wandering snail

Having to return for a while. Snail will be put in at Wisbech in November, heading then to a mooring on the Middle Level. Any problems we should think about with this plan?

They always found us ok. Great service once you get past the usual request for utility bills. Oh yes they do! We were very happily carless for 5 years, relying on Enterprise hire cars when we needed. Now because of change of circs, we've had to become car-owners again. Not too happy about this, much too 'normal',and with the hassle of boat hopping that we could do without, but if circumstances dictate...

Some things are cheaper: boat licence half the price in France and in Belgium a fraction of the price or nothing at all in the south, alcohol likewise very cheap. Some things are dearer:diesel unless you have 2 tanks you have to have 'white'for everything - there is no allowance for'self declaration',food is dearer and, dare I say it, there's less choice than in British supermarkets. More regulated? In that some locks and bridges are done for you and the rest are boater operated with a remote control, all of which have restricted operating hours so night cruises are a thing of the past here as are lunchtime cruises!

Very pleased with our Lockgate Morso Squirrel conversion. Runs rads thru the boat, easy to use, looks good and gives loads of very controllable heat.

Got rid of our Biolet after 3 years of trying to get the disgusting tyrant to do wot it should. Have now got a Separatt 'Villa' and would never have any other loo on our liveaboard boat now. It works wonderfully with a minimum of fuss. It's got a little 12v fan so is gentle on the batteries too. Somewhere in the gallery is a pic of ours put there when Beth asked about it around Feb time I think? Ah, just found it - 16th Feb, captioned The Loo

Cheer up, you could be paying Belgian prices. For example, a Belgian friend recently paid 35euros for a halogen bulb for his car headlight. When the other headlight needed replacing while he was visiting UK, he paid just £5 for exactly the same thing.This too is not an unusual case. Our boat gear box needed replacing when it packed up near Gent shortly after we got here. For 1500euros, we are now the proud possessor of a re-con and no, it's not even gold plated.This was a salutary lesson in the high prices over here for goods. We even wondered if there was a business opportunity here buying stuff from UK and re-selling in Belgium. We've already saved Belgian boating friends heaps of money by suggesting they buy from UK.

No, he means a chomage - a stoppage. Had enough of greves last summer, little loves. Wonder if this year will be any different

Probably not but we'll give it a go. We're not quite a 'normal'nb (crew as well as boat),we've a bigger engine and prop so lots more torque and power than usual.Managed well in a force6 on a very wide waterway once so we'll see. The police will prob. have other ideas....

Yes we are using the Rhone au Rhin and it won't be the spring, much too exciting! Did you get to Basle? If so, where are the moorings? We know it's the Rhine for the last bit and have had conflicting advice from commercials, some say yes for us, others praps not so wondered if you'd found the current a problem. Had also planned to go on the Rhine to Strasbourg afterwards, assuming the Colmar's still closed. Sorry folks,

Alsace and hopefully Basle no good then?

Glad to be of service. Where would you like to go next? BTW, can a 62 footer squeeze thru the L&L lox even diagonally?

I think that UK boaters with a 20m or over boat don't have to worry about any of this as your canals have not been classed as commercial. European waterways are rather different as most have commercial use still. We will have to comply with our 21m boat by 2014 on Belgian waters (the cut off date depends on the age of your boat) and 2018 if we remain in France. There are 260+ pages of regs which I can send you if you have trouble sleeping. The good news, well slightly better news, is that pleasure boats in Europe who do not want to go on the Rhine can comply with a less stringent set of regs,which I could also send if you want, unless they're over 24m when you are classed as commercial and that's a very different ball game.

We'll look out for you! ps Keep it under 65' to avoid the new regs(TRIWV)that we've got to meet somehow.

It's beautiful but: Old wooden hull to maintain; too deep draughted to go many places in UK and France; says it's liveaboard but actually needs a lot more fitting out to make it so.

The 'villa' Separett loo hardly smells at all outside and is well designed so that all the liquid is separated from the 'other'unless you're anatomically challenged.

Thanks Brian, that's cheered us up!Not a rip off at all

Glad you have seen the light - composting

Praps we should come to an arrangement with the local 'frieterie'(chip shop, well sort of, they're a bit anorexic, the chips not the staff) altho from the smell, it could be a while before they're willing to part with it. By the way, why is everyone worried about bio-diesel in boats when the suggestion to use veg. oil has been around for a while?

The tanker driver blamed it on Libya, surprise, surprise. They only supply 2% of the world's needs so as ever someone's making obscene profits.

Have just paid 222euros(£189) for 300litres to fill our red tank. What are you paying in UK now?

Hi Kotare. We're in Lokeren nr. Gent til mid March when we head south thru Walloon. The above is on a Belgian site but it's all very vague. Don't think anyone knows what's happening, not even the commercials who raise eyebrows and shrug 'gallicly' when they talk about all the changes. We're trying not to worry and hope we don't get stopped while on our way to France this summer. Haven't heard of this happening to anyone tho. Hope to get a reply about that from Tam & Di.

The rules in Belgium give vessels built between 1912 and 2008 a grace period upto Dec 2014 so who has been stopped and what are they checking for? As for 2 VHF sets, this requirement has been rescinded.

Why are you so smaal? Means narrow in Flemish - don't think it's personal. How did you get over the channel? How old is the boat? Never know whether to lie to them so as not to disappoint especially as we're often invited into historic boat moorings!

Otherwise known as a motorbike parking place. Or praps a car???