Spencer

It has been 5 months since this thread started, we are really interested in installing something similar onto our boat - does anyone have any more to report? Carrie, did you sort something out in the end? Look forward to hearing an update. Spencer

I agree with Carrie. A website is a good way to keep in touch with / attract clients, and you can do this from the boat or become a bandwidth bandit and use a local library whenever you are near one with internet capability. Spencer

Thanks Tony and Costume Bint, I did think about weightlifter belts or medical supports, but I vividly recall staring at these smart little devices that Tony describes before walking back out into the rain in Crick. If you find the leaflet Tony that would be smart or if anyone else knows what we are talking about and has the details..... Ta Spencer

I work from my boat and we are CC'ers. Both sides of my business work fine from here, although I did establish my main clients before I moved, and the need for a landline and a postbox are irrelevant to me as everything can be managed electronically. As a management consultant I work wherever I am needed, and from the boat as much as possible. As a cartoonist I can again work from the boat and email my cartoons to the Editors once I am finished. There are two main considerations for me; Phone / Internet Signal and Time. The signal issue has been resolved. I use a 3G datacard which now provides a perfect signal wherever I moor (and we favour middle-of-nowhere spots rather than anywhere near civilisation) with the purchase of a little antennae which sticks onto the inside of the porthole and turns the boat shell into a groundplane. The phones work great by the porthole so I simply pair up a bluetooth headset and I can sit at my desk with a perfect signal rather than having my cheek pressed against the glass! I agree that Time is the other drawback. The responsibilities of living aboard must be addressed, emptying my buckets and refilling my water tank are therefore built into my schedule. I simply work my deadlines around these events and the client does not need to know why I need an extra couple of days to deliver. It can be done though, and I am sitting typing this in a beautiful spot on the Shroppie with a cartoon deadline approaching and several weeks of consultancy work scheduled completing some analysis from the boat. Life is sweet! Spencer

Hi All I did a search for this item first, but it seems that nobody else has talked about these before, then I saw this thread, so I figured here would be a good place to tag onto. Does anyone know where I can get hold of a padded belt which protects the lower back when working the locks? I am sure I saw one for sale at Crick last year but no amount of creative internet searching has yielded anything. Ta Spencer

Thanks everyone for your responses. We will moor up above the Dimmingsdale locks as recommended, and I am heartened by those who report pleasant cruising along this stretch of the system. I also appreciate the views of people on the subject of banditry. I admit I tend to worry about this subject more than your average Joe, and I regret that it sometimes does rule my decisions. However, we did not let it stop us choosing the lifestyle we wanted on the canals, and that decision was made with full awareness of all the media reports on trouble. I will take heart from those of you reporting many years without trouble, but I will at the same time continue to exercise caution when I moor up to reduce the chances of any 0.01% incidents happening to me or mine. I too am looking forward to decades of boating without incident, and despite being on the water for only a week, we have already met many friendly joggers, fishermen and boaters. May this be a sign of times to come Thanks again Spencer

Hi After announcing ourselves as Christmas boaters I went searching for some advice on where to moor on our trip up the Staffs & Worcs on our way to the Shroppie. I would be grateful for any recent local knowledge on where best to moor to stay away from the defective DNA element of society. We are nervous little boaters and don't want to face stones, abuse or trouble of any kind if we can avoid it. We take it easy (whole reason for choosing this lifestyle) each day usually only moving in the morning, and pubs aren't important as neither of us drink (I can hear gasps of surprise!). Very grateful for any advice available, we are moving to Hinksford tomorrow (Tuesday), then to the edge of Wombourne Wednesday, Thursday will be a huge intake of breath to get through to the other side of Wombourne and back into the countryside then we have to face the final leg to the Shroppie Friday. Thanks Spencer & Linda

We did!!! Dancing Bunny launched onto Dudley Number 1 on Thursday 21st and we are on our way towards the Shroppie up the Staffs & Worcs! Merry Christmas everyone, and if you see us on the move give us a wave Spencer and Linda

Thanks for the welcome and the input. If I still had a land base it would be easy, as I could have merely used the 'outside' clause of the house insurance to cover my chattels, but as we have really gone for it and are moving onto the water without the bricks and mortar safety net, the insurance companies are nervous. I'm sure we'll sort it somehow Spencer

The exciting news is that after lurking here for a while now (and a brief flurry of advice prior to our taster holiday in March) we are launching as liveaboards next week! Yey! I will then be able to dedicate much more time as a member of this community, and I will welcome any advice with open arms! My first sticking point is insurance. I have followed a discussion on the forum on this subject and selected craftinsure.com as my insurance company, but they have a low limit for individual items - and I own a few things which will not be covered as a result. They are reconsidering at the moment (can you hear the pound signs?), but in the mean time I decided to call loads more companies - none of them wanted to know once I explained I would be living on a narrow boat!!! One of them admitted that a caravan would have been OK (?). So.....my question please, has anyone any recommendations for a company who would insure a few items both aboard and whilst I am wandering around away from my boat? Thanks in anticipation Spencer