booke23

Wow, that actually makes Helen's google review false, defamatory and potentially malicious as she indicates ABNB have a totally non refundable deposit policy. The fact the OP linked this may be against Canalworld rules. edit: on another part of the ABNB website is states:- If you then decide the boat is for you - call us to discuss your desire to purchase, your means of funding the purchase and whether the decision is subject to survey or demo, for example. When agreement is reached you will be asked for a non-refundable deposit* *In the unforeseen event that a SIGNIFICANT defect is discovered at survey which cannot be rectified to satisfy all parties (such as extensive plate diminution), you may appeal in writing to ABNB for a refund.

I'm not sure what the fuss is about. While some brokers will refund a deposit with no quibble, I'd say that's not very common. ABNB and Rugby boats, who are probably the most respected and well known brokers operate in the way described by Helen and it's fairly industry standard. They will refund the deposit in certain circumstances, ie if faults requiring more than 10% of the value of the boat to remedy are apparent in the survey.

I fear this thread is all getting a bit technically heavy with details. To summarise to the newby OP, to go gas free you can go down the all electric route, or go down the diesel range/cooker route. I wouldn't say it's a bad idea to have a gas free diesel boat, nor is it a bad idea to have an all electric boat. Ultimately it's horses for courses and personal preference/budget.

True, neither does an induction hob! But as I only use the grill for toast I got a small 500w two slice toaster that runs off the inverter.

My boat is gas free, and for cooking I have a Wallas 87 diesel stove/oven. It is excellent....the oven is fan assisted and is much better than a gas oven. However it's pricey, but it does avoid a battery bank/charging system upgrade which you would need if you went down the induction hob route, where you'd certainly need a decent lithium setup at the very least.

True. But to the new member, be aware the search function on this forum is very hit and miss. Better results are usually had by going to google and using that to search the site....type in something like 'Advice for buying a narrowboat canalworld forum'

You’d be better off going to the nearest hardware shop or chandlery and asking for the necessary tool there. To make this kind of adjustment you’ll also need a long weight, a metric adjustable spanner (not imperial) and a box of grinder sparks.

I think this is a good example of the kind of thing the OP is thinking of setting up. As a boater and someone with a keen interest in music I have often thought it might be an interesting day out, however the price is a little high for my taste and I can see myself wanting to stand by the tiller chatting to the skipper about boats etc rather than sitting up front sipping Champagne. I'd also likely ruin my best trousers as I'd probably automatically jump off with the centre line with a hammer and mooring pin in hand when mooring up!

I was there in August 2020 and arrived at the Basin on a Monday at about 6pm. Still spaces but we also chose to moor on the towpath as I prefer it to marina type environments.

Indeed. That boat is now capable of cruising at 3.8 mph as apposed to 3.79 before the rivets were ground off!

As @Tony Brooks says, no. Just buy what the local motor factors or Halfords has in stock.

It’s a PRM mechanical box…..a 90 or 125 or perhaps their predecessors. It requires Automatic transmission fluid conforming to ATF DEXTRON II, III or IV.

While searching for canal documentation recently, I came across this BW archive of publications. http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/publications Some interesting documents including film location brochure http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/publications/Film_Locations_Brochure.pdf And a Waterways 2025 future vision document, published in 2004 http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/publications/Waterways_2025.pdf Plus lots of other documents. Apologies if this has been posted before.

I can't find it either. Maybe it was an HSE or coroners report. Didn't realise you witnessed that one, must have been traumatic to say the least.

They investigated the Drum major sinking as @M_JG already mentioned. Report here https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/contact-and-sinking-of-narrow-boat-drum-major-while-descending-in-steg-neck-lock-on-the-leeds-and-liverpool-canal-near-gargrave-england-with-loss-of-4-lives The Varney's lock incident wasn't investigated, and another fatal overboard incident on a narrowboat here https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/person-overboard-from-narrowboat-olesea-with-loss-of-1-life wasn't investigated either, just a preliminary assessment carried out. Which illustrates my point perfectly. A reasonable assumption, but they investigate all types of fatal marine incident whether it be private, commercial or third party.

The MAIB should investigate this and other similar past incidents on the canals but they tend not to for some reason. I know they are the 'Marine' accident investigations branch, which would suggest they only investigate incidents related to sea going boats, however as @M_JG has pointed out they do occasionally investigate inland water incidents such as the terrible paddleboard incident in Haverfordwest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63895296 and the Norfolk broads fatality in 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63895296 along with other fatal incidents in the past, but not all. Presumably there is some sort of threshold that has to be crossed before they investigate, but a fatality is a fatality and in my view they should all be properly investigated.

I'm guessing this is meant for another thread?

Sobering read. PM sent.

^^^^This Many years I had a 3 meter fibreglass dinghy, so larger and probably considerably heaver than your boat @Mohsen I had a 2hp Johnson two stroke which was very simple and reliable, and powered the boat perfectly adequately on a river. It was also light enough to take off and sling over the shoulder….I used to walk quite a distance carrying it like that! So that’s what I’d recommend.

A slightly defeatist attitude 😉, but yes. That's why designers have to consider the human factor with devices such as this.

Nothing. And I can see where you're coming from. But you know what humans are like..... without an override, some will just disconnected or cut the spring rendering the safety benefits useless.

It would have to be a two handed interlock so its a faff to use....like press a button and pull the lever out, and that auto resets when you go back to neutral. I see no bickering, only some very good and pertinent debate on narrowboat safety which is to the benefit of all of us.

They do if you leave it connected to the control panel and disconnect it from your wrist or waist!

This is actually a very good idea, as kill cords rely on the user remembering to connect it, which won't be assured if you're hopping on and off the boat. Perhaps a bypass device (like the neutral button) could be fitted for the odd occasion where long distance reversing is required.

A terrible incident 🙁. I echo the sentiments that hopefully lessons can be learnt. I do wonder if a kill cord would be sensible on occasions. I also don't particularly like how a lot of engine manufacturers still manufacture their control panels with a stop button instead of the more modern setup with the stop incorporated into the ignition switch. A lot of people nowadays don't even remember when diesels had stop levers and I can imagine in an emergency situation bystanders frantically turning the ignition key to no effect.