IanD

I think you need to distinguish between those interested in the history (and future!) of the canals -- like me -- and those who are actively involved in/interested in historic boats, which I suspect is a lot fewer people... 😉

I assume you didn't mean "is not usual"? Because it is usual, in many business areas -- as you say, it's better to offer a cheaper low-end service yourself under a different name (to try and stop cannibalisation) and at least get *some* business (and profit) from it than let somebody else take that market share away. There have been failed examples where it was done badly, but also many successful ones where it was done well, Smarty being one example.

Smarty are also on the Three network which has poorer cross-UK coverage than EE -- which is generally reckoned to be the best network for boaters. If you are happy with Three then Smarty are indeed one of the best deals, especially because of no contract and flexibility (but also see Scancom for prepaid deals). If you prefer EE then 1p mobile are best for short-term/flexible deals (£20pcm for 200GB), if you want a longer-term deal and don't mind paying upfront then Scancom (via Amazon) are the best bet (£11pcm for unlimited data with 600GB FUP): https://www.amazon.co.uk/EE-Unlimited-Data-Sim-Preloaded/dp/B0BV35VQBL?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I did originally consider solid outside doors with glazed internal windows, Ricky's feedback was that it's impossible to make this rainproof with the outer doors open to let light in, and all the wood then gets wet. With glazed outer doors these can be well sealed when closed (there are what feels like neoprene seals on the mating faces) and there's no wood outside, the inner hinged wooden shutters can then be opened to let light in or closed at night. They look like this from the outside, which I rather like -- the closed near one is the bedroom, the open far one is the dinette (with another one on the opposite side): It's always possible, but probably less likely than most boats because there's no gas cooker on board which generates most water vapour. The drawers each side are fitted into a carcase box which is sealed except at the front, and the drawer fronts have small gaps between them which let some air from the bedroom into the spaces up the sides of and between the drawers. Should hopefully be no worse than any other way of storing clothes onboard... It's not new for Finesse, they've done this many times.

Can we please not get into another pointless nit-picking argument about this for the umpteenth time? A second exit route is *required* by BSS for hire boats, but is only *recommended* for private boats. That's literally the letter of the law... 😉

The legal requirement for a hire boat is to have a second exit route, and if you look at the actual BSS rules they show an example like the CanalTime one (side doors in the bedroom) as being legal. They have to be at the front of the boat, but not necessarily in the forward-facing front end of the cabin. IIRC a breakout or opening window of sufficient size also meets the rules, as does a roof hatch.

Because with no tax it would be cheaper than diesel, which would encourage diesel car drivers to use it, and even if this was legal there isn't enough supply to cope with this? The reason boaters won't use it right now is it's a lot more expensive than diesel, always assuming you can get hold of any. If it was the same price than there's no reason not to shift to HVO, in fact the opposite since all the reports say that it burns cleaner and smells less than diesel fuel.

A well deck above water level like on many boats (with water tank underneath) is bad enough when faced with a waterfall which puts more water in than the scuppers can drain out, so I hate to think what happens with yours... 😞 I also think that the tall cratches with cloth/plastic covers that many boats use look horrible, especially when they're taller than the cabin roof to try and get enough headroom inside when there's a water tank under the deck -- but that's just my opinion... 😉 Hence the side doors... 😉

Logically the fuel duty should be lower on HVO than diesel to encourage its use by closing the price gap, because it's much better environmentally. That could/should be done by a government which actually cares about the environment and acts on it, rather than making impressive-sounding announcements with no real thought about how to make change actually happen... 😞

Like classic/vintage/veteran cars, I doubt that heritage steam railways will be targeted from an emissions point of view, since the numbers and usage (total emissions) are tiny compared to cars/trucks/ships/planes/heating. Might get NIMBYs objecting to smuts on their washing lines, but that's no different to today. Same issue with canal boats, either propulsion or heating -- the numbers and total emissions are tiny (about 1% compared to cars or woodburning stoves in houses?), but there are likely to be local objections e.g. from canalside flatowners objecting to smoke/noise/diesel fumes. HVO is a much better solution than diesel for the canals -- or electric boats, in the short term -- but distribution and pricing and taxation needs to be sorted out before it could be widely adopted.

It's just oak everywhere -- mostly solid, veneered on big boards -- but with a natural finish, no staining or tinted varnish. Ricky is pretty picky about his joinery... 😉 I did look at having front doors but decided against it for various reasons -- space (waste of) was one, and I also wanted a watertight bow because I know I'll be going through tight locks (60' boat on the C&H/L&L) with leaky top gates capable of filling up a well deck. DAMHIK... 😉

That's legally correct, but personally I'd prefer not to... 😉