ex-member200218

Actually getting the boat to Ely by road and into the water there might be an option. But I do like the river/canal from Roydon to Gayton, by road to March then river the rest of the way. Oh, yes please! Thank you so much for that! Thanks for input Southern Star. Tuckeys are definitely in the book.

Thank you. Appreciate any info forthcoming.

Wow! Thank you one and all for the brilliant input! At least there are some options. I'll be checking them all out. Thanks again. Yup! Thanks for the suggestion but as I said, done the narrow boat and now need a nice comfortable home to settle down in. My new boat is it.

Hi Bettie's mum Wow! That's absolutely brilliant. Just what I need. Its a start and I can make some enquiries. I suspect there's a waiting list/time for that kind of even so I'll get on it. I've been on here for a few years but never really needed any input as the ex did all the comms Thank you so much and for the info and for the welcome. Chrissie

Hello boaters I have a situation arising which is, in the next 6 months or so I will need to move my boat from the Stort to a marina on the Middle Levels; the River Lark, to be precise. Been boating for a few years but this is going to be epic; for me anyway. The problem with that? My boat is a 12' x 57' wide beam. Regardless, I would like to drive to as close as I possibly can get which, I believe, is to the Northampton Arm but because of width and/or draft restrictions beyond there that's probably as far as I'll be able to go. Unless, of course, you know different. Please tell me you know different I have done as much homework as possible and have exhausted a wide variety of options; web sites, phone calls (even Gayton Marina staff and CRT didn't have any helpful or appropriate info) and books (Nicholson which didn't turn up all the issues) to find this information but not all the restrictions are given. I have been advised of them purely through conversations with other boaters. My previous was a narrow boat so any problems wouldn't have been a consideration. Therefore, the plan is to drive the boat to a point as close as possible, which I believe is Gayton Junction and from there I am told it would have to be craned and transported to its destination being the closest river and craning point to the Marina. If there's anyone on the Lark or Middle Levels reading this, can they get in touch and give me some local advice please. Thanks. I would appreciate any information regarding restrictions on length, width, draft, phone numbers and names of any people in the know would be so helpful and also for craning (as I suspect that's what it will boil down to in the end) for a wide beam. I also need to know things like transport companies, procedures, all the facts and figures if anyone can help in any way. Thanks in anticipation for any help, info and suggestions. The only suggestion I don't want to hear is "You Can't". Cheers. Chrissie

I know I'm gonna get some stick for this... my dish washer!!!

We've used our back cabin for several purposes. Initially it was just a through route to the stern end but it has since been used as a tool shed, an office, and a utility space but recently we have converted it to... yes, our bedroom! 2ft on each side of the cabin has been fitted out with storage boxes with lift up lids. A flap, hinged on the top edge of the storage boxes on one side goes between to create the base of the bed. We have twin mattresses (one 2'6" and one 3' wide x 6') which are the perfect size to fill the space and which are simply lifted up and stand on edge on the boxes (both on one side or one on each side), then the central flap is opened and rests on the mattress on one side while we're on the move. We are mostly at our mooring so its not a daily chore to do this but its a very quick flip job when we are out and about. But, the bonus is that this has left a huge area in the middle of the boat, where our bedroom was, available for more precious living space. So the clever half of our team has created a utility room (which as an alternative offers enough room to make a single bedroom) and a fabulous breakfast bar!! It works for us but its obviously not to everyone's taste and these things all depend on your circumstances and what you want from your boat.

Ehem!! Excuse me mister Blackrose sir... Hunter is a fab BOAT; she's only 15 years old (much younger than some), is 100% ours and we just love her. She could do with a little paintwork touching up here and there, granted (though time and some decent weather will sort that) but she does a superb pirouette in reverse as she has seriously the best "revolutionary new steering system"! Hillman Hunter! Pics will be posted after her new internal refurb ;-)

Hi Ang, Just to keep you up to date... we got the boat on the 24th February! Hurrah! There's a huge learning process going on; some of it a bit scary but mostly good fun, as you'll know. I'm hoping to have some driving (helmsman) lessons shortly so am looking forward to taking the tiller myself a bit more. Woohoo!

Oooh... whilst we're on HMRC (or not); do gifted equity release funds attract income tax?

Hello Tony! Welcome to Canal World. You will find, in the main, that most people are friendly and lighthearted about most issues and thankfully, for whatever questions you have or whatever you want to know, there is always someone who can come up with a good answer or solution if its a problem. I hope you get a boat sorted very soon. My partner and I are actually getting afloat one day this week (how excited) and although we are new to boating as a lifestyle a bit of experience has come through holidays on board. Take care and stay focused! You'll get there/here in the end! Chrissie

I believe, I can truthfully say, that as we have only been together for just over a year (though known each other for 35!) having our first boat is a proud status achievement for a new relationship! Having read and digested all the advice above, for which we are extremely grateful, we have already made appointments for Will's to be drawn up! We do both have 'other bits of family' individually, of our own and wouldn't want to put any of them into any kind of uncomfortable or unnecessary legal wrangles when we shuffle off our mortals. So by Wednesday this week solicitors will be visited and by Thursday ... ship ahoy; we'll be afloat! Break out the champers!

Thank you, thank you, thank you... to all who have replied. There is some very useful and helpful advice here; not all of which was completely obvious. Again, thank you. Chrissie & Steve

Hello peeps. Our questions are; what happens if one part of an unmarried couple (who own a narrow boat between them of course) dies? For example, who is entitled to the other arf's 'arf of the boat? What do we receive in the way of paperwork when we finally pay for our narrow boat? i.e. does it have the equivalent of 'house deeds'?

Plenty there to choose from. Many thanks to all contributors!

Thanks for that Pete. I've got to make a new loom for my Ducati, so it will come in handy anyway. Steve P.

That looks just the ticket. Ta very much.

Morning all. Does anyone know of a website or publication or a way of explaining the basics of amps and watts, amp hours and how it all effects battery usage? I understand it a bit, which is dangerous I know, but I'm trying to explain to the Mrs. and I'm not really the patient teacher type. Any help greatly appreciated. Steve P. Edited because I just realised I've used her login page.

Newbie pitching in: Are there any 'how to drive your boat' courses in the Hertfordshire (Lee/Stort) area please?

Or a vegetable one; or a fish one and tuck some chunks of Salmon in there between the potatoes! Then I think its called a Swedish pie! Corrr! Sorry... Ive gone off on one again

That makes a lot of sense re movement of flue etc! Sounds like a top tip!! Hope to be getting self in boat within a couple of weeks. Installing an Esse Ironheart so want to get the plumbing sorted properly from the start! Nice one Sir Nibble

Thanks Ange! Look forward to catching up...chats and so on - Chrissie

Hope its not too late to contribute to this one; Tescos, (well most of the big supermarkets), now have fantastic sausages labelled Debbie & Andrews. They are absolutely the bees; completely rusk and padding free. They are also labelled as gluten-free, but don't hold that against them. All you get is meat; no fillers and they're comparably priced too! £2.59 for 6 but they are really meaty and chunky so you get a REAL sausage! Fab!