skywatcher

Dulux Trade external black gloss from B&Q. Painted straight over the top,no primer used, no problems so far, and looks a lot better than my tatty old blacking, that looked tatty after 6 months.

Solvol Autosol is brilliant for the brass, outer window frames, and any other shiney metal. Brings them up a treat.

Hi It wont be long before the L plates are off. Have fun

Just starting cleaning and painting the engine bay. Phew! bigger job than I thought,but at least I had a nice weekend for it. Spring is here,Crocus's and snowdrops out all over the place.

Good news Chloe, I'll have to venture up there again, and show my support for a good canalside pub. Lets hope more canalside pubs that have shut down recently, start reopening again now that spring is nearly here.

While on a weekend away in the campervan at Grindley brook campsite, We became gongoozlers, chatting to the boaters and taking in the atmosphere of a popular canal. On the way home we passed a marina, and called in to have a nose at some of the boats. After looking around a few, we saw one that just called out to us. I put an offer in and it was accepted, then thought jeez I've just bought a narrowboat. What a good move that was, and what fun we are having.

Good luck with the vote Alan. We could do with you on the council.

We've used B&Q professional exterior gloss black on a fair ammount of our boat, and it is fine paint indeed, not only in how easy it is to apply, but for its durability. I'm thinking of doing the hull with it next time it comes out of the water, as the bituman blacking is already starting to look tatty, and it was only done last summer. Glad to hear somebody else has done it, as I was wondering if it would be a good idea. Cheers Laurence seems it is.

Market Drayton on the Shroppie. Wednesday was the market day when we where there last year.

While standing in the pub you do a little sideways stagger, because the floor is too level and steady. Or is that just me full of old speckled hen.

Welcome to the forum. Everything to do with narrowboats seems to be charged by the foot, so the longer the boat the more the expense. Ours is 45ft which is cozy for the 2 of us, but can get a bit congested when we have friends on board.

We've been using the dried out branches of the christmas tree at this time of year, but they burn so fast they dont last long. Luckily long enough to ignite the kindling.

We went for a chug down the shroppie at the weekend, and stopped at the Shady Oak in Tiverton nr Chester, for a bit of scoff and a few jars of Black sheep, only to find it had closed. Apparently it closed just before Christmas. What a shame. Another pub gone like many others. I'll be going tee-total at this rate......never. Paul

You were given good advice there Sheriff, about bringing the stove up to temp slowly. Mine had been going for nearly 24hrs when it cracked, and was well up to temp, so I don't think it would have been that. The intermittent use theory is interesting. Mine has been getting fired up every weekend since November, but during the week it will lie cold, especially last week when the temp dropped to below freezing, and may have dampened the cast, or some of the rust inbetween the plates, causing them to pop the plate.

Hiya Major42 I only joined last week myself, and I also have picked up loads of tips and info. I'm sure like me, you are going to love it. Paul

I have no idea Sheriff. It was in the boat when I bought it, and as the boat is 22yrs old it could have been there since then.

Thanks for the link rjasmith and sir nibbles ,although nothing seems cheap these days. The fire bricks are ok and the surround isn't scorched, cheers Bagdad boatman I hadn't thought of checking the surround I'll keep my eye on it. Thanks for the advice BEngo, I will make a temporary repair before making toast on it again. I have monoxide detectors, as I think they are a must with any confined fire. I had thought about getting a new fire, but having seen the price of them, I just hope no more bits are cracked. Roll on Summer. Paul

Happy days Ally, Does that mean a new spray job coming up.

Hi, Thanks Odana your link was really useful, I should have looked to see if anybody else had the same problem before posting my link. Ditchcrawler on your link who replaced bits only to find another piece cracked, made me realise that it is best to take it apart before ordering bits, thanks for that. I think Sir Nibble has hit it on the head though, with rust in the tongue and groove. The small slither that fell off the stove looked like rusty cast, and is only about an inch away from where the plates meet. I think I will nurse it through till the milder weather then give it a good coat of looking at in the summer. Thanks all. Paul

Hi, I'm a new member, and find the forum very interesting. This weekend we had the stove going, (a morso squirrel), when we heard a crack and something fell off the stove. When we looked, the back of the stove had cracked and come away from the side. Does anybody know the reason why, and can it be repaired. Paul.