Sea Dog

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.

Terrie, if your diesel heater is one which heats radiators (webasto, Eberspacher, and the like) as many of us have, you may find it too power and fuel hungry to be your main source of heat. We tend to use ours for an hour in the mornings to warm up the boat whilst the solid fuel stove gets back to full heat and to give us hot water. After that the stove keeps us toasty all day and evening until we stoke it up to stay "in" overnight to keep the edge off. I think you'll find that pretty common practice and the most practical way of staying warm through the winter. You may wish to look at whether fitting a solid fuel stove is an option. Of course, there are other ways and other folk do different stuff, so it's just a suggestion for you to consider. Being cold is no fun at all, so I hope that's helpful.

I think it's fair to say you've given this some thought, MP!

Whoa, hang on! The boat was in there already? If they dug it up, surely that's a different matter entirely!

To add to David's good idea...... plus, you then won't end up with a little used tank of stale water at those times when you're not using a lot.

Absolutely marvellous effort! It's not just the quantity of work they've achieved, but the quality. Impressive.

Well, whatever the backstory, it looks like a very professional job done with care and skill. Although I can't see them, I'm sure there are some big advantages to keeping a boat in an area of water not much larger than itself. Perhaps he's being very considerate because other boats now don't need to slow down when they pass?

I don't find it that much of an issue really. Stick one of those car window mounts in a window when you need a better net signal for tethering or when watching TV over an MHL cable.

Nice job on that panel LC!

Just to pull us back on track in case Rusty (who is new to his boat) is confused, he was asking what to do after cruising, as opposed to how to winterise - he's going back on Wednesday! If he winterised every time he stopped, he might just be overdoing things! Rusty, you'll be gathering there are different things to do depending on your boat and it's systems, where you're moored and whether you have shore electric, how long you're leaving it and whether there might be a freeze while you're away from it for a period. It's all easy enough, but winterising is a separate subject within itself that a search here will enlighten you on.

That's interesting - so is Bumblehole still navigable? It didn't appear to be to me (even in my boat!) in 2014 due to mud and vegetation, but it was very obviously so in the Brumtug in '87. I was expecting it to be improved if anything, although I was told "they don't really want anyone going down there" by someone last year. Who "they" were wasn't really made clear.

I remember going right down the Bumblehole Arm donkey's years ago in a little Brumtug, but stuck my nose in there summer before last and thought better of it. I'm 57' and draw 2'.

Yeah, that's the one! Good, innit? I have it bookmarked and still couldn't find it! Glad someone was able to help you!

Last time we moored in Oozle SL Loop there were bears! And a saltwater crocodile! Don't go there!! (except for Friday and Saturday nights when it's perfectly safe and you'll hardly notice the loud music)

Don't leave the fridge door open if you're on shore supply and you've left it on, or your beer will get warm. The serious point being, it's a different routine if you're on shore supply, leaving on your charger, maybe some anti - frost heating in winter, etc. than if you're completely shutting down electrically.

Probably the nicest display on the NASA. I went for Victron for the bigger shunt mainly, otherwise the NASA may have been a good buy, particularly at the price. Edited to remove double post

Edited to add.... Well, everything, cos my ramblings disappeared! We went on the opening day (accidentally) but didn't find it up to much. The only member of staff who appeared to know what he was doing was a student who had never worked in a pub before! Overcharged, but it seemed that was somehow our fault. No dogs, except for those few over there who belonged to friends of the owner apparently. So if you don't like dogs in pubs you get them anyway and if you have one you can't take it. We gave it a second chance this summer and caught some good live music, but they still appear to think they're doing you a favour allowing you to buy their quite expensive drinks. So I don't think you were there at an odd time Mrs T - I think it's a bit of an odd place. I wouldn't say I wouldn't ever go again, but it was so promising - a canalside pub in a boating facility - and yet it just didn't deliver. Twice. Oh, and we were cast off about 11pm whilst moored just up from there - a first for us.

Well, to be fair, the cheap diesel is supposed to attract folk down there. If it works, that's a good thing for the Trust. And what a lovely little trust it is too! Eta a missing 'is'.

I went swimming in there this February - lovely! Short walk to The Vine - possibly the best beer in the whole world and they do really good cobs which they almost pay you to eat! Best value, best tasting lunch you can find anywhere. Someone will be along in a mo to correct me if I don't call it the Bull and Bladder, but you either know that or it won't help you find it! Walking distance from Merry Hill too if you'd prefer that mooring to Delph, as some might. I really enjoy that stretch.... maybe the Batham's has a bit of an undue influence though

Well, except for where they've tarmac'd it to a brickwork edge as a cycle route so there's nothing to moor up to and no earth to bang pins into. A disappointing development imho.