John O'Connell

This attitude is one of the reasons I want to join the "Boating Community". Thank you for re-affirming my choice.

I'm not yet "Afloat", Still wishing and hoping. I was thinking that one solution would be to make it mandatory to take a "Test" before you were allowed to skipper a boat, (of any type.) However, thinking of the number of,(qualified,) idiots who drive cars I reserve judgement. At the end of the day it comes down to individual responsibility. If you don't want your boat to be hit then take responsibility and be aware that everyone else may be a "Shed Dragger" on water.

I'm in a quandary about this type of discussion. I will be "Continuous Cruiser" and therefore, in many ways, this won't affect me. However: I go to the "Cropredy Festival, Fairport Convention" every year and would welcome more mooring sites. John

What you have to remember with Lower Voltages is that the Current is exponentially greater, (Ohms Law.) I.E. a 2Kw Load at 240V = 8.4 Amps. The same load on a 12V circuit = 167 Amps, (a Massive increase). This is one of the reasons why relays and switches are rated differently for AC or DC. There is also the matter of Arching on switching DC Loads, (higher Current,) For General Lighting Circuits, this should not be a problem, (I assume you will not be using 12V 100 Watt Filaments ). The "Penny Switches" suggested in an earlier post are sufficient for your needs dependent on the number of lights you're controlling per switch. I would suggest emailing the Reseller/Manufacturer with details of your requirements, detailing the number of lights in the circuit needed to be controlled by each switch and the Voltage. You stated Individual Lights but; maybe, "banks of lights" would be better unless you want 6-12 switches,(however, you could have both systems together, banked and/or singles. Just don't ask me to draw the Circuits here ). Maybe, but; there are many situations in a Narrowboat where a 12/24VDC-240VAC-12/24VDC system would be far better than a straight through 12/24DC System, (even given the losses inherent in conversion). One such situation which comes to mind is a battery charger at the stem to recharge the Bow-Thruster Batteries, (Far better than running Very Thick 12/24V Wires Stern to Stem). I hope this helps. John

I totally agree. I will be in this category and would like advice on how to handle Locks etc. John

Hi all, Has anyone any experience with Composting Toilets? Also what are your views on these? John

Congratulations! I wish I could have been there. The slide show is excellent. Let's hope it's all "Plain Sailing" from here on. John

Yeah, Virgins could be a problem, (at my age I'm sure I won't meet any. LOL). Though I like the "Copious amounts of Alcohol", read PARTY! John

I'm not sure if this is but: is it considered unlucky to rename a Boat? One more question; Who do you have to inform if you do rename? John.

That was not a personal comment on you MJG. I'm outaa here. Good luck people. BTW, "Tame" is not me but if I ask for advice, or pick a Forum Topic of interest, then I don't wish to be in the middle of a group of people who offer personal invective instead of Experiences and Advice. As far as I can see you're just the same bunch of petty minded, ill-informed, argumentative, people I want to escape from. I was hoping for something better. I'm going to delete my Membership here.

Cut and Thrust is all very well but you've gotten "Off Topic". I would suggest that if you want to snipe then you do it in the Virtual Pub and not a Forum where Advice is being sought in good faith. I repeat; I am here, (and I'm sure many others,) to Learn and it's very difficult when the advice pages are swamped by personal sniping comments. John

Good Grief People! I read these forums for advice and to gain knowledge. I'm not here to read personal snipes and uninformed opinions. Whatever your personal issues are; Ice is a Danger to Boats, People, the surrounding infrastructure, as well as the incumbent Wild Life. One of my main reasons for wanting to join the "Waterways Community" is because I believed that; Given the slower, (more relaxed,) pace of travel and the "minority society" that you comprise. I thought that you would be "better", (more Socially aware,) than the "Rat Race" Society you try to escape. It seems I was wrong! This is not going to put me off owning my own Boat but maybe I ought to rethink my ideas about the "COMMUNITY" I'm going to join. My ideas of the "Utopian Society" have taken a knock here as well as the number of Boater on Boater thefts I've read about. Can we please get back on-topic and stop the personality based vitriol? Happy Christmas to you all and i hope you spend it where you wish to be. John. x