The Grumpy Triker
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Advice for Upper River Severn Please
The Grumpy Triker replied to The Grumpy Triker's topic in General Boating
Was going to pull in there but intermittent power loss issues delayed me and only just managed to limp into Tewkesbury before dark. -
Advice for Upper River Severn Please
The Grumpy Triker replied to The Grumpy Triker's topic in General Boating
Thanks Tim, I had it in mind that maybe I should call ahead, so will definitely do so as heading there Sat ....well prob Sun now -
Advice for Upper River Severn Please
The Grumpy Triker replied to The Grumpy Triker's topic in General Boating
mine was a bit tongue in cheek as well and many thanks for the info and for the warning, I hadn't seen any navigational notes on this in the guides. I was going to turn in but given the weather warnings for Saturday I think I may plough onto Tewkesbury now. Provided things go to plan. I'll visit Worcester on another day. for that....fingers crossed Cheers Neil, good to know that. I always respect the rivers so just didn't know about the non-tidal Severn -
Advice for Upper River Severn Please
The Grumpy Triker replied to The Grumpy Triker's topic in General Boating
As a newbie on a 60' narrowboat, should I be concerned about flow rates this high up the Thames? Am guessing as per your comment, that lack of water is not an issue going forwards. -
Dear all, Well got the boat from Nantwich to Kidderminster with a young but willing crew despite the gale and a canal like pea soup due to the leaves and other debris...a real learning experience, then today, my first true time as a solo through locks etc. and despite weather forecast set fair!!... yep it peed it down, engine power loss issues and by the time I got to Stourport ( about 3.40pm after late start) I was drenched, and then the rain REALLY started!...shower, dry clothes and a beer in a local pub & all is good with the world.... ...EXCEPT!.....after all this rain should I be checking the flow rates etc. for Stourport to Worcester tomorrow?.....and if I do need to check, where and whAt am I looking for? I used to use the Thames loads and you just knew the river but the Severn is fed by a lot more higher ground and I learnt to respect nature at a young age....any advice greatly appreciated.
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Colouring makes it look like a stepped in lock wall ....hence the thought it was a great shot for confusing people
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Is it just me or do you wonder how the boat got in ....the width behind the stern looks too narrow to get that width boat through! Is it. Lock parking spot? Hate to say but I love marmite and I love boats but to me, boats are like marmite!....try licking yours after dropping your nice freshly prepped piece of 'marmite on toast' on the roof whilst trying to get in a lock!
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Hi Michael, You sound far better prepared than I was recently, although I started looking in February and then ermmm....found the wrong broker, but then found a great team at Swanley Bridge Marina. Some basic comments: - It is a sellers market and all prices are inflated....I don't see that changing anytime soon so you may need to have to be prepared for a quick response....so plenty of preparation time. - On both boats I negotiated an 'In the Water' or 'Pre-Survey' price, & in both instances there was a valid reason for renegotiation. One broker refused to negotiate due to 'Ts&Cs' then, under what advice I couldn't comment, the seller refused to negotiate further. On the second boat the seller took an obstinate stance and played on the 'Sellers Market' status, despite there being about £2,000 of unsuspected work. Due to personal reasons I caved in, much against gut feel, and £5,000 later I now have a boat ready to make my own....no doubt with additional work to do, but she is mine and now the journey starts I will be live-aboard from day 1 but the message I have is - Sellers Market = 1 negotiation or be prepared to walk away. i wish you good luck and with a far healthier budget than mine you should do well
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Crew Help & Experienced Opinion Required
The Grumpy Triker replied to The Grumpy Triker's topic in General Boating
That'll be a 'No' then Change of plans confirmed...knew it was a longshot. -
Really short notice but starting either this weekend or within the next week I need to take my boat down from Swanley Bridge Marina down to Kinver or Stourbridge...(or is Stourport?) and wondering if anyone is willing to take a single bunk board and lodgings ....with one or two beers & meals in exchange...for helping me for all or part of the way.....boat has been in for stern gear fixing and will be ready soon ...plus need to beat the Winter closures. I am planning to do it myself but equally happy to take on board a recommended site member as a coach and advisor on a few thoughts ....if they are willing to help me build or prep an area for my stove then even better & a fair recompense is on offer. As a new live-aboard I need some advice and help but not any dictats Will do it myself but thought it good to ask.....would need recommendations from others on here if you are up for playing teacher & smiling as I ground the boat for the 4th time in a day i won't be online much until Wednesday but will try to check in and answer any questions asap. ....and yes!....I am a big grumpy old fart, but always appreciate a genuine bit of help.
