Jak

Many ways to light a stove. After a few years what I do now is a little kindling, then a couple of kiln dried logs. Its nice and hot now, much more quickly than going straight from kindling to smokeless. So now I chuck in some smokeless fuel and then manage the burn with the Squirrel controls. Topping up as needed and banking up to last overnight. Practice makes perfect. Sometimes it went out, sometimes I woke up hotter than a sauna. Enjoy 😊

Thanks all. My new gas safe guy and I have figured that rather than bodging up the 20+ year old Vanette, we are going to fit that Thetford 8. Midland agree with Bill that its as close as we are likely to get to a modern swap in. So the Thetford 8 is on order and I’ve got my boat LPG expert. Happy days 😎

Nice one Bill.

OK. Looks like I’ve found a boat LPG guy. All your help is so very much appreciated as usual. I Will post again when I have an update. Will probably be installing a new hob but with a professional to test and certificate before BSS retest. Damn thing is 20+ years old so has more than done its job!

Too true.

Cheers Alan. Probably. But then I went to replace the LPG regulator. Bottle connection fine. But connection to boat side I can’t seem to get the correct fitting size. Nothing is ever easy. FFS, I am an IT contractor and not so pratical. Achieved a lot on 12v the electrics, but gas always throws up problems I didnt forsee…

And no I do not have a bubble tester. What do we think, worth plumbing one in??

It does work and i’ve reached out to a couple more local guys. It’s against my usual rules to do everything myself, but am worried if I do, Ive no way to test the fix.

Cheers guys. Got it now. User error 😕

Cheers Dave / Mike. Much appeciated.

Im going to check 👍

Hey David. I do not see how to select by LPG in boats. Is there any screen shot or more info you can send. Much appreciated. If it is just me being dumb please help!

Hi Mike. He says he can not/will not do it. I did ask. Short of getting that boat LPG engineer. And no one has yet let me know of one. The new hob sounds best. I’m sure I can manage the woodwork surgery to get it in and probaby to plumb it in too. Our old unit is probably 20 years old so it really does not owe me anything. So sounds like it might be best to order a new one and give it a go. But with the BSS due I’m tempted to pay a proper certified engineer if I could find one!

Tony. Your help appeciated as ever. A holiday boat and will definately measure up and see if a new unit works. Problem with the Gas Safe website, unless I am doing it wrong, is that you cant search for boat people. The only local firm I found said no. I asking here because someone must have used a gas boat firm. It can’t just be me??

I’m also reading: PLEASE NOTE: Gas appliances should only be installed by a Gas Safe registered installer and in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. So I still get back to how to find that Gas Safe Boat guy 😕

Thanks. Yes we isolated the hob and it is definately the source of the leak. The pressure drop is enough to fail BSS. I watched him test it 😕 Tony. Spot on, there is a special grease and my examiner agrees with you that greasing the burner valves is probably the solution. Problem is that I do’nt have the test equipment to know if the fix worked before I get the inspector back. So I really want a gas safe LPG engineer. Mike. Point taken. Will measure up and see what Midland have. The hob is ancient and a swap could be the easiest. I suppose as a non expert I’d be concerned that the connections to my existing braided gas hoses are the same?

Hi all. Its been a while since posting, but I really do need some help. I’ve failed BSS with a gas leak. With the help of the examiner its been narrowed down to the Vanette gas hob. So am trying to find someone to fix/replace the leaking hob. Been looking at the gas safe register, but the only local company I found (should have said the boat is in Leighton Buzzard) listing boat LPG appliances is not able to help us. Please can anyone knowing of a boat gas appliances engineer contact me with details? I need to get my BSS done! Any help very much appreciated. Thanks, Jak.

Yes. I only have Unlimited data / WI-FI and fire sticks now. Never short of telly to watch and no messing about with antennas. Don’t miss that 😆

I suppose it depends on what you mean by “small”. This one is 24” and I didn’t think it was too big. https://dealbuyer.com/viewproduct/21190/Sharp_24_Smart_LED_12v24v_TV_with_Freeview_Play_Prime_Netflix_Satellite_Saorview_PVR_1T-C24DH2KG2FM?gclid=CjwKCAjwgr6TBhAGEiwA3aVuISxeQBNGD9Ds2Xv4PPML_J3G8RiFyjv7kBX0T27MGAGNMoD635sfohoCkhgQAvD_BwE

Same as Ronnie, but using Virgin mobile for unlimited data. You don’t even need the fire stick if you fork out for a decent 12v smart telly.

I’m a big fan of these guys. https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/catalog/list/category/folding-solar-kits They have a range of kits and mounting brackets. My panel kit was installed 5 years ago and a small upgrade more recently. Very pleased with the results.

These are exactly the same as my early 80s windows. Never noticed any markings indicating a manufacturer, but I will check.

I did this. Cheap and simple upgrade. Far better than the old ACR. On a 1500 BMC diesel. 75 amps may not sound like much, but it is so much more then the 45 amps from the original!

There is a lot to comment on here, and I’m no expert. But I’m going to pick on “36ft boat”. If you are going to live on a narrowboat a permanent bedroom is very desirable. I’d also want a dinette as well as a main saloon. You need more like a 45ft+ for that bedroom and more for the dinette. Do you really want to live with a sofa bed, made up every night? I know I would not. Good luck. And do rent a boat if you haven’t. It’s from enjoyment of rental boats that we realised we love the canals and bought one.