MrsM

That's a very exciting opportunity for someone.

How exciting and congratulations. I agree that you have secured very good value boating holidays compared to renting, and as a part owner your boat will soon feel like home from home. Hope you have many happy years exploring the network.

As did ours. I would absolutely say that a sacrificial link (cable tie) saved us from a potentially serious incident.

Reinforcing the importance of having a sacrificial connection on the fender. We had a scary moment a few years ago on one of the Chester locks when our fender caught on a protruding bolt while ascending and the bow was held down briefly until the link gave way.

Hope you have a fantastic time. We had a magical 4 years on the cut and created some of the happiest memories of my life. Enjoy x

My mistake - I had forgotten the age of the boat and therefore that the RCD issue is not relevant here. Apologies to the OP for the deviation.

I see, thank you. It really is complicated!

Have been following with interest. Having sold my boat I have to get my boaty fix vicariously nowadays. The recent thread highlighting issues with the RCD makes me wonder what the process of getting a self fit-out approved for the RCD/R is? Does one engage an appropriately qualified surveyor/assessor to sign off at different stages, for example when the wiring loom or gas installation is fitted and visible? A bit like how building control come and inspect ongoing work on a property? Obviously inspecting an installation is much easier before it is hidden away being panelling etc. How does one go about this?

So the last 2 letters of the HIN should date the hull. In the OP's case if this is 97 or earlier does this mean the lack of a RCD/R is no longer an issue?

From AdE on 29/11/23:- If you bought it as a sailaway, did you get the RCD approval to the stage it was sold at ? A boat (built to RCD compliance) must have the HIN / CIN marked in two places, the RCD specifies the 'public place' and the other should be in a hidden location only known to the hull builder. From memory the 'public' HIN / CIN must be made so it is incapable of being removed (ie stamped into the hull) at the stern on the starboard side. Typically it should be on the 'outside' of the boat, but I have known of them 'inside' the transom. The builder should be able to provide you with the HIN from their records (I don't think they are supposed to divulge the hidden location as you could have stolen the boat and tamper with the marking). The HIN should also be specified on the Bill of Sale, the Declaration of Compliance and in the Owners manual. Example of the HIN on the Declaration of Compliance (under technical data) The format should be :

I am probably wrong but I thought the hull number that is permanently built/pressed/welded into the steel includes the year that the hull was built?

I use this quite a lot in house restoration work. Very nice to work and sands easily.

Fabulous photo!

Yes that's a beauty! And I guess has insurance and a boat safety cert. What a character - good on him. And a proper CCer too 😄

I don't. But I'm assuming they must be as dems da rools. To add: I appreciate a boat doesn't need to look smart to pass a boat safety inspection but I'm sure we've all seen the sorts of boats I'm referring to.

Aaaaaaaah so that's how wide beams are born - now it all makes sense! 😄

I have often wondered how some of the extremely poor condition boats manage. There are a couple on CRT online moorings near me that look like they couldn't possibly pass a BSS. How do they get licenced?

I think it could best be summed up as 'patronising'. I guess when our boat looked well used they assumed we knew what we were doing, but when our boat looked shiny and unscathed they assumed that we hardly ever left the marina (which couldn't have been further from the truth). Quite logical I suppose.

I have no idea why, but it was quite noticeable that some lockies treated us quite differently after the boat looked all fresh and shiny.

We had 3 seasons with a scruffyish boat followed by 1 with a shiny boat after we had it repainted. I was interested to see whether people behaved differently with us, but generally the ones that did tended to be the (v)lockies, who often treated us like we hadn't a clue when our boat was shiny. Having covered a big chunk of the system and with well over 1200 hours boating under our belts by this time we found this somewhat amusing.

Very sad to see - especially the stuff that was stolen from the boat. Heart goes out to the poor owners.

In which case it would be going down for many people to reflect the current downturn in property prices thanks to Bizzie Lizzie et al. Hands up every one whose Council Tax has gone down. No? Didn't think so.

That is not strictly true. She does listen and has been helped by many kind souls on here, both virtually and in person. You could try to see her as more than just a figure of fun.

My husband submits several large invoices a year and similarly has never issued or been asked for a receipt, but that is not the problem here as I understand it. I don't think anyone would be threatening to damage the reputation or try and cause a small business issues with HMRC/VAT over a lack of receipts! I agree that we will probably never know the full details of Lady G's dealing with her tradesmen, nor do we need to. However she chooses to make it the forum's business and if she can be guided to less acrimonious and stressful outcomes - for all concerned - surely that is a good thing? Sometimes it is hard to stand back and see another point of view and as a solo mature boater (who might at times feel slightly vulnerable?) it must be helpful to get other perspectives, or else she wouldn't air her issues in this way. Edited to add: I have been following the forum for a good few years now and briefly met with Lady G a few years ago when she was in Lincoln. She was great company and I think she is admirable for what she manages to do her own - not without a little drama here and there admittedly, but I have much respect for her.