frangar

Surely part of the joy of living on a boat is the ability to move it from place to place? Even if due to other commitments or stoppages you should be able to move it into central london from somewhere around the M25? Or is this yet another boat that's going to be nailed to a bit of towpath and never move? Cheers Gareth

I think you need to look at "professional" outlets...not the DIY sheds.....I'm sure I saw some proper nitromors in such a place....it's bit like creosote....it's still available if you know where to look. Oh and I agree the EU meddle in far too many things...if UKIP said they would rescind such crap I'm sure they would become even more popular! Cheers Gareth

I have the older style comfort boiler which is heavier on gas than the new one, I have been saying for years that it's not just the cost of the fuel...the fact that it needs minimal electricity and just an annual service means the overall cost is less than most diesel heaters. I too have a solid fuel stove for main space heating but use the Alde for hot water when we are out cruising and did use it during the very cold winters a few years ago to warm the boat in the morning. One thing to bear in mind with the new model is that you will need a stainless calorifier and no copper pipes. Cheers Gareth

Yarwoods basin!....say hi to mike from me! Cheers Gareth

I too would recommend Dave Moore….as others have said its worth it for all the nice things people say about it! Cheers Gareth

Some of us who use self pump outs can do so without leaving any trace....indeed several times over the summer we left the sanitary stations cleaner than when we had started...really how hard is it for people to flush the sluice after using it???? Cheers Gareth

For once it's a shame I'm not closer to London....I would happily do all that....can't you move the museum to somewhere sensible like the Midlands?? Cheers Gareth

Whilst I would be happy for such a discussion this topic isn't the place! I was pointing out that neon type (happy now?) lamps do fail. And also that the green type have less of a lifespan than other colours. This is important when they are used as a safe state indicator and therefore on all the time. It's also why I like to fit an "incorrect polarity" indicator as well as it gives a back up. Cheers Gareth PS..you lead a sheltered life if you class being called a pedant as an insult!

Stop being such a pedant! The are still called neons but may use a different gas hence the different life spans before failure.... My point was they can and do fail. Sometimes sooner than you might think. Cheers Gareth

You can get red, green & Amber neons! Have a look in RS or Farnell....I use 240v LED's for warnings now...more expensive but longer life. Cheers Gareth

Neons have a finite life which is surprisingly short especially compared to LED's. For some reason green ones have the shortest life span as I recall! However get someone who knows what they are doing...it's really not hard to kill yourself with 240v. Cheers Gareth

I would plan to stop at Torksey if time allows....there are good moorings and pubs etc. I would monitor channel 16 and 74 if your set allows it. Is it a big tide tomorrow? That will effect how much water to have to punch at the end..?.although I doubt if there is much flow coming down the Trent at the moment. Cheers Gareth

Possible voltage drop in the feed to the pump leading to the pump drawing more current than designed....I take it there is a fuse in the supply cable of the correct rating? Cheers Gareth

Like most courses it was good to share the experiences of other participants and get the viewpoints of how different vessels used VHF...my course had professional skippers...RIB owners....kayakers....Sailing enthusiasts etc. I think it is more involved now and perhaps more expensive....I would recommend doing some background reading first such as learning phonetic alphabet etc.....one of the first things we were expected to do was introduce ourselves by spelling our name phonetically! Cheers Gareth

As an experienced skipper I'm well aware that as it was my first trip up the Trent this year it was all the more reason to have VHF, Charts etc so that I was aware of hazards both moving and fixed...I tend to find that if you are complacent it's when accidents happen. Cheers Gareth

Technically I suspect it might be....I was always taught when I was doing my boating qualifications that when I was stood in front of a board of inquiry would I be happy with the actions I had taken?....hence why I advocate having VHF and other safety kit....then if the worst happens you know you have done everything you can to minimise risk. I agree that everything used to be more carefree...unfortunately now it's not the case....insurance companies love an excuse....I feel it's prudent to take some responsibility yourself before even more rules and regs are forced on us. Sadly I feel if there was a serious incident on ABP waters involving a poorly equipped pleasure craft it may be that they insist on a pilot or similar....I know this would be total overreaction but sadly it seems to be the way of things nowadays. Cheers Gareth

Blimey you do get irate when people stand up to you don't you? I'm not getting into a willy waving argument....however if boating for the last 20 odd years and holding professional skippers qualifications means I have a lack of experience and knowledge then so be it....maybe you should take your own advice at some point? Cheers Gareth

There is a course list checker on the RYA website but it seems to be arguing with my ipad at the moment! http://www.rya.org.uk/wheresmynearest/Pages/Directory.aspx#list/t-2&o-9-43&o-10-49 Type in Marine Radio in the course type and see how you get on.....I'm sure they used to have a better search facility than the one they have now... This page gives you some idea of what to expect plus an online taster http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/specialist/Pages/SRC.aspx They also do some publications which will give you some useful background to the course....note they are cheaper on amazon than direct from the RYA! Hope that helps Cheers Gareth

Deleted as I totally misread the post I was quoting!!...doh!!....I need more tea! Cheers Gareth

It's really not worth continuing with this is it? I'm sure you can continue stating your case which you believe to be right...however I have put the case forward for good reasons for having VHF in the bigger water....it's now down to prospective users to decide if they wish to invest time and money in safety equipment. Cheers Gareth

For your info even my hand held VHF works very well on the Trent...I was still hearing conversations from West Stockwith when half way to Sheffield. I'm not attention seeking...just pointing out that for the small outlay there is a great benefit..but hey ho don't worry about your or others safety. Oh and a very dim view is taken of using it for amusement...but if you took the trouble to do a course you would know that wouldn't you?...I can honestly say that I have never heard any misuse of VHF on inland waters when I have been keeping a listening watch. Once again people who have been places and used equipment are giving advice but when the advice they give isn't what others want to hear then they get told they are showing off etc. If anyone is getting wound up then they need to ask themselves why?..... Cheers Gareth

Oh get real.....I've used it many times on this summers trip alone to talk to other vessels....locks....VTS controls.....etc etc. Each one of those calls helped make the passage quicker, easier and safer. As it happens when I met Inland Navigator it was on a sharp bend....without VHF I wouldn't have know it was there until we met on the apex of the bend...but knowing the river like you do you would know that wouldn't you..... As I said you can think what you like but please don't tell people that are asking advice that VHF on the larger rivers isn't needed...your own safety is one thing...giving poor advice to others could possibly end with a fatality. Cheers Gareth

I'm not sure that's an excuse for not having safety equipment......you seem to continue arguing long after you realise you might be wrong! Cheers Gareth

I must admit that we used the public bins at Castlefield....there are some recycling points round by the YMCA tho.....seems daft that there isn't any large bins supplied by either the council or Peel Holdings....it must only lead to rubbish being dumped in stupid places. Cheers Gareth