Mr Pomplemousse

No just keeping fingers crossed that the change from -5 to 5° had some impact on what the battery would do.

Just a quick update on the situation. Got back to the boat after work defrosted the last of the ice off the control panel to allow me to get the key in. Glow light came on when I turned it and the engine started first time like she always does. Albeit slightly sluggish. Today's temperatures were finally above freezing from around 11am so I think that probably gave the battery just enough of a boost to get the engine started. Keen to hear opinions l, starter battery is 7yo . Will get a volt meter on it over the weekend in daylight when the engine isn't running to see what state it's in. Once again, thanks for the expertise on here.

Thanks all, great advice as always. Will get the volt meter onto it later and give it another shot. Temperatures should be above freezing today so still holding out some hope.

Thanks all. I tried again last night and it did try turning over but wouldn't start. The coil light didn't come on as usual so I'm thinking that there is perhaps not enough power in the battery at these temperatures to heat the fuel?

My engine isn't turning over at all, conditions are very cold here (canal frozen) and it hasn't been started for a week. The lights come on except the coil light and when I turn the key to ignition I get nothing. Is it likely the battery is too cold or just completely dead?

Certainly possible to live on a boat and have a full time 9-5, but it does change you in ways a house/flat never could. In winter you'll invariably have to be home after work to run the engine or genny to give your batteries enough charge to see them through the night. No more cheeky after work pints and such as you only have till 8pm to run your engine and the cost of getting it wrong and ruining your batteries is considerable in every sense. Water and toilets are a ball and chain and require a decent plan if they are not going to dictate your life. Then you've got moving to satisfy CC requirements which again requires a workable plan and the right day to execute it. Being in a marina will help you out with alot of these issues, you just have to weigh up the cost of the marina with the money saved and other benefits of CCing. I live in London/Herts as a CCer and have adapted well to the challenges faced, but have also been helped out by an employer who understands that sometimes my boat will get in the way of my work on occasion and that my first loyalty is to my boat (and cats) Without having a employer with a degree of flexibility would make the task very hard for me. PS: Get the boat before you partner up again, helps sort the wheat from the chaff.

Fridge went on Valentines day and almost killed the battery while i wasn't looking. Since then its got to temperature and been fine, plenty of solar even on overcast days. Managed to run my PS4 for a couple of hours in good sunlight on Saturday when I should have been out enjoying the first day of Spring but couldn't muster the effort to get dressed.

Agree with the little chance of the Police getting involved. The stories about people getting pulled over and grilled are whipped up by the media and used to get compliance. I've travelled legitimately throughout all lockdowns for work, food shopping and childcare issues and never seen anymore people getting stopped by the Police than you'd normally expect to see. I think if in doubt, put a bag of tools in the car and if stopped bambozle the officers with some boat talk about exploding composting toilets, thefts, sinkings, fraying ropes etc and they soon leave you to it.