Capt.Golightly

My only experience is three weeks on the Norfolk broads and hair-raising February storm crossing of Breydon water, I thought the boat (a fibreglass 42ft) was going to disintegrate as it punched into every wave against the wind and was buried in spray. Running with the wind and tide on the way back the waves were running with me and almost overtopping the gunwales.....great fun though ...on reflection I wouldn't have done it had I known in advance, even though I did time the crossing for low water, for a little more shelter from the terrain and less water volume, but once committed I no choices left as turning beam on to the sea to retreat would have been fatal to the vessel..and me, my dad, and mate too

Haven't got my boat yet and now live in Whitby but am aiming to cruise around my home turf of Notts when I do, this sounds idyllic. Me and my Dad were both miners in Notts back in the day but he is now gone. Nottinghamshire is more beautiful from above than from below you keep right on enjoying it mi Duck! Andrew.

Thanks mate...I''ll leave it up but bear it in mind in future posts as I don't want to fill the place with frustratingly repeated pointless posts..Andrew

you are right mate I had...I forgot...I've looked at so many I have developed boat blindness thanks for the reply anyway...how do I delete a post on here?

100% agreement here Tony....as I said each to his own and live and let live is my motto thanks mate. Good point Martin, speed limits are an essential observance in my book...

I agree with Mtb on this, ie yes and no, in that they aren't poisonous and they may be eaten but like boiled Silver Birch Bark and Sphagnum Moss they aren't particularly appetising unless given flavour in a curry or you are extremely hungry...."the best gravy in the World is hunger"... If you are determined to try I recommend you research some medieval recipes for Bream, Carp, Pike, Tench and many other varieties too..they ate virtually anything back then you could also tap a silver birch tree in spring for a very refreshing drink of sap..very good for you too....and relieves headaches, and the bark provides naturally antiseptic wound poultices...if you ever find yourself in the wilderness make camp in a stand of silver birch trees

Phew!!!....thanks folks

I would have thought that Continuous Cruisers were doing the C&RT a favour by using the system as it was originally intended, surely the wash from moving boats keeps the Canals from silting up and becoming overgrown? If everyone sat in a marina watching telly they would very quickly close up and C&RT would spend a fortune on maintenance in a losing battle to keep them open?..not that I'm having a chip at those who prefer to sit in marinas...its a free Country and each to his own.

http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=310104 "Tax Status....tax paid"

I am currently in the process of buying my first boat and everywhere I look for advice on fixed costs all that is ever mentioned is the R&CT license and insurance but many boat adds I look at also say "tax paid"....is there a river tax like road tax to pay? if not what is this "tax" being referred to?

thanks folks..if the helpfulness of those on this forum is anything to go by I should be amongst very sound people..

I am in the early stages of buying my first boat and whilst more attracted to cruising on rivers with possible tidal sections I am very wary of venturing onto them before my piloting skills have developed a good deal....Am I right to be wary of them? I anticipate that cruising downstream would be considerably more difficult in terms of speed control and steerage than travelling upstream?

Obviously I am not trying to ask for a definite answer to this question (as my eventual choice of boat must be my own) but your collected wisdom on the advantages disadvantages of either as a first time single persons live aboard boat who is not a great mechanic would be gratefully received... clearly one is ready to go and the other would require additional systems adding and neither would be purchased without survey. thanks in advance. http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=310104 http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=307404

Thanks for all the replies, very useful indeed, especially from "bobbybass" as to its legal implications, of which I was ignorant. I suppose the part about spreading the virus makes sense but surely the tiny creatures attaching themselves to my hull would do this anyway as I cruise about? anyway I shall NOT be catching any at all (even in vole safe pots) without the necessary presumably massively expensive license. You may have thought that the environment agency in recognising the level of threat to the indigenous species would welcome the hungry attentions of the water-borne community to the little rascals...but no! their greed kicks in once more and they coin life into money again!...the very reason I wish to "drop out" to an extent.

I haven't spent prolonged periods on a narrow boat as yet Richard, but I don't see the significance to my question about window bars as I have seen lots of barred windows and even once spent a day in my own little cell as a squaddie (a minute flake of mud on my cap badge after an eight mile run in a stream) so I know they are very effective in keeping people out...or even in

That is an excellent point, but I still think that as a thief is only interesting in stealing and getting away with it anything which makes it tougher with lots of noise and extra time puts them off and they will find somewhere easier to do it as they still don't know for sure there is anything inside worth having and the chances of being caught increase every minute.

I did think about it Chertsey but knowing regulations as I do I also know that sometimes they may seem irrational eg if indicator lights are fitted to a motorcycle then they must be functional and yet their presence isn't compulsory . There is thinking that we know something and then there is actually knowing it ..and I've always believed that only stupid people don't ask questions when they are unsure of something.

Thank you folks. They would only be to deter against an attempted entry as they would be fixed to the window frame not the hull so in emergency (with emergency strength) they could be yanked off. I shall of course make certain before fitting them as I wouldn't wish to jeopardise my licence I have seen the removable shutters, which look excellent but are well beyond my pocket. How about these?...completely legal but an accident waiting to happen as with all such things though it would be jolly funny!!! BANG!!! and a ten foot leap in the air straight into the cut. http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Alarm+Mine&x=20&y=14

Has anyone encountered American Signal Crayfish anywhere? there is supposed to be an invasion of them underway but as they are so delicious I fully intend to do my part in the fight against them.

The only thing I use a fridge for is dairy and meat so when I buy my live aboard I'll shall remove it and buy longlife milk lifting a deck plate to stash my cheese meat and other stuff under using the water temp to keep it chilled.... and tasting of diesel mmmm...

I am considering becoming a live aboard but security concerns me, being a musician I have a few expensive guitars and studio/computer gear. Would the addition of security bars to the windows contravene BSS regulations on fire safety grounds does anyone know? My feeling is that they don't as people have armoured glass fitted but one never knows?...... and further to this are there minimum widths for companionways as fire escape routes?

Thanks folks, that's nice to know, I had no reason to doubt their integrity..... just being a double cautious buyer is all.

I have a few used NB's lined up to see there and would also much appreciate any general guidance offered on dealing with Brokers generally. thanks

Thanks for the replies, very useful to my ongoing process of finding a nice boat.

I suppose we may just have to live with them in the end as afteral there are quite a few of them about.