say.

Very helpful, very knowledgeable. Prepared to travel

I've got loads of sterling kit and IME most of the problems are due to the user - that's why Charles senior got ratty and thus gained a reputation (OK p'raps some the early stuff was a bit ropey). - that may be the case here....

Methinks that's not 'knocking' more like a dry bearing somewhere in the chain??

My solution (at buld time was to - fit a 4-light dog box in steel hinged on bith sides Fitted a computer fan in a box underneath a 6" brass mushroom vent. "The Management" cooks with all gas rings on maximum, but the system keeps the kitchen area habitable...

Hope it was the edition with the spiral binding OTOH There are better guides around- go on treat yourself!! Here: Darn Sarf north west of Brighthemstone we've had a three minute storm, not 'ordinary' rain but as if a very large bucket of water was instantaneously upended (not poured) over my utility room; overflowed the gutters and wetted the chest freezer... Nasty.

(Above) - At home and aboard we just use the TV as a monitor and control everything using free -view or -sat recorders to select the channels to watch. IMO the programme guides seeto have a m better layout on the boxes than whatever the tv box manufacturer supplies.

Internet is fine if you moor in urban areas or near a major road or railway line - but not a lot of use if you're out in the sticks - as in some parts of the Oxford or the upper - upper Thames.

I'm obliged m'lud Those clips are a lotless expensive that the screw types....