Mad Harold

Fitted a 6hp auxilliary outboard to a Norman I had a few years ago. It was a longshaft because of the distance from the trapezium mounting to the prop cavitation plate needing to be about level with the bottom of the hull. There were a few difficulties,first the boat needs to be out of the water,the trapezium mount need to be the correct strength for the outboard.Some makers quote for example,suitable for 10hp two stroke or only 6hp for a four stroke. The position of the mount is quite critical in that the prop needs to be deep enough,and when the outboard is not in use,you don't want the prop dragging in the water. The transom will quite likely need a large piece of ply on the inside with the trapezium bolted through with large washers to spread the load.On mine the transom flexed under power untill I fitted the ply. Because of the angle of the tiller,even a telescopic tiller extension was too steep an angle for effective control,so a "swan neck"tiller will need to be fabricated,along with a longer gear lever. It was a long frustrating job,and and really of little benefit,except as an emergency engine. Looking at your boat photo,the towel rail on the transom would have to come off to fit a trapezium mount. Would it be simpler to have say a 5mm steel plate about 10"×5" welded to the curved bit of the "towel rail"and mount an ex longshaft or perhaps a standard longshaft would do. You would only then need an ex long tiller extension and gear lever extension. It has occured to me that it may be cheaper (unless your engine is complely goosed) and certainly less work to have your engine repaired.

Could you check again the stoppage on the Stainforth and Keadby. I have tried CRT's website and the only one I could find was a bridge inspection with the navigation still open. Perhaps your computor is better than mine as mine flicks all over the place especially on CRT's website.

Yes, a crate of Guinness!

The op has pointed out a stoppage on the Stainforth and Keadby.

Can't see how the OP is going to get to Leeds. The only route I can see is River Trent,to Trent Falls,Selby Canal,Aire and Calder to Leeds Liverpool. Never been near there,but have read up on the rules VHF radio,and two crew. Perhaps someone familiar with this area on here could advise?

Stuff the self appointed covid stasi ! Your need to move is I think quite legitimate.

That is sadly quite likely,but may hopefully re-open with new management. A pub's success or failure is due to a good landlord or manager.One of my favourite days out is a cruise up the cut to a little local's pub for a lunchtime pint.The beer was always good,and the beer garden overlooks the canal. I hope it re-opens again with no changes,but I am not optimistic.

The first part about uranium frissions and splitting things was all greek to me. But it not known yet that having and recovering from Coronavirus gives immunity against a further infection.

Cruiser stern tends to let rain water into the engine bay.If it'only you and your dog then there will be enough room on it. You can also buy a "doggy"life jacket if you are worried about him jumping off to chase ducks. Had a 30ft narrowboat and although not a full time liveaboard,I used to chug off for two or three weeks at a time. There was about enough space for me,it had a crossways bed at the rear and it was a bit of a pain setting it up every night,but the bed section of the boat was divided from the front by the bathroom,giving the impression of two rooms.The living area/galley had enough space for a telly,bookshelf,and comfy seat,and I never felt that it was cramped. Two or three weeks was quite enough for me,and then I wanted to go home.I do think I would have felt the same even if my boat had been much bigger. Cruising during the day was fine,but the evenings were pretty tedious.

Stated on the news this morning that the WHO said that there was no evidence yet that having covid 19 and recovering,gave immunity against a further dose.

As another member noted, getting at the necessary part is 75% of the work.

Have replaced the front perspex windows on my Norman,and although not curved,there is a slight "twist"to fit to the shape of the cabin front. It was not an easy job by any means and I would guess with your Dawncraft it would be just as tricky. I can't exactly remember the Dawncraft front window,but I think it is held in with a rubber seal (like a car windscreen)and if so I think using the old window as a pattern,practically any glazing company will be able to cut a piece of 4 or 5mm perspex to suit. As for fitting,if you can't do it yourself,then any competant car windscreen fitter should be able to.

Is it glass or Perspex.? Have seen one or two Dawncraft,and if I remember correctly, the front window is slightly curved. I think you have three options. make your own from acrylic,(quite easy to cut with an angle grinder) board it with ply ,fibreglass and gel coat filler,and cut one or two large holes and fit circular porthole windows which are available from chandlers. If it is curved and you want safety glass,it will have to be made by a specialist. Have a scroll through history on here and find posts by W+T.He recently posted a link to a glazing company that is making some safety glass windows for his project.

I think it might be better waiting untill this virus lock down is over. As Mark99 has posted,boat prices could go either way. I notice your location is in the north,so your choice of boats will be wider if you stick to northern canals. Narrowboats,widebeams,and wider sea boats.But be careful with draught and airdraught with a seaboat.

But give some credit to Yorkshire folk,for it was them that taught the Scots to be thrifty. The evidence is on Princes Street in Edinburgh where there is a branch of every Yorkshire building society.

Gutting knives,shotguns,starving slobbering hounds I can cope with; but red boats!!!

Give us a description of your boat luv,and a phone number.?

cruising during the day is fine.You are busy with locks and enjoying boating,and stopping for lunch or coffee there are generally people around,both boaters and towpath walkers to have a natter with. Nights can be lonely,so I bought a 12v telly and radio and a selection of paperbacks.If you moor near a pub,then you can find company there. Several livaboard boaters I know have a dog.They are usually good listeners,but don't contribute much to the conversation. I tied up for lunch one day,I think on the Macc or Peak Forest and was poking out the drain holes in the window frames when a lady walking her dogs asked me what I was doing.I explained but her face seemed very familiar so during conversation I asked if she was a musician (as a musician myself I played al over the country) She wasn't and eventually and because I was sure I had seen her in the past I cheekily asked her name. Edwina Curry! You can meet some interesting people boating.

Yes,and they breed like rats!

Reading your post I started to think the same.On Christmas day I started to get flu symptoms,high temperature,dizziness and cough.I've had flu a few times so thought it would pass in a week or so as it has always done before.I didn't get better within a week and started to worry as I now had an aching chest,was wheezing and something I have never had before,night sweats.I mean really sweating,I would wake up in the small hours and the sheets were soaked. Went to the docs,end of January and was diagnosed a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics and sent for a chest x ray. The symtoms cleared about the end of February and I am now fine. In November a party of Chinese auditors spent a week at my wife's factory from the Shanghi area and she and my daughter were ill with flu shortly after.Not as bad as me but both most unwell for a week or so. I didn't think of Covid 19 at the time,but now I think that there is a good chance that my family had it,although it hadn't really kicked of in China in December. I am still wondering.

My grp boat doesn't have anodes on the hull,but there is one fitted to the outboard leg, One manufacturer of anti fouling paint (the copper inpregnated sort) quotes a ten year life. About fibreglass boats having to come out of the water to "dry out" opinions vary,but it is generally thought to be "an old wives tale"