loubyscooby

Now that sounds like a friendly parrot....

Hi Rob Glad you managed to get the engine going at least. Sounds like Mercia had its fair share of manoevering issues this weekend. I took my boat to the PO with Doug (from New & Used) and the gears started slipping, ended up unable to get into reverse so luckily there was a spare mooring passed my usual spot and with one chance we got her in that. Now need to get boat builders back to look at the problem........... Re courses, I had looked at a few but think I may ask Matty on here as the folks he has helped all sing his praises. I have had 2 years experience on a narrowboat but need a bit of help steppping to a WB plus confidence with doing it all myself. Louise

Well you must be a dab hand now, Lovely pics and liking the paintwork.

Well done you, glad you had a great day. I need to find a boating buddy. Looking forward to seeing the pictures

Welcome to the forum. I've only been aboard just over a year and it is definately the best decision I made. Happy learning

I'm so glad its not just me..........

I personally wouldn't stop any way down that flight. Could you not stop either above or below especially as the weather is about to turn nasty.

I know its just so cute, just love it

Yes, they do sell boats - have several up for sale at the moment.Here is the web address http://www.simtechmarine.co.uk

Its called SimTech - run by a guy called Simon

Well I didn't hear a big bang so you didn't blow it up - was also a little pre occupied with the rugby so didn't see any smoke. Hope you got it all fixed though. Louise

I'm feeling left out, I haven't lost anything YET..............

I have absolutely no clue how to answer your question but welcome to Mercia Marina and happy boating when you eventually get it all fixed

Hi Elsielu. IMO I think that the asking price for this boat is too much. I had a Collingwood widebeam built in 2011, 60 x 10 and because of that got to choose everything I wanted in it and didnt pay that amount.

Congratulations. Glad you found the boat of your dreams and are starting a new adventure.

I too had a problem where for no reason Vodafone signal kept dropping and the connection had got so slow I was getting timed out so spoke to them and they said that my SIM had not updated correctly for a few months so they suggested that I take the SIM from the dongle, put it in a phone and then connect to either Google or Vodafone live site and then put it back it the dongle. Connection is now back to what is was before and I haven't lost the signal yet.

I think that by seeing lots of boats and there layout you get a really good idea of what will work for you. An ex's boat was a trad so the layout was the best it could have been - stern,engine room,bedroom,bathroom, kitchen,saloon. It worked well for him. When I looked at my boat I wanted a cruiser stern and reverse layout so its stern,kitchen , saloon, 2nd bedroom, bathrooom & bedroom. I love that when the boat is full I can still see and everyone whilst we cruise and when we stop the back becomes a "patio" with chairs and a table. Good luck with your search. Louise

Congratulations, she looks lovely. I cant believe its been nearly a year since I got my first boat. Good luck with it all and happy learning

Congratulations from a fellow Liverpool boat owner May you have many happy times aboard Louise

Mine is in the coridoor ceiling between galley/saloon and bedroom. It's a dual smoke and monoxide alarm and i was advised not to have it in the galley or too close to the fire. It suits me and it has gone off when I had a frying pan on too high. I think that they should be fixed in place. I'm sure you will get other opinions though. Louise

Firstly welcome. Yes you would probably be in a minority seeing this as "up sizing" I'm based at a Marina in Derbyshire. I work around the UK so find this base very good. The marina doesn't have residential status but does have a lot of folk who spend lots of time on their boats - we have a shop that happily collects your mail from the PO if you want that but I have chosen to use my parents address. I am still close to family and friends so that hasn't changed from living on terra firma. As my job means I can be away from the boat it suits me to have this type of mooring, I have the hook up, CP space and lots of helpful neighbours so can relate to your comment about them sharing information and helping you understand things. I don't have any knowledge re the mooring you have mentioned but wish you good luck in this new adventure. Edited to add - In fact I am now in Martins old mooring......

Congratulations. I too found it very liberating getting rid of things but stuff I didnt want to get rid of but didn't need on the boat have been left with family. I did have some lovely big pictures by a few great artists and didnt want to sell them so my friends have them displayed at their homes and I visit them - luckily admission is free. Good luck and Feb will soon be here.

A year ago I was in a similar position to you but I had spent a few years with a guy who lived on his boat so understood some of the issues. I made a list of all the things i would need my new home to either contain or be able to support and then went to quite a few brokerages to view boats. I soon dismissed some of my ideas but also narrowed down the types of boats I was looking at. At the same time I went to various marinas around where I lived as again I had an idea of what I wanted from that. Chatting to owners in the marinas was invaluable because as others have said boaters are happy to help, share information and tell you what's good and bad. I realised my limitations so chose a new boat, ended up in a marina that I had previously dismissed when visiting with my ex a few years ago and love it. Good luck with your search and if you are ever in my neck of the woods please feel free to call in.

I love my steam cleaner and wouldn't be without it...... However when helping a friend who also had a mattress that had a bit of a musty smell after storage I used my steam iron - it was one of those big ones with a large water tank but it worked a treat.