Orphiel

I thought I'd start a series of these! I have started getting bitten a lot, which is extremely irritating. I don't want to spray myself with expensive DEET mozzie repellent stuff all the time, and don't want one of those things that makes a noise. I've heard citronella candles are good, experiences? Also I have some window stickers that say fly killers, but do not seem to do the job, possibly because of age (they were there when I got the boat). I am expecting at least one person to reply 'cultivate your spiders...' Meg

Arg, you have just made me cry.* And if anyone is going to start quoting more stuff about biting spiders I will just have to stop reading the thread! Meg *hyperbole, natch.

The myth makes even less sense when you consider the fact that by law if you live on a boat and no place to moor it, you are considered homeless, and that whether a council has a duty to rehouse you depends on 5 tests, none of which is 'we were living on a boat in your area that sank recently.' In fact, if you had a local connection to the area, were in priority need and homeless, you would mostly be eligible for rehousing without going through the tricky buying a boat (with no money, as you are homeless) and waiting for it to sink bit first. Meg

I'm not a family, but on an aside, do you know when the programme is on and what it is? Would be interested to watch and tape it, in attempt to pursuade doubting and conventional boyfriend that boats can work for children... Meg

Ooh, I have just sprayed that on a couple of days ago, and waiting to see if it works. Although I need to brave myself up and deal with the ones already inside, as I guess due to that stuff they now can't get out...

Completely agree. And there's no way we can judge other people's circumstances without knowing anything about them anyway. That boat without the license might have sent away for one, might have one but not want to display it, etc. Meg

*Bump* Putting this back to the top because it's this weekend, I'll be going, and I'll want to see people there Meg

I work for the local Law Centre, although on debt rather than housing. I suspect, due to the lack of any security of tenure (no legislation regarding it on boats), there's not a lot of recourse. But I will run it past our housing solicitor to see if there's anything she can think of. Depending on anything signed when the moorings were accepted, and agreements made in writing etc, action may be possible under contract law, but BW are porbably very good at going 'we don't accept any responsibility for anything and can move you on whenever we want.' The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 does apply but only states that unlawful evictions are not allowed which is unhelpful as providing procedures are followed these would be lawful. It is possible that the general Human Rights legislation could apply, as it has been deemed to in some similar circumstances with gypsys or travellers, but I understand there have already been some pilot cases. Will have a search for the relevant caselaw, also trying to see if there are any specialist human rights lawyers in Notts, as we cannot think of anyone. Deeply unhelpful, I realise, but have been trying! Meg

I will tell spray grease if you tell me what it is and where to find it, sorry! Not sure if I will be able to get the door knob bit off, cannot remember how it fixes on, will check later.What courses do you do then?I am happy to take the closest I can get Am not actually that thick when I am shown what to do, honest. Put in a new water pump the other day almost all by myself...Meg Aha, ignore this, found them on your profile.

You're all free to take pictures of my boat if you're passing Beeston (probably not for the best at the moment!) I would do it myself but that'd be cheating Not sure I know any of you well enough to recognise boats as yet, but hopefully soon, and when I start cruising around the system a bit more in holidays when it is summer I'll find some forum fun. Meg

Have found some Stovax on ebay so will give that a go, cheers. Will also dig the WD40 out, think there is some in the engine room. Made it to Nottingham in March but not made it to changing my profile yet Thanks to the Trent now cannot make it away from Nottingham... Meg

Hallo! I love my stove to bits it is ace. But a bit tight on the bits that move (i.e. door knob) after I have not used it for a little while. I think there might be a bit of rust going on, as some bits also go a tiny bit orange. What can I use to keep it all nice and make it move properly again? And how do I do it? I am rubbish at this maintenance thing Going to go on some course soon I reckon, if I can find one called 'idiot's guide to living on a boat with no brains or madskillz'. Meg

I know naff-all about how engines work etc. all that jargon, but thought I'd let you know I have a Vetus 4.14K, which is extremely quiet. I can have it running in the engine room and cannot hardly hear it in the rest of the boat. Is 50ft long and works fine for propulsion also Meg

But if that's the case and you're staying away from the boat some nights in a week, sounds like you would be legally non-residential anyway, so you'd be able to get a non-residential mooring and actually break no laws. Sorted! Meg

If your girlfriend is moving up somewhere, and you are only considering moving, am I right in thinking she will have a place herself, even if it's onyl uni halls? Because surely if so you could stay there for a couple of nights a week, live on the boat the rest of the time, and there you go, technically non-residential. It doesn't matter if all your stuff is on the boat, and the boat itself stays in one place, as long as you're not there all the time, as I understand it. You could also get some really good blackout blinds and just not be too obvious about it, depending on where you are. No offence to those proper law abiding members of the forum like. Meg

