Mark May

Yep, that is a fairly accurate "solders 5" on how it all went down in Europe during WWII. My old dad joined the Australian 2/1st Field Regiment (6th Div) as a Bren gunner, on 20/10/1939 and was on the first ship to leave Oz, in Jan 1940 - Egypt bound. After training in Gaza, took part in the Nth Africa Campaign (Libya / Bardia / Tobruk). They then deployed to Greece in Mar 41 to fight the Hun. They were quickly overwhelmed, and forced to fight all the way down the Greek peninsular in retreat. Eventually being "evacuated' by sea to Crete, to fight a rear-guard action. Finally being forced to surrender (30 May) after exhausting all ammunition during the Battle of Retimo (first and last time the Kraut used paratroopers as an assault force during the war). He spent the remainder of the war in various German POW camps, he was probably lucky. What was left of his Reg regrouped in Palestine and then went on to the Pacific to fight the Jap, on our doorstep in New Guinea (Kokoda). I'm just about to retire (swallow the anchor) after 32yrs in the Royal Australian Navy. The Poms don't have a hell of a lot of real, fair dinkum allies in this world - they should be looking after the ones they have!

No need to reinforce anything. the microwave was an example of the correct calculation: watts / volts (12) = amps. Not a statement of what a 800w microwave draws in real time I know I would!

Yeah no worries champ, I understand all that. I just enquired what your thought process was in using 10 when the correct calculation is 12. You didn't say you were factoring in any loss in efficiency, estimation of power consumption or safety factor . The microwave I used as an example, was just that, an example of the correct calculation (watts / 12Volts) of converting watts to amps. I didn't say that is what it draws in real life. You don't know what it draws until you personally measure it under load. Until you do so all you have to go on is what the manufacturer tells you and a best guess.

If you are able to draw 25amps off a 16amp supply, it is one of two things. 1. It's not a 16amp supply, or 2. If it is a 16amp supply, it's faulty. If you attempt draw over 16amps off a "serviceable" 16amp supply it will trip, every time.

Yeah you're right, not a bad looking boat and it's got battery capacity to power a 3rd world country. Worth a bit of a further investigation - cheers thanks for that.

That would be good - but bit of a long shot

Hi Tony, where do you get "10" from? I might be missing something here but, considering that to convert Watts to Amps (Amps is what the appliance draws from your battery), the equation is (Amps = Watts divided by Volts). Inversely, to convert Amps to Watts, the equation is; Amps multiplied by Volts (Amps x Volts). So the equation to determine the depth of discharge (draw) on a 12 Volt battery/s system would be: Watts divided by Volts(12). Plus whatever amps your inverter draws in operation Example: 800w microwave oven in a boat or caravan (800w / 12 volts = 66 amps)

Yeah you're right mate 'very small beer indeed' I was thinking more along the lines of wear and tear, corrosion, marine growth, degradation of underwater fittings (anodes, stern glands paint etc) security and peace of mind - it's not like I can jump in my 'motor' and thunder up the M6 if something goes pair shape on the boat. All my boating experience in the past has been in the saltwater environment in Oz, and there is not many things worse you can do to your boat than to leave it sitting moored up for months on end. I'm on a fresh water learning curve, so maybe none of those issues are relevant to a Narrowboat. Is it better to have your boat sitting moored up, unattended, when the canal freezes up, or to have it sitting high and dry on the hardstand? - I don't know. As to throwing money around like confetti, well yeah, I'm not adverse to sticking my hand in my pocket to have a good time, but I'm not a charity, I don't want to pay for 'services' I'm not utilising

Section 1.6 of the Ammendment Bill 2003 states " Dual resident persons (i.e. persons who are residents of both Australia and United Kingdom according to the domestic law of each country) are, in accordance with specified criteria, to be treated for the purposes of the tax treaty as being residents of only one country."

I've been browsing the Rugby site for the past 18 months or so - all their stock appear to be quality boats.

I'd make an appointment with your accountant in Oz. But under the "Internaional Tax Agreements Ammended Bill 2003" (double tax avoidance agreement between Australia and the UK) in the majority of situations you will pay taxation in either Oz or the UK, but not both. I have attached a link to a little light reading on the subject :-) http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/cth/bill_em/itaab2003389/memo1.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=international tax agreements

I'm not sure what the regulations here in Oz are, but what you have written wouldn't surprise me. It doesn't/or hasn't stopped 200,000 new immigrants arriving in Oz each and every year for the past 20 years - it's what our government passes off as "growth". It's not hard to grow your economy by 1.5 to 2% each year when you are importing a 2% population growth each year. Makes it very difficult (expensive) to by a house though if you're a young couple starting out. There is a UK immigration avenue (person of independent means/no access to public funds) that "may/can" allow you to apply and stay in the UK for 5 years, and then apply for permanent residency. You just need a permanent income stream in excess of £25,000 p/n. I meet that benchmark, easily. However, there is no certainty of a successful application, and there is some obscure regulation that you must remain in the country for the 5 year period, or something. I'm still investigating that. I just want to go over there, spend £50K - £100K on a nice boat, cruise the canals for 9-10 months of the year, throwing money around the place like confetti for a few years, then sell-up and sit by the fire back here in Oz. When I went to school and was growing up the UK and Australia were joined at the hip.

Thats not a bad idea. Alternatively, find another ozzee who already has a boat - though they are a bit thin on the ground

. and so you should, apologise Yeah you are being pedantic, boringly so as a matter of fact. Anyway, I don't want to be fed and housed, I won't be there for work, actively seeking work, nor will I have a genuine chance of employment, because I won't be looking for work - I will be retired. I have accumulated the equivalent of suitcases full of money over the course of my working life and thought it would be great if I returned for the eighth or ninth time to the Birthplace of my Ancestors, and help prop-up their ailing economy. As someone "mentioned the war" I will still fulfil my duty, helping my British ancestors in their hour of economic peril, but only in 6 month chunks due to some esoteric immigration regulation.

Thanks for all that advice - I wish it was a simple as hopping over to France or Ireland for a fortnight - 6 months max

Thanks Matty, any pros v cons to hard standing the boat over winter as opposed to leaving it in the water at a marina that you know of? When you factor the cost of carnage in and out of the water there is not a huge difference in price

Hi, I'm seeking a little advice about the length of Licence (12 or 6 months) I should purchase. I'm an Aussie living down under and will be retiring in a couple of months. I plan to buy a Narrowboat, and continuously cruise the canals (for a few years at least), hopefully before Jun 18, depending if the right one comes along. Unfortunately for me i will be a cashed up, self funded retiree (no drain on the British public purse) who comes from a commonwealth country and speaks the Queens English, fluently. As such, I am restricted by UK immigration regulations to six month stays in the UK in any 12 month period - it wouldn't be a problem if I was Italian, Spanish or Greek etc, broke and looking for a handout from the British taxpayer. I could just lob in the UK and demand to be fed and housed for free. Anyway, after a lot of research, looking at mooring costs etc around the canal system I've come to the conclusion that the best way forward would be to cruise for 5-6 months, than Hardstand my boat for the 6 months that I'm forced to return to Australia. My question is; if I opt for a 6 month Licence, do I have to specify the dates each year (e.g 1 Apr-30 Sep), or does the 6 months commence when I put the boat back in the water? Alternatively, would it be just as easy to wait until I fly back into the county each time and buy the licence/s then? Sorry for rattling on :-) thanks in advance Mark