Sea Dog

Then I'd recommend a post office in the Dyffed-Powys area - it currently has the lowest rates of car theft in the UK. Of course, that could change if enough London boaters read this thread and follow suit...

Exactly - but you'd prefer the river route!

We have a single lever non thermostatic mixer valve on the boat. Never had a temperature stability issue and it's easy to drain down the shower valve in winter so that's the ideal solution in my book... providing there's a thermostatic mixer limiting the temperature of the hot water leaving the tank. Whilst you need to store hot water at a high enough temperature for the prevention of Legionella or even higher for practical reasons, there's no need to expose the end user to this unsafe temperature. The thermostatic mixer on the outlet will prevent that for you at both your sink and shower so, if you have that set up, you don't really need a second thermostatic mixer at the shower valve. (Unless you contest that just one thermostatic mixer isn't safe enough when you can chose to have both - then once you're dry you can put on your trousers with a belt and braces).

I asked my dog if a Labrador is a dog that doesn't like gravy bones for you. She said: "they don't like nuthin'! " Oh hang on, apparently I've misquoted her - she said "nuthin' they don't like"

See, I'm a glass half full man myself. I just fill my water tank at Fradley Junction now and again and everywhere else seems really quick!

Others have said that, and I guess it might if you only have one bottle or use a bottle a week, but I carry 2 x 13kg bottles which only feed the cooker. So, whilst running on the newly connected full one, I simply replace the freshly empty bottle at a convenient port side opportunity. Never even come close to being a supply issue - nor one for my back, knees or paintwork! The gunwale height side gas locker is probably the thing I'd miss the most if I changed boats.

I'd change my name to Tesla and join in with you guys, but then I'd get sucked into the neverending "why electric cars..." thread!

Is it a coincidence that the only folk espousing induction hobs in boats are @magnetman and @rusty69 ? Surely this is a "cast iron case" of promoting self interest!

Coal and gas are the only regular handling issues aren't they? Any other heavy lifts are rare enough to get help with rather than fitting ot carrying specialist equipment other than a sack barrow. Our gas locker is in the form of a side hatch, for which I regularly praise Piper boats. I think avoiding the hole in the foredeck gas locker solves one of the most awkward lifts aboard, but a retrofit solution is probably impractical. Last week took delivery of a tonne of Oxbow Red at home on a pallet of 100 x 10kg bags. That made such a difference to handling, and would be a real boon aboard for that and for storage too, but I've not seen that option on the coal boats I try to give my business to, but it's such an improvement I may have to look at that option a bit further. Not the petrol station 10kg bags though - they always seem both exorbitant and poor quality.

My Bubble corner stove also has this, and it certainly makes a difference to the heat reaching the tiled surround. In my recent refurbishment I replaced black ceramic tiles with light coloured porcelain, both of which I think also work well at further reducing the heat making it to the backing.

Since I last went through (late September) they've put a baffle on the outfall of the bywash on that lock. Someone else may be able to say how effective that's been, but the brickwork on the offside of the entry will doubtless be grateful for it! I think that's scheduled for repair too.

Imho, the best thing would be not to start with a lifeboat in the first place. Don't mind me though - I just can't see beyond the pig ugliness and impracticality of these things.

Isn't it just another case of cut the wage bill or die through not being able to compete? Plenty of other UK industry has gone west (or east actually) for similar reasons. Worse, I think, is allowing a Chinese company to end the UK's ability to produce steel from ore - replacing the last blast furnaces with electric arc limits us to recycling only. Nazi Germany's bombs did less damage to British industry. We need to invest heavily in Specsavers to combat our industrial scale shortsightedness.

Strictly speaking, if it's 4% and then 6% for inflation that'd be 10.24% but that's not an option either. I'm tempted to vote for 0% just in case this poll has some influence...

Well said. Give yourself a Greenie! ETA - Second thoughts - I did it for you.

Muppetry.

Thirteen quid as a carbon monoxide death prevention measure? I said "sod it" and splashed out! As you say, it is bloomin' good. I used Vitcas 300c stuff at the top - claggy and horrible. Should have used 1200c Envirograf both ends. Perfect finish very easily achieved, plus the transparent version I used took grate polish well to make a perfect match with the stove and flue in one application. Buy the best - cry only once.

Fantastic idea! However, this is a tiny market compared to, say, the car market, it so it would be silly to try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it should just follow the model of the "Second Hand Car Show". Obvious really - I mean, can you imagine having to traipse around dealers to buy a second hand car? Bonkers!

Whosoever is right or wrong here, the above course of action seems reasonable as a standard precaution whilst CRT investigate. If you had allegedly assaulted an official in most walks of life it is likely, and again probably reasonable, that there would be an immediate sanction placed upon you whilst the incident was investigated. Hearing your side of the story should be part of that forthcoming investigation, not in deciding the initial immediate action. The investigation timescale doesn't seem unrealistic and CRT may yet find in your favour, so I'd say the correct action is to comply with their instructions. Actually, if you don't, then it's likely to totally undermine your own defence and the employee, if he is at fault, will not be held to account.

Coal boat Halsall has now had to cancel their trip south with deliveries being rescheduled by van or cancelled, so I'm guessing this is no longer the case. How specialist is this boat that a temporary replacement can't be used?

Except for the fatal shooting there on Sunday, obvs! Even having said that, I agree with the recommendation and will still moor there in future.

That's the same as mine. It's a drain channel that shouldn't have foam in it or the condensation off the glass will run off the frame internally instead of going out through a drain hole either end of the bottom of the frame. It's bad enough having the frame condensation with nowhere to go without adding that from the glass. ETA: I suspect this was a previous owners attempt to stop condensation on the frame, but it's futile as it does not introduce a thermal break.

Exactly. Once the boat is built with space for one of these diminutive duffers, it's Hobson's choice... or a galley refit!