KenK

Funnily enough the last boat we hired was from Alvechurch and we did the ring anti-clockwise, two teenage girls, where did they want to go, shopping! They let you have the boat from 2.30pm, say an hour for the handover should easily make the top lock and there are good mooring there. We didn't set off untill around 4.00pm on the Saturday, just made Gas St before dark, moored up by the Mailbox. Big mistake, its a route to and from the clubs so busy until the early hours, and just to make it interesting some little scrote let the boat loose at 2.00 am. Still look on the bright side I did get wolf-wistled by three girls as I was retying it in my PJ's, mind you it was dark. Not been there on a Sunday evening but it was busy during the day, we went to the museum for Sunday night. Best bet for mooring is around the back of the NIA. Oh! and it's an early night for you Ken

Hi Mark, We have six 110Amp batteries which supply both a 12 V lighting / pumps side and a Sterling 3000W pure sine wave inverter for the 230V AC. We use a standard 230V fridge, 19 inch LCD TV with an internal DVD. Tesco direct are good for low power items at low cost, ie cheap 1200W hoover, small hairdryer , and CD/Radio micro system. So far we have only used a standard TV aerial clamped to an extending pole we bought from B&Q, normally used to clean upstairs windows from the ground, usually get fair to excellent reception. DVD for when TV is not possible. We do have a shore connection but don't use it much, very straightforward, plug in switch the manual switch to shorepower, job done. We did use it for a couple of days this holiday as we moored in Bristol harbour so didn't moove or run the engine. You certainly don't need it but it is useful to have the option and it does not add much to the cost. Ken

MML Electrics http://www.leisure-electrics.co.uk/ Useful site, boat and caravan related with a very good links page.

The goverment will adopt it in it's entirity, then spend far more trying to enforce it than they ever make in revenue, so the tax will go up. Goverments love complexity Ken

As we all know the biggest problem for a liveaboard is finding a mooring, boats might come down in value but if your possibility comes true I'll bet moorings go up. Ken

Yeh, but that spoils all the fun. There's nothing better than being waved into a Thames lock nearly full of a million pounds of plastic boats, the look of fear on the faces of the owners when they see this tatty narrowboat heading for that last very tight space is priceless. I think Thames lock keepers do it on purpose, they always have a grin on their faces. Ken

Now you know how a coconut feels Ken

Jax I assume that T mobile like all service providers allow you to set up a mail account(s). If so in the blurb they send you you should find details of how to do it. If you save all your contacts from the existing PC to the laptop just send them all a message once you're set-up. You can use a hotmail account etc. but if you do make sure your anti-virus software and spam filters are turned on and up to date, important anyway but more so with internet e mail. Oh yes and make sure you enable the security on the wireless connection. We don't use shore power much but we did in Bristol harbour put a pound card in and it was still showing 52 p two days later, that was fridge, TV and hoover for a few mins. Ken

Funny my wife has that effect on some people to, must be a woman thing Sorry couldn't resist Ken

My wife has an open invitation to anyone who would like to teach in her class, with a small group. Some parents take up the option, not many do it twice, and those that do come to understand how hard the job can be. Ken

Yes and some Dutch guy built a half size replica complete with dummy animals, now that's dedication. Ken

Don't know which ones, we have used Mercs for ever, currently Sprinters and Vitos they all use standard 12 V. We even have two with lifts, side and tail and they have hydraulic pumps driven from the engine. Ken

Hi Mark, You've got this boating lark all wrong, men steer and give orders, women do locks. Tin hat on only joking ladies. Bow thrusters are useful, no denying it, but they are expensive and they get used more than they should. You've paid for it so why not use it, if you don't have one then sometimes you wish you had but there's a great sense of satisfaction when despite all the odds the boat goes just where you intended. Of course when it doesn't just pretend that's what you intended to do all along. If resale value is a consideration then keep the boat as straightforward as possible. People should view boats as the shell and mechanics engine etc. but they don't, they look at the interior. Current trend is nice and light, granite worktops etc. a floating modern house. I someone wants a pumpout then it would help a sale if not then it wouldn't, don't think it would increase the value much. Why are you thinking resale value, if you're not 100% sure about buying a boat then don't. It's not just the cost of the boat you will also have to spend between £3000-£4000 a year in running costs, mooring, licence, insurance, maintenance, fuel etc. In my case around the cost of a family holiday, this year we went out in April and early August had great weather. Most people got wet, some very wet, next time it could be my turn, would that make a difference, not to me, but it would to my daughter, wet grumpy teenager, not fun. Ken

