Hattie

Thanks guys. Yes, I think ideally we didn't want padlocks to be visible really (plus remembering to leave them both open at night, as you said, is something I can see us forgetting to do!) so anything that can be opened by a key but has bolts internally (so perhaps fitting a thicker pad to get a motise lock would be a good idea). I just wasn't sure if there was a generic lock used by boaters etc

Does anyone have chubb locks on their doors? At the mo we've got huge padlocks on either end, but this doesn't work so well when we're in the boat and/or one of us wants to lock up from the inside while the otjher person is out. Was thinking some kind of chubb/key lock would work best but not sure if this would be suitable for our (steel) doors... Thanks in advance, H

Does anyone have chubb locks on their doors? At the mo we've got huge padlocks on either end, but this doesn't work so well when we're in the boat and/or one of us wants to lock up from the inside while the otjher person is out. Was thinking some kind of chubb/key lock would work best but not sure if this would be suitable for our (steel) doors... Thanks in advance, H

We do indeed - I thought this may be why she was listing but have just had a pump out and although it had made a little bit of difference, there is still a definite tilt to one side. I may try taking some out then if it can't do any harm (just didn't want to unbalance it - had visions of the boat rolling over in the canal)...

Sorry to tag on to the end of an old thread, but I thought it made more sense than starting a whole new one! An additional question about ballast - any help most appreciated. When we had our boat surveyed, the surveyor mentioned that she sat quiote low in the water and it would be a good idea to remove some ballast from the engine room. However, the previous owner said he had only added the extra ballast because she lists slightly. However, having cruised about for the weekend, she is still listing but is also low in the water - would it be foolish to remove some ballast on the side she is listing, or would this fix two problems at once (provided I wasn't too gung ho about taking out the ballast)... Thanks in advance H

Hiya, We are in the process of getting some work done a boat boat we have just bought (yey!), however, it has prothoels that don't open and as a result can be quite hot inside. We're considering either getting a side hatch cut in, or possibly getting the portholes changes so that they open - sorry to sound like such a newbie but is one preferable to the other? The boatyard seem qute keen to do a hatch but not sure if this is because it is more expensive to get a hatch cut in? Thanks in advance...

Thanks folks. The engine was replaced a few years ago, is a Lister engine (sorry no idea what size etc etc - this is more my partner's topic) from the 1970s I believe. The rest of the boat looks brilliant, there are obviously a few bits and bobs we want to sort out but nothing major. As one of you mentioned, it's a pretty reasonable price so we didn't expect it to be perfect - but obviously needing to replace an engine isn't something we are keen to do. Was planning on asking the surveyor all about it, but just wanted to canvas opinion as my knowledge about boat engines is non-existant. Cheers again for the feedback, H

Hi, Am a TOTAL newbie and in the process of buying my first boat (with someone who knows a tad more about boats than me). We've seen a boat we really like, it's just had a safety certificate and we're having it surveyed next week. The only thing worrying me is that there seems to be a collection of oil udnerneath the engine. The owners aren't sure why and it's obviously passed a safety check - but is this somethign I should be worried about or am I being overly concerned about something pretty normal? Thanks so much in advance, H

Just wanted to introduce myself! In the process of buying a boat and hoping to be on the water soon...