Stephen Jeavons

We have a Victron 7kW one on Consort. The 3kW one was a bit light for our needs. Has all the anti-surge gubbins. Like Jen says, fit and forget. Stephen

I wonder what the "bigger project" is that has attracted him away from this "lesser project" and is forcing the sale. God help us, can any project possible be bigger than this one? (Maybe straightening up his grip on reality perhaps?)

Thanks for the links Mark. Possibly the discounted ones from Midlands are not the latest HS3 models? Will have to call and find out. EDIT: Checked their website. The discounted ones are the old ones.

Hi All, Happy New Year and all that. So, my refurb of Consort has reached the point (finally) for me to install the Diesel Heater. The old Eber (5W) hadn't been used for about 10 years by the previous owner as he never went anywhere and relied on lecky heating powered from the shoreline. The Eber and its wiring is a bit far gone so I want to replace. I see Midlands have a special offer on the Eber kits: Hydronic 4 (£1140) or the Hydronic 5 (£1320). Are these good prices or is there a better deal elsewhere? Alternatively should I be looking at another make? I have 2 medium sized rads, a towel rail and calorifier coil via 3-port valve (contolled by cylinder stat). A 4KW or 5KW heater should suit. Recommendations? Stephen

Anyway, the cheapo pressed steel rads are so butt-ugly. When I was still a land-based home owner, I retrofitted reconditioned old iron rads in bedrooms and the two bathrooms. Loved them to bits. They take longer to heat up but also take longer to cool down. The floor standing variety allow curtains to be drawn behind them rather than in front as with tin radiators, so you heat the room not the window space. The modern ones are certainly becoming more popular.

Ditto. I bought two similar to this from The Radiator Company Busy piping mine up right now. Two systems, One a Diesel Boiler when out and about and the other an electric flow boiler (when hooked on to mains at the mooring).

Yes true. I forgot, there are in fact two fans on the above oven. As soon as you start the burner, one is on all the time out of sight. That's likely the one doing the cooling of the controls etc.. The right hand knob in the photo controls the cooking fan which can be turned off. So, the above oven DOES require a dinky amount of mains. Sorry

We have one of these (but in black). Gas oven and gas grill. Igniter, like all of them is mains as is the fan. (Negligible power requirement). if you don't have mains (and don't want mains), just light with a wand and ignore the fan. Timer is mechanical.

Yikes! Your boat sounds like the Space Shuttle. Impressive. Glad I liveaboard, it's a lot simpler

I see. Are they also oil-filled? What Wattage?

I've used oil-filled radiators on Consort for quite a few years whilst the boat was undergoing internal re-fit AND whilst living aboard. Lekky bill is high but c'est la vie. I have a largish one near the front of the boat and a dinky one (Dunelm) with its own thermostat near the engine room/bathroom. Both are permanently on along with the immersion. Temp in the boat remains at 18-20C. Now installing regular rads with a domestic style electric Flow Boiler. We're fortunate as our mooring has full house-style electricity supply along with smart meter. The only limitation is the boat's isolation transformer which is 7KW. Oil-filled radiators are pretty reliable BUT as Tony says, can't be sure what the insurer would say ?If anyone has had a green light from their insurers for Oil-filled radiators, please let us all know Stephen (Not sure what a greenhouse heater looks like. Maybe post #33 answers my question)

No it was definitely at Rickmansworth. Will try and find out more.

As per the title. Someone told me that there was a boat fire near Batchworth lock, Rickmansworth yesterday afternoon. My source said pet dogs died in the fire. Anyone know anything about it?

Yep! Stainless Steel aint cheap but it does look the part

I used this chappie on Consort. Dutch made and not cheap. WhisperPower. It's 32A but they also make a 16A version

Watched it last night and there was an aerial shot at Stone as it passed Roger Fullers yard (birthplace of our boat Consort).

Terry Darlington's book "Narrow Dog to Carcassonne" highlights a lot of good stuff and is also a fun read.

We re-did Consort using IKEA including integrating the washer, fridge and freezer. We also reduced the leg height slightly so they slotted under the gunwale . Not flimsy at all. It's all about taking your time and assembling according to their idiot guides (like all flat-packs) & securing them to each other and the back wall. We're very happy with them

Been looking for something myself. Perhaps give this a go.

Why would you want to do that?

Yep! I have no argument with the fact that I should be paying VAT based on all the HM references. I'm more curious as to why others may not be. Probably hidden in the charges somewhere although I would have thought it should be clear on mooring invoices. i.e. a line item VAT = ........

Suddenly "The silence is deafening" ?