Sea Dog

I have a 240V led table lamp in the lounge, but any benefit from the power saving lamp is negated by the inverter losses unless it's running anyway. Hence mine's only on when the TV is also in use. Something to consider if you have the choice of 240 or 12V at the location.

Which is ok if that's something one has decided to accept. However, what about the moored boats one passes which have chosen not to roger their blacking only to have their blacking abraded away anyway by the movement of ice caused by passing ice breakers? My own few month old blacking in perfect condition was through to bare metal at the water (ice) line after just 2 days of this last winter. Towpath side undamaged, outboard side stripped so it was no coincidence.

It's combination the air draft and the tumblehome that's the issue in my experience. We've got good headroom inside but that that makes Gosty a challenge because the curve of the tunnel roof means that there are areas where, before the rubbing stakes meet the wall, the cabin roof can scrape the brickwork. If the canal level is high or the water tank isn't full it's a real struggle.

Island Dwellers?! Bunch of fishing, cycling, rambling, etc, morons!! They should be deported! To, erm, an island somewhere

Agreed - my post was in response to Nick Norman's but the original query was raised whilst I was slowly replying by phone! Edited to sorry out a quote with no comment attached!

I think he was doing something ever so slightly dodgy too.

Oh no!That's just vindictive! Mind you, the product is more easily forgotten than " Everyone's a fruit and nutcase"!

Ah, but.....! You can wipe off all manner of sticky things with them that kitchen paper won't completely deal with, or even use kitchen paper followed by a wet wipe for even better results, not exclusively your stove glass. Custard from the front of your jumper, chocolate off passers-by's babies, otter poop off your wellies, soot off your hands, marmalade off your sausage - the list is endless!

Hmm, I can't help thinking there might be a slightly less controversial way than that!

That's sounds interesting. If you can remember where it might lurk, could you post a link please?

I use ash from the pan on newspaper on the woodburner, but the solid fuel ash onboard is too rough. I'll be trying baby wipes on both now though, so thanks for the tip.

No! Dont ask me that - I'll start trying to remember and I really don't want to!! Agree with part 2 though

I'm the other way and I have to say it hacks me off! I don't see too many ads and I try very hard not to allow some "advertising executive" to foist a vision of some product upon me against my will. Sadly, I have failed miserably ever since "Everyone's a fruit and nutcase" was penned over the nutcracker suite to sell Cadbury's Fruit and Nut. I'm now desperately trying to disallow a cat and a budgie's romance weedling it's way into my brain over "You're all I need to get by". I think I've failed! Nooo!

We had a very good experience at Lapworth earlier this year too. Sorted out a couple of boats in a muddle coming down, then accompanied us up, cycling ahead to have the next lock open as we arrived. Really sensible, assisting rather than taking charge, and good company too. Exemplary really. The guys on the Hanbury 3 are always good value too in my experience, although we've never actually had a bad experience. I think someone said before, perhaps they should have been named Lock Assistants since, when that's what they act as, that service is a real plus.

Over 200 years ago and you want to discuss whether it was worth it now? On a Canal Forum? I think we should let sleeping sea dogs lie.

Crikey mate, you can't possibly think I'd have got a flaw in the plan like that past a woman! I'm happy with 200 watts of hot air brush for 5 minutes instead for 4 minutes of 1200 watts of hairdryer of course, but what would that be worth if she who must be obeyed wasn't?

Unless you have a princely £12.99 to spend on the appliance I recommended earlier.

I'd noticed you'd had answers to a whole bunch of roof related questions.... except the one you'd asked! I'm away from my boat at the moment or I'd pop up top with a tape measure, so instead I've popped your question back to the top of the new postings list in the hope someone else might!

How do the good bacteria cope with the low temperatures at the back end of the year? Don't they have a working temperature range?

The hairdryer will pound your batteries even if it's well within the capacity of your inverter. Remember that whatever an appliance is rated at in watts, you need to divide by 12 (V) to reach the current it will draw from your battery bank. So, a typical 1200 watt hairdryer will draw 100 amps. Boots do a hot air brush thing by Vidal Sasoon for 12.99 which only draws 200 watts, 1/6th of the draw. I bought my missus one when the travel hairdryer she used on the boat blew up and she was so impressed she bought another for travelling. My battery bank and I love the thing too!

Is it even legal not to have a readily available safety data sheet Tony? I'm thinking you're not wrong to have suspicion.

Ah, the old O. N. O. F. F. switch trap! Many have been there before you!

And then there are those who pull over and wait for you to navigate your way past. As well as passing the buck, I'm sure this is harder than 2 moving boats passing but, that aside, what happens when both boats do that?

Interesting interpretation!

My charger is 100a max, my cables are 70 or 75mm. I had a new 1 meter lead with crimps made up recently, total cost less than 15 quid. Is the difference in cost between "get away with" 10mm versus the manufacturer recommended 25mm worth spending any time on?