DannyB

Got that right, I'm one of them! When looking for a boat last year the main thing I was thinking of was living space, etc.

My aim is to have an engine bilge as nice as Julynian's, long way to go. I've discovered 2 hoses draining into the bilge, the hot water overflow and one from the engine, so put the both in a bucket and the bilge has been dry for the last few days. Apart from the diesel leak. Found the leak today, its the eberspacher fuel line dripping just after the bolt connection through the blukhead to the fuel tank, looks like the white seals are knackered. How could that happen in less than 12 months? I tightened the bolt a little and it seems to have made the drip worse. Is it easy to change the seals?

Thanks Kae, furnessvale and the dog house, cheap nappies and black bags it is then for now and I'll keep a look out for some kind of drum for storing it in the future. Are bilge socks or absorbent mats worth getting?

Apologies for such a basic question. have tried searching but couldnt find an answer other than dispose of responsibly. So what do you do with oily bilge water? Can you tip it down into the sewers? I've just got a bucket out of the engine bilge and i reckon theres another 3 or 4 buckets worth in there, and I've only got 1 bucket!

I was in your position this time last year. I knew nothing about narrowboats so spent about 6 months researching (not long enough), before finally buying a boat for 25k that was originally up for 35k. If I knew then what I know now I would have spent at least 10k more and got a mortgage instead of a loan. Anyway I would advise you take someone with you who really knows their stuff to give it a once over before you make an offer. Find out where all the pumps, hatches etc are and how to access them and expect the unexpected! You've made a great start coming here for advice. Best of luck. Danny

I think my engine bilge was designed to be wet as there is a hose coming from somewhere which ends in the bilge! Didn't get round to cleaning it up yet as another problem has arisen The boat I bought was originally bought as just a shell and fitted out by the previous owners (incompetent monkeys) who obviously gave little or no thought to accessing servicable parts later on. How I wish I went over budget now and got a decent fitout!! Thanks guys see you ina new thread soon.

Thanks people, that's my weekend sorted then bilge cleaning time! Can anyone tell me what the silver round thing in the bottom picture is in the corner of the bilge? I've got a lot to learn

I have just noticed in the engine bilge a kind of biege gunge that seems to be in various places around the prop shaft and eberspacher exhaust, any ideas what it could be? There is also a black carbony looking patch that looks wet beneath the exhaust outlet for the eberspacher. Coked up exhaust perhaps? The exhaust pipe is ridiculously small. Here are some pics to hopefully clarify my ramblings:

I've been looking for a live a board for a few months now and think I have finally found 'the one' but it is a private seller. I have agreed to view the boat in a few days time and today the seller has told me they have received an offer (even told me how much, almost 15% below asking price) and if I do want the boat after viewing they will require a four figure deposit on the day. I am naturally quite suspicious and don't know the seller, and have heard a few horror stories about stolen boats being sold to multiple buyers. I know the boat has been up for sale for a while and it may just be desperation to sell, the seller does sound genuine but as they say if it sounds to good to be true..... Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid. I have been lurking on this forum for a while now and it's a brilliant source of info for newbies like me, can anyone offer me any advice on how to handle a private sale?

Sounds yummy! I am growing some purple basil that would go nicely with that.