Mad Harold

Checked the inside of the stove today,no soot build up just a couple of scorch marks. There was a thin layer of soot on the kettle base which I cleaned off before putting it on. There was less smell than before,but standing close to the stove (with windows open) I could feel the fumes irritating my eyes.The fumes became less as the kettle heated up which bears out what Tracy D'Ath said. My thanks to all contributors to my query. It has been a most interesting (and enlightening) thread.

Thank you both.I am a little doubtful that Origo cookers should give off CO fumes when boiling a kettle.I think Sir Nibble is on the right track with carbon being burnt off.My kettle bottom is quite clean,so I will investigate the innards of the stove and report back.

The Russian Kalashnikov is a good example of a simple weapon. I have been led to believe that the Nazis lost the war primarily because they attacked Russia before conquering Britain.

I have recently aquired an Origo meths stove.When lit without the kettle or a pan on it,it burns away quite merrily with no discernable smell. However,when the kettle or pan is put on,it is very fumey and frequently sets the carbon monoxide alarm off.I initially thought that the kettle was too close to the flame and damping it down and not burning properly.but putting a couple of spanners between the kettle and the pan rest grill lifting the kettle about an inch made no difference. Anyone got any ideas?

Well,it's an ill wind.....

Don't think a complete overhaul of your electrics is necessary. A seperate cicuit from the battery and an isolation switch in the cicuit (for emergency stop) is all thats needed.A line fuse for the heater cicuit is also a good idea. On a previous post A De Enfield and Jen in Wellies posted a link to a ready reckoner to calculate diameter of wiring needed this is important because of voltage drop. A small solar panel will help keep your battery topped up.My boat has a 10w one ,and as a weekender the battery is usually fully charged when I visit the boat.

Just looked on e bay,and Teleflex steering cables are listed in various lengths. Just Google Teleflex steering cables.

A blown air diesel or gas heater is the usual way to heat a grp boat.They take very little space and are easy to fit,remembering that they must exhaust and draw their combustion air to outside. Propex,Eberspacher,Webasto are the most common. Dare not mention Chinese diesel heaters for fear of getting my head bitten off .

That's really tough. If a property is uninsurable due to perceived flood risk,then does it become unsaleable except at a knock down price?

Never had much success with home made chips.However,the best bought fish and chips I have had came from "The Friary"in Whaley Bridge,a short walk from the end of the upper Peak Forest canal.

Hav'nt had to have a new engine fitted (mercifully) but a fellow moorer has. With a new gearbox,+ removal of old engine,fitting new engine,new engine mounts,lining up etc. he had little change out of £10K! .

As a singlehander for setting off my method is both hands on the roof rail,one foot on the gunwale,and shove off with the other foot.Done midway or near the bow,then back along the gunwale to the tiller. Can't think of another way of setting off neatly,especially when moored between two boats.

Never met bizzard,but he sounds like an entertaining bloke to have a couple of beers with.

I posted this qustion not long ago,and although I didn't remove the nut(I sold the boat) the answer from one of CWF members,was to wedge a tyre lever or similar piece of metal in the starter ring.

My thanks for all the replies.Now I know what a mudweight is. My last boat had two 56lb weights in the cockpit,and I thought they were part of the ballast.They were obviously mudweights,and had I known,I would have taken them for my present boat. They sell for £30-40 on e bay! Some excellent suggestions for the use of a mudweight. I like the one were you drop it on the offside incase someone unties your mooring lines.

To be fair Mike,they probably havn't heard of CWF.If they had,they could have received enlightenment and knowledge like wot I 'ave.

Read on here several mentions of a mudweight. What exactly is a mudweight? How does it's use differ from an anchor? Asked a couple of older more experienced boaters than me,and both said they had never heard of one. Thanks.

Whatever the cause of the damage or corrosion,it needs immediate attention. As there are many many boats for sale,I wouldn't bother with this one.

That does happen quite a lot. Some people get carried away in an auction,only to find in the cold grey light of dawn they have made a mistake. "Fruit sweet to taste proves in digestion sour" The Bard.

Peronally I prefer the cassette toilet.I don't like the thought of a month's worth of urine and excrement sloshing around in a tank in the boat.(Although opinions do vary) A carpet is nice to walk on,but unless you take your shoes off every time you enter the boat,it will need to be towpath mud coloured,because thats the colour it will become.