Wild Is The Wind

We are heavy data users, no other plan or device worked for us - the Samsung Galaxy Ace gives us unlimited. We are heavy data users, no other plan or device worked for us - the Samsung Galaxy Ace gives us unlimited.

Sorry can't test as only one on board

It must be a similar boat Spuds, haven't been up that way since April.

Haha, we had a paddling pool on the stern deck which they loved, but we kept getting splashed inside so the roof would be a far better place We saw a boat with a tent on top too in the summer - a small decked area would at least provide somewhere to tie it down. My daughter and her boyfriend could put their fishing tent up there too..

Thanks for that, will have to try it out again. I do have my phone on charge all the time which is a pain - thinking of getting a longer lead and a 12v charger.

Grandchildren did some fishing from the roof too, fully supervised of course. No indecent stripping off, but there's nothing wrong with chilling out, catching the sun and sometimes there's a better view from up there. Might as well make use of every available space!

I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace on 3 on the one plan - all you can eat data. They told me in the shop this model could only tether with a cable, but when I got it back to the boat it works beautifully without the cable, which is a good job as although the signal is usually good sometimes the phone needs to be near the door or worse case scenario outside. I'm really happy with it. Think I can only tether one thing at a time though, eg. my laptop and not everyone else's phones at the same time.

We went to look at a widebeam with a decked roof in Hackney before we decided to get ours built and I really liked it. However I was told it wasn't a good idea as it would mark the paint on the roof and make it difficult to clean the roof. It obviously made the roof flat but even with built in flower boxes at the sides it didn't raise the height of the boat much. I think it was built so that only a small piece of wood touched the roof along both sides and tmushroom vents weren't covered. It would probably be fairly easy to move in sections to clean or maybe taken off in the winter months. Our friends and family spent quite a bit of time on our roof at some points during the summer - chatting, sunbathing, eating dinner.. its something I might consider in the future but I must say there are lots of other priorities on my list still at the moment

The chandlery at Middlesex & Herts creosote their new fenders free of charge if required

I had drips coming through the mushroom vent onto my bed last night! I guess the only solution is better ventilation?

Thanks for all the tips, as always. Took me a while yesterday reading through the pros and cons of eco fans I've decided we will use good quality coal this year while getting used to the stove, and have a go with any suitable wood we find and kindling. Just can't wait to get the stove installed, its going to be so much better than the Webasto !

We didn't have a stove in the house, but now living aboard and looking forward to it being installed in a couple of weeks time. Many thanks for all the advice as usual I will be on the look out for useful 'bits' this winter and see how it goes.

Many thanks for this, very helpful.

That's a good point.

Ha Ha - it might seem like a stupid question but when you are new to boating there is a lot to learn, and even things you think will be easy are far more complicated. I will probably have to stick to coal this winter, but I'd really like to know how people who use wood go about this.

This is interesting, but from what i've seen most people don't wait 2 years!

Does anyone have any hints and tips for this? I'm wondering if its best to do earlier in the year to let wood try out on top of the boat before the end of winter? I'm looking for fallen branches to cut to log size, but many are decaying - are they any good? Are smaller bits handy to use as kindling? Any advice appreciated, and if its too late in the year it will save me a job! Oh no, should have said "dry out before the START of winter"

Weavils? Think they live in old books and dry food/kitchen cupboards.

This is a quote from Piper's brochure on the boat Zoe: Narrowboats don’t qualify, and a few design changes have been made to widebeams such as Zoe, to ensure compliance: for example, the depth is measured up to the deck height, and Piper has raised the gunwales by a few inches to increase the capacity. Is a cruiser stern the same as an open deck?

Thanks all, I will get outside and measure the gunwales tomorrow as the first step. Blackrose - thanks for the link, but can I ask how high are your gunwales?

OK thank you, I know this was probably a silly question, but this is where I am at lol

We bought our 60 x 10 in February of this year and paid VAT. We would love to get to the bottom of whether or not we are eligible to get this back, and know two other boat owners in the same position (one of them in a desperate financial situation and this could really help). Prior to ordering I spoke to a boat builder in Cheshire who said they had no problem making a 60 x 10 exempt from VAT if customers signed a declaration that they could prove the boat was their only residence. We decided in the end to go with another builder, but from reading / conversations had at the time I believed VAT could be claimed retrospectively. Have seen Zoe and the gunwales are much higher than usual, and if Blackrose's widebeam didn't qualify maybe there isn't much hope - but its a lot of money and worth checking out. I’m not sure how to measure the depth of the gunwales – guess this involves taking the floor up which we haven’t yet done? Any help with the calculation, other advice would be great.

We are using an electric hob to boil our kettle but will use gas when our cooker/gas is installed. But to avoid putting it on too often, we have a large flask which we fill each time. Lasts for ages and piping hot.

I am acutely aware of the width and possible restrictions as a 'learner driver', but it will be possible in a few places. I bet i'll get some varied responses though lol. Some people don't seem to like widebeams but hey ho I love mine and try to be as considerate as possible to everyone we meet. I am acutely aware of the width and possible restrictions as a 'learner driver', but it will be possible in a few places. I bet i'll get some varied responses though lol. Some people don't seem to like widebeams but hey ho I love mine and try to be as considerate as possible to everyone we meet.

Many thanks for this. Being new to boating i'm finding all the advice on the forum very helpful. I've learnt its always good to think ahead - though it wont be possible to cover every eventuality. Every trip is an adventure in some way Being in a widebeam I doubt the opportunity will arise often, but I did have somebody moor next to me overnight early in the year. Lock sharing will definitely not be possible! I saw Pipistrelle at Cowley earlier in the year. A lovely boat and owner.