IanD

Go on, where is this mythical horde of "CC-haters" on CWDF then? Unless you mean people who dislike "CCers in name only" (CMers) who bend/break the rules about mooring and overstaying, there are plenty of them -- including me. "Proper CCers" who actually cruise round the system instead of doing their best to stay in one place without paying -- love 'em, they keep the canals going. But even they contribute less to the CART coffers than boaters with a home mooring, so -- even ignoring CARTs "CCers make much more use of the canals and cost us more" reasoning -- don't you think this is unfair?

Thanks, that's useful information even if it's bad news, it means they've changed their policy recently 😞 Did you try entering "Australia" instead of "USA"? It's possible their policy is different for the two countries -- or not... Does anyone have up-to-date confirmation of insurers who are currently still willing to insure non-UK-residents?

Since what I posted was two links (for people to read if they wanted to) and half a dozen lines quoting the main findings (if they didn't), that's pretty much exactly what I did... 😉 Oh I think you are -- or do you agree with his comment but don't want to admit it? Alternative view to what? That pollution is bad for people? That woodburners emit a lot of PM2.5 particles? That the earth is round? That ain't my view, that's facts. Unlike you seem to be doing, I didn't try to tell people what they should or shouldn't do as a result, that's entirely up to them... 😉

Yes 🙂 (and it was Tim Tyler who built the hull, not JW...)

Nobody is "having a go" at CCers, except perhaps in your head. As Nick pointed out, it's all about CART trying to raise more money, and CCers contribute considerably less to the CART coffers than HMers (and use the canals more, according to CART), so the surcharge is an attempt to correct this. The higher surcharge for wideboats is similarly to get more money from them to make up for the fact that they occupy more space and get more "value" from their boat. And it's still smaller than most places outside CART waters which use area-based charging, only 50% surcharge for a 14' instead of 100%...

Sorry, but you're the one spoiling for an argument here -- all I said was that pulling the boat so the stern was next to the ladder only works if that can be done, which is not always possible, and if not then walking along the roof is safer in a narrow lock than walking along the gunwale. What's your beef with that?

On a magic carpet, of course... 😉 Attacking me isn't going to change the facts though, because I'm not claiming to be perfect, like most people there are undoubtedly more things I could do to reduce my CO2/pollution burden -- but at least I recognise that, and that pollution does have a negative impact on people's health. Which is exactly what the first post said... 😉

So I guess you didn't read the original article I posted or the 86-page detailed analysis, then? PM2.5 are now recognised as one of the biggest pollution health hazards, and woodburners are the biggest source of these -- 3x bigger than road traffic (almost entirely from diesel vehicles). https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/09/eco-wood-stoves-emit-pollution-hgv-ecodesign No I don't drive a diesel car, and I mostly use public transport to get around.

You're missing the point -- I'm not demonising anybody for burning wood, just pointing out the facts -- you know, those horrible things that people don't like facing sometimes... 😉 What I was calling him out for was his crass insensitive comment which was basically "If they're sick, let 'em die, it'll improve the race".

Which obviously works if that's where the ladder is, but not if it isn't...

That's why there's the cross-rail to catch the water as it flows towards the stern (so it doesn't end up on the rear deck), with recesses down the cabin sides to drain the water down to the gunwale so it doesn't stain them 🙂

Your crass comment was: "If all the weak specimens died and the ones who can tolerate a bit of pollution survived then the world would consist of strong and durable people." Easy to say, big man. Now go and face up to somebody who has suffered as a result, and let's see you repeat it... 😞

Like I said, it's not something I'd do as a matter of course, only occasionally when there's no other option -- like in a narrow lock where you need to get to the lock ladder.

Ask Baldrick... 😉 ("Cappucino, sir?")

Go and tell this girl's mum that, if you're brave enough... 😞 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/16/girls-death-contributed-to-by-air-pollution-coroner-rules-in-landmark-case

Walking on a boat roof isn't the safest thing in the world, but occasionally you need to do it. I've walked on the solar panels (and the antislip paint sections) when wet and they're both fine -- though I nearly came a cropper on the bow locker hatch which is gloss paint, which really showed up the difference... 😞

The solar panels are quite grippy to walk on, the surface is ETFE with small "bobbles" on it, not smooth. You can walk on them just like a normal non-slip roof. Like these: https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/full/438-160W-Black-Reinforced-semi-flexible-solar-panel-with-round-rear-junction-box-and-3m-cable-with-durable-ETFE-coating.html

I've done the same on occasion, it's quick and easy to get onto the roof at the stern by using the seats as a step and get back down at the bows using the bow cabin, no ladder needed. Which is why all these areas -- including the roof where there are no solar panels -- have non-slip paint applied. It might not look as pretty and shiny as gloss but it's a damn sight safer, especially when wet... 😉

Ooh, proper big boys toys! 🙂

Since I know this is close to many boaters hearts, I thought I'd bring some of the latest research to people's attention. Though I suspect many won't want to know, either because it's in the Grauniad, or they just don't want to be told about PM2.5 pollution and its effects on health from those wokerati experts, especially in that there Lunnon hellhole... 😉 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/15/pollutionwatch-health-cost-of-burning-wood-to-warm-homes https://woodburning.london/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/London-Wood-Burning-Health-Impact-Evaluation-Technical-Report.pdf "Summary of outdoor air pollution findings The study finds that the contribution to PM2.5 concentrations across the Greater London region from the burning of wood and coal and oil: • Reduces life expectancy at birth for all persons of around 3 weeks (assuming individuals are exposed to air pollutant concentrations over their lifetime) • Is associated with an effect on mortality equivalent to 284 deaths each year, at typical ages of death in 2019 in the UK (implying an average loss of life of around 11 years per death)" It's worth noting that some of the worst health effects are on the stove owners/users, not all those non-boaters outside who obviously don't matter... 😞

There isn't any, it's a gas-free boat so required ventilation is much smaller anyway.

Given that my BT runs off the main 48V battery that pushes the boat along, if there's no power for the BT this would be the least of my worries... 😉

Last time you brought up the finger grip handrail -- last year IIRC -- I asked Ricky about it, as I said earlier. His advice was not to do it. Similarly with the spring line shackles that you're so worried about -- they've proved vary useful, and not a trip hazard. Normal complement is four, for who there's plenty of space in the semi-trad area. Or you can sit inside at the dinette with both sets of side doors open. With six two will have to be inside, but originally the boat couldn't sleep (or feed) six, now it can but it's not ideal for six. I do see your point, but I decided that a well deck had more disadvantages than advantages for me -- and if you think otherwise, of course you can have one. I did think of all this when planning the boat... 😉