JJPHG

Green bananas. It really is hard to tell the difference and when I blind tested my son and his friend, they didn’t spot the difference. Don’t try it with green shop bananas, it doesn’t work anywhere near the same I’m afraid. Has to be fresh off the plant and straight into the fryer. Haven’t tried it with dripping yet

Pedant alert! Avo is an avocado, arvo is afternoon ? Have to admit that Esky’s, apart from being easier to say that chiller box or cool box, are pretty good bits of kit. We have one on the verandah thats lasted 12 years in the Queensland sun and still does the job keeping the pimms cold at this time of year.

Last January we went with Boutique Narrowboats which although on the more expensive side did have a well set out and equipped boat. They were based at Debdale Wharf we we hired but I believe they have now moved to Market Harborough (according the there webbsite they were due to - www.boutiquenarrowboats.co.uk), which will probably be a lot easier to get to for somebody not used to the area than Debdale. The only snag is they are geared up for couples so there'e a nice big bed at the bow but the sofa was comforatable and my son (12 at the time) had no problem sleeping on it. I foound it quite hard to find an operator thatt was open over winter although Christmas/New Year hirings were more available - if expensive. As per previous advise check closures etc before you book or plan you route. I'm a countryside person so we headed towards Leicester a route which is largely designated SSI (special scientifc interest) and even in winter was very nice.

Being ‘staff’ should not preclude involvement in a discussion and maybe all staff should have a disclaimer statement in their footer bit stating that any views expressed are personal and do not represent (etc etc). HOWEVER, I would concede the point made somewhere in this discussion that the forum itself ‘Technical and account support’ does imply a degree of authority to ‘staff’ on subjects posted therein. I would agree that, the comments made, could by the nature/title of the forum, be construed as advice and that imho are probably not the best way to deal with such emails. in this case maybe the best solution would have been to move the post to a different forum?

I got 2 emails!! Was very suspicious as I don’t even have a paypal account. Would add my voice/vote to those advocating not to reply as, yes, the least it shows is that its an active email account.

Cheaper to manufacture? Easier to fit? Easier to clear? Look better (not to all but to the majority maybe)? In round ones the water doesn't get stuck in the corners ?

I assume you mean when the boat is stationary and idling otherwise momentum would play all sorts of games and lead to who knows what. The other problem (just one off the top of my head) with implementing an idle engine cut-out would be that you would at least need to have an override switch so that, if you wanted, you could run the engine to charge the batteries. You don't always want to be moving to accomplish this. More comments from far more knowledgable boaters will no doubt follow when the sun rises on your side of the world

Whilst the glass itself is unlikely to break due to the heat the differential stress from the frames or supports can cause issues. Not quite the same but we have lost 5 glass panels from around our deck and pool (coincidentally one went only yesterday) in the last 4 years, due to this. This one was the last straw - we will be changing the fencing type now.

Doesn't help matters that the value of the GBP has fallen so much (and likely to take another hit soon) that the market shifts towards tourists who see better value for money. My last trip early this year was nearly 40% cheaper to us (amazingly roughly the same cost in GBP) to our trip back in 2006. Yes - we always cruise off-season so get better deals but businesses will charge what the market will bear. It's just that the market itself has probably changed. Don't have any facts to back this up - just a thought

? - thanks but it's always nice to hear from those with far more experience/time on the water than I've had . Better to 'float' these ideas on here first and find out they are hair brained than wasting time thinking any more about it

As I'm laid up for a couple of months following a visit to the local human repair shop to put my shoulder back to how it should be I've returned to my NB planning. Having read quite a few threads recently about dropping water levels I began to wonder if there is any benefit in having an adjustable ballast system to help with those times you might find yourself grounded. I was wondering if there are any clever water storage systems/ideas out there whereby you could move water around between bow and stern positioned tanks (or even skin tanks if they exist) to help out. As I will be solo I won't normally have any crew available to plonk down as temp ballast. Also any views on the likely best hull design for the future if trends in water levels are maintained. Surely the more modern bathtub designs are harder to shift with all the extra suction/friction force's grounding would generate. As I would be solo I can sacrifice a bit of space. PS Planning on about a 57'

I only got as far as Kilby Bridge (from Foxton direction) on my short trip back home in January. Moored up a few hundred metres short of the bridge and there was no trouble - very quiet.

I had a similar miss fortune trying to sell a particular meteorological information system to Germany. The system was called MIST, harmless enough until we discovered in german it means crap, rubbish, shit etc

I was in Hong Kong at the time so it was the other way round. Didn't see the actual landing but remember watching Neil Armstrong's bit whilst eating rich tea biscuits with butter on hmmmmm.