Sea Dog

So you don't get caught out by accident, the first part would put you outside of the guidance to not run engines after 8pm and before 8am. Aside from that, running a genny won't win you many friends amongst your fellow moorers at any time of day - they're rarely as silent as their owners think in my experience. Some folks won't agree with that (and may even be along to flame me shortly, however, I'm trying to help here!) but many will. Maybe you will too if you're tv volume isnt high enough. The second part, however, shows that you're thinking considerately and realise the noise can be an issue. It's certainly a feasible alternative, particularly if you have a reasonable battery bank, efficient kit and give the issue sufficient thought, as indeed you are. The use and storage of petrol in enclosed boats is fraught with danger and a thing to be avoided if possible. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but it's not something I'd go for if there was an alternative.

This is an area which needs some care in my opinion. In the yachting world (where I have a little surveying experience) once you put down a deposit, even 'subject to survey' it often takes something pretty major and unexpected to allow a change of mind. You may be expected to accept the boat, given a suitable allowance for any repairs required. Much of that will be broker dependent. For example, when I bought my narrowboat through ABNB it was very clear that my deposit was refundable in full if for any reason wasn't satisfied after a trial run and option for survey. Caveat Emptor applies - be sure you're clear about what's being agreed and read the small print. There are enough boats about to walk away from unscrupulous brokerages and enough threads on here to give a pretty good idea of who they might be!

Your questions make me wonder whether you've been to look at a few narrowboats before asking because, if you haven't, I think you could have asked better targeted ones in this sector if you had. There are many different boats, with different layouts, different lifestyles and usage patterns and different equipment fits according to budget and other factors. Anyway, here's my input for what it's worth : 1. Nothing that I wouldn't have difficulty cooking elsewhere given an oven, grill and 4 burner gas hob. That said, the dedicated marine freestanding oven is a bit smaller and less accurate in terms of control and temperature than a decent household one, so it takes some adjustment. 2. As above, but the oven characteristics are slightly more of an issue. 3. In a cupboard or the fridge, probably mostly fresh ingredients. 4. Flambe? Being a confined space, the limitations are ones of safety and common sense. 5. That's a strange question. There are already floating cafés and canals are often narrow, so a floating allotment is likely to be a hazard to navigation. I'd like to be able to have better, more reliable access to moorings at supermarkets and the like which are frequently poor or full. I hope that helps get you started

Thanks Kris, that's the stuff, and it was those very middle ages folks I had in mind when imagining the effect on the ducks, who I don't think should be subjected to mouldy bread. 'Course, there was a bit of license taking there to get to ducks on LSD, but I wasn't expecting so much expert scrutiny.

Ha ha! Fair enough!

So it doesn't beat it then Alan, it matches it (reasonably enough given similar efficiency and insulation values) but the inverter being on 24/7 tilts the balance back to 12v. Now you have extra capital cost of 12v units V extra running costs of 240v plus inverter. No wonder this question seems perennial.

There are campaigns, by those supposedly in a position to know, to encourage folk not to feed bread to ducks cos it's not really good for them. Since eating mouldy bread was how LSD was discovered, this could bring a whole new psychedelic dimension to duck kind! Peace, Drake!

I confess I thought "Oh here we go" when I read the title of this thread and the first post. Having read your lyrics, it's hard not to have some sympathy with them. Not a bad effort, BT.

My 12v fridge draws about 35 watts when it's running which is, of course, not continuous. Unless someone can better inform me, I can't really see a 240v fridge with a similar duty cycle plus the inverter, with its own current draw running continously to be on hand to power it, would beat that.

Good to hear you fixed it TC! Swapping over (at the calorifier) fixed mine too I reckon, but I had to extend one line to achieve that so I took both to the baseplate whilst I was drained down as belt and braces. So nice to have hot water available in the mornings, isn't it?

Now that's what I call cutting to the chase: most people who put to sea in something whacky end up in a lifeboat, whereas he's started out in one!

Yeah, there's something inherently attractive about magnetism, isn't there. (Interesting posts guys, don't let my attempt humour repel you. Damn, I did it again).

Well why bother asking for alternatives to your current stuff then (which has looked a bit rough for a long time from what you've said here, so 15 years is stretching the point)? That's not meant to be a grumpy retort, just in case it reads like that - which it does a bit, but it's not meant to!

Thanks for that Phil, doubly useful as I too had settled on one 235w panel! We tend to do 6 week stints so your usage pattern also provides me with a useful comparison. I'm unsure about the shore supply replacement having got 7 years out of this battery set under the care of the Mastervolt Combi! Thanks again.

Worry ye not Dave, it's simply two things you should ignore in one post. Don't let either bother you in the least. Whistle a happy tune and be ready at the keyboard for the next time your sage advice is called upon.

But 5 or more would be preferable if small changes enabled it, eh?

I think mine says I can tow as long as I don't engage the hydrofoils.

And I take it, Phil, that your solar is than taking you to 100% rather than you're not bothering to top them right up? It's my intention to fit solar shortly for just that purpose on short cruising days or if I'm somewhere more than a couple of nights. Maybe I'll also disconnect the shoreline when I'm away from the boat on her home mooring. Is that what you do and is it working well for you?

I like your post, Lady C How much nicer to have 2 friendly and polite people in a bridge hole stand off than 2, shall we say 'less accommodating' folks who did both know the right horn signals! I'd guess it's only mariners plus a very limited selection of freshwater helmsmen who understand sound signals. I might try one where appropriate, but I don't expect everyone to understand and react to them. Try signalling "I don't understand your intentions" to someone who's sideways across the cut and see what reaction you get!

Hard to say without more detail (a battery monitor is a real boon if you wish to make the most of battery power) but I'd guess you're right and you've goosed your batteries. Things like a hairdryer are very hard on the batteries, even if they're well within what your inverter is capable of. A typical travel hairdryer might be 1200 watts. No issue for a 2500 watt inverter like mine, but at 12v it's still pulling 100 amps from your batteries - I let my 175 amp alternator tackle those loads and let my batteries keep things ticking over when we are moored for a day or two. They'll do big loads without complaint at first but it will inevitably take its toll, particularly if they're allowed to get low between charges or they aren't fully recharged regularly. There's some really knowledgeable guys on here who will probably be along to help soon. In the meantime, get her to shower and dry her hair (or use other powerful kit) whilst you're cruising! Hope that's some help.

Glass. Laminated or toughened to prevent accidents. Perspex and similar materials have their uses and advantages in many applications, but guess what is likely to happen if you use it again here?

Ah, those lovely Western Isles - I can see the attraction. The boat 'must have' list changes substantially then though. For example, "a roof that doesn't leak" now ranks above "a hull that doesn't leak"!

Hooters? Really? I dread to think how that establishment looks once it's been through the PC / equal ops wringer and then has a generous dose of Brit customer service added to the mix!