sassan

Both me and my cat are proper boaters several times over. Me: Leaning over side of stern to clear rope from prop due to unusable weed hatch (harbour) Fell off gunwhale in rain trying to moor up on first journey (river). Jumped in carrying rope in failed attempt to moor up on first journey (river) One foot went in due to reeds disguised as bank (canal) Gangplank not properly secured (canal) Fell off bow while fishing for lost mooring pin with magnet in rain, lost a fingernail and a few good scars (canal). Cat: Licking balls on the gunwhales without due care and attention as a speeding hireboat passes (canal). Jumping from gunwhale to roof and missing (canal). The cat is better than I expected him to be at climbing out of the canal (somehow managed a 3-foot metal wall).

My cheap mac got covered in bitumen when blacking my boat. It's been much better since that!

That's a very good price. I'm in the process of making my own panels and I'm barely cheaper than that!!

To those who oppose the idea of a centralised voice for boaters, how about an alternative. With the wonders of the internet, we can relatively easily put together a simple voting infrastructure (I can help with this). So, instead of going to CRT and demanding this or that, our representative can simply state that "80% of the boaters we represent are extremely concerned about this or that". This way, no member has any obligation to the group at all, no member is ever required to go along with the view represented by the group, but we can still be an official structured organisation who CRT can be forced to listen to. We can go further with this structure, how about a system for highlighting and voting on problems. Eg: "300 boaters have been directly affected by the damage to the water point at XYZ, a further 600 are concerned it may affect them in the future and 2000 more think this is a significant issue that requires attention". It could also provide an easier means to provide positive feedback (which CRT seem to want, and does help let them know that they're on the right track). Eg: "80% of boaters feel that the new winter mooring scheme this year is an improvement on previous years". All this is pretty easily achievable with modern technology. I can put something together, if there is significant interest in this idea.

Hi John, I've not been involved in the great work you have been doing, but it has caught my attention and interested me. I would support you in forming a more formal organisation to represent our interests. To those discussing "direct action", or "civil disobedience" (in form of license non-payment or other means), I suggest caution. It is more effective if we move as one, if we are in a position to threaten non-payment of license by even as little as 20% of boaters, or the blocking of navigation to hire boats on every waterway in the country, we might achieve something (probably without even needing to take the risks involved in actually acting!). If a few people act alone then we will simply see the angriest people evicted before anyone else is willing to act and the cycle will continue until only the most passive are left. I think a series of collaborating organisations, unions, whatever, one representing each group of waterways and one representing those boaters who don't consider themselves to belong within any one region would be best. I know that most people on the K&A would be much more willing to join a local organisation than a national one. Representatives from each group can vote on their members behalf on a national representative to interact with CRT. It would be great to be able to continue the work John has done in setting up friendly discussion with CRT. And if we have might also, the discussions can be more equal and respect more mutual.

Depends how much money you need, but if under £15k, you can get an unsecured personal loan which is (illogically) much cheaper at 4.6% when I looked at it in January.

I'm going to have a fun conversation with them beginning with "the identification plates of my vehicle aren't masked", leading as slowly as possible to telling them it's a boat.

I sometimes feel like this, then I remember the days in spring when I was excited to see BBC weather website reporting highs of 5c.

I have a 1.25kw inverter that was £20 new on ebay. I don't use 230V very often (soldering iron, drill, xbox and screen every few months), so it didn't make sense to get an expensive one. Previously installed was a very similar one that had lasted a couple of years and then died. This one has been going fine for 4 months. For that price, you can afford to buy a spare one for if/when it fails. And do wire it in properly!

Also, it can benefit you in some cases to buy a short term license to bring you up to the end of the month. Example: I bought a 1 week license for (I think) £50, which saved me £90ish by not having to pay the extra month, and £60ish by not losing the prompt payment discount. The woman on the phone was a bit grumpy about it because "that's not what short term licenses are for", but I insisted and it was eventually agreed.

The views are lovely, but I hate when the sun is really low in the sky and blinds me while driving!

It's easier than you think. You'll spend the first few weeks convinced that you're about to sink (you're not), but then it's very very pleasant.

Cruiser stern for holiday boats, trad stern for liveaboards, that's my opinion (social space vs shed). I note that he didn't actually ask, we all just suddenly started volunteering opinions on the subject. Maybe we're all just fired up from the toilet thread...

Who is this market research is on behalf of? I understand that you may not be in a position to say, but I'm curious.

Smells bad, no fixed address, sleeps under a bridge, operates locks... that's just us boaters, isn't it?

Always took a few each year as a child, ate them raw, they were lovely. Haven't passed any fields of sweetcorn on the canal, but can't say I'd be above taking a couple. Also planning on a bit of apple scrumping this autumn (just windfalls, since it's for cider).

Apparently toothbrushes have gotten all fancy while I've not been paying attention. Must write to that toothbrush trade magazine and get them to send it to my work address, I've been missing it since I moved onto the boat!

That's part of what I meant!

My mother has a great collection of fruit bushes. I shall be going home to collect a huge lot of cuttings to plant along the canal. My aim is to plant 50 along the K&A this autumn, hopefully fruiting next year. It would be great if everyone was within walking distance of one or two. If they all get picked quickly (as I anticipate) then I'll plant more the following year. If noone goes for it then I'll just make tons of jam/wine and leave it at that! I'm also very fond of finding uses for the things that already grow along the canal (nettles, mushrooms, elder).

I'm quite annoyed by the attitudes displayed in the threads on this article. There is a strong risk of fracturing the community further. The focus should be on including any people who join after this article (and I strongly doubt there will be as many as some seem to envisage) in the community and eventually they shall be just like us. I find it incredibly ironic that this article has created extremely daily-mail like attitudes among the members of this forum.

Get 12V adapters (just ebay "phonename car charger"). You can also get 12V-USB adapters, but often smartphones need more power. You can test whether this will work by connecting the phone to a computer and see if it charges. Saves money and power, since you don't need to run the inverter. I switch mine on about twice a year when I need to use my printer (I don't print often enough to get an adapter for that).

My advice: Measure the voltage from the charger (when connected to a normal power supply (ie: when it works)). Get yourself a regulator of this voltage and attach it to the toothbrush. Connect to your 12V supply and ditch the charger (and don't need the inverter any more).

I think the cost given for an inverter is far too high. One which will do everything Ricco requires (although not all at once) can be had for under £30. Yes it won't be reliable, but for that price you can carry a spare.

She is still entitled to help. This link gives some guidance. I hope it helps, and provides an alternative to legal action. See particularly the section "Benefits for self employed people who are sick, injured or disabled". http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/working_or_looking_for_work/self_employment.aspx I hope this helps her through the difficult time and provides an alternative to legal action.

Personally I just like to drift in slowly. Once I'm mostly in, the other boat can come in and then I can use whatever forward/backwards remains necessary to get clear of the gates/cill/etc.