Ha, that website is pretty scary! Changing rooms would be pretty hilarious, and what do you reckon my chances are of getting Ground Force in to do a garden on the roof? Gary, cheers for much keener support for painting green, silver and blue sounds ace, although anything that complex might take a bit more skill than I have with paint... I find it hard as far as decor and personality, as I like both ideas, wood and paint. Still, if I put T&G on the bottom (I absolutely agree with you about the blue carpet, dacaB) then I will have wood AND paint. And if I want to paint it weird colours, I can just paint it white again if I want to sell. That is, I am reliably informed, how houses work anyway! I had not thought about lights at all, I just have those strip lights, and nothing else. Are there other good lights that are 12v and narrowboat fitting? Oh, I have a really bright halogen style one in the bathroom as well, and some weird LED things that I don't use much. I did like those oil lamps someone linked to recently as well. Am planning on some time off when it gets warmer (if ever) to do some work in a solid block, as will never get round to doing anything otherwise. In related question, I have to sand off the varnish before painting, obv, so any tips on this? Just sandpaper, or is there anything easier and less tedious? Also with T&G, can you buy the stuff ready cut to put on the wall? I am looking to cut corners wherever possible... Meg

Haha, if I pause I will never get started again!

Hallo all. Not sure if this is better here or in the boat building/maintenence but I do live on the boat and to my mind it fits better here because it's less technical and more ideas. I am looking for opinions on funky paint jobs to do to the inside of my boat. She is a bit dark at the minute, although she does have some lovely wood T&G above the gunwhales that shines when it is sunny. Problem is I live in Britain, and it is never sunny. Rubbish. At the moment there is also blue carpet up the bottom half of the wall. I was thinking of keeping this in the bedroom for warmth, and taking it off and putting on more (vertical this time) T&G boarding on the rest of the boat. Here is a good picture of the walls at the moment: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/421020521/ And here is me in my very messy boat living room/kitchen area http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/421020511/ Here is some more kitchen and stove, and also me taking up majority of space in photo looking like a twat, but giving you brief idea of layout: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/421021943/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/421020514/ I cannot seem to find any better pictures of what it is like but will get some soon. Aaanyway. What I was thinking of doing is stripping the varnish of the wood T&G, and painting it white. Mm, white. For roominess and cleaness. And maybe then painting the wall the chest of drawers is on, just before the bathroom, another colour to be bright and cheerful. Although that might look a little bit rubbish. With the carpet stripped off I would have wood on the bottom and paint on top, like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/352858011/ ( I have shamelessly nicked photos of boats for sale for ideas). I could also do it the opposite way round, which would be arguably less work, such as this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/364473492/ Or even coloured, like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/352862636/ But I must do /something/. Because I have been watching lots of interior design shows, and so have been all corrupted by it. Ooh, also I think I should varnish the wood in my bathroom and stain in interesting colours. At the minute it is like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74619946@N00/421019881/ So, what do you think? Are they foolish ideas that will make the boat seem less boat-like? Any other interesting weird stuff I should do? Promise will not be offended by criticism of any of it. Meg PS. Bored at work. Can you tell?

I will do tonight and post when I get home. It does have the model name and number on it only I forgot to check it this am. I think there is also a stop cock too, although I need to have a proper look with a torch. Only this makes me depressed as I need to anti-rust and paint it down there as well Cheers for all advice, is appreciated, will have a go changing it myself I reckon. Meg

Hallo! Rubbish Meg is having boat problems, probably due to not knowing enough about boats. Boo. The problem is actually a bit moot at the minute, because due to the flooding on the Trent I am out of water and cannot move to get any, but still. When I manage to decant my large water container into the tank I will need a pump. The pump often stops working, which is rubbish enough. At this point I hit it with a heavy thing, as I assume it jams. This worked fine for a while, with it only needing hitting every few days. However now it is starting to not work, then when it does start working to go off randomly for a few minutes afterwards. I know the pump going off randomly can be a sign of a leak, but as it only happens after it's been on (albeit up to 10 minutes after sometimes) and the ongoing problems I think it's more likely to be the pump itself. Yesterday, we had to hit it a lot to get it working (I appreciate my problem-solving methods bear more to anger management issues than to any actual skill or knowledge) and then it just kept going really loudly with no water coming out. Rubbish. I had to switch it off at the pump to stop it. I assume it is proper broken, and I need a new one? Are they easy to install, or do they require much electrical knowledge? Am going to Chandlery on Saturday to find out how much etc. Meg

After effects of survey to much the same effect! Will need to do it before next BSC inspection in March 08. Have a few things to get round to when it finally stops raining. Meg PS Cheers Bottle for confirming it, I am new to all the boat stuff so like to be all sure

Ooh, what is this? I have a detector that goes off if the fumes get too much, but something you can look at would be useful as well. Does it also change gradually, so you can see when stuff is happening, etc? Meg

Does exactly the same as the above hold true for my gas locker? Also bits of rust, just from not being painted in a while I think. Although whatever I do I first need to get someone to root out that massive spider I saw in there the other day - like something out of LOTR Meg

I would like a vegetable garden on my roof. Interestingly topsy-turvey.

I do ok with a 50ft boat and just the stove. Eco fan blows some air into the back bedroom, and given that it is so warm in the main part of the boat, it's a relief to get into cooler air to sleep anyway. The only irritating thing is having the long start up time to get warm when I get in from work and have to mess about getting a fire going with my coat on. How big is the boat? If it's massive you'd probably not be able to heat it all with the stove. Also would depend where the stove is, as mine is in the middle so not so far away from the ends. Meg