arpeeuk

I use 3 brick paviers used on fancy driveways. You can get them individually from B&Q and all 3 will be less than a quid. My current set are well into their second season so value for money in my book. Yes they do crack, but they don't crumble away so they last a good long time. At the price you could get some and test the benefits of a smaller fire before you decide if you want to invest in the fire bricks or the sloping metal wotsits. I also make use of the ledges that the bricks create. I've a bit of grill from an old BBQ that is cut to sit on top of the bricks, then I place veg wrapped in foil on the ledges to bake. The grill stops them ending up in the fire but put the food over the ledge as it's not quite such a direct heat. I do spuds (of course), but also swede, parsnips, onions, squash etc. Takes about 15-20 mins less than in the oven, very tasty, very sweet!

Try Chris Pengilley 01628 528203 He's very flexible and helpful. will visit on Saturday or Sunday if required Good luck with the test

I have an STW2 on my boat and a lot of people comment "nice engine" However, if given an HA2, the STW2 would be used as an anchor if given an Isuzu, the Isuzu would be used as the anchor Rik

Have you tried Chris Pengilley 07712985189. He seems to range far and wide and I know he comes up to the Uxbridge area. He usually does inspections at the weekend as part of a day out with his missus. hope this helps Rik

I've had the KGE3000ti for about 4 years now and had absolutely no problems. This one is a 2.3kva inverter generator and runs everything that I throw at it. Well it did complain when I tried to power some welding kit but it was worth a try As I paid way under half the price of the Honda, it only has to have half the life and I'll be happy. One other thing, I know people who have the 1.0Kva version and we think the larger machine is quietest, probably because the pitch of the engine noise is lower. Rik

I've used both All Aboard and Devises Marina. Both seem to have done a reasonable job and blacking lasted ok.

Hi Molly, It's time to get your thinking cap on and then to start negotiating here's a couple of suggestions that may help Days out - 3 weeks on a boat is a long time for a youngster so negotiate some days where you don't move but do other things instead. For example did you know you can get to Alton Towers by bus from Stoke-on-Trent? Visitors - can you get one of your mates to join you for a day or two? Music - yes and lots of it - the louder the better ( just be considerate to other boaters but make Dad suffer as much as you like) Hope these help a little Oh and while your away please let us all know how your getting on. If you see any of us we'll give you a wave and a sympathetic grin

And when you refit the screws give them a good dollop of copper grease to stop them getting stuck again. Oh and don't forget to re-dollop at regular periods. I do mine every 6 months or so after I had to shell out a small fortune on a new door

There have been 4 boats there for all or part of the winter. One of them I know had a winter mooring until they closed the locks and then they canceled it. This got the 6 months mooring for the price of 3 Another got a permanent mooring at Gt. Bedwyn and so left in January. The third is visited periodically but has basically been laid up for the winter The fourth, not sure if it ever had a winter mooring but I did notice that it had a patrol notice on it the other day. If this was a new one then it's BW chasing even thought there is nowhere that they can go which probably means that there is more to the story. e.g. does it have a licence? Rik

I got given some grief from someone on here ( they know who they are so I won't say ) as I hadn't updated the photos of Kintbury lock being repaired so here we go. The latest pictures are here Clicky There are also some additional photos that show some other views and a few from Brunsden lock Clicky - you'll have to guess which lock is which. Rik

I've got a Roberts Gemini 25 like this and I run it from one of these (from Maplin) All works really well. Just one thing I'd consider if I ever have to replace it and that would be to choose one with an external aerial socket so I can use an external aerial (not that this has ever been necessary) Oh another thought, I've one of these for the car It great, is designed for 12v and you can get a variety of aerials for it. You do need a FM radio as well but most people have one of those on board. Rik

Our dear friends at BW are doing some maintenance at the eastern end of the K & A. Now some of you that know the area will fall off their chairs and spill their beer in shock and anyone that has ever cruised this lovely waterway will say "about time too". Well the current focus of attention is Kintbury Lock and I've been keeping a record of the progress that I thought some of you might enjoy. Here's a clicky I'll keep adding photos as and when I can to get a complete record Rik

Just spotted this and thought someone might be interested clicky I know nothing about it but the price looks good Rik

My uncle had a Dandy back in the '70s and I remember that he found some anti-condensation paint that he used on the sides. The paint worked well as I remember and helped a lot as I remember. The big problem was with the bunks under the cockpit and as I remember it was a right b****r to get in and paint them. So good luck

which I don't think is bad for a Vodafone dongle. Would like to be in their 7Mb area though

worst think was myself into an empty lock in mid February. Fortunately it was well away from the cill. Still have nightmares thinking about it. Spare a thought for these guys though - I understand it was worth about $4.5M Did you spot the guy at the back?

I've a squirrel stove and I have 3 bricks inside to make the fire smaller. I have a piece of grill (from an old barbie) that sits on the bricks. Wrap your veg in foil and place around the edges over the bricks and away you go. Some of my favorites spuds - of course sweet potatoes Carrot, swede, parsnip, spuds, onion - all cut to about the same size, drizzel with oil, but of salt, pepper and a few herbs and wrap in foil Make sure that the fire is lowish or you may end up eating rather tasty charcoal!

I thought that when you'd accidentally stuck someone in a bush and there was an audience you always shouted "Did you get it" to which the reply is always "Yes, got it" and a great big smile

Adverc seem to have Numax 110 at £65 including delivery so you could try them see here http://www.adverc.co.uk/products/batteries...3&Submit=Go here's another at £65 but you have to collect (and they are a bit out of the way for most of us) http://www.ukbatterysales.co.uk/applications.asp?AID=6 Hope this helps Rik

I spoke to my insurance about age limits last year when considering allowing my kids use the boat. Their response was that there were no age limits and I could lend the boat to anybody that I felt was responsible enough. However on further questioning it became clear that they didn't consider my son at 17 would be a responsible person but the decision about my daughter at 19 was up to me. They also clarified that I can allow youngsters to move the boat while I'm on the bank, locking or lock wheeling as in these circumstances they would consider me to be the responsible person. hope this helps Rik

My current alternator is very small, 36A, and is not really producing the goods in terms of my charging needs so I'm looking to upgrade. My question is this, the current alternator is insulated return, do I need to replace it with another with an insulated return (£££££) or can I replace it with a non-insulated return(only ££)? The gory details are thus: Current alternator - Lucas 17ACR(M) Engine Lister STW2 Batteries 2 x 110amp Numax Leisure as domestic and 1x 100amp Numax leisure as starter Sterling PDAR I know I can easily link the engine block to the battery negative for a non-insulated return alternator, but is this likely to cause me any other problems? If not, why was an insulated return originally installed? Thanks in advance for all the help Rik

Hi Les, K&A Barge Unity keep theirs in a wooden barrel under their tiller. see here Always thought this was a good idea, more aesthetically pleasing that a box of some sort Shame I can't fit a barrel of this size under my tiller or on my foredeck! ArpeeUK

And how is it going to work when we all go in and say 100% is for heat and battery charging etc. because we buy by propulsion diesel from Sainsbury's up the road where is it 20+ppl cheaper? As far as I can see, as long as we all do put a few litres of white in our tanks periodically so HMRC can find traces of it they will have a difficult job proving things one way or another. Oh "another fine mess we've got ourselves into"

Asda's worth a look too 8p a minute for calls 5p per text 0.4p/Kb for data runs on vodafone network

Surely we can go to the boat yard and state that 100% of the fuel we buy is for heating and lighting because we buy our propulsion fuel at a cheaper price from the local supermarket.