Sea Dog

Haha - no wonder there's always a puddle in the bottom! Plus, they dry your hands in 10 seconds apparently - all I can say is: if they think that's 10 seconds, don't buy one of their watches!

Agony bags?! Streuth, I'd move house, never mind my boat!

And that's before the Governments have to work out how to recoup the lost revenue from Petrol/Diesel.

Perhaps you should have sailed off without his permission - with or without his line!

Beta also do similar with their 38 and the 43, and there's plenty of both on the cut. Not sure what conclusion should be drawn though Alan - just a good range to achieve best match I suppose because they also do a 30 and a 50, and the little stuff is even closer. You pays yer money, takes yer choice I guess?

Run a hairdryer over an edge and see if you can cause a dark patch to lighten. If it's damp you will; if it's an old stain you won't.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Some motorway services installed hand dryers a similar time ago and they still suck!

Your description isn't too far off a pretty standard "reverse layout" with the exception of the study area. The trad stern isn't a non starter either, although I note you meant semi trad. You don't need any strange manoeuvres to get from my trad steerers step, through the engine space into my bedroom, so if your Galley was there, there'd be no issue either. I'd say you should keep looking at reverse layout trad or semi trad boats, but have the study on your list of possible compromises. Good luck in your quest

I think you're being quite reasonable, although I'm also pretty sure that few folk will be mooring close just to spoil your peace so I'm not really sure what's to be done. I sympathise though, especially if you've gone out of the way to run your genny or practice the euphonium or when you're seeking peace and you get the noisy bar stewards - but then I have real difficulty understanding inconsiderate people anyway. Different matter where moorings are at more of a premium and we've all had problems where there's, say, 3 boats moored where 5 would have fitted given a bit of consideration. Then perhaps we'd all likely be happy to see bollard sharing. I think you're seeking answers to unanswerable questions. The good thing is, although you perhaps shouldn't have to, it's easy to move away from undesirable neighbours. Mike the Boilerman recently posted that 1 person in 100 doesn't have a conscience - that simple idea has helped me rationalise so much bad stuff that I don't even care if it's untrue! So, don't worry, it's only 1 in 100 that's gonna rain on your parade - most folk'll have a conscience and leave you in peace.

Absolutely. The first question when manoeuvring should be "what is mother nature gonna do with this boat" and, once that's worked out, the second question is "how can I use that to help me achieve my intentions". Even when you have to fight against it, you still need to answer question 1.

And another vote for the noisy water pump. I too considered quietening the pump but when I found my toilet bowl topped up with water and just about to overflow having heard the pump kicking in unexpectedly I changed my view!

Comastic and standard bitumen blackings are incompatible, so it's a bit of a job to change.

Dunno, perhaps it a shameless plug? Oh no, that's missing the point!

And the throttle? Tick over doesn't always deliver enough for effective charging.

As a rule of thumb, count the floating leaves as you go by and divide the total by 32,476 to work out how many times you reversed. Course, that's only an approximation.

I tend to agree with Alan. I think recovery is a secondary issue for narrowboats. Wholly different on a sea boat, of course. I'm entirely content with what's adequate as main and kedge on a sea boat for the roles they may be asked to perform there. What I can't determine is, since few canal boaters can/want to carry the weight of anchor and chain specified for a 60' steel hulled vessel, whether something lighter would suffice in the role we want if for - as an emergency brake for when we venture on to rivers. There has to be a best compromise between too light to be any use and too heavy to deploy. I have a sneaking suspicion that we narrowboaters might be better hurling that much maligned grappling hook (on the end of a strong but light, stretchy line) onto the bank or into a tree! Not much help in the middle of a wide river though, eh? Sea boat anchor - follow the best practice. Narrowboat anchor - follow the best guess!

This is all good stuff but, as far as narrowboats are concerned, we're off down the usual anchoring rabbit hole again. Most of the experience and writings, and hence available data, about anchoring are from those involved with sea going vessels. However, in the OP's case, and most other threads on the subject here, we're interested in an anchor only as an emergency brake. Narrowboats are not likely to be anchoring in a tideway whilst popping to the pub in the dinghy and then back onboard to sleep it off, and the OP isn't asking that. The scenario is that the engine or steering goes duff and we need to stop the boat heading downstream with the current whilst we fix it or summon help. Very different requirements I'd suggest. I'm not meaning to be pedantic or have a pop at anyone who's generously giving their experience and opinions, just seeking to clarify the requirement.

If you have a boat, you can either live with lots of little spiders.... ... or one REALLY big one!

There's always something in the way of me servicing an engine in its own engine room..... Still, I did say "for better or for worse".

Ah, that does put rather a different slant on things, doesn't it. If I was setting out on a journey to reach a warm comfortable winter on a boat, I wouldn't want to start from there! Sorry if my input turned out to be impractical for you Terrie - I hope someone with a broads cruiser or similar who has solved the issue comes along real soon with great advice.