Tim Doran

When I got the boat I raised up the bed so that there was more storage. The top of the mattress is now level with the gunnels. I now rely on the storage under the bed so dont want to drop the bed. The current mattress is a small double which is about 122×190cm. Any suggestions on what I can do, or what mattress size you cope with. I have an idea that part of the mattress could slide under the gunnels (150mm) and be pulled out at night, but what could I then do with the overhang into the passage We are both thin boaters, so we should be able to fit on a double?

Limekiln did a good price when I bought one. Dont bother with the mount that they sell, I could not get it to seal. I am now using a 3/4 tap connector. Tim

I service the engine myself but I would imagine that £40/50 sounds about right for a basic oil and filter change

+1 for a trip to Bath

I have a wire brush taped to a stick. Keep it simple. If you think that soot will fall behind the boiler in the fire, then put a bit of plywood into direct the soot forward into the hearth. If you burn wood then you really should be checking the chimney very frequently as the tar seems to build up really fast. If you let it build up and then in the night the boat bumps then it could fall and block the chimney. YOu really would not want this to happen. Tim

I bought some paving bricks for 45p each from homebase. They work a treat and seem to keep the fire in for longer. I did not think that it would make any difference but it has. I was also given a spare front grill so that I can stack the coal up higher with no risk of hot coals falling onto the glass. I dont find the ledge a problem, I just move any coals that sit on the ledge into the fire. Tim

Heres a picture of my boat finally almost finished with new cratch cover.

Here is a picture of the wreck about to be craned out at diggers yard this morning. The chap said that it took 14 hours to refloat a seal the leaks in the hull. The twisting of the hull made weld spilt and down it went. All in all very sad

I hope that you did not find any

Death? I bought my masterboard stuff from Travis in Bath 2 years ago with no problems. If you buy lots of stuff and have a business card you could set up a cash account. This give you 10% off retail price but you pay in cash rather than getting a monthly bill. The stuff I bought was 8mm Tim

Blacking once every 3 years. Remeber that Bristol is on the River Avon, so you would need a mooring either outside of Bristol at Keynsham or similar or a mooring in the floating harbour. It would be difficult to CC on the river as there are not so many places to stop, especially if you had to leave the boat for long periods. Do a couple more posts and then I can PM you.

Almost on subject is to make sure that the ballast is accessable. When you have loaded the boat with your junk, you might need to adjust the trim more tha you would expect. Tim

As i remember buddliea (i cant be bothered to check the spelling either) has a soft pithy core with a hollow center. As they are quite bushy I would think that they would be a hassle to saw up. Might be ok at best if you could chop them with some loppers quickly. It wont give out much heat so dont waste too much time. Free wood is a price that everyone can afford.

You have polite thieves in you parts! I hope you made him take off his shoes. More seriously you seemed to have had a lucky escape Edit to remove !!

Im not listening. But its acceptable in the licence guidlines. If it not then, provide me with the actual distance BW wants you to CC and I will discuss it like an adult. Untill then I am going to carry on as I am.

Or you could do what many people do and CC on a stretