dogberry

Hee. Could blag a low-temp thermocouple from someone in a science-y department? But a regular cheap oven thermometer should be fine. Not terribly accurate, but certainly within the fast/moderate/slow oven range of reliability. And they take a while to respond to temperature changes, so they won't plummet to room temp as soon as you open the door. eta - you might try also testing it out in different areas of the oven to check for hotspots before baking... And accuracy should be to within 10 deg C, I should think... (disclaimer - my last relevant experience was over 20 years ago with a cheap oven thermometer in a broken electric cooker, but the thermometer worked perfectly adequately...)

Cobwebs tip duly noted - and I will remember to clear them away before next BSS! And the point about the centreline is very welcome - I will be wanting to add one at some point, so that's excellent to know. Thanks, everyone!

wow. That totally made my day =). There's a bit of useful information for the noob! Thanks. Would not have considered that, though of course it's blindingly obvious now you've said it. Thanks!

(I've-done-a-search-disclaimer-with-apologies) I've just bought an older butty, about 22 feet of interior space, currently empty inside, all windows and portholes are non-opening (but this will change eventually). I will be getting a stove but don't plan on having gas on the boat and won't have a shower. I'll soon be in possession of two mushroom vents, and was assuming that the best placement would be at the highest point of the roof, with one sort of in the middle of the front half of the boat and the other in the middle of the back half of the boat. (also no interior bulkheads on the horizon.) I've been trying to look at other boats and in photos, and thought that my only concern would be how many would be 'correct', while wondering a bit at people's placing them at anything other than the highest point - where heat and (not condensation, but moist air...?) will be headed. However, I just got a copy of the Narrowboat Builder's Book, and his are all on the sides/edges, and he explains why (boiler, etc, and then not wanting a cluttered/chaotic looking roof). Other than that sort of thing - equipment that must be vented and aesthetics - can anyone enlighten me about best practice with mushroom vent placement, with explanations of 'why'? Are people 8% more likely to slip off their roof if vents are down the centre, or does any one placement give better/worse ventilation or limit roof usage (if one were to use the roof as a crap-storage area or sundeck or whatever - or solar panel placement, stick-on or otherwise)? Opinions? Preferences? Word of God? cheers. (edited cos of inarticulateness issues.)

Thanks, Tony! =)

Thanks, everybody! I will have thinks about this and keep an eye out for a cheap outboard (while bearing in mind all the horror stories I've read on here about how petrol and stupid/careless don't mix well - and I have a lot of stupid, which makes me nervous). It does seem that it's good and I got a good deal. After five years of having my idea of 'ideal' honed and refined, I'd been sat with a small list of Wants and a very small budget just watching and waiting - and this came up at a time when I'm going to be needing to move anyway, so I couldn't pounce fast enough. Touch wood it's all as good as it seems - the owner is lovely as well, and this is the kindest and gentlest trial by fire I've ever experienced (so far!).

Hallo - I've just bought a 47 foot butty after planning and dreaming for five years. I'll be sorting out moving aboard over the next month-ish. Found lots of answers and help here, even though the search function is very interested in making sure I read broadly on every subject =). The boat is now between Bristol and Bath, but not sure for how much longer...

Hallo. After five years of thinking and planning, I've just bought a boat - a 47' butty. I'm thrilled, but the time is coming when it will have to be shifted somewhere. I'd hoped to find an affordable mooring near where it is (between Bristol and Bath), and while moorings are available, definitions of affordable differ somewhat... It would be possible, but while I'm noodling around with numbers, I was wondering this - Does anyone have any thoughts on the best way to get a butty from point A to point B, assuming you know no one? As far as I can determine, my options are outboard (what do I attach it to?), having it hauled and transported, and making friends with someone with an engine who's going where I want to go (or thereabouts). I have tried to search this, and I will be very ashamed and embarrassed and apologetic if there's a thread on this sort of thing already. Sorry... And now I will go and introduce myself in the proper place.