Joe Bourke

We were moored up, and a another boater came along and asked if he could borrow a stillson spanner. I asked if he had a problem, and he said he was having a problem changing his gas bottle. You can probably guess the rest. He had worked on the nut until it was round, with various weapons of mass destruction. It hadn't occurred to him about left handed threads. I often wondered who had been changing the gas before.

There are many boats with 2 steering positions, and engine controls to match.

I think you are really looking for a long term mooring. Residential moorings are as rare as hen's teeth.

Must be literate ducks!

French & Peel built lots of boats, narrowboats, widebeams, commercial craft, and sea going craft. Bob French and Don Peel were both employed at Dunstons Shipbuilders, before going their own way. They used proper ship building steel, gritblasted and primed. I have owned 2 vessels built by them, and would use them again, if they were still around. Alas Bob passed away a few years ago. The boat I have now was built by French & Peel.

Stainless Steel dog dishes can be used for chimney coolly hats as well, have also seen then with bases cut off and used as porthole liners.

A PRM 500 is a big gearbox for a narrowboat engine. A live PTO is a constantly running PTO, the Hydraulic pump bolted to it will be running constantly also. You can get engines with hydraulic pumps fitted directly to them, BETA for example. Hydraulic systems are expensive. I know, I have hydraulics on my boat.They are good though. You can still fit old style, slow revving engines. Are you sure you fully understand the regulations regarding the fitting of slow revving vintage engines etc? There are many boat builders still fitting them, and with RCD compliance. Regards, Joe

The Dutch Barge Association will probably be able to answer any questions regarding the purchase of boats in Europe.

Water getting under the floor in the cabin shouldn't be able to get into the engine space, or vice versa. You need to be able to see under the floor somewhere near the engine/cabin bulkhead, and have the means to get any water that will drain to that area out. A hole for an wet/dry Hoover should be made in a discrete place for just that. If your water tank is fairly empty, there will be a good slope, bow to stern for any water to drain that way.

Hello ex neighbour. My guess it is an imperial gypsy. There are anchor chain size charts on the interweb. Saxton Marine is a good source of information regarding ground tackle, chains etc. When looking for anchor chain, ensure its calibrated. I hope all is well with you both. Joe

Loose dog v speeding cyclist on a tow path should make an interesting legal case. Does anyone know of a precedent?

Could you possibly mean soda blasting?

Naburn to Goole is more complicated.

We had conditions similar to that on Monday, in the Howdendyke area especially. However beyond Selby things usually get better.

For slowish boats using Ocean Lock at Goole, I would suggest going out at 2 1/2 hours before high tide Goole. Keep a steady pace and with the flood tide you should reach Naburn quite easily before the ebb. Watch the weather though, the tidal River Ouse can be treacherous in bad weather, especially wind over tide, for narrowboats etc.

Tikla folding brackets.

Have you considered using folding brackets such as Tikla or Hebgo, they come in various strengths. They can fold down very compact, usually about an inch plus thickness of top.

The boat is moored at Viking Marina at Goole. It is for sale. It isn't trading.

Vermiculite ?

I assume you mean Naburn Lock, the dimensions are something like 150ft by 25ft 6in.

You are welcome to have a look at my still in progress wheelhouse. There are pictures on Flickr, under MV Cygnus Wheelhouse

What HP ?

Sweep in the summer?