frahkn

Possibly Joe Bourke, LadyG, Chagall and Dor could start a new thread to establish who they are, when they originally upset each other and so on. Then appropriate apologies or further abuse could continue without the distraction of galvanised buckets?

A chap built a fine model of my boat but that was 7 years ago - I will try to check if I still have his details. It turns out that my guy was John Rawson. I have (7 year old) contact details for him - will PM you if you want to try them.

Strangely, my dog "doesn't make a lot of noise and annoy my neighbours and doesn't shit everywhere" either. These are not inevitable attributes of a dog, merely indications of an incompetent dog owner. She is a golden retriever so sheds a bit (a lot, actually) but otherwise is little trouble. Having been on the boat (6 months out of 12) since she was three months old, she is well trained so usually does not need to be on a lead, is comfortable around locks etc. Admittedly she is far from cheap to run - but so is the boat - both are worth it IMHO. So, my preference is to have a dog, your is different (which, of course, is fine) but don't blame the dog. Sueb - I'm sorry, she doesn't have "sticky up pointed ears" but she's beautiful all the same.

Brilliant, thanks very much.

Common on boats - door handles like upside down ash trays. What are they correctly called? I can't find a source. Thanks.

Dunchurch pools (I assume this is the one you mention) have always seemed good to me, but you shouldn't conflate a poor initial attitude with a later poor performance. One marina I stayed in, I would have left on the first day had I not paid in advance, but it turned out to be a good un in the end. Have you tried Rugby Boat Sales? They are good as brokers go and don't hide that they act for the seller. Admittedly £50k would be towards the bottom of their range.

What about Susan Stranks?

Well I noticed that you had dressed down to meet me but lots of people do, I hadn't noticed that you were a different person altogether!?

I replaced my boatman with a hobbit because the boatman was too hot and was burning the cabin sides. It was in the traditional position in the boatman's cabin and could not be moved. The hobbit was small enough to allow me to add some protective insulation and was a reasonable price. It's been in for three years now and works well.

Mine is a 70' Orion tug, the draft at the back is 32", a bit less at the front. Obviously I can't use the 'northern canals' but of those which I have used, only the Ashby has given me problems and that was in a 'low water' year.

It's worth seeing the war cemeteries in the Wicklow hills behind Dublin. I saw them as a child and was very moved.

I watched all of this series but I liked almost nothing about either his idiosyncratic fitout or his whimsical presentation. His skill and invention kept me watching despite myself.

I'm not currently on the boat so can't look up the pitch but the diameter is 22". The boat is deep drafted - 31" under the skeg.

I have only have my Beta 43 at 1200rpm on rivers, cruising on canals it is usually at 900 to 1000. I was once told it was over propped but as it hasn't caused me any problems so far (touch wood) I've left things be.

I've done this since I've owned this boat - 7 years. Even on days when we cruise we don't switch the engine off until we have showered. It's a Beta 43 and doesn't seem to have been harmed by this treatment. I run it a bit quicker than tick-over.

Your alleged charity is irrelevant surely, as only Tonka can say if I have interpreted his post correctly or not?

Well, he said that it did so I for one, would be reluctant to gainsay him. I wouldn't dream of speaking for Tonka but I read his post as aimed less at your alleged optimism than at your alleged tendency to "ignore everything else apart from what suits you". Of course I may be completely wrong, in which case I welcome Tonka telling me so.

Fair enough.

Richard, I'm a bit puzzled. Your first two posts asked questions to which, unfortunately I was unable to give full replies. Yet after I have said that I have solved the problem, you repeat the original answer given six months ago by somebody else. If you are trying to make a particular point, I'm afraid I am missing it.

Thanks all. I've found the original thread - Nicknorman sorted me out on March 21st.

Yes they have a mooring on the off-side and a long hose which runs down the embankment from the forecourt on the road above. I have only bought diesel there, I don't know about gas or solid fuel. I have not mentioned "collusion" but they are usually 0.1p cheaper than Norbury Junction.

Can I bump this - someone on here (probably loads of people) knows the answer.

Norbury Junction seems to try to stay within 0.1p of Wheaton Aston, advertises as the cheapest diesel in on the cut (Wheaton Aston is a garage). They would probably be good for gas and perhaps, solid fuel.