NB Alnwick

That's what I do when working the boat single handed but I came unstuck once when coming uphill from Northampton: On the penultimate lock, I got distracted - it was a summer Sunday afternoon with lots of gongoozlers - I failed to get the boat into reverse, after I had closed the top gate I went to get back on when I saw the boat chugging away on its own toward the next lock. The boat was already too far away for me to catch it and I had stupidly thrown the stern line back on board. With so many onlookers, the only thing to do was to walk up to the next lock and open the gates - fortunately not

An angle grinder is quicker than a wrench

Easy job! Cut and grind them off and put non-slip pads in their place: https://www.jonesboatchandlery.co.uk/treadmaster-self-adhesive-grip-pads The less that you have cluttering the deck the better - if you need to put a handrail somewhere, attach it the cabin.

Much heartened - I am looking for alternative quotes although as mentioned in another topic we are looking for grit-blasting the old finish away followed by two-pack primer.

I am looking forward to the day when I can charge my car at a free charging point, drive to the boat, and then plug the boat into the car so that I don't have to run the generator to watch TV.