JanB

Thanks Coswoldsman and Bassplayer. I appreciate that boats like to be used ... however one we are buying has clearly not been used much over the last 5 years so I feel she (the boat) will get more action with us anyway. We live in Scotland but plan to cruise in England ... warmer; more extensive/ better connected canal systems etc etc so trips home (and indeed on the boat) will tend to be extended. Not thinking of living aboard permenantly - at least at the moment! We like the contrast of city life/ cruising.

Dear All. We are buying boat with fridge but not freezer. Have 3Kw pure sine wave converter. Plan to cruise a fair bit (so engine will be on most days we are there) and will close down boat for periods when not cruising (ie when we go home). I've heard of small freezers (eg 2 cu ft) which have been fitted in eg drawer under dinette. We don't have room for it in galley. Any advice as to i) adviseability ii) models iii) location on boat for it and iv) ability to fit ourselves (husband reasonable re DIY). I'm guessing it will need to be vented space. Thanks (in anticipation).

We have a similar problem. We are 400 miles away from boat we are about to buy and don't have time (re gap in schedule) til September. We plan to pay for moorings where she is now (in a marina); dash down for a short trip to explore that area and then bring her north (not as far as we are ... but closer) in September when we have a full month free. Or maybe in the spring if we like the area and want to do more cruising there (probably wouldn't go back). I wouldn't want someone else to move her - I want to do the trip myself and learn her ways.

Can't one, for example, have purchased a mooring over winter in one place, then go touring (not staying anywhere more than a few days) most of the year (Apr to Oct), leaving the boat from time to time in paid for short term moorings (eg in a marina) in various different locations depending on where you had got to, for maybe a month or two, to go home for a spell? This was what we were planning to do!?!? And how does one "satisfy the Board" ....sounds very subjective to me!

Be gentle with me too ... I'm new to this game and forum (just in process of buying a boat) .. what is a CCer??

Well Tony - the reason I posted my questions is that a) I'm not up on this technical jargon (eg PSW and MSW - I'm guessing the SW bit is sine wave .. whatever that is .. but not clear what the "p" or "m" is; whate the difference is; or whether I have it) and Having read the whole thread with much trouble I couldn't absolutely glean what the answer was and c) hoped for some kind soul in the community to summarise/ be succinct for me. Call me thick/ not technical enough to be on a boat if you like (or just wanting a definite answer)! But never mind ... the last posting from Bob is more helpful. I'll just use aim to use a washing machine/tumble dryer when we're on the go and the engine is running and see where/if I can fit in a domestic model!!

We are about to purchase our first narrowboat - 2nd hand with 3Kw sine wave inverter. It does not have washing machine. Was thinking about installing one (or getting one installed). We plan to go touring mostly (6-8 weeks at a time a couple of times a year, plus the odd week/ fortnight). Questions: a) is a washing machine essential (i am slightly loath to lose cupboard space ... but ... don't want to limit our tours by dirty washing bag) is it ok with the inverter we have c) can we buy normal domestic one (or should we buy special make suitable for narrowboats) d) is it ok to install it ourselves (and by "ourselves" I mean by my husband ... reasonably good at DIY) Thanks (in anticipation)

Thanks Richard. We are about to purchase our first boat ... have been on hires for a number of years with pump outs (so obviously never actually had to do it ourselves and probably didn't know better re what we put down it). Am I right in thinking that you have to use special stuff re cleaning etc (or rather not use normal domestic stuff ... ie bleach .. which is what I use at home). Thanks for help.

erm. Sorry to be serious a moment .. we're new here ... what's wrong with a pump out toilet?

Hi. Offer accepted on a (just under) 58 ft semi trad narrowboat. Eeek! Very excited though. Hired narrowboats for a few years and have been hooked from day 1. Finally got hubby to agree to adventure - dog already convinced. Plan to cruise c3 months of year in 2 or 3 tours of 4 or 6 weeks and an occasional "quick dash" week (but not liveaboard full time). We live in Scotland; not sure where we will keep boat at the moment. Plan to explore where it is now (way down south); and move it in Spring to somewhere further north (possibly Cheshire). But not Scotland ... a) not connected internally not connected with English system and too fecking cold. Will want to install wood burner stove (never lived without one yet) to supplement/ avoid need for diesel central heating and possibly install washing machine - although loath to lose cupboard! Also need to get cratch covers! Intend to do a helmsman course to reassure the hubby - he's nervous about my "driving". Have I mentioned how excited I am?!?!?