JDR

I would suggest speaking to a local boatyard/broker to get an idea of the cost of fixing the boat versus how much boat is worth in its current condition. Anything is fixable on a boat but there is obviously a cost involved. How old is the boat? What length is it? Do you know who the boatbuilder was? If you could provide that information then I'm sure somebody on the forum would be able to give you an approximate idea of the value of the boat in working order.

Hi teemie, Firstly sorry for your recent loss. There are two main ways of selling boats: 1) Privately, have a look at Appolloduck website to get an idea of adverts 2) Through a broker, who will charge an agreed commission on the completion of the sale. There are pros and cons for each method of selling. If you have a look at a few brokers websites you will get an idea of the information provided. The type of info typically provided 1) How long is the boat in feet? (if widebeam how wide, ie: what is the beam?) 2) What year was it made and who was it made by? (Eg: Liverpool boats, Colecraft, Reeves etc) 3) What engine does the boat have? How many hours on the clock? 4) When does the Boat Safety Certificate expire (MOT for boats that lasts for 4 years) 5) Recent maintenance. 6) What type of heating system/water/electric systems on boat. You can try the following sites to get an idea of the info presented by brokers http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/ http://www.abnb.co.uk/ http://www.vcmarine.co.uk/ John

Google turned up....... http://www.lancingmarine.com/ They seem to specialise in marinising Ford lumps, should be able to point you in the right direction.

If it isn't too stupid a question, what is involved with re-pitching a prop? I would be particularly interested to know if you can modify an existing prop, particularly to a coarser pitch. or does it just refer to returning a prop to it's original condition?

Like Chalky said, basically GPRS with bells on.Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution. The difference is in the hardware in the 2G BTS, new transmitters are fitted which allow a more efficient form of modulation on the air interface between the base station and the handset. I don't know about Vodafone but I would imagine the difference between 3G and 3GS is probably HSDPA (High Speed Packet Download Packet Access). It basically means you are attached to a 3G site with a relatively high bandwidth connection to the RNC allowing better than normal quality of service.

If all else fails you need to find a fancy dress shop.Hire a pantomine horse outfit for the kids and get them to bowhaul the boat.Tell 'em that they're very lucky to have an authentic canal heritage experience.

The pickup in the tank may well be a few inches above the bottom (to avoid water deposits/sludge in bottom of tank) so don't expect to be able to rely on that dipstick to tell when you are empty. Your seven inches left may only be three minus a four inch gap. (insert double entendre here.....)

I feel loathe to defend Tingdene but it is not that bad- a fiver lasts me well over a week but then I don't run a fridge or a telly and tend to listen exclusively to radio 4 on a DAB when I'm on the boat. I've only got one 110aH leisure battery so even that doesn't take up too much juice. Unless you intend to power the Hadron Collider from your boat then I don't think you need to panic.

PS: Mike the Boilerman- I'm also a fellow inmate at T&K, I hear your Kelvin phutting occasionally, sounds great.

Thames & Kennett marina between Caversham and Sonning on the Thames. Some great people in the marina but the owners knock the arse out of the fact that there are precious few moorings on this section of the Thames/Eastern K&A.

Try calling this number-07980692161, end of garden residential moorings in Newbury opposite West Mills. I went past these about a fortnight ago and still not occupied but I believe the guy in question is still in the process of getting planning permission. There may already be a waiting list. Cheers John

That second boat Gremlin states... 4 CYLINDER BETA MARINE DIESEL ENGINE APPROX 800 RUNNING HOURS That is incredibly low running hours for a 1994 boat.Has the boat been re-engined at some point? If it has that could be a big point in that boats favour, a new BV1505 is knocking on for £6k.

I have had issues on the Thames between Mapledurham and Goring before, normally in the early evening with the trainers coralling their rowers to take up the entirety of the (still very wide at this point) river leaving absolutely no space for navigation. I don't have any issue with the rowers, I see it as a singular lack of consideration/awareness by the trainers.Not a problem when you are heading upstream on a calm day, would be more serious on a windy day heading downstream.

Have you decided which way you are going to do it? If you went anti-clockwise and did the Thames from Oxford to Thames Lock Brentford you would have the big advantage of going with the current. It all depends on the boat you're on of course but if there is a flow on the river it will obviously slow any boat down. I personally find it a lot more relaxing heading downstream on a river (but then my boat is monumentally underpropped-as a kind lady from Crowther told me-your boat is basically being propelled by an egg whisk!). Heading downstream also means you won't be so affected by weir currents on landing stages (not an issue if the river is not yellow boarded). The boat would also have an easier time of it, less revs used for a given speed over ground, less tendency to overheat, less fuel used (I'm sure that won't be an issue on a hire boat anyway). Even a marginal speed advantage will soon add up over 100 miles. The only negative I can think of is that you would be mainly locking up on the GU broad locks, (constantly until Tring). Do you have a particular preference for locking up or down? I personally found the GU locks to be a dream to use for a single handed boater, I don't think you will struggle 2up. If you did find it hard going then the amount of traffic means teaming up with another crew shouldn't be a problem. I also love the fact that the locals tend to leave a gate open when leaving locks. Saves a lot of unneccessary work (just my opinion, don't want to stir up a hornets nest).

Thanks for the suggestion, top tip. Did you get that from the recipes section in Living Afloat?

I wore a lifejacket, as it turned out it was a very benign trip but it gave me confidence at the time. Anchor is 100% essential, the umbrella effect means you (hopefully) will not have to use it. One tip I will give is to use the towpath on the left as a guide as it can get mighty shallow in the channels behind the aits. You would have to be a prize numpty to go aground in front of a pub full of bored drinkers (oh how I laughed). John

Luckily for me my boat contains all mod cons, I even have have a single person additional digging equipment toilet Changed my display name to JDR from J.R., realised belatedly there is already one JR on the forum!

Was that for a first offence? Maybe I should reread the forum rules.

To be fair I normally stop the genny by about 4 in the morning, I have to - the genny's so loud my ears are normally bleeding by then.

I'd just like to say hello. I've been reading the forums for a while now and found them a mine of useful info. I've been on a boat for three years now, started out on the Great Ouse (Priory), currently on the Thames, still learning, although hopefully the curve is getting a bit flatter now. So my question is......I've been moored on this cracking visitor mooring for the last month but getting fed up of emptying the porta-potti every week as the facilities are over 10ft away, should I convert to pumpout? Cheers John