Alan de Enfield

Yes - As far as I can see, (if he was being told that he had to do it to be in compliance with the RCD / RCR)

I have never been able to identify any RCD / RCR requirements relating to solid fuel stoves (I guess they never considered that a SF stove would be used on a boat) (Maybe it is there but tucked away in some obscure 'corner') The only 'heating' related section relates to gas : 5.5 Gas system Gas systems for domestic use shall be of the vapour-withdrawal type and shall be designed and installed so as to avoid leaks and the risk of explosion and be capable of being tested for leaks. Materials and components shall be suitable for the specific gas used to withstand the stresses and exposures found in the marine environment. Each gas appliance intended by the manufacturer for the application for which it is used shall be so installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Each gas-consuming appliance must be supplied by a separate branch of the distribution system, and each appliance must be controlled by a separate closing device. Adequate ventilation must be provided to prevent hazards from leaks and products of combustion. All watercraft with a permanently installed gas system shall be fitted with an enclosure to contain all gas cylinders. The enclosure shall be separated from the living quarters, accessible only from the outside and ventilated to the outside so that any escaping gas drains overboard. In particular, any permanently installed gas system shall be tested after installation.

We are a 'reseller' of electricity (Caravan Park) and there is strict 'guidance' as to what is an acceptable charge for the 'infrastructre' that is acceptable to OFGEM. I've not looked for some time so it may have changed but the 'guidance' was £35 per annum. Should any complaints be received about charges any amount above that would be strongly investigated and explanations needed that justify the breaking of the guidelines.

I think it must be a wind-up. No sane person would even consider it - the worst of all worlds. It could only happen in London !!!

I see NABO are listed but the Baton-Twirlers are (quite rightly) Persona Non Grata

Hull Marina should be able to do it with their hoist it can lift 50 tonnes and I'm pretty sure it'd take 16 feet beam.

When we were in Hull Marina we could find no one on the East Coast who could lift us - the maximum beam lift is 19 feet which is the beam of the Sea-Cats that service the Wind Farms. We are 23 foot beam and could find nowhere until we got 'round the corner' and onto the South Coast. There are very few 'leisure boats' on the Trent / Ouse / Humber over about 12-14 feet beam and the marinas are just not geared up for any really 'fat-boats' so I can well believe that if it is aproaching 16 feet its going to be a long trip, or a very expensive crane (£1000's) hoist to get it out of the water. When we have the 100 tonne crane at the Marina he lifts around 25 boats (in a very long day) and it is £150 per boat.

Sorry my misunderstanding when you said : Which I read as, when cruising (off the mains) it was easier to have on on/off switch.

I'm not sure I am understading the set-up. You are using your inverter to power the Immersion, or you are not ? If not, and you are cruising with no shore line available where is the power source ?

Are you running your immersion heater off batteries (via an Inverter) ?

Interesting , every day is a school-day. I've never seen an MPPT with MC4 connectors. My only experience of the MC4 is in the short 'fly-lead' coming off the panel.

As the old saying goes "Tis better to have and not to need, than need and not to have."

Good question - the MC4 is normally the connection between the panel itself and the cable that then runs to the MPPT. The MC4 has no 'contact or link' to the MPPT so I cannot see why it would be specified.

If you are not having a water heater (of any type) then its going to rely on you running your engine for an hour or two just to get hot water - alternative view - you'll probably be running the engine anyway when cruising, or to charge your batteries anyway (unless you have sufficient solar to keep your batteries up to 100%) Or boil the kettle when you want hot water. Only you know how much tyou need / want hot water.

Have you tried using a pulley 'puller' ? Maybe I was lucky, it came off fairly (not easy, easy) easily.

Mine just has a 3-pin plug on the end of the wire (with a label on the plug-top saying "Immersion"). I can either plug it directly into the socket and switch it on & off as desired, or I can plug the timer into the socket and then plug the immersion plug into the timer. Simples.

I think I have - in the water as well.

But a typical MPPT has no display, you use a remote MT50 display for your information.

Why would you need a dry dock to get it changed, and not need one to remove and replace the prop after having it straightened ? Surely neither need involve a dry dock - just wet legs.