chasing cars

i often wonder why i love being on the canals so much when half the boaters are self righteous we do everything right and always have a spare windless, cagool/pacamac and have full and immediate break down cover for all eventualities..although of course they dont share or help! oh no because we should all be as prepared and self righteous.. then i cruise look at the sunset (often through the rain) and on occasion find a nice boater...not every day mind you...just sometimes..

know this marina well, bought a boat from there..nightmare!!! thats the only word for them..lovely to look around a boat unsupervisored but they are totally focused on the money, our boat turned out to have dodgey boat cert., they lie, make up and totally fabricate anyting that gives them a sale!! if it wasnt for my expert negotiating skills ) we would have be pushed into paying £5000 more than we finally agreed on...get a good survey and then start the negotiating..tick to your guns! you'll save £1000's cause they just want a sale at whatever price so use it to your advantage and offer way below their asking price and use the survey as evidence!

hi jimbo, we live aboard with our 3 daughters (2 fulltime aged 14 & 6 and one at uni - home weekends/holidays) a dog, pigmi hedgehog and 4 fish! we left a 4 bed semi , large garden, even had a hottub (which i'll be honest i d miss!) i too realised all my money went on the house with not much left and having owned a narrow boat for a year - sold that and the house to fund a new boat - my advice would be to plan the boat carefully and find a good moring, we managed to fit in 3 bedrooms with loft style beds built in for the girls which gave them their own space to retreat to - if you cant manage a bedroom each then give them a "play area" for your own sanity - and a space for them to get away from you!! we spend much more time together as a family - when we lived in a house with so many rooms we rarely sat in the same room apart from to eat! now we have too!! we play games more and go for walks more - we are also aware of the impact our every day lives have on each other and are more considerate. Go for it jimbo - nothing in life comes with a guarentee and after 5 years living afloat you'll probably be able to rebuy a house with cash with the money you've saved from not paying a mortgage! Every day is for living and its adults that should make the decisions not children - sometimes we forget we actually know best! i have just asked my daughters if they miss the house and they both said they missed different things, the 6 yr old missed her trampoline and the 14 yr old missed the landline phone for better internet connection - honest answers! but they now do much more than they ever did as we have more money..they ride horses and we travel much more than we used to.. oh and we have an allotment within walking distance of the boat..a great place to let off steam after school! and we have a playhouse/shed and swings there - as well as veg! perhaps that would help to have a bit of outdoor running space? so look out for an allotment! hope all that helped! x

thanks for reply, do you know how complicated the fitting of a radiator from a boatman stove is? just trying to work out additional costs! and whether not being chilly in bed is worth it!!

hi, could you please give me your opinion of whether i need a stove (poss with an eco fan?) or a stove/boiler and 1 rad for a 45 ft narrow boat, traditional layout - i'm worried the bedroom will get cold as its at totally the other end of the boat to the stove?? advise greatly appreciated so i dont make an expensive blunder on this refit!!

ok, sorry to sound slightly clueless but i need some advice...and have been asked which if any i want fitting on my new boat..will i need either or could they wait?? (its a live aboad widebeam - will be in marina on electric hook up all week-cruising weekends if that helps) Travel power, 240v engine 3.5Kw generator / alternator pack. Available across the range of engines. Mastervolt Mass Combi 2000/100 Inverter/charger (upgrade)

ok, sorry to sound slightly clueless but i need some advice...and have been asked which if any i want fitting on my new boat..will i need either or could they wait?? (its a live aboad widebeam - will be in marina on electric hook up all week-cruising weekends if that helps) Travel power, 240v engine 3.5Kw generator / alternator pack. Available across the range of engines. Mastervolt Mass Combi 2000/100 Inverter/charger (upgrade)

this is an iguana we already own so we do know about the environment she requires just trying to relocate all this onto the boat is causing probs! thank you for all the help and advice - its all noted and has been a help, x

ok, i know they are expensive and i know there are 100's of cheaper ways to get a pic but after a long day at work the thought of climbing on the roof in the wind and rain with a dog and 3 daughters in tow with my trusty compass just seems way to much! so my sincere apologies if my lack of knowledge and laziness offends but i' thinking this may be the solution for ME..has anyone got one????? advice appreciated! kind regards

has anyone actually bought/used the magicsat 2002a?? i know i can "do it cheaper" but this seems so easy to use! and climbing on the roof everytime one of my daughters wants to watch tv after a long day at work just seems..well not for me! your helps greatly appreciated

i know there are lots of threads on this topic which i have waded through but the more i read the more confused i get! could any of you clever ones out there please answer these questions (simply please ) if money was no object..what set up would give me the best sky tv reception with minimal faffing about ?? can i view sky through my laptop?? if so..what do?? thanks in advance!

we used a wooden high chair - sawed the legs off and attached to the top of the boat! with safety straps of course (and removeable for low bridges etc) little one loved seeing all around and was "captured and secured" when we needed to know where she was (eyes in the back of the head are also useful on boats with children ) once they get used to the boat rules they are fine..just start as you mean to go on..preferabley before they can crawl and walk - then they are used to the "rules" before they can argue! A birds eye view is so much more fun than being confined to below deck every time i needed to steer etc just our idea! to add to all the others..