zimmer4me

I said that in my post lol...also moored there for 8years before moving on

Crick has the advantage of the village for pubs and shopping etc. Marina has no slipway or on site engineers and basic facilites like a dry dock. Plus points they allow engineers on site provided they are known and have the correct insurance. NKM has first class facilites being a new build( still some work to be completed) but you need to use their workmen essentially. Both have good communities and great cruising range. Price wise as a liveaboard..NKM is currerntly cheaper.

simply price !

Just for reference I have just completed a service on 23rd March 2020 on my Isuzu 42 and used the following correct parts available from inlinefilters.co.uk and other good suppliers The oil used should be 15-40w api cc.. I used Halfords classic 20-50w api cc as my local engineer advised that the most important thing was API CC

Thanks for the insight from everyone.

Hi, I was just wondering about the low bridges before you enter the basin at Stratford. Is is correct that the max headroom is around 6ft? My headroom is listed as 6ft 1in so am concerned that I might not get under them. I had heard that they had been raised but can find no information or evidence to that effect. Has anyone been there this year? comments appreciated. JK NB Evenstar

Things have improved then....might try it again in future and see if it conflicts

That's good to know...I have not used a wireless mouse in years as I found the batteries never lasted that long. I guess there may be other things that conflict but as yet have had no problem's.

I have the Solwise wifi / 3g-4g router mentioned and together with an exterior "rocket"aerial it all works pretty well. The aerial has a usb connection that can either go directly into a lpatop etc or into the router then it will broadcast inside the boat so ipads and phones/tablets can pick it up. I disagree that the signal is degraded...I am on a marina and pickup there wifi at full signal....it all depends 0n proximity to the mast and what other signal traffic might interfere...(i.e.other boats routers) Note the aerial I mentioned has now been replaced by the patriot. Overall the solwise was cheaper but it is 2.4gz ( I think) whereas the kuma has also 5 something teccy. You pays ya money you takes ya choice ! :-) Hope that is helpful

Intend to do the Leicester Ring this summer. All new to us and never beem on a river. Have heard that you just need to get through Leicester and not mor there. Any tips on where to moor before and after so we can scoot through in a day.?

Yes we are all 12v only. Thanks for the advice I am also thinking that maybe its time to address shorepower when I've got the dosh!

Our Boat has 1 starter and two leisure batteries with no mains hook up or 240v ring. We usually manage when on a long cruise by using the lighting sparingly as well as solar lcd lights in the cabin. However we are toying with idea of adding another battery so that we run the engine less when moored. At the moment all the batteries are on the left hand side of the boat on the shelf under the back crusier deck and there is no room for another and it would imbalance the boat even more.( most of the fitout inside is on left so there is already a slight lean). Can I add a battery on the right side or is the length of cable run back across the engine compartment to the left side likely to be too long? Any thoughts welcome... JK

I have a battery powered pump bought for this kind of problem..£9.99 from Maplins. It cant get all the water but it does a great job and the rest I do with a rag etc and natural evaporation. hope this link works. http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=100910

I am not good with electrics on our narrowboat and really need to learn. What would be a basic meter that I can learn to use and begin to understand and solve probs such as flat batteries or faults in the system. My boat is currently all 12v with no battery charger or inverters and no shoreline. Any recommendations appreciated Cheers JK

Hi , I guess you are referring to the new and somewhat confusing name freesat (from bbc /ITV) .For those who are not aware or clued in on this see "http://www.freesat.co.uk/home.php" I have yet to see any firm info other than the website and my local Comet are clueless re launch and equipment. I am all for geting rid of Sky's domination of the market but will it really appeal to those who are just non sky subscribers who keep the card in and receive Free to view/air services. The main thing going for the new service will be free HDTV but as a boater its not that important to me. JK

Done

Anyone know anything about the imported chinese boats currently being offered at a well known GU marina ? All I know is what the sales guys have told me but was wondering if there was any gossip on the company itself. JK

could always save the logo at the top and print it out ! It would be nice to recognise other members

Have used Fuelset for the last two years and the engine does appear to run smoother ! As for bugs...who knows.! JK

