Balloon

Of course It’s not rose tinted. It’s not cheaper. but it is peaceful and lovely.

@PabloC were not far from you. PM me if you want to pop over and see our boat and get a feel for this life. And chat things through. I’m a risk assessy spreadsheet tick list kind of girl but love this life and would be happy to help if you think it would.

Agreed. But I work full time plus a million as a headteacher and also raising a daughter on my own. And find time for all the boaty things on my own and also time to enjoy boating. It depends where your priorities are but you’ll find time for the things that matter to you.

I mean that’s a great idea, and brilliant how it would hold the heat! But no, it’s in a corner of my engine room…absolutely no need for a radiator there. its insulated like a standard home hot water tank. Covered in pale green foam coating.

Hi, 6 months into my latest boat refurb and having used my Webasto Thermo Top C throughout this winter, I have removed some panelling in the engine room to discover that there is a calorifier in the circuit, which I was completely unaware of. Having felt it during use of the heater, it appears to contain hot water. The hot water plumbing of my boat (which I feel I know well having completely redone my bathroom) goes nowhere near the calorifier. The central heating circuit only runs in the stern half of the boat and the only running water is in the other half where the galley and bathroom are (which have water heated by an instant gas heater) so from what I can tell, the calorifier is a redundant part of this heating circuit. I like the heating (obviously not now the weather is warm but in general) and the heater works well - so does this system need a calorifier as part of the circuit in order to run, or am I able to remove it to prevent wasted energy? Second question, if I can remove it, would this result in increased heat output to the radiators? I have read the webasto user manual and installation manual and although it doesn’t seem to say whether the calorifier is necessary (as a heat dump maybe?) every diagram of possible setups seems to have a calorifier in it. So I’m wondering what I’m missing (usually knowing me it’s the bleeding obvious).

I agree with this. I live aboard permanently with my 10 year old daughter. We have an absurdly large water tank which we fill every three weeks and have never run out of. As a result we shower abundantly, both of us daily and we don’t scrimp on the length of shower, usually around 5-10 mins each. We have few indulgences but this is our main one, don’t judge. We have an instant gas water heater which we use for this, as well as heating water for washing up etc. we also cook using the gas oven/hob pretty much every day, for at least 20 mins as well as using this for boiling water for drinks, and for making toast in the morning. This seemingly abundant gas use without worrying or scrimping sees us use 13kg propane every 6-8 weeks, for which we currently pay £40. I’ve been following this thread with interest and am glad you’re getting a proper boat. Boating is fun! And I agree you may be overthinking it particularly the need to be quite so Spartan with your living. There’s no point doing it if you’re not enjoying yourself too. You can be miserable in a tiny flat for the same cost (I know, I live in the same area as you do!)

I don’t know but I wonder, if it sits nice and level like that with the boat unoccupied, whether the 100kg of sand bags were intended to balance the effect of a 100kg person at the helm? How does she sit in the water with someone at the helm? Will obviously depend on their size… additionally, regarding leaks, you’ve already had great advice and I’m sure this will solve your problems but if you are left with pesky small leaks that you can’t seem to diagnose, I was recommended a while back”captain tolley’s creeping crack cure” which, in my experience, is flawless at finding and sealing small leaks. It flows and behaves like water so finds its way into small cracks but then sets.

I could have saved both of your time. Apologies

Another good point! Thanks. Will do so.

Even better. Thanks

Excellent, thanks for speedy response. I thought as much but didn’t like to presume…really appreciate being able to check on here for quick things like this. Thanks again

Do washing machines pump out their own waste water if it’s plumbed into an outlet higher than the machine outlet? Or, like other plumbing on board, do they need a gulper pump or to be plumbed “downhill” to drain?

Wow, that’s so cheap! I pay £390 per metre. I assume that these are not residential prices. (Hopefully!)

Strange thing to lie about. It’s not like an OBE or something with any sort of cachet

I lived there as a baby! Before it all got gentrified, almost 40 years ago. Apparently the midwife objected loudly to climbing down a slimy ladder to visit my mum after I was born. She told the health visitor there was no way a boat was a suitable place to raise a child, as they were “cold and damp” - which is where my desperation to prove otherwise to nay sayers has come from ever since,,, it’s a lovely location though and having lived in Bristol again more recently, has definitely improved vastly! Here’s a photo of my young parents in 1984 on the boat they’d just built and launched that we lived on (it was unfinished here and missing it’s mast obviously, but you can see a little of the docks in the background)

Thanks. I was proud of myself.

I love a google challenge https://paulsimpsonboatbuilder.co.uk/portfolio-item/narrowboat-shiraz

Hi Rose What is the most difficult part of living on a boat ? / what are the realities of living on a boat? weirdly I find the “difficult” parts are the things I enjoy. When something is hard work it makes me proud of myself that I am self sufficient and doing these things. Eg emptying the toilet, it’s a bit grim and it’s heavy and hard work - but I’m proud that I do all these things myself. Same with things like servicing the engine, making a fire when it’s super cold and you get back to the boat late…actually that’s really unpleasant, when you get back late and the boat is chilly and seems to take forever to get warm. 2. How did you come to live on the canal? I grew up living on boats and hated all 18 years of it. But in hindsight I loved it! When I split up with my husband it seemed a logical, cheaper and easier step to take and a way to get back next to the water. There’s something magical about being by the water, boating and I love the tradition and history of the canals. I also love the warmth of the community, which brings me to your next question 3. Is there a strong sense of community along the canals I’m quite an introvert and avoid community at all costs - but the strength of the boating community is such that even I can’t avoid it. Everyone looks out for each other and that makes it such a safe place. It’s so rare in todays society that you can ask a stranger for help but in this world strangers are friends and everyone helps everyone else.

On another Facebook group the stolen boat was described as a springer - although you’re right, from that photo it doesn’t look like one.

I’ve just moored up nearby close to a poor guy with a very similar Springer, not this one as different windows, whos been accosted as a boat thief all day! Just north of Watford.

Mine was doing exactly this when the rudder stock was loose. The intermittent bang in windy weather. Very annoying. Have you checked it’s not loose?

They “legged” the boats through the tunnels; they would lie on their backs in pairs either side on a plank of wood on the deck. Putting their feet on the roof of the tunnel and pushing it through the tunnel.

Put them on shifts?? You’ll have to consider the impact on their mental health and family planning.