barroca grande

Bunbury not Banbury The importance of being Ernest the imaginary sick friend for visiting when you want to get out of some other less interesting engagement? I thought it was clever.

I saw a good name the other day. Bunbury

Thanks for input everyone. The Natures Head separates the pee out so I shouldn't get it too soggy no matter how many people are using it. My worry was more that it would get too dry just using the Aubiose (Hemp horse bedding in 25kg bale). A mix of compost and hemp apparently is the way to go! I got pond gloves from my son for Xmas for use down the weed hatch. I suppose they could double up elsewhere, provided I was careful walking through the galley on the way from one to the other! I am pleased to announce that my loo is now connected to the 12v system as well as to the solar vent so venting should be wonderful. Again reading other comments the loo is miles away from the steering position. I almost can't wait to use it...

I've got one fitted but as the boat is new I don't really know if it is better than the share boat we had previously simply because it is a Mel Davis with better swims or because of the axiom prop or because of the different rudder I have had made (an approximation of a Schilling Rudder as per Daniel) but the boat steers lovely. When I spun it around in the marina the other day to have the signwriting put on reverse was really weird as there was no wash AT ALL even with rudder hard over for the spin. I kept checking it really had engaged then would realise it must have done as the banks/moored boats were approaching really quite fast! Engage forward gear pronto! First turn had us going forwards onto the pontoon second turn we reversed back onto the pontoon again I was very impressed with myself as I have not steered the boat since we brought it to the Marina in November. So not had to reverse any great distance or in adverse conditions but so far very pleased with it.

We used to get wait and see pudding a lot! oh and my mother got into a lot of trouble on the mine in Portugal when she referred to something or someone as being 'as old as the hills' The General Manager and wife were called Mr and Mrs Hill! Oops

er because it is not for coffee but for neatly collecting deposits before being composted! Hopefully to reduce smearage. Well you did ask!!!

You are lovely ... My question is answered in that there link. A mix of Aubiose and compost it is then. Anyone know where I can get cheap coffee filters?

Keep up!!! Of course no one with any experience has actually answered my op about whether the aubiose will be okay (bearing in mind the pee situation) or whether I do have to start it off with compost! I live in hope Derbyshire

Let me tell you there will be no bar f ing allowed in my compost. Women may sit on my compost to pee into the integral pee container. Men will be provided with a 'bottle' to empty elsewhere (why should I cart their pee around when they can simply go elsewhere.) I was toying with the idea of allowing use of the small basin for peeing (male not female) but fear splashback will be unacceptable! I may start growing petunias.

The time is fast approaching when I will be using my compost toilet in anger - as it were. It is a Natures Head I have asked various questions of users but now need a definitive answer. What should I use to get the whole process started correctly. I have got a large bag (bale) of Aubiose which I currently use as cat litter. Looks like shavings but is Hemp. I feel that this might be rather 'dry' on it's own and I wonder if I should put some compost in the bottom (ha ha) to begin with. Then use the Aubiose as and when. Will I need to add liquid? Thanks Kath

THanks will do. I hope the sikaflex is still okay but don't want to find out last minute it isn't! With the panels being stuck to metal and the metal getting hot (hopefully) whatever adhesive is used must be flexible I suppose. I wouldn't have thought of a Motor factors though but makes sense.

Hi all today we are finally going to stick my solar panels down on the roof. However the build has gone on so long that the Sikaflex I was given along with the solar panels has exceeded its 'best before' date of July 2009! I am told that it will be fine but just in case it isn't is there a good alternative that can be bought over the counter today as backup? Also the roof currently has antislip paint where the panels will go. I asked whether I should leave this bit smooth but was advised that it would provide a good key. I am now wondering if that is still best advice? What should I do myself today to prepare the area ready for John to install them this evening. In case he can't make it I don't want to do too much that would leave the steel vulnerable. Should I just scrub it clean with a scrubbing brush? Or get stuck in with some sand paper? Thanks Kath

Thanks for that. Looks like the consensus for the bed mattress under tug deck is around 5". The space under there is 22 so allowing another 2 to 3" for the bedding still leaves me with something over 12 " for the drawers under. This is good news. The dinette conversion is for guests only so their sleeping comfort is temporary! Perhaps the 3" firm doubled up for the seat would do the job nicely? I will have a chat with Dave as well.

Hi all Back again, I am just about ready to think about making the bed and dinette. Can anyone advise on best thicknesses (and type) for the mattress and the seat cushions for the dinette. For the bed I will need two pieces of mattress as most of it will go under the tug deck and basically only ever be slept upon (say about 4ft long). The bottom section remains in the room and will double up as a sofa. I imagine this section will need to be more robust? There will be a back support which I plan to have upholstered that is either the back of the sofa or the bedhead. This will lift up out of the way while the bed is actually being pulled in and out. I am anticipating the bedframe to be like a futon in that it will have slats to support the mattress. In an ideal world the space underneath the bed frame will still be enough for drawers! The dinette is basically a half pullman dinette which will convert to a small across double (or large single!). The back section will slide down when the bottom section is pulled out. We will then have the table top across the passage way with a spare cushion on it. As storage is limited would it be better to have the seat section double thickness which would open out to cover the top section of bed and use the back cushion across the passage? As space under the tug deck is limited I really need to know what depth the mattress needs to be for best sleeping comfort so I know how low the bed frame has to be to accommodate the bedding etc going under. Thanks in anticipation Kath

Mine are in the side of the boat right next to the gas hob (only gas appliance) because we were originally going to have a gas free boat. Because it is above gunnel height we can only have the small bottles and of course we can only change bottles when the boat is facing the correct way. But I don't anticipate using that much gas therefore not having to change over very often which means it shouldn't be a huge problem. A niggle certainly but not a problem.

Due to the shape of my hatch opening I think I will have to forget the gas strut and just go for the simpler bonnet opening stay type idea. Thanks folks Kath

Amicus Choice you have given me choice. This only leads to more questions! I have printed off their gas strut selection and free design service page and will return to the boat to measure all the other dimensions required! I will then ask them for best design especially as to complicate things my opening on the boat is a semi circle under a square lid. Thanks for that link. Kath

Hi Gary You know I always wanted to copy your hatch (I copied your locking mechanism didn't I?) but Mel never got around to doing it for me. Is it still working fine? Can you tell me how wide the opening is and therefore the length required of the struts Bones I will pm you but if you used gas struts in the end what exactly are the ones you are offering from Ikea? My hatch lid is enormous and very heavy. Bear I will look at RS components and measure the hatch and the size of ideal opening tomorrow.

Hi I have a very large side hatch lid that goes over proper steps into the boat and I need to start thinking about the gas struts. Ideally these would lift it up and hold it whereever we stop it and only bring the lid down again when we ask it to! At the moment we haven't lined the sides of the hatch surround but are about to. Should I organise the struts before we hide the steelwork or is it better to do the lining out. (we are thinking of using the tongue and groove as it is circular opening) and then drill through the lot? Which make of car should I get the gas struts off or are there special ones out there? Is it possible to unhook them for when we want to lay the lid flat down on the roof? I look forward to your input. Thanks Kath