parasal

Ooh I’m liking your style Sea Dog! Sounds cosy!!

Hi Robbo Im looking to use it to supplement the stove and to get hot water! So not 24/7

I know this topic has been discussed but humour me if you would... looking for water system for centrally heating widebeam- been recommended hurricane but they’re about £3,200 and I just don’t have that much to spend right now! So are there any other options? i could get system fitted apart from boiler and get it when I can afford it( I’m being fitted out over next few months) or go for cheaper boiler? Thanks Sally

Garlicky creamy cheese a la Boursin styley.... Get yerself some greek style yogurt, add chopped garlic(one would do or two if yer brave..it does seem to get very strong!) and some salt, stir and dispense into boiled muslin or cheesecloth, hang over basin for 24 hours or so..less will give you softer cheese, more will make it firmer(ooh err mrs!)...enjoy..its gert lush!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-40L-CAMP-CAMPING...DefaultDomain_3 I just bought one of these! Bag on the roof, tubing down the vent and shower away! Not exactly a power shower but free, well on a hot day at least!

Off to the hat shop.....just been down to the boat and all the floors are lifting and cupboards and worktops warping.....make mine a large one too! :lol:

I lent mine to a friend.......

After debacle of locks and rudder damage getting down to Bristol followed by hull survey and consequent results, I was excited to put my newly blacked lovely afloat and be on my way back up the river to the canal- not so! It seems that oop front at the pointy end the deck floor is not fully welded to the joists leaving a lovely big area to collect tonnes and tonnes of water when she is pulled up a slip and the water dashes in through the deck drains! The water sits there hiding under the floor, lockers and all the crap I keep in them, added to by the rain, until once again it is added to when she goes back in. On levelling out once afloat the water scurries to the back and begins to overwhelm the boat as it draws her below the water level! I arrive to the dock to see her listing badly and to all intense and purposes, sinking! I saunter over(leg it across the yard, over several boats and aboard!) to find her somewhat moist and merrily begin to bale as she is winched back from whence she came! I'm so glad I put all my valuable and special stuff on the floor to stop it from falling when winched up cos I really don't need my lovely digital radio, Telly, DVD player and assorted books and documents! I drank cider later, and copious amounts of it too!

I can't see many here reacting like that- we are all as bad as each other! We, poor fools, or enlightened ones, understand what it is to be thoroughly content in our floating refuge, whatever their decor or state of finish. If it makes you happy, or it's all you can afford, be happy

I know and normally I would join in but all this stress tends to create a bypass in the sense of humour node! Sorry for any stropiness! Still, good insurance news- they reckon they'll pay for the rudder(the reason I came outing the first place!) and it comes off last years claim year so still have fully intact no claims! Feel a bit guilty for dropping the other boat in it but that's another story! Cheers all xx

Is it safe to come back in?? Some varied and interesting responses and to answer all at once....... The shape of the pitting denotes it's cause-shallow pits with bright white/silver at their base as opposed to deep conical pitting caused by electolisis A hull that was not in the best conditioning the first place A deep hull that often sits in the sludge at the bottom of the canal Often mooring near farm land where various nitrates etc can be washed into water And to note that the "bugs" have not caused all the damage- they exist on an old and already detiorating hull If someone can recommend a way to post or have access to an attachment you could read paper written by the surveyor on the subject and included in his manual to marine survey Anyway- all cleaned and blacked and off back to canal to save up for a year- thanks for most of your help and advise!

Although there is no need to justify myself, this surveyor came highly recommended and has been involved in the business for many years, written books, lectured and trained many other well respected surveyors. I am not a complete numpty who would drag someone from the street to give me a very important survey on my hull- a hull that has been severly attacked by something that leaves the anodes intact.

Maybe I best pop back when you`ve finished.........

Try this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acidithiobacillus its actually spelt theobacillus ferrooxide I wish it was a joke-its made a mess of my bottom!

THE VERDICT....... BUGS!! Theobasicusferrooxi-me bobs! Metal eating critters what live in the water. Still will need a new bottom but within two years, time to save! For now I can treat the bug with stergene, black her and put her back in and go on my merry way-hooray! And thanks to your replys I can start to dig out somewhere to get her done that will do the best job! The only problem remains is where to source stergene as searches bought up seem to imply it's hand cleaner? The surveyor said it was a mild bleach??

That's so weird-she is the other part of satellite! Must have been a bad year!

Don't look much like it! What was your in-put with the boat? I have all the receipts so I fully appreciate the money spent on it and following my survey a year ago certainly didn't expect to have to spend this much on it and therefore have not budgeted for it, which may result in me loosing her- a very hard lesson! The Esse is hot, beautiful, useless as an oven but love the hotplates! Cheers, Sally Is my guy so far off ghat he can only get 5x2.5 sheets for around a grand a piece?

I agree it does sound drastic but I am only exploring options-it's not only the money; added weight and depth on a deep hull and a shallow canal would make travelling more challenging and there is always the amount of the inside that has be taken out to undertake the work.....early days and hopefully I am over-reacting! As you mentioned there may also be a claim on the original surveyor! sally

Would have to be 4 x 2 1/2 m and at least 5 of them so that's where a deal of the cost comes;I do know the boat yard and they have encouraged me to get other quotes and until the surveyor comes back with report it is still hearsay, but I do thank you for your concern! Everything crossed for tomorrow!

Hi Mike It looks like the original plate was 1/4 " which won't leave enough. I agree what you are saying and I am not panicking-just trying to be prepared for any outcome, but it is all over the base plate and is a lot worse than when she had her survey last year to buy it! Sorry! On sisters I-pad which is impossible to work without it spell checking automatically- should read butty ! Like the sales pitch- may have to copy if it comes to that!

Well so far that's the view of the blacksmith, blacking man and surveyor by photo and phone call. Seems it may have been rogue electric from the genny-lots of silvery holes, some up to 4mm deep! Surveyor due out tomorrow but feel I need to explore options so I'm equipped to deal with it!

The worst news most boat owners would dread to hear- after having boat bought out water to fix rudder it was found that my sole plate is completely pitted and eroded and needs to be replaced, about ten grands worth of work! As with many I simply do not have that kind of money lying around so will have to sell! My question is whether to sell all the contents separately or all as one- It has a Kelvin J2 which is said to be worth a few quid, diesel genny, Esse range and the shell has a woolwich nutty front end! I realize that Apollo duck is littered with unfinished boats or ones that need substantial work and this tends to scare folk! I would be grateful for any advice!

Forgive me if something similar has already been posted, but got some useful info at weekend from fire safety guy that you can convert a petrol genny to LPG gas for about £120....safer and cheaper! Cant remember web site but sure google will tell you!

Just been helping a friend move her narrowboat from Bristol to Sharpness, across the channel. The crossing was great until Fen's engine started overheating and cut out - thankfully just at the pier at Sharpness so we drifted through the lock and got a tow to the nearest mooring by Sharpness marina. Fen needs to get her boat up to the Shropie to her mooring. She's been given lots of advice about the engine but now just needs to get moving again! If there's anyone that might be able to give her a tow - she'd be incredibly grateful. You can contact Fen on her mobile: 07968 898 350. Thank you!

A friend of mine had carbon monoxide poisoning and was hospitalised! a very important addition to your boat if you dont have one!