LadyG

You don't need to smuggle budgies, but a canary in a cage is a wise precaution against fire-damp.

Or use new technology and mifi or 4G

A strong net [dive shop] on a pole to retrieve things dropped in from welldeck, ocurs frequently at first. A gas spanner, and strong hands to tighten it, plus gas detecting spray. A wide selection of screwdrivers. Medicinal brandy plus lots of handwashing things. Paper towels, antiseptic spray for scratches/cuts Kitty litter in nylon stockings for spills in bilge etc. Toilet blue 140ml for casette.

I've got a Tyler Wilson and it's a very well built hull, they are very experienced [generations]. I would get the builder to do as much as he offersas the work involved in fitting out is ................ well twice as much work as you thought, and three times the price or vice versa if you decide to cut corners. There are quite a few Rules and Regulations as well, and very soon someone will ask you to consider buying second hand if you are in any doubt as to design/layout/skillsets. This is a few grades above B&Q See Colin Jaques on youtube it can be quite a time consuming process. Colin has a workshop [shed], tools, skills

Stick with it ! ?

Has OP been back, or has s/he given up with us? I assume that he /she was alarmed by the RED light status, and then went down a rabbit warren

I don't rely on this, the local petrol station /newsagent has absolutely no plan: there could be a one way system,, but instead the entrants and the exiting customers have to squeeze past each other, there is absolutely no sanitising stuff, I was offered baby wipes [to purchase]. I suspect they have been open throughout the pandemic. No sign of any deep cleaning.

I would determine if there is indeed a 72 hour longevity of virus, allow an hour to clean the boat surfaces, all the handles are particularly likely suspects I would have asked previous occupier to clean as much as they can and remove all bedding, I might ask if they could wash anything like curtains, and remove cushions. After wiping all surfaces with the Dettol type floor wipes, I would go round with white paper towels sprayed lightly with sanitiser: any dirty paper towel, clean wash with soap and water and dry again. Make sure the taps, handles, any places one grips things, are thoroughly cleaned. Use bleach spray on chromed surfaces, wipe off. I would take a waterproof type mattress cover and all bedding, a few towels and some strong blackbin bags, just put anything used in to bags for laundry. Plenty of rolls of paper towels, don't forget to wash all cutlery and china in anti-bac and extremely hot water, leave for two minutes, then air dry/paper towels before you use it. Deep clean toilet area. Take your own throws to cover soft furnishings. when I go to the supermarket, I wipe everything anyone else could have touched, which means I do not let anything contaminated in to my boat.

I'm not sure what to think, almost any situation can be improved. I've got my 550 watts of solar trickling way even today when it has been seriously wet and cold most of the day., I notied they were very dusty, might try a splash of of Fairy liquid. I will be buying a 100 watts portable pack in winter, to point at the sun.

no news is good news? or might be finding someone in marina to help

simplicity? I don't think so, every visit to loo you have to wee in one bottler and poop somewhere else, not always easy after a vindaloo. so you need to find somewhere to get rid of urine, daily. Then you need to double bag anything unpleasant. I have cat litter for emergencies, but you probbly want to try coconut stuff sawdut/shavings etc etc Then you need to buy a farm, and start composting which takes 'about year, of course you need to take daily temperature to be sure it is heating up [composting], which is essential to kill off E.coli.

Alan Titchmarch/Percy Thrower?

I've not done any cruising, yet, but have lived on my 57footer narrowboat, and I would say that given time, you could find a smaller boat [52-4 ft] that is nicely fitted out and well laid out, easier to manoevre and cosy enough. I would prefer a single dinette [desk] , again making the thing more spacious, but with high seating which is more storage and good view out window, my cat sits high and looks out the open window, popping in and out as desired. If you don't have a pumpout that gives you more storage, a smaller bed [3ft makes boat less "narrow", and ideally [for me I would have a very swish modern walkthough shower/loo. The cassette thing does create a problem, mine only lasts seven days,[thetford Excellence] if I am on board full time, and I have emergency dry loo of a primitive design. I like the Excellence 'cos it's a nice height, but ideally I would have two! Once I have cruised the whole network, expect to settle either North or South, but I would still like to have proper boat again [dutch style], but that is in about eight year, when I am getting on a bit [hitting 80]. I don't worry too muh about emergency ill health, just cope with it when it comes along. You can always ring one of the emergency services or you will post on here ad someone will sort you out short term. You're never far from ciilization.

Fair enuff, but you are experienced liveaboards, your long term choice, [I think ] a compatable couple, at the pipe and slippers age This looks more like a singe person, he's not going to be onboard 24/7, he'll be out there working, networking, clubbing and all the rst of it. buying a project meand every night and every weeken researhing, buying, stripping this that and t'other, and then there is maintenance of what you've got If you want to tie up in a marina,I would find a nice boat on a nice marina.

I looked t that before I realised it was modern widebeam, it's pretty 1960's. There are some very smart modern widebeams, but this is not one of them. No idea why folks would think a project is a good idea, . Every boat is a project, requires deep pockets and lots of experience, not someone who has put a few shelves up. DAMHIK I would spend a long time on research, if you can stash £3-5K perannum, keep ypur powder cool., If you can't , how are you going to afford the upgrade?

I've bought a narrowboat at that sort of cost, it needed £ x spent to make it nice. and still needs more, but I really want a boat not a caravan. I find I just need a bedroom, a cosy saoon and a galley, it depends how much ime you spend on board, and howmany people are living with you. The only thing I would really want is a swish shower etc. To get that on my current boat, it woud be abot £1500-2000, and a new modern galley , the same. I would not buy a floating home thinking it would be "my dream home" or "a foot on the property ladder" It's likely a money pit, or a pikey life.

I use a chlorinated rubber [Rustoleum Combi Color] it goes very drippy in the heat, but when it's like that it's great for doing the roof, just pour it on and roll.

You'll be popular!, why not just do it yourslf, though it might take two weeks, even in ideal circumstances. I'm no expert, and neither do I seek fancy finish, but I managed to do my own, my boat, by some miracle has almost no rust, so prep has been sanding, sanding. painting, sanding, paint, sand, paint, repeat

Wot kneeling is this? The only problem I have is getting down, and having done that, finding it's even worse trying to get up again. I just have to bend over, and use a roller with a long handle. I find it is best to take a few Ibuprofen and panadol if I am going to do these acrobatics. PS there were a lot of handy tools in Lidl this week including a neat anglegrinder, the batteries were £14.99

and what about the hamster?