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Would love to see everyone's 5" thick non-combustible hearths with a 4" thick concrete pour on narrowboats ....the steering could be fun. yep those were the English made Hamlets I was looking at but still have a 2-door in my head at the moment.
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....oh and by the way, just to answer a couple of posts, I had to be up at 3.30am the other morning in order to try and pinch a decent stove..... ....couldn't fit it in the shopping basket on the bicycle though....knew I should have taken the trike! .......noise may have been a bit of an issue to covert operations mind!
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Cheers, I'd want to angle it anyway being honest as it will go in the port side bow corner so would angle it to have it pointing more down the boat for better heat distribution, and I think it looks nicer at an angle. The only thing I need to resolve is the glass frame next to the bow doors so will fill this in and add a ventured towards the stove to aid air flow. Just going back to an earlier comment, do I need fireboard underneath if I have a 1/2-3/4" marble base to stand it on?
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That's a big help thanks, nice to have some more direct experience I have to say I'm preferring the double doors approach, so the Villager may be the one to go for especially as it gives me a fair bit of savings for all the other bits.
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Between you and Rusty some good alternatives at a nicer price, just need to make it look slightly better....yep sorry, I'd need it to have a nice frame, but could make one of those.
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You been peeking!? Perfect person to provide a review of both options .....basically it is down to heads or tails then I guess.....I have to have my stove at the bow as no mid boat option, thanks for the feedback
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- Homebrew fuel.....hmmm, am sure I've drunk that before somewhere!?
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Shows you what I know
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Was seriously considering it as was recommended by my surveyor but never really asked around. If I go for the cheaper stove then it gives me a bit of theoretical saved money to use....have seen from £70 - £100 range which seems a lot of money for a little fan..but!....if it is worth it?......might need to be a big computer fan from an older PC?....might stick to the official version for now. Need to get my stove onboard and up and running asap as the boat has a distinctive bit of damp about it after sitting for a few months and with a bit of a water pump leak.....need to get the heating on full once the last bit of work is complete and I am onboard full time. Trouble is, heat won't kill genuine damp spores I'm told....so not sure how to totally get rid.....but the stove is a start point, especially with winter racing in.
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Yep, quite liked one or two of them but the price was a immediate no-no....just had a nagging feeling that they looked a bit too modern compared to what I had in my minds eye. I've been recommended to fit a fan on the top of the stove to help distribute the heat through the length of the boat, does anyone else use this, and does it provide a noticeable benefit?
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Ah ok, that makes sense...I do have a nice piece of marble about 1/2-3/4" thick that I saved from a clear out somewhere, that should be ok I guess?
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Cheers again all, have to say that the fireweaver wasn't quite the design I was looking for. One English make I was looking at was a Hamlet Hardy or similar but JonathanA makes a good point, having a good dealer network for spares is worth thinking about and why is it not too many of you have mentioned these other makes before....tried & trusted is a big draw. I like the look of this one and at 5kW it would seem enough for my 58.5' nb....is 5 enough?.....doesn't mention how far from combustables though. http://www.stovesareus.co.uk/brands/brands-g-to-z/villager-stoves/villager-chelsea-duo-multifuel-woodburning-stove.html ESSE looks nice but at 400mm space to combustables on all sides it seems a lot compared to others so probably getting to a choice between the Villager and a Squirrel (I keep hearing the Blackadder sketch from the Highwayman episode whenever I type or read that ) - possibly the 1430!? This may sound stupid but....hearth? Floor fixing kit?.....was going to put it on a tiles over fireboard base with an edging. Someone said must have a metal hearth and just leave fireboard showing....any comments, recommendations on this bit? I thought I was spending a long time on stove choice but reading other sites they were hunting and umming and aahhing for up to 3 months! don't let me go that long please
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I thought that was what all of the above was I have learnt a lot from the thread but still heading for a heads and tails on the options....may get it wrong but may be worth a punt for experience sake
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Hi all, What a great thread...thanks all....sadly and am even more confused than when we started as now the steel option is not soooo bad, but so many options and thoughts. Trouble is that none of you have mentioned the options I had so it may be down to Squirrel v Villager v 14 others Two door sounds better than one....only ever had to light open fires so all the talk of the trickery to get a one door lit and working makes me wonder if I am missing a magic wand somewhere I think the exchange rate argument has levelled one side but that the reputation succeeds all for Morso. pay £400-580 for a British version or £700-900 for a Danish stove!?
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Still not sure why Morso is £200 more than others ...right...3.30am start so off to bed....have a good weekend all and many thanks
