Mad Harold

We did that with the motorbikes of the day when I was a lad.The Franny Barnet, James,Norman etc usually powered by a Villiers two stroke were anything but reliable.When the first Honda's first appeared (1960's I think) the Honda Benly was far better than anything we were producing.It was the beginning of the end for British bikes.

I thought that too.Then I thought what does he want another hole for if the boat was sunk. Ah yes, of course, to let the water out. 😜

Having owned two Norman 20's I agree the accommodation is cramped.I did spend a fortnight aboard once due to a stoppage, and I was glad to get off it! I sold one of them to a young bloke who said he was going to live aboard and when I told him it was not a good idea, he merely shrugged and said it's either this or a shop doorway.

Can you dump the inboard engine and fit an outboard on a trapezium mount? Am I being a bit simplistic and naive?

Anyone doing a stern wheel conversion for a narrowboat? 😝

I agree! When a seller starts the BS I am turned off. Just gimme the facts.

Very droll Lad. Here's a challenge for you, write a song with your post for the lyrics. It may well sound like a Stockhausen er, tune.

I think our £60K per year train drivers should spend some time in winter on a boat. Perhaps then they would be more inclined to walk in two inches of snow. "Oh heck, it's it's snow.I might slip and fall on my fat arse" I'm off home"

Also check the depth of water in the weed hatch. It shouldn't be too close to the top.

My user name is Mad Harold, but reading some of these posts I think some of you ought to preface your username with Mad. ie Mad Mtb, Gybe Mad Ho etc.

Rather than alter the boat, simply get used to steering the way it is set up. I am sure within a few hours you will be happy to use either hand.

For Christ's sake man.Please shut up. It's possible that someone from CRT may browse CWF and they have enough daft ideas of their own.

They can be fitted upside down, as I found on a recently purchased boat. Instead of lifting the dot, it was necessary to "pull the dot" from above.

Sourcing petrol can be a problem I agree, but Google will tell you the nearest petrol station, so a little forward planning is prudent. Have had three petrol (outboard powered) boats and the BSC has not been a problem, provided the tank can vent and drain any spillage overboard. Is the OP going to live aboard full time? The Yamaha 9.9 is an excellent motor, and I don't know if an extra charging coil can be fitted to this motor.I have fitted one to a Tohatsu 9.9 and together with a solar panel provided adequate leccy. On a diesel engined narrowboat I had, the fridge was a leccy guzzler and I used to switch off at night to save a bit of power and also it used to wake me up when it cycled. Electricity usage needs careful planning on all boats, not just GRP cruisers.

Little Gem would be my choice. Narrow beam, (no widebeam surcharge) and can go anywhere. Hot water too. Looks to be a cast off and go boat.

Too many question marks on this boat for comfort. Personally, I would look elswhere.

I think it was the rather stiff custodial sentences handed out that rather dampened the knucklehead's enthusiasm for trouble.

Getting old is not nice Arthur.With me high frequencies are hard to hear, but low frequencies too.It sounds to me as though people are talking through cotton wool. Doesn't bother me too much as some people are not worth listening to, but I find the worst feature is my hearing is non directional. Crossing a road if I hear a vehicle, I can't tell if it is left or right, and on the towpath I may hear a bike approaching, but have to look around to see if it is behind. Was told when I was young that there are advantages in growing old, but now that I am old, I'm damned if I can see any!

Many years ago one of my colleages bought a new car (1976 I think) and contacted DVLA to get a personalised number plate. He wanted PEN1S. It was refused.

Surely rather than chopping your boat, a push or pull butty would be simpler.

The boaters who would suffer the most will be leisure boaters. People who live aboard, their accomodation costs offset the licence fee.Those on benefits are nicely shielded from higher licence costs. The average income leisure boaters will find boating a very expensive hobby indeed and may well leave CRT waters if possible, or sell up and find a less expensive hobby. The canals will then be for the better off and the poorest.

You obviously forgot to pin the twenty pound notes to your application.