Glennbrown

7 or 14 days!!!- well try this one! I got frozen in in Jan this year at Astley and couldnt move until the end of the month whereupon I moved back to BW waters 2 weeks ago I went back to Astley on a Friday evening and the following Thursday (6 days later) I got a section 9 notice on my boat saying move or they will take my boat!!!

Having a widebeam I can get my Honda Blade on the back buts its a real pain in the arse! (boat looks like Ive got Jeff Capes on the back!) I bought a go ped scooter that fits in a cupboard in the kitchen and in the boot of my car (see Ebay) which solves the problem of car catch up I know this will cause shock and horror seeing a 48 year man going down the towpath and I do apologise in advance if you see me!

Make sure the battery connections (red and Black thick wires) are absolutely tight use the soldered cable suplied with the unit My sterling combi did as your,sterling checked-no fault!-Loose Cable was the problem Still does as yours and cables have to be tightened occasionally

I would urge everybody on this site to Ring Debbie Lumb at BW in Wigan on 01942 405700 to complain about the shorter hours our masters have imposed on us at Plank lane Swing Bridge on the Leigh branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal (claiming saving money) In effect in the Peak of the Season the canal shall be closed at 6pm! (was 8pm) Please Please let our Masters know that you disapprove !!!!! Shorter Opening Hours for Plank Lane Plank Lane Lift Bridge, on the Leigh Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, is to be open for fewer hours each day. British Waterways is having to identify areas where money can be saved. This lift bridge has to be manned during all opening hours and this currently involves the use of overtime. A reduction in the operating hours of the bridge will free a significant sum of money which can be re-directed into essential maintenance works. From June, the bridge will be open to navigation only during the following hours: • June 2010 08.30 am to 4.30 pm • July 2010 08.30 am to 6.00 pm • August 2010 08.30 am to 6.00 pm • September 2010 08.30 am to 4.30 pm This is a trial and the opening hours will be reviewed in October. Debbie Lumb, BW's North West Manager, said that she appreciates that this is a substantial reduction in the opening hours and it may cause some inconvenience to those travelling in the area. However, she said must balance the cost of staffing the bridge against the works needed elsewhere. She added that BW is currently reviewing the benefits of utilising volunteers to meet a range of core duties. In the near future, BW hopes that volunteers can help to man locks and bridges. If BW can secure the volunteer commitment for Plank Lane Lift Bridge, it is possible that the bridge can revert to longer opening hours in the future. Anyone interested in finding out more about how to get involved with this should contact BW in Wigan on 01942 405700. BW in Wigan welcomes feedback by phone or email on how these reduced opening hours affect boaters.

Originaly painted my boat in normal emulsion paint but after 12 months use the fire had caused the paintwork to look dirty which could not be wipped down to look clean. I re painted with eggshell oil based paint and problem solved and easy to wipe down

I used to fill my Light Aircraft from Jerry cans which were painted internaly. This nearly killed me caused by a complete engine failure due to the fine particles of paint blocking the main carb jet! (Dispite filters) I wouldnt paint any fuel tank after that experience!

I own the refina one and its a brilliant bit of kit If youve got the dosh !

Being in the property business I was lucky to come across an artificial football pitch which was due to be redeveloped with a brief of take as much as want! As a result every mooring in my area was covered in high quality green astrotuft of the best quality And then the problems started-All the jetties are of wood constrution which due to the fact that the turf did not allow the timber to dry rotted at an alarming rate! despite the turf having thousands of drain hole. It amazing stuff is not slipy but not for covering a wooden jetty I would imagine if covering parts of a steel boat rust could be a problem but having said that its amazing if you can get hold of the quality stuff

I use wheelchair wheels which work a treat!

Im looking at a lovely lampost as we speak!-now I wonder !

You need to find someone with an acc at Manbat Numax are their own brand and paid £47 each plus the dreaded last week

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ subject to BW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Ive done it!! Ive just bought a chunk of land at the side of the canal which is a woodland setting having a 320 m piled bank and on a main road location! Cant say where it is at mo till I complete on it next week. I have had a bit of a punt on this land and I know that just because I own the land it does not give me any rights to keep my boat their. BW have introduced a policy of reducing on line moorings stating the fact that online boats slow us boaters down but I believe the real reason is that they want us all packed into marinas and on there online moorings generating a bigger cut of our lovely money. Do any of our reader have any experience of buying land and subsequently getting our masters consent to keep a boat or boats their? There policy notes state various rules stating the criteria where they will grant consent and this land complies with 3 out of the 4 requirements I am just tempted to moor my boat their and see what happens Worse comes to worse anybody got a pony that needs somewhere to live!!!!! (Sorry posted this in wrong section!!!!!!)

Dear Gand F-point taken but the builder only recently went broke so I would like to presume the VAT office had the benefit of the vat on the boat and paid by my friend.(she paid for it two years ago!) Yes I did ask HMCR but they refered me to the notes which are in my original posting ie vat can only be recovered from the supplier!

Dear G and F- thanks for that and thought that might be the case! Seems very unfair since the Vat people have had her money(via the seller) and hide behind the fact that you have to make a claim against the supplier! The supplier would not sell her the boat vat free due to the vat offices ruling at the time! Stinks to be honest!

