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Grasshopper

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About Grasshopper

  • Birthday 30/08/1953

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  • Location
    Surrey
  • Interests
    Beer, boats, beer, computers, beer, cricket.<br /><br />Did I mention beer?
  • Occupation
    PC Engineer
  • Boat Name
    Red Dwarf
  • Boat Location
    Napton

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  1. The most peculiar case of being overtaken that I have experienced happened last year between Napton & Braunston. I was approaching 3 moored boats when I spotted a narrowboat behind us and closing. Each of the boats had a gap between them so the mooring probably occupied about 7 or 8 boat lengths. OK, I think, I'll just get past these and pull over and let him go. So I drop my speed to go past the moored boats. As I pass the first one, SWMBO says 'they aren't slowing down'. I take a look and they are indeed coming on at a pace. Short of pulling in & mooring between the boats, there isn't much I can do. He obviously knows we've seen him, so I think that he'll obviously wait until I pass the third boat. By the time I reach the third boat, his bow is right behind us and SWMBO is getting agitated. 'I'll pull in the moment I'm past' I reassure her. I look back again and realise that the boat is now putting power on & steering for the gap between us and the moored boat. He powers past in a huge wash that has the moored boat crashing about and me fighting the tiller to keep control. On the stern stand two middle aged guys who airily wave and call out 'Thank You'. And as always happens on these occasions I watch them power off down the cut with my mouth open and only think what I should have said after they are out of sight.
  2. And I've moored there several times without trouble. On occasion when we've been virtually the only boat there. Never felt anything but safe. Although I've had my ear bent plenty of times about how 'dangerous' it is. The truth is that you can have problems anywhere but I can think of plenty of places I'd be more worried about than the centre of Banbury.
  3. I've just edited my earlier post as I've now read your previous thread and from that it is clear that the problem is specific to your laptop and not the dongle. This sounds like one of those problems which you can spend days on without finding the answer. And often the only solution is to reinstall Windows and start from scratch. But best of luck.
  4. I've seen a lot of customers running AVG 9 Free with routers without any problem. And indeed I've just installed it on a customer's PC that is on my workbench and it is working through my router OK. But I suppose it might be the specific firewall settings on your router if it is in a work environment. I haven't seen it working with a dongle so I can't really comment whether there is an issue there. EDITED TO REMOVE SUGGESTION AS I'VE JUST READ THE EARLIER THREAD
  5. I wouldn't necessarily dismiss a portable DVD player as they they usually have TV out so that you can play through your main TV. And they have a rechargeable battery and usually can work off a 12v car plug. I have a phillips one that I use as a back up. My main solution is a car radio head unit that also plays DVDs which makes for a nice neat solution.
  6. That isn't what the Met Office say: So I think any problems are likely to be localised.
  7. Suits me. My 26 footer will nicely fit in the space that you leave.........
  8. Well based upon mine & Allan's experience above, I would say Sony. But they don't come cheap. Although I picked up mine reconditioned so it wasn't too bad. That's interesting. One of the reasons that I stick with the Omnimax is that only having a 26 foot boat, storage space is at a premium. But that sounds like a useful back up.
  9. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  10. And you'd be wrong. As I commented on another thread, my Sea Otter was rammed on the North Oxford by an oncoming boat who was certainly doing well above 4mph. Despite my best efforts at avoiding him, he kept steering directly at me. The force of the impact nearly knocked me off my feet. When I recovered and peered over the side, I expected a huge dent but there was nothing except a mark on the paintwork. His shouted explanation for his behaviour appeared to be that canals are V shaped and that he couldn't move to the side. As by the point of impact, we were well out of the centre channel and nearly to the bank, this didn't make much sense to me. In fact I was so surprised, I just stood there gazing after him with my mouth open. All those witty things that I could have said only occurred to me later. As I watched him go on his way, his wife appeared to be giving him an ear full and he proceeded to ram the bank. I'll be charitable and assume that he had a technical fault with his steering.......... I've also been rammed from the rear whilst moored. That was a hire boat so I accept that was inexperience. Although a 'sorry' would have been nice..... But again only a scratch. So whatever the Sea Otter did to get the dent that you saw, it must have been VERY spectacular. In general the aluminium alloy used is more 'springy' than steel. As for the concept that they are unsuited to canals.........well there are a lot of them out there going round the system and I've not seen a dented one yet. I've seen plenty of dents on steel boats though.
  11. Tony, you are not alone. I too swear by mine. Picks up digital TV & FM radio fine. And no monkeying about having to move it. But one thing I have learnt is that there is a HUGE difference in the quality of terrestrial digital receivers. A RoadPro 12v one got virtually nothing (despite working fine at my house) but the one built into the Sony TV that I now use when on the boat pulls in every channel available. So the aerial is only half the equation. Probably the RoadPro would have worked OK with a good directional aerial but the Omnimax can also work fine if it is teamed with the right receiver.
  12. I wasn't necessarily saying don't use it. Just be aware of its toxicity. I use a pyrethrin intecticide as a repellant in my cratch which otherwise is quickly colonised in between my visits to the boat. A quick spray around the inside before I leave and it saves me having to de-web the cratch every time I go to the boat.
  13. Any insecticide, like that one, that is based on Pyrethrin (in this case in the form of Permethrin) will kill them and sprayed on surfaces will tend to repel them for a period of time. But careful how you use it..................... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrin
  14. There definitely are buses, because I caught one into Rugby in May. Can't remember the numbers (there was a couple). From memory there were several each hour so didn't have to wait long either way.
  15. Or at least they recognise that if the customer wants shore power fitted, then they will also expect a GI as well. And yes you are correct, no anodes.
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