You can keep the lard and whippet poo but if there is any spare black pud, send some down they can't make it proper down ere. Ken

Wouldn't pass the wife's inspection. Fenders need more work, bike needs a polish, and the dog needs a wash, boats not bad though. Ken

See Gibbo's reply it's six of one half a dozen of the other. I would have thought simplest would be a 12 V starter motor and battery. If you're selling it how did it work before? Ken

Clearly the idea that any school is better than none is nonsense, but equally the idea that any parent is better than a school is also nonsense. The reality is that most children will be better off in school, yes there are poorly performing schools but those schools are monitored and measures put in place to improve them. Parents trying, I have no doubt their best, do not have the same support or resources. No parent however gifted can hope to cover all the subjects taught in school. If my two are the norm most if not all of their friends go to the same schools, they have lots in common, for children that's important. Being different is not something most children or indeed adults find comfortable. I'm not saying it can't work, for some children it may be the only solution. However I would point out that Stonehenge and her children just want to live on the boat she is quite happy to send them to school you're the one who started the education debate, may I ask why? Ken

Hi Mark, Welcome to the forum. You're in a good part of the world for boat builders, lots there so plenty of choice. Best advice I can offer is don't jump in with both feet, take your time and look at as many boats as you can. Set a price you can afford and stick to it, it's far too easy to get sucked into paying for those must have extras which you never use. In my opinion a bow thruster is not worth the money, if you really can't reverse do a Helmsmans course its far cheaper. Diesel fuel for heating will still be taxed at the current rate so if you go down that route you need a seperate tank for the stove, of course it may not be easy to find depending on the goverment's final decision. Personal choice a cassette, it's far cheaper, and there are more places to empty it. We bought a 60 ft semi-trad off the shelf from a builder at Great Haywood last year, so far nothings gone wrong and we have enjoyed every minute. Slightly further afield I'd take a look at Narrowcraft Ltd. I've had no dealings with them but anyone who is prepared to build the boat for 10% down and the rest when it's finished must be worth a look, spec seems good too. Good luck in the hunt Ken

As a company we import equipment from around the world for resale in Europe. The CE leglislation is a minefield. If it has to comply with one of the increasing number of directives then you need a CE mark along with the relevant documentation. An engine would need a Certificate of Incorporation and a declaration that it met the Low voltage and Machinery directives for example. Of course a company can self certify so in reality if they say it's ok it's up to you to prove it's not. The directives are so badly written and open to interpretation and if you ask the relevant authority what it means, the answer is "what do you think it means". These days everything seems to have a CE mark but it's not required for lots of things. Ken

In your case, reading your blog recently I believe you come under the sub-heading "pervert" Ken

Funny, I've never considered trying to help people asking for trouble, possibly you could explain? Ken

Hi Pam, Welcome to the forums. Bristol may be short of moorings but Saltford Marina ( Tel 01225 872226 ) on the non tidal Avon not far from Bristol were advertising available moorings when we passed in August. Also saw a boat for sale moored alongside on our way out of Bristol. Good luck in the search. Ken

Chris, If they declare that the engine complies with the relevant directive(s) it's down to you to prove they don't. Every time I have to read the low voltage directive to decide whether something from overseas complies I first wrap my head in a wet towel, keeps the headache away a little longer. Ken

Please define home education. Do you mean 4 to 11, 11-16, 16-18, university? I suspect most reasonably intelligent people could cope with the first, I doubt whether many people could go further and that would apply in a house as well as a boat. My daughter (15) studies a wide variety of subjects, my wife is a teacher and I'm an engineer, we both have degrees but we are not qualified to cover all the subjects she studies. In addition when children are at school they do far more than just study, a child educated at home will have less in common with their peers and probably fewer friends. If you want a good example look at the problems the working boat people had aquiring an education. Their lifestyle would equate with children and CC, most although no doubt not all, were unable to read and write never mind higher education. StoneHenge There is in my opinion nothing wrong with bringing children up on a boat, with regard to educating them send them to school. If the lifestyle suits you and your children then enjoy it. There will be downsides but there is to every life style, my daughter has a 25 mile train journey to school each morning and evening followed by a twenty minute walk from the station to the school and back. Lots of people would consider that detrimental but as it is an excellent school we and she think it's worth it. Good luck with the search, tell us where you need a mooring maybe someone could help. Ken