Readers may be aware following a VAT ruling owners can now claim the VAT back on residential boat as long as they are a qualifying vessel, following a recent decision by the High Court! A friend of mine purchased a wide beam boat 2 years ago which now qualifies under the Vat rules. She paid for the boat with VAT since the boat builder would not (quite rightly at the time) sell her the boat vat free! The boat builder has now ceased trading and vanished. The Vat notes enclosed below state that she can now claim back the vat she paid the builder but since he has disappeared and that you cannot claim vat back direct from Customs and Excise leaves her will nobody to claim the vat from! Anybody any ideas? VAT ON BOATS Background 'Qualifying ships' - are zero-rated for VAT purposes. A 'qualifying ship' is defined as a ship which is not less than 15 gross tons and is neither designed nor adapted for use for recreation or pleasure. The law is set out in the Value Added Tax Act 1995, Schedule 8, Group 8, Item 1 and legal note A1(a). 'Houseboats' - are covered by a separate zero-rate. For VAT purposes, 'houseboats' are boats designed as living accommodation that do not have, and cannot be fitted with, a means of propulsion. If a boat can be fitted with a means of propulsion, it is not a 'houseboat'. The law is set out in the Value Added Tax Act 1995, Schedule 8, Group 9, Item 2. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) policy In the light of the High Court decision in the case of Lt Cmdr Colin Stone [2008] EWHC 1249 (Ch), HMRC are changing their long-standing policy on the liability of vessels used as residential accommodation, excluding houseboats, for VAT purposes. This case concerned the VAT liability of the supply of 'Dutch barges' acquired for the purpose of being used as a permanent residence. The High Court decided that the supply of the vessel was entitled to zero-rating under the terms of UK law, because it was designed to be lived in as a permanent home and, therefore, not designed for use as recreation or pleasure. HMRC consider that many of these and similar vessels, although designed for use as a permanent residence, can also be designed for use as recreation or pleasure and are perfectly capable of being so used. It was never the intention that UK legislation should provide for the supply of such vessels to benefit from zero-rating but, following Tribunal and Court decisions over time, HMRC have found it increasingly difficult to apply a consistent and coherent policy around the borderlines in this area. HMRC do not rule out a wider review of policy and legislation in this area. However, in the meantime, we have decided to treat Dutch barges and similar vessels that are designed and supplied for use as the permanent residence of the customer as qualifying ships and eligible for zero-rating. As vessels of less than 15 gross tons can never be zero-rated regardless of their design, the majority of narrow boats designed for permanent residential use will not meet this requirement and their supply will continue to be standard-rated. As a result of this policy change some supplies of goods and services to the owners of such vessels may also be zero-rated by suppliers. These include: repairs and maintenance of the vessel itself; this does not extend to the domestic equipment and fittings on board modification or conversion of the vessel itself provided that it remains a qualifying ship after modification or conversion; this does not extend to domestic equipment and fittings parts and equipment ordinarily installed or incorporated in the propulsion, navigation, communications or structure of a ship; this does not extend to domestic equipment and fittings Further details can be found in Notice 744C. Evidence of intention In keeping with normal rules, suppliers will have to hold evidence to satisfy HMRC that the supply is entitled to zero-rating. This may be in the form of contractual or other documentary evidence. HMRC would also advise suppliers to obtain a declaration from their customers that the vessel is to be designed for use as a permanent residence and intended for such use. We would suggest that suppliers use the format set out for the Undertaking of Use in Notice 744C, adapted as necessary where the supply is one of the vessel itself. Customers should be aware that HMRC have powers to impose penalties where false documentation is used to obtain a tax advantage. Past supplies and claims Customers who have been previously charged VAT on a supply that is now covered by this policy must approach the person who made the supply to them to obtain a refund of VAT. They should not contact HMRC as we have no legal powers to refund tax direct to customers. Suppliers who wish to claim a refund of VAT charged to customers on a supply covered by this policy must submit their claims in accordance with the published rules and subject to the normal repayment, unjust enrichment and capping criteria to HMRC.

Bit the bullet get the credit card out and dont buy anything other than a Honda!!!! (Ive got the super quiet Eu3 its now done over 7000hrs and runs like the day I got it out of the box 5yrs ago)

Cheapest place is advance auto electrics at trafford park-0161 848 9304

And limescale also stops the pressure relief valve from working which can the reason why the can can split

The motto is buying a cheap chinese genny is very expensive in the long term! Only one thing to say"HONDA"-expensve (mine was EU 3 £2k but run every day for 3/4hr, quiet and not one fault!) Get the cheque book out!!

I spoke to a boat painter the other day who stated he had painted a boat one side green and the other side blue! I know of one boater who claims to share his boat licence with another boat owner (presume the same colour as his own) I know one Man who has floated around the system for years unlicenced The point is if your are that way inclined and wish to stick two fingers up at our masters you can dodge the system accordingly no matter what Bw do or how many boats they count!!

I had same problem a couple of years ago and the threads on the steel boss had corroded. I dismantled whilst in dry dock and JB welded the stern tube into the boss-problem fixed!!

Ive got a bosch A + 240v fridge-uses 1.5 amps on tickover(measured at 12v) -runs rings round any of the fridges my boaty friends use! You need a pure sine wave invertor though since the electrics dont like quasi wave.

Does anybody know if alternators sizes and dimensions are of a industry standard with say for eg a number denoting how far the attachment lugs are apart etc so that i can match alternators from diferent manufacturers. or do you have to remove your alternator and match it up with a similar looking unit Ive got a marrelli 100amp and have been looking on fleebay for something a bit bigger but very difficult to know if will fit! Any ideas please?