Know this spooky feeling well...re my previous post Had a Mail from BW about it and they had been contacted by a journalist who was interested in doing an article. Didn`t hear from them as yet. anyway here is a repost. NB It was not the Indian Chief trip boat either ! "Here is a true story that happened to me and the wife a couple of weeks back. We have been through the Blisworth Tunnel on countless occasions as this part of the GU is our neck of the woods but on this particular occasion something really strange happened. When we entered the tunnel from the Blisworth end there was nobody in front of us. "H.I.D." always sits upfront in the cratch looking forward as she hates it. About a third of the way through I was surprised to see what appeared to be the end of the tunnel which I had not seen before on previous trips but this day was particulary bright so I though nothing of it. This "end of the tunnel" appeared as a low level white light similarly to when you squint. Anyway we carried on through and I began to see the another more orange in colour dull light that started to block out the other white light. I assumed this was a boat coming towards us as the new light got stronger abd stronger. After about 5 minutes or so I was convinced it was a boat and to allow a safe pass I paired the engine back to tick over and continued slowly as this light was now quite bright and previous experience tells me that we would pass in less than 2 mins. Here is the spooky bit....It then just dissappeared completely. As it was a bit of a shock I called out to Marion(H.I.D) in the cratch and before I could say anything she shouted where did that boat go ? We cannot explain what happened but at our expected pass point we hit some timber floating. I was trying to rationalise this assuming that it was a boat ahead of us going out of the tunnel with a light at the back that was a trick of the light but that made no sense and as we came out there were no boats that had passed ahead or had the reached the stoke bruerne locks. I do not believe in ghosts and have always been a sceptic but this experience did not make sense." JK

Just thought I would mention this...and not wishing to scare monger but I have had my boat blacked and serviced at Blisworth for the last two times and on the first occasion their offices were broken into whilst my boat was in dock. According to them ..not the first time. Also last year I was moored opposite them whilst out cruising I was confronted with an irate houseowner who wanted to know if I had seen his wrought iron garden gate! He thought I had pinched it and had hidden it on board.! Apparently he had taken it off to paint and left it to go indoors for 5 mins and some tea leaf had it ! Not surprisingly I dont moor there if I can help it JK

I would agree that where I moor is Not the cheapest for fuel in the country so it follows that the status quo be maintained when fuels is going up across the board. Are we to expect a hike in bottled gas as well ?..seems likely when they have you by the short and curlys

Well thats it then....no chance of the wife going in the tunnel again unless she has the garlic, silver bullets,crosses and a blanket to hide under... LOL PS didn't see any of the trip boats (NB Indian Chief etc) at the time nor did I think it was the air vents. This non believer will just have to go with me brown trousers on next time. jk

Here is a true story that happened to me and the wife a couple of weeks back. We have been through the Blisworth Tunnel on countless occasions as this part of the GU is our neck of the woods but on this particular occasion something really strange happened. When we entered the tunnel from the Blisworth end there was nobody in front of us. "H.I.D." always sits upfront in the cratch looking forward as she hates it. About a third of the way through I was surprised to see what appeared to be the end of the tunnel which I had not seen before on previous trips but this day was particulary bright so I though nothing of it. This "end of the tunnel" appeared as a low level white light similarly to when you squint. Anyway we carried on through and I began to see the another more orange in colour dull light that started to block out the other white light. I assumed this was a boat coming towards us as the new light got stronger abd stronger. After about 5 minutes or so I was convinced it was a boat and to allow a safe pass I paired the engine back to tick over and continued slowly as this light was now quite bright and previous experience tells me that we would pass in less than 2 mins. Here is the spooky bit....It then just dissappeared completely. As it was a bit of a shock I called out to Marion(H.I.D) in the cratch and before I could say anything she shouted where did that boat go ? We cannot explain what happened but at our expected pass point we hit some timber floating. I was trying to rationalise this assuming that it was a boat ahead of us going out of the tunnel with a light at the back that was a trick of the light but that made no sense and as we came out there were no boats that had passed ahead or had the reached the stoke bruerne locks. I do not believe in ghosts and have always been a sceptic but this experience did not make sense. Anyone else had anything strange happen to them ? Regards JK

I have actually physically seen one as this is my home marina chandlery. When I asked about them I was assured that they will run comfortably on a small 150w inverter (except for spin where it needs a bit more ooomph!). JK