Clodi

Thank's guys, I think my love affair with Google will continue, my only exposure to Amazon is my Kindle and Prime, I've just realised I have a fire stick with Alexa which I have never used, we never really watch TV but do watch you-tube and Prime video.

Last March, during the famous Beast from the East, (my planning as impeccable as ever). I dragged my family onto the Shroppi to 'do' the Pontcysylle Aqueduct. We hired a bargain boat known as the Barrel of Ale, hitherto known as the Crock of Shit by us. Anyway the instruction was as well as a couple of turns on the permanently dripping stern gland was to run the bilge pump, no auto float switch fitted this resulted in pumping overboard a good few gallons of disgusting oily bilge-water. Unfortunately the only alternative to this was sinking and we were bloody cold enough as it was. I notice the 'Crock' seems to have been retired, it was a solid 'Coal-craft' shell but well past its sell by date but sadly reflects the cavalier attitude to pollution that thankfully seems to have been superseded by a more responsible attitude to our environment.

At home I have a Google Home mini, I think its an 'old' version which I mainly use to listen to the radio, music or to settle arguments, usually proving I'm wrong and my wife is right once again. However I want to add one of these infernal devices to the boat, I already have my boat set-up with a good WI-fi connection & 4g so-far able to connect wherever we've been. Question is whether to stick with google home ( I have a Google Pixel3 phone) or to try Alexia via an Amazon Echo dot? If anyone is using either of these on-board I would welcome their views.

I used one on the electric fences on the smallholding, they were more popular than solar panels but we were in sunny windy West-Wales & solar-panels have come a long way since then. The turbine used to do a good job. Had a Rutland for the workshop and that worked really well, no massive mast involved

Firstly sorry it's taken me so long to post but Life tends to get in the way of things. Looking at my wifes Samsung the app is called 'Package Disabler Pro+ for Samsung' by Policedeveloper. She paid a couple of quid or so, BUT, this was all done by a member of the Geek Squad who then connected the phone to their 'computer' (I imagine this is a PC) and cleaned the bloatware off. The Geek lady did explain that some removers Root the phone which would invalidate the guarantee but doing it this way does not affect the warranty so all's good. Hope this is of some help.

I'm in the process of 'fitting-out' our NB ad I'm installing a second water-tank which will be going under the 'spare-bed'. I've not definitely decided on the capacity yet but there are loads of options for extra tanks including flexi and custom made.

Brilliant, I had visions of it standing on the floor?

It's really nice to read something positive for a change First time I've heard of Boating Buddies but it sound a really good idea. The more staff at the CRT get a glimpse of the 'real' side of the network the better.

If you use a dehumidifier I assume you must have shore power but how do you go about emptying the actual unit, how soon does one fill up?. I have one in the bathroom (at home) and when its running it drains out quite a significant volume of moisture even when there's no 'steam'.

Ive got it on my wifes phone I'll sort it and post later when I gt home

If it's a samsung you can get an app that clears all the bloatware away

I've just recently got the new Google Pixel 3 and it lasts for two days easy with all my useless apps running

Ah, I knew there was something somewhere regarding stability. If this build is adding so much extra height presumably the interior headroom can be used to provide loft type sleeping accommodation etc so these 'floating structures' must have a huge amount of ballast unless they have huge water/waste tanks built in

I'm sure I read somewhere about some sort of directive regarding stability of vessels regarding a 'roll-test' , maybe it's regarding building 'shells'.. I know there is some concern after that accident on the Thames regarding a narrowboat that had been overplated. I also assumed it was built on a NB hull

What stops this rolling-over, surely it will fail BSS?

I learnt a long time ago, especially travelling with young kids to never trust the water & always use bottled Oh god! now I've got that image stuck in my head

What I don't understand is that having traveled extensively in France by Motorcaravan staying in the numerous free or 5 euros at most 'Aires' most of them provide elsan points and I cannot recall ever finding a 'discusting' one. And we, as a nation, like to call the French 'dirty' .

Thanks, may I ask where you purchased it? mind you looking at their retailers there's even one local to me here in West Wales, less than a minutes walk from my front door which is really surprising

Is it?, I just got bombarded with loads of Black Friday ads, shows I'm on the ball ?

I'm wasting time sitting in Dentist waiting room and have just noticed it's black Friday ( but not for dental fees) I'm looking for the smallest front loader washing machine 5-6kg loads. Can anyone recommend a make model and I'll see if I can grab a bargain?

My family own moorings on the River Great Ouse and on the EA waterways 'sea-toilets' are still permitted. When visiting the Norfolk Broads said toilets are sealed up and the old bucket and chuck it wheeled out of the back of the lockers.

I pay both my mooring fee and licence by DD and sor far no problems