badgerburger

I'd be very interested to know how this goes. We've got Hawker AGMs (though not that exact model) in our boat. I've been trying hard to break them for several years now ... B.B.

Same here - though I would point out that if you join a reputable club, you'll get club membership of the BCU. This is usually cheaper than BCU personal membership. Added advantage is cheap/free tuition on getting the kayak to do what you want. B.B.

We did this at our last blacking (LB widebeam), due to various problems (including the on-site pressure washer failing). It took 2 of us 3 days to clear it back to bare metal, using angle-grinders/wire brush attachments (& we wore out a few of these). It's possible, but a big job... & I totally agree with G.P. about how toxic epoxy is, having used it elsewhere. B.B.

Well, having a directly East-West mooring allows me to have a panel facing due south, which probably makes the most difference. The panels themselves are black-painted pipes, with black metal fins welded on (I would have used evacuated tubes, but couldn't afford it at the time). They're in heavily insulated boxes, with toughened double glazed glass & I put the whole lot as close to the calorifier as I could. Apart from that, water is circulated by a central heating pump. There's a differential thermostat (from ebay), that turns on the pump when the water in the panel is about 8 deg. hotter than the water in the calorifier & closes a shut-off valve when water isn't being pumped, to prevent thermal circulation. I think this is fairly standard ... Unfortunately, I suspect that success depends more on location than anything else. B.B.

Not quite relevant, but the daftest question I've heard in a while. Some context: Naburn lock (approx. 150'x25') on the tidal river Ouse, bypasses a spectacular weir. Lady on narrowboat, approaching from the tidal side - shouts up to the lock-keeper: "Excuse me. What canal are we on?" B.B.

Cats are coping fine, lying about in the shade all day. FluffyPsycho also used to be a keen swimmer, but has given up on this recently. Given how hot the boat gets inside, I think a cat flap is definitely needed - you can get locking ones, for when you really need to keep them in (or out). B.B.

Another vote for solar panels. I've got a significantly simpler DIY system, & am still getting more (free) hot water than I know what to do with. B.B.

True, but the emissions guys would have been measuring hydrocarbons / CO, rather than CO2 efficiency. Engines have been developed to minimise emissions for petrol/DERV, so running on LPG will only improve hydrocarbons emissions if you're converting an old/ inefficient engine. However, CO2 output will be much less - which is the reason for the different tax rate on LPG. B.B.

Problem with using gas bottles is that an LPG engine requires a liquid phase take-off, whereas gas bottles give you a vapour feed. Taking enough LPG from a vapour feed to run an engine would cause it to freeze solid. You can bodge a gas cylinder to give a liquid feed, but this is "not recommended" (i.e. **** stupid). Car LPG conversions use a custom vaporiser to convert liquid to gas & this is kept warm by the engine coolant. However, LPG is 'greener'. Propane has a higher ratio of Hydrogen to Carbon than either petrol or diesel. When it burns, it produces around 40% more H20 and correspondingly less CO2. B.B.

Latest news: work has now started on Cottingwith lock. :lol: Unless something drastic happens, the canal should reopen in a few weeks. B.B.

Sorry to put it bluntly, but this whole scenario stinks. Basically, the vendors want 10K, non-refundable, before they will allow you to have a survey done on it. It doesn't matter how helpful/friendly they've been in the past. They are not playing nice now. Why not contact a surveyor, explain this story, & ask for an expert opinion on whether this sets any alarm bells ringing? The most generous interpretation I can think of is that the vendors really don't understand anything about how boat sales usually work. There's plenty of other interpretations I can think of, but none of them look good for this sale. B.B.

Don't know about small things, but FluffyPsycho's latest rather large gift to us was a mink. I guess in this case, he's actually helping protect the (native) wildlife. B.B.

Quick Update: We now have it in writing that work will begin at the start of April 2009. Needless to say, nothing has happened so far.

Yes - regular kayaker as well. Would rather be doing it on the sea / surf, though. B.B.

Some good news (at last!) Following a lengthy trip through BW complaints procedures, a date has now been set for work to re-open the Pocklington canal. Work will start in April (subject to water levels on the Derwent), and is expected to take no more than 6 weeks. I don't know whether this has been the longest 'temporary' stoppage, but it may well be over soon. If anybody is directly affected (i.e. been trapped there, unable to access a mooring, or similar) send me a p.m. B.B.