Bod

Keruing, tropical hardwood, used for lorry body bearers. Hard on tools, but will not rot. Will have sap bleeding out for a surprisingly long time after being worked. Bod

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1995/1/section/17/enacted Section 17 (3) (C) (II) (3)Notwithstanding anything in any enactment but subject to subsection (7) below, the Board may refuse a relevant consent in respect of any vessel unless— (a)the applicant for the relevant consent satisfies the Board that the vessel complies with the standards applicable to that vessel; (b)an insurance policy is in force in respect of the vessel and a copy of the policy, or evidence that it exists and is in force, has been produced to the Board; and (c)either— (i)the Board are satisfied that a mooring or other place where the vessel can reasonably be kept and may lawfully be left will be available for the vessel, whether on an inland waterway or elsewhere; or (ii)the applicant for the relevant consent satisfies the Board that the vessel to which the application relates will be used bona fide for navigation throughout the period for which the consent is valid without remaining continuously in any one place for more than 14 days or such longer period as is reasonable in the circumstances. It is for the boater to satisfy the Board (C&RT) that the boat will be used for navigation for the lenght of licence applied for. The legislation does not specify any distance to be travelled. BUT (and it's a big but) if C&RT were to publish what would satisfy the Board, then any distance could be in that information, and would have the same power as the legislation. You don't "Satisfy the Board" you don't get a licence. Now why C&RT don't use this, is beyond me. Bod

This is my point, Home Moorer's have extra expenses which at least part of which has to go to the Trust, expenses that CC's don't pay. Bod

I thought that Long term Towpath moorings had to be paid for over and above the licence fee. But I agree that visitor moorings are free to use for all. Bod

Home moorers do already pay more than CC's, End of garden fees, C&RT official towpath moorings, Network access agreement (part of marina fees) all are on top of the basic licence fee. Bod

You have confirmed a vague memory I had, regarding something Gibbo had posted some years ago. Bod

Please understand, the water heated by the backboiler, is a closed circuit. The hot water at the tap has been heated by the heat exchanger contained in the hotwater tank, and is taken from the boats water tank. The two waters, back boiler and tap water never mix. One has antifreeze added, the other is fully drinkable. Bod

Ok, quick run down on boat loos. 2 basic types, large tank or small tank. Large tank is known as the "Pump Out system". There is a large tank, metal or plastic usually under the larger bed, connected to the toilet pan. this can be mounted directly on to the tank, with a valve to allow pan contents to fall into the tank.(also allowing direct viewing of the contents.) or there is a remotepan with a piped connection, often using vacuum, to clear the pan. As Tony says pump out tanks must be properly vented to avoid smells. The tank will need sucking out by machine, at a cost. The small tank system is known as the Cassette type, a small removable tank that is nomally built into the pan, but can be remotely fitted. As the tank is much smaller it needs emptying more frequently, normally free at "Elsan" points around the canal system. Extra cassettes can extend the need to find a working Elsan. Niether type can deal with "wet wipes" or ladies sanitary products. Indeed heavy quilted loo paper can be a real problem.(use the cheapest loo paper you can find.) This last line is the one that most ladies have problems with. Bod

Look up and read "Deprivation of Assets" You are in the system, once your address changes, with Benefit claims pending, the question of where the capital from the house sale is, will be asked. Any mortgage repayment will be allowed for, wheres the rest? If it's not available to you, because of something you did, the capital will be considered as still being available to you, meaning any benefit claim will be reduced, untill it's considered the "capital" is used up. This will affect all persons named on the house Deeds. As advised, keep the house, rent it out through a Letting Agent, in general, expect 10 months rent per year, the other two will be eaten up in fees, routine maintance etc. A good agent will have a group of tradesmen that do work for them and their landlords. A byproduct of this is the tradesmen will do good work, for a fair price, to keep the steady work coming in. Equity Release, might work in the short term, but you will lose the built up value in the house, leaving nothing to pass on, but still have all the maintance costs. Bod

With regard to your daughter, it might be worthwhile hiring a boat for a week or two, to see how she reacts to the movement, both of the boat it's self, and the ever varying scenery. Bod

Appeal the overstays, to get them off your record. In your appeal, quote the revelent information and where it is to be found. Good luck. Bod

What exactly has the boat sitter been asked to do? Have they "helped" with engine maintance? Have they had any issues, or problems, if so what have they done to "solve" these issues? Bod

Is there an isolating valve for this tap? Any work been done on the boat before this tap became a problem? Bod

But the accommodation is still manufactured by a recognised Caravan firm. Bod

The question I would now ask. If the wheels had been removed, and the accommodation chassis welded to the floats, would the "caravan" definition still stand? As has been seen on the waterways previously, car bodies welded to hulls, licence as a boat or a car? Bod

Does the boats water tank, actually have water in it? This and Tracy D's questions may seem rough replies, but experience shows they are valid and necessary, canal boats exist in a very different world to bricks and mortar, and you admit to being new to canals. It's the "Back to Basics" routine, no water at the taps, is there water in the pipes? is the electricity turned on for the pump? The old favourite, when and for how long were the batteries charged for? Your central heating (if properly designed) will work without electricity, hot and cold water systems rely on electrical pumps to work. So when the questions regarding the batteries start to come, they genuinely do need answers. Bod

I believe that C&RT is the 3rd largest owner of Listed structures, after the National Trust and Church of England. Bod

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/67073/response/174565/attach/3/BW v Davies Sealed Judgment Is this the case being discussed? If so then the case is about distance moved, rather than "liveaboard or not" Bod

The longest runs will be tunnel light, horn and nav. lights( if fitted). Don’t forget the boats requirements, water/shower pumps etc. Bod

http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/technical1.html Have a read of this website, it has a wealth of correct information, written by an acknowledged expert. Especially the "Voltage drop" calculations. Bod http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/cable_type.html Takes a bit of finding, but here it is.

http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html This will tell you all there is to know regarding boat electrics. It's writtern by an acknowledged expert. Bod

@shaun15124 Expanding roof.. I'm thinking,Landrover Safari roof type. Top layer freely expanding, lower layer, with 2-4 inch air gap fixed and weather tight. Shall have to think more about the sides... Bod

@Robby789 https://web.archive.org/web/20190922190727/http://jim-shead.com/waterways/mwp.php?wpage=Inland-Waterways-of-England.htm This web site is a map of the system, you will see there are large areas of the country that are not covered by canals, or the canals there are not connected to the main system. Dependant on the width of your boat, then anything over 7 foot 3 inches wide, will not be able to go fully north-south, or around Birmingham. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/go-boating/a-guide-to-boating This is another website that needs reading, and understanding. You say you are in the "Midlands", if anywhere close to Rugby, we could meet up. Bod

Defrost the icebox fully, not forgetting the top! If you have one of those steam generators, then it's not a slow job, just needs plenty of cloths to soak up the old ice. Then it will probably work. Bod

Read the Battery charging primer at the top of the Maintance Forum. Bod