Supertramp

Does anyone know if having a full amateur radio licence (Ham radio)is acceptable? Or does it have to be a 'specific marine' course and license?

Thanks for the input guys, I had looked at the ionising dehumidifies, but would rather not go down that road if I can help it. A friend has offered to lend me a simple ioniser for a week, guess that's the best way to find out

My back boiler is pumped to 3 rads. I have a 240v standard domestic heating circulation pump on a pipe stat set at 30c, its really quiet and cheap to run,(mostly on shoreline or inverter). - however, there is also a 12v pump in circuit (Jabesco i think) attached to a 2nd pipe stat set to 60c. Both pipe stats are on the top exit pipe from the boiler. This gives me a fall-back in case of mains failure to the primary pump, and a backup should the stove get too hot. Both pumps are free flowing if not on, so don't restrict the flow.

If you believe all the adverts, we should all have Ionisers pumping out billions of negative ions to help us be healthier and reduce the pollution in our homes. However.... Although I did have one of these contraptions many many years ago in a flat, I cant say I noticed any life changing improvements. Does anyone have any experience of these modern ionisers? - would it make any difference to my boats environment? I do find it difficult to concentrate on work at the laptop for several hours, (tho this is unlikely to be 'cured' by a few ions lol) or is a bit like the ecofan, some love it - some hate it

I've just got the 'one plan' from 3 with a new Samsung S3 - £31 /month (£29 upfront for the handset) The S3 says it can handle 10 devices on its wifi hotspot function, I have 5 devices attached and can run them all at the same time. (6 if you include the wireless printer - which workes great through the S3 hotspot) Download speeds on '3' for me are 8-12 Mbs, upload 2-6 Mps

Thanks for all the replies, good to know its a common experience, - all be it still a little disconcerting, but if I can get 20 years out of it - it will see me out.

Thats right G&F, I understand whats happening as far as water pressure, but it is concerning me that welds on steels shouldn't have to cope with these stresses, and may actually fail?

My stainless steel water tank in the bow makes a loud bang and quiet substantial vibrations through the boat when filling, (and emptying..) I haven't been worried by this, as when i got the boat a year ago, someone told me it was quite normal, - its only when nearly full and im guessing its the top plate flexing. However, a recent thread about building boats out of stainless steel said that the welds were weaker in stainless steel. Should I be worried that constant flexing during use will weaken the welds? I live-aboard, so it is used alot.

There is a craftsman in the Apsley Marina, makes bespoke fittings for boats. I know he is very busy, - will ask if he wants to quote for extra work before i send his number to you

A full bottle of Blue met with an accident, and leaked down the wooden panels of an open storage area. The wood is light oak, and seems badly stained with the blue now. Can anyone suggest something that might pull the stain out a bit? Many thanks Tony

More good ideas thanks, - including how to avoid 'The Bends' - thanks Bizzard, The boat isnt draught proof by any stretch of the imagination, so sucking fumes down the flue is unlikely - i hope. It will be a christmas holiday project, so enough time to source parts etc, just hope for some unseasonal sunshine to continue. Tony

I have one of the 'New' Boatman stoves, and it does now have an airwash control in the top of the door, along with in internal baffle under the flue to stop the heat going straight up the chimney. Stays in all night without effort, great little stove. Tony

Thanks guys, there are some ideas I'd not seen before, I'm just wary about the computer type fans being a bit underpowered. Guess I also haven't really investigated how much room there is above the roof lining, drilling a hole in the roof for the new vent isn't something I want to get wrong. thanks again Tony

I want to put a new mushroom vent in the bathroom, and fit an electric fan inside. Lots of fans I've seen seem to have little actual power, some are solar, some 12v. Are there 'real' fans out there that will pull the steam from the shower out before it fills the whole boat? and yet still fit in a mushroom vent? thanks Tony ETA - Sorry - in wrong section, -wasnt awake

I'm on my boat because of a rat...

Being perhaps a little paranoid, - I've taken the 'what happens if the pump fails' a bit further. My stove feeds 3 rads and the calorifier (tho it's not hot enough for that - but that's another issue). there are 2 pumps in circuit, one 240v Welo from screwfix as mentioned earlier in this thread, and one 12v jabesco. Thermostatic sensor on the top outlet pipe from the backboiler switches the pump circuits. anything above 25c calls for pumping. If 240v is available, the 240v pump is switched via a cheap mains fail relay (£3) from maplin. If the mains fails,- (some kind yob unplugs the shoreline, power cut, out of credit etc,) the mains relay drops out, - switching in the 12v pump as a backup. Another thermostatic sensor rated at 85c switches the 12v pump on regardless of mains or not, either to assist the 240v pump, or in case the mains pump has failed. A couple of neon indicators under the front step show whats happening, and a buzzer operates if the 85c sensor clicks in.

But that 'friction' itself will be heat?

Thanks guys, - I'm trying out some Supertherm at the moment (not really cold enough - but still bedding new stove in) Will mix it with excel at night - as i'm guessing that will burn longer...

I think the op is saying the top of the boatmans stove has a 4" socket, and he has fitted a 5" flue OVER the socket, - not inside it which is normal. I also have a boatmans and a 4" flue inside. I would put fire cement on the sprocket before putting the 5" flue on. - the smells will likely be the oils and gunk as already stated.

Good try tho Pete, - at least she knows you are serious about continuing with your dream. You may find that she will want to make you happy, and if that means letting you have your dream, - then so be it! Dont push her, let her come round to it in her own time.... Good luck mate, we all started with the same dream, and many of us could never see a way to get there, - hang in there!

Ok - I've got to ask... whats a 'halingway' - even google doesnt give an explination

Thanks Ally, - I'm using a 'Boatman' stove, and the back boiler is an integral welded part of the stove - not a bolt on job, - it takes the space of the 2 rear firebricks, so the no loss in burning room. As you say, - try it and see. Thanks for your input Tony

Marinas with BT landlines do exist, although mainly only on the newer marinas. I moor in Hemel with landline and broadband connection next to my shoreline. It's your responsibility to arrange connection etc. I have to use it for work, - a dongle wouldnt let me upload enough data. Tony ETA - some marinas have Wi-Fi hotspots, either pay as you go or set price. - worth asking, if you dont need a great amount of use - a dongle can prove great when out, - just be careful of which network to go for - depending on where your marina is....

Thanks Ally, - I've put an order in for split load of Excel and supertherm, I really want one of them to stay in overnight, AND while out at work some days which might be 12 hours or so... -- is that an unreasonable expectation??? Also - no-one has yet told me if having a back boiler will use the fuel up quicker, or make it burn cooler, and therefore slower... (sorry - this was from an earlier thread, - but is relevant here.) Thanks again Tony

Thanks everyone, - good honest simple answers, I'm going to try a 'split' load from the coal boat for my first winter, and see what suits. There isnt an answer that suits everyone, and I think it has to be as much a matter of 'trial and error' as anything. Even 2 boats with the same stove may have more draw and therefore different experience. - I really appreciate the responses