BlueStringPudding

Thanks chaps. So a generator could run a washing machine? Would that be directly or through charging a battery or other gizmo? I've read on this forum about pure sine waves and washing machine timers going wrong. Can that be solved with a super-duper expensive generator or are we back to inverters?

Hello - I've a supremely naive question for you (but if you don't ask...) If you've got a BNC1.5 engine, currently keeping 1 starter and 1 domestic battery sweet, no inverter, just 12v electrics... But you want to live aboard and, one day at least, install a washing machine on the boat, and who knows!? Maybe even power your laptop etc. (Long-term it'd be great to have solar panels and a turbine to be that bit more self-sufficient) Surviving on just 12v electrics isn't a problem, but long-term I'd envision be able to have the above. But what do I need and how do I go about getting the power systems set up to cope? More batteries? Probably but how many? Installing an inverter - where to learn and what's it going to cost and what sorta spec would I need? If it's best to get someone in to install it, again what sort of money are we talking about? Clean sine waves to placate temperamental washing machines - suggests great expense!? Battery management systems - what are they all about? Any use or a bit of a luxury? How's about a generator? Does that just top up the batteries or can it actually power equipment? Putting in a 240v ring - doesn't sound too scary (got A-level physics many years ago... can it be that hard!?) or will I end up regretting trying to do it myself when I have all the electrician skills of a CareBear? Is there anything else I'd need? Your pearls of wisdom would be much appreciated, as always. Thanks

I did! Sent the answer by PM though so as not to spoil the mystery for everyone else... but admittedly I cheated!

By the way I think this is a great idea for a game! Even a mere wannabe boater like me can join in with this one.

Hahaha! Daaaaarling!

Hello, Now although I'm not yet afloat (so I could one day find myself eating these ill chosen words), much of the appeal of living aboard for me is not to be living in a village of boats in a marina. Nice to have the perks and everything nearby, but I could live in a village of houses for that. I like the idea of stocking up with loads of coal and wood, top up the water wherever we can and moor up on the canalside or riverside - pootling around and having a different view out of the window every few days or weeks. But that's just my opinion, and as I said, aside from a few holidays, I can't pretend to have spent more than a week afloat at a time, and only found myself without fuel for two days in the middle of winter (it's interesting how creative one can be in keeping warm when the stove and gas go wrong!)... I'm sure the perks of having that safety net of it all being nearby can be very appealling!

A very comprehensive answer - thank you. And in fact a little cheaper than I had expected. Yes, that's the boat. I've phoned the brokerage again because they're still not sure whether it has gas central heating/hot water or whether it's just the calorifier for hot water and to heat the radiators (paperwork contradicts the advert at the moment). Still waiting for them to get back to me on that one! Blacking every 2-3 years you say? Even for a boat of that age? I only ask because a colleague of mine who lives aboard his 1993 narrowboat in Stratford was recommended to have the bottom blacked every year because of the age (which isn't actually all that old by comparison). Although he's not a young man himself, maybe they weren't referring to his boat! Thanks again, wise sage of the waterways!

Equity don't actually allow you to use your own name if there's already an Equity member using it. It's as if it's a trading name (I should know, I was on the Equity designers comittee till very recently). My other (and some may say better) half's real name is Kevin Herbert. But Equity already have one on their books so he had to take his middle name as his surname: he works under Kevin Russell. As for me, my Equity name is the same as my real name as there ain't too many out there willing to take on the surname "Trump"... can't think why...

David - one more question (if I may) I've anticipated having to lift the boat every year for blacking anyway (being an older boat) and the expense of that. What should I put aside to coincide that with an annual survey or BSS Part Two... is this going to be very costly?

Thanks again, Alan.

Thanks Alan. The boat also has a stove (which doesn't appear to have a back-boiler) which I'd intend as the main source of heat. However, cold winter mornings needing a little encouragement to get out of bed, I though the gas heating might be good for that! Kev and I spent Christmas week aboard a nb on the Trent & Mersey and found the Morso to be more than enought to heat the little 35footer we were on (in fact I woke at 2am one night, so hot that I had to open all the doors and windows!). However the boat I'm looking at is 61ft so I'm aniticipating it needing a little more. What's the general concensus about fuelling heating aboard?

Wow - that's all really good advice - thanks David & everyone! One thing I do need to establish is whether the boat has gas central heeating. The website says it does, the chap I spoke to on the phone said it does, but the "further details" document they e-mailed to me said that the radiators were heated by water from the calorifier from the engine and doesn't mention a gas boiler at all. So far I can't quite get to the bottom of it! Once I've established that, I guess my next step will be to head up there and take a look for myself - although my interest in it is rather dependent on having heating and hot water that can run without the need to have the engine ticking over.

Yes - but to pay for it to be craned in to the water for a test-drive... Then if we like it to pay for it to be craned back out again for a survey is gonna get expensive. Hence my question about whether it's wise to buy a boat without having driven it. You wouldn't buy a car or a campervan or similar without a test-drive... can't help but think it'd be wise to test drive a boat too...