Chris101

Exactly the same thing. Good call.

But you don't need to keep polishing it. It goes on as a protective layer and then you leave it alone. The 'polishing' is just the application process to remove excess. It's not especially shiny once finished and probably quicker and easier to apply than paint. Each to their own as you say.

https://www.davidwhitefireplaces.com/product-page/stovax-traditional-black-graphite-grate-polish-75ml-tube-black-lead Stovax is waxbased and works really well. I use a cheap polishing mop in a battery powered drill to buff it up. You do need to sheet up the area round it when doing this.

Well.... Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately I now won't be able to use Tony which is a shame as after chatting with him I was very keen to meet him in person. Hugely knowledgeable and a I found him a joy to talk to. A gentleman. In one of those quirks of fate he grew up on the same stretch of the Lea where I've lived for the last ten odd years. I'll continue to make some phonecalls, the difficulty being availability at precisely the right time for all involved! I'm certain I'm not the first. Onwards and upwards eh? In the meantime we're compiling a handy list for reference I suppose. Thanks all for continued involvement.

Thanks. I've found a mobile number online and sent an enquiry but if he's still working he's doing his best to hide the fact online at least. Much appreciated again. Thank you. Looks promising! Messaging now. I've also worked out the quote function!

Thanks for the recommendations. I've been in touch with Mike but unfortunately he's unable to do my survey so any other other recommendations would be very welcome. Thanks again. Chris

Thanks Tam and Di, I hadn't seen that forum. I'll join it now and do some searching. That's great. MtB. Thanks again for your help. Always reliable. I'll chase that up.

I'm currently searching for a suitably qualified and experienced surveyor able to work on a turn of the (19th) century Dutch barge with riveted iron work in the Oxford area on the Thames. The boat has had extensive repairs previously and I have copies of the sellers survey and repair works. Obviously I want to conduct my own survey to evaluate the condition of the hull repairs and general state of the boats workings. I've looked around the website but curiously can't find any threads directly related to this so apologies if I've missed previous posts. If anyone could recommend a few trusted names capable of working on boats of this era, I'd be very grateful. Many thanks in advance.

Just as a heads up, I know it won't be suitable for many but a young lad I know has a low slung electric bike with a vaguely similar frame to a compton. It has really thick but small tyres and he has a rack on the back. I sometimes pay him to deliver materials to domestic houses in central London if I'm working on the roof there or similar as I do rope access work. He's keen and sometimes it's often simpler to pay him than take a van in with all the charges. He can put bags of sand and cement, slate tiles, all sorts on that bike. It's a wonder to behold. The bike is very heavy but it's not bigger than a normal bike. One for the widebeam owners only maybe. It would cope with towpaths and so on easily. Agreed it's neither a cart or a barrow, just a suggestion.

To really cut the mustard you need a 'proper' weatherstone.

Thanks Ken!

Displaying my ignorance but what's lockwheeling? I'd rather ask a stupid question than remain stupid in perpetuity.

Ok, thanks for all the replies. I'll try to reply in one post. To those that say just do it, that's great but I need to finance the boat by selling my house. It's really that simple. Not sure where you get your money! For those asking if I'm commited, yes I am. I've lived far harder lives in the past. I get the fact it's not GnTonics and summer camping. I'm not being hostile in any way here, just stating that I realise it's pretty much full time work, living on a boat. Cost wise I get the implications, I've done the sums down to firewood. Not getting hostile. Again. I realise I'll have good and worse years depending on maybe battery life or a pump breaking. I learn all my skills and I like to listen to those more experienced because thats where you get the ripe fruit. I have two youngish kids who I'm going to have to share (hence the 'murder'quote, definitely not true! ) So yeh, for a while I'm looking at funding marina life. Not my ideal but hey. I have kids with schedules. In a few years time I hope to have the freedom to move about a bit more. I'd like a trad stern narrowboat with a boatmans cabin and a lister engine. Chances are I'll get away with a 10-11 ft widebeam at best because I put my kids first. Always. What I was actually trying to guage was the movement of boat prices. Reason being was not that 'i'm not comitted' etc but financially if I asked the wiser sage heads on here and the predicted a drop in a couple of months.... Might just be worth my while buying a cheap boat to begin with than trade up in a few months time. Better to lose 10 percent of 30 grand than 10 percent of 130 grand boat. Just trying to gauge the market. I really was just asking for advice. No offence intended,

Just to point out. I really was after genuine advice. Not being a gonk.