Callunna

Hi Rob Give us a wave when you pass through Lower Park Marina, Barnoldswick. I'm the gormless looking one on an ex-Silsden Boats widebeam in need of a paint job (the boat, not me). LPM has pumpout facilities and a small shop/chandlery. Barnoldswick has a variety of shops to top up your food etc. The Anchor pub at Salterforth has new managers and sells some good ales. They're also doing food again now. Further on, The Cross Keys at East Marton is also a good pub, or visit Abbot's Harbour just down the lane for great food in picturesque surroundings. (Only open during the day and closed all day Thursday). I agree with Stonker - maybe Skipton is far enough? The countryside between Barrowford and Skipton is the best in the world (I might be slightly biased, though). I certainly wouldn't fancy doing the swing bridges or Bingley 5 rise locks on my own.

We bought our widebeam (11ft 6in x 55ft) from Silsden Boats. Ex-hire, built by Reeves, fitted out by SB. We liked the layout which gave us two cabins and therefore more privacy which was important to us as liveaboards. They also supply and fitout new boats. http://www.silsdenboats.co.uk/canal-narrow...nd-hire-UK.html If you want a more personal opinion, PM me.

I've got a redundant el cheapo webcam and an antique laptop ... run a 55ft USB cable along the gunwales? Being somewhat short in stature and having a 12ft wide boat makes it very difficult to see what's going on. Mind you, in any 'tense' situation I simply shut my eyes tight, hold my breath and whimper ... so I wouldn't be looking at a screen anyway.

No - just a couple of gentle swans where we are. They're very friendly and will graciously accept a slice of bread from your fingers. It's the ducks who cause most mayhem - they can spot when you're near the bread bin from about 20 metres up the cut and hang around the boat like a gang of hoodies. Yes, we've had tapping at 4am but I don't know whether it was swans or ducks. The first night I thought "Ah, how sweet! How exciting living so close to nature!" The second night I felt guilty at getting grumpy when I was woken up. The third night I retaliated by thumping under the gunwales like a woman possessed. The tapping stopped immediately and rarely happens now.

I'd love to have a discussion about on-boat recording studios - maybe start another dedicated topic? I use Garageband 3 on my MacBookPro - anything more meaty and I'm hopelessly lost. However, I'd be very interested to hear what other people are using. I play acoustic guitar and have a USB keyboard (the latter still in my mother's loft until we sort enough space on the boat) plus decent mic and various effects units etc.

Now is not the time to worry about the appearance of your varnished wood. Call 999 and evacuate the boat NOW.

Sounds like a plan!

This sounds like one shown to me by an ex-navy man and is the only one I can get my head around. It's simple, quick, effective and easy to untie. Does it have an official name? As you say, it doesn't seem to appear in any manuals. I also use a round turn & 2 half hitches. Up to now these two have been the only ones I've needed.

We're hoping to get along there this year, but we haven't time to take the boat so will stay with friends in Barnton. We're likely to be going to the sessions rather than the concerts, that's if dogs are allowed in the pubs.

Oops - stumbled on here by mistake, but quickly realised I was on CWDF by the tone of the discussion. Boiled sweets, anyone?

Yes - same here. We're at Barnoldswick (not far from Richard H). Stop for a brew etc at Lower Park Marina.

I got mine from Alan at www.energysave-eu.co.uk The first batch were 30-LED ones, cool white. Very bright but giving out 'pools' rather than a wash of light. I had a detailed discussion with him and he sent two samples which gave a broader spread (still 30-LED). Once I've fitted a regulator to my lighting circuit (which he doesn't supply) I'm planning to order 10 more for about £46 total. These will just replace my MR16 bulbs - i.e. I'm not buying a whole new light fitting. I don't have any commercial or professional interest in this company but I've been pleased with their attitude and response so far. I hope we're allowed to mention good companies in this forum as well as not-so-good ones - if not, please feel free to delete!

I give my internet connection quite a bit of welly but as yet I haven't used up my 3gig per month allowance. I certainly wouldn't return to fixed broadband, even if I were near a wi-fi hotspot. The versatility of being able to use my own connection anywhere I go, for the price I pay, with no messing about in cafes and the worries of public access/privacy - well it's a no-brainer. I admit the connection isn't as fast or as stable, but so what if it takes a few nanoseconds extra to load a page, or 30 seconds to re-set the modem - we're all supposed to be chilled out and slowed down on the cut, aren't we?

Me? Intimidated? Nah - just don't care to get involved with some of the silly shenanigans of a small minority on here. The rest of the members are great and I regularly read the threads with interest. Yes, I do post on JC which I find more accessible and it loads a lot quicker on my laptop (using T-Mobile's Web n Walk USB modem, to keep this post on topic...). If I went on every canal website I'd never get any work done (hmm, there's a nice thought). JC members are all very patient & helpful with this newbie's questions, and whereas 99% of people on here would be the same, I'm afraid the existence of that nasty little minority puts me off in case I get a load of abusive or sarky comments. Back to the topic: yes, WnW works well on a desktop computer - I tested it at home before becoming a liveaboard. Also, I use an Apple Mac and had to download an upgrade when I switched to the Leopard OS recently. WnW occasionally drops out and the speed seems to vary - especially in bad weather - but just 3 years ago all this was unheard of so I'm well chuffed with it. I couldn't have become a self-employed liveaboard without it.

If you've bought a whole bunch of LED bulbs and don't want the expense of replacing them with the types which have individual regulators, couldn't you simply fit a regulator at the start of the lighting circuit?

I've just finished reading the novel "The Boat Girls" by Margaret Mayhew (Corgi 2007). It's a good bedtime read, and although it's essentially a romance with a happy ending, there are some interesting insights into what life was like for a WWII volunteer boatwoman.

Andy - turn your phone on! Trying to contact you - there's a party on Saturday. Just to keep on topic - I like boats too, Magnetman.

While you wrestle with the intricacies of battery charging, inverters, alternator controllers, generators and energy management systems (which is what we're doing after a month as liveaboards) you could in the meantime try a very quick and relatively cheap way to reduce the demands on your batteries, depending on the kind of lighting system on your boat. We've replaced each of our 18 halogen spotlight bulbs (MR16) with a 30-LED bulb. I shopped around and got them for £4 each. 18 x 20 watts versus 18 x 1.5 watts. The results have been dramatic. On top of that, we now switch off the inverter at night because we only have 12v lights and fridge on. It hasn't solved all our problems and I'm being given a lot of help and advice by members of another forum (no offence to CWF, it's just that you can't be in several places at once, can you?) Cally

Sorry to inflict this on you, but you DID ask, SuperMalc! This is a self-penned daft song about my local area, and it's not typical of the sort of music we're doing theses days, but it's the only time anyone's ever videoed us. Cally & Border Patrol: "Wild West Craven" Hope everyone is having/had a great Christmas. Been liveaboards for 6 days now and no regrets so far! The move was a bit traumatic and we can't get a TV signal or the sat dish to work, so listening to lots of music. Clannad at the moment - really chilling out.

I see it went for £360. I've only just unpacked and installed my computer equipment since moving to the boat on Thursday so I couldn't get on eBay to bid. Has anyone any other recommendations as to the best wind gennie to get? Reliable, quiet, safe, idiot-proof and easy to install/put up/take down would be my only requirements. Oh, and not hideously expensive. And to have that thing on it that stops you overcharging.

Actually, yes, we are on the lookout for a good wind gennie, but we're moving onto the boat this Thursday so I'm not sure I'll be able to get my act together to bid on eBay before the 21st. If it's still available after the auction ends, please let me know.