starman

So what's a scabbler like to use? It looks pretty monstrous. Do you get a smooth surface or does it leap away as soon as you switch on and suddenly you find you've got scrapes and gouges everywhere – and you wish you'd stuck to sandpaper!

For some reason the list doesn't include Bill Fen Marina in Ramsey, under 10 miles from P'borough. Friendly, very attractively laid out, not expensive -- and you don't need a licence on the Middle Level

We recently bought a tug with an under-deck bed that became a sofa in day use. The sofa was very uncomfortable (because the cushion was basically the end of the mattress). Also we opened up the solid front bulkhead with doors and a sliding hatch which would have meant access to the deck was by scrambling over the sofa. We opted to have steps and slide the bed right away under the deck, pulling it out at night. I still favour a bed/sofa option but can it be made comfortable and how do you resolve the access to the deck problem. Interested to hear/see pictures of other solutions.

Personally I'd rather have a 'fussy' surveyor than a sloppy one if there are such around. Who says he's 'fussy'? Hopefully not the seller or broker -- if it was then I'd be already backing away. I got the narrowboat I was buying surveyed by Balliol Fowden from Rugby. 01788 541020T I think he's pretty well regarded. Anyway, he did me a damned good report, answered all my questions about it, gave me his opinion on whether the boat was worth the money etc. Having owned the boat fr a few months now I haven't spotted any howlers he missed! Hope he's not on holiday!

I just looked on the Canalboatbuilders Association website and there is a downloadable version of the standard contract there...

I've just had doors cut in the front bulkead of my tug and would value some advice on the best way to trim them to achieve the traditional block and recessed panel style. They're sheet steel not the 'tray' type and will be painted. Thanks