Boaty Jo

Have a scroll through this lot, may give you an idea. Red Oak? http://piecesofwood.com/woods.html

Contact the RYA, they may be able to help? Legal Team Tel: 023 8060 4223 Email: legal@rya.org.uk.

Head gasket?

This may help http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/legal/buying-a-boat/Pages/hub.aspx

Gravity. This is similar to the system I had.

Not sure about the specific one you're looking at but we had something similar to this... http://www.bfsgmbh.de/en/system.html Water was supplied by a 20 L reservoir via tubes and float valves to each cell. One of the valves stuck and flooded the battery, which overflowed, thankfully into the steel battery container (bund) which I could flush out. I took the whole thing out and resorted to checking and topping up manually.

Possibly..... the blanking plate has 2 or 3 lugs to twist it into place (probably 2 as the bunny is a small stove). Perhaps the plate is simply not fully twisted into place and needs re-seating. Whether you need additional sealer (cement / high-temp silicone??) I'm not sure. Perhaps give these guys a call....... http://www.aarrow-stove-specialist.co.uk/

If you're still struggling I may know someone who can help. PM me and I'll see if I can put you in touch.

Yellow = poor / incomplete combustion causing inefficiency, sooting and possible dangerous gasses. Could be a number of things but there's a thread here that may give you some pointers. http://www.waterwaysworld.com/questionspost.cgi?post=674

Our sincere condolences, very sad. Jo and Jan

Just a bit more......I only saw Le Boats in the area though there may be alternative companies. What you should get, as you say, is a well-run company with a wide variety of boat to choose from. Don't know how many of you there will be but my advise wold be to choose something comfortably big enough for you all if funds allow. The battlefields and memorials are incredibly moving whether or not you have relatives who were involved. It will give you and your children the chance to begin to understand the scale of the war and number of nationalities involved, including your country men and women. My wife's uncle died on the Somme fighting along side the Newfoundland Regiment. He's buried in Hawthorne Ridge cemetery located in the Newfoundland Memorial Park. When we visited a few years ago the visitors centre was staffed (respectfully) by Canadian college students, and presumably still is. Don't go to Flanders for the scenery, stay where you are for that! But the towns are interesting and you'll have chance to reflect while cruising the small river and canals in between. And there are a couple of locks (there aren't many because it's so flat) including one of the oldest in Belgium (I believe) at the junction of the Ijzer and Lo Canal at Fintele where there is a locally renowned fish restaurant where you can sample paling (eel) in a variety of disguises (if that takes your fancy). If I can help any further feel free to PM me rather than boring everyone else.

OK, here's one quick idea. Le Boat have a base in Nieuwpoort, Flanders, an interesting town in itself. There is a ring you can do. Go up the River Ijzer via Diksmuide, Ypres, Veurne and back to Nieuwpoort. All are interesting places with Diksmuide and Ypres particularly influenced by military memorials. Ypres is down a branch canal and an evening visit to The Menin Gate is memorable in addition to the main square in the town which houses the incredible Cloth Hall. If you want to take in Bruges too, doing that on a boat within the week could be a push unless you choose it as an exclusive trip, and a 'there and back' journey from near Nieuwpoort. But there is a railway station in Diksmuide (about 1 km walk / taxi from the well-run and friendly port). Trains run regularly to Bruges (about 40 mins I think) and not expensive. You could get a full day there without much problem. We saw Le Boat boats pass by fairly regularly when we moored at Diksmuide so inexperience really shouldn't be a problem. If it's rained excessively the river may flow somewhat but normally in summer it's benign with barely any flow. So if it's been wet you could take the Bruges only option - interesting in itself. Regarding Holland, we have more experience of the more northerly regions and probably our favourite boating area was Friesland with it's myriad of lakes, canals and towns BUT, from memory, during holiday season it can get very busy with a tsunami of private boats. Out of season it's a joy. There's a link here which includes a map of Flanders.... http://www.leboat.co.uk/holidays/destinations/belgium

I wouldn't muck about if I were you, too risky. Contact Rinnai and get proper advice from a stockist / approved installer

You're asking for trouble posting that.

99% know they exist, 1% know (or use) them. In a number of years boating in the UK and Europe I only used or heard two in anger. Firstly, one long blast - I am entering the fairway and secondly a variety of blasts when asked to do so on French canals, when approaching an obstacle or blind bend for example. When entering a big river (The Lek or Waal for example) from a large lock (100 metres x 20) between high walls you need to let other boats know you are coming because you can't see them and they can't see you. Not that the big commercial boats would be able to change course quickly but occasionally they would answer, alerting us to their presence and warning us to be careful. On the canals commercial peniches or hotel boats have limited ability to change course or stop so its us in smaller boats (usually) that need to keep out of their way. In addition you have the raft of CEVNI (Code Européen des Voies de la Navigation Intérieureus) waterways regulations which incorporates visual signs, buoyage or markings plus lighting and flags on the boats themselves. If you want in idea of what's involved scroll down this site http://www.cevni.info/ Blue boards is one thing you do come across quite often and even if you don't have one yourself (smaller boats are not obliged to have them I believe) it's worth knowing about in case a thousand tonne boat comes at you on the wrong side of the river. One member on here, Tam Murrell has produced an excellent book explaining these regulations, one place you can get it (I think) is: https://www.mailspeedmarine.com/g17-european-waterways-regulations-the-cevni-rules-explained.html Trundling along The Ashby you really don't need much, apart from common sense, but it may be worth learning a little of the regulations when traveling on large rivers. It's like basic First Aid, you never need it till you need it.

True, you can't account for the stupidity of someone drowning while lighting a cigarette under water while not wearing a life jacket (spurious), but you can perhaps stop your boat going boom when you light up inside because you have neglected to maintain your gas installation.

True, any boat can go boom, but anyone with a BSC is made aware of potential dangers merely by going through the process while getting their boat in (at least) rudimentary order.

Just a few idle thoughts. The vast majority of boats have a licence. A licensed boat will have an up-to-date BSC and valid insurance, both of which are important. Gas, electric and stoves are potentially a lethal mixture so I'd have thought that boaters have (at least) a moral obligation to protect others even if their own safety is unimportant. Of course it doesn't mean that an unlicensed boat will not be insured or have a BSC, but it's possible. Seems to me the whole system is flawed through a lack of clarity and lack of effective policing. It's probably exacerbated both by a raft of new boaters ignorant of their boats and obligations and those wilfully flouting the regulations. On the continent, where narrowboats mix with cruisers, barges, yachts and multi-thousand tonne commercials, there are control locks where you must produce up-to-date papers before they allow you to pass, plus regular visits from the waterways police. We were boarded by three different authorities over one winter in Belgium, the local municipal police, the regional police and the customs and excise police, at least two officers in each case (and all who carry firearms). Our fire extinguishers were out of date when we were stopped in France (stupidly). We were given 28 days to rectify it or be fined 1,600 euros (I think from memory). I even know of one boat who borrowed in-date fire extinguishers when they knew they were to be checked and handed them back subsequently, which is really, really stupid. The vast majority of boaters are conscientious but accidents can happen, even to the most careful and prudent. But perhaps we're just a heartbeat away from an unlicensed, uninsured boat without a BSC blowing up and killing a group of kids. Live and let live becomes live and let die.

Be interesting to know the boat rental website that put she and her tenant together and how much advice was offered to both parties prior to the agreement.

I get the impression that you are new to boating. Can I suggest that rather than aiming at an oak-finished beauty that is impractical you go back and decide what you want from your boat and work from there. There are many stages at which you can buy a boat. For example, empty shell, sail-away to various stages, fully fitted for refurb.... There are other skills than carpentry required too, plumbing, electrics, mechanic, painter etc. etc. All have boat-specific requirements that you won't necessarily find in a domestic situation. I put this together for an overseas friend who was looking to buy a barge. Some of it can be related to narrowboats and although by no means wholly comprehensive it may give you some ideas for further research.... http://abargeatlarge.co.uk/Looking for a barge/index.html

PM me your email address and I'll try and put you in touch with someone who can probably be able to help.

https://www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/canal-depths/ This may help. Plenty of other useful info too. Our friends did many of the Burgundy waterways in in a MFV (Motor fishing vessel) that was 1.65m draft but I'm not sure if they did the Nivernais whose depth can vary somewhat and be shallow at times. Be aware that some of the canals are not as well maintained as they used to be when geared up for steady commercial traffic so getting close to the bank away from designated moorings can be hit and miss. Also they are weedy at times to keel cooling is preferred. You probably realize but the Brittany canals are isolated from the main navigations.

Don't apply for assisted living in Hull or Huddersfield

Try contacting Bob Furnell on: littleboroughcanal@hotmail.com He is a volunteer lockie in the area and coordinates the Litttleborough Canal Adoption Group, he can probably help. You may well get a phone number for him via CART if it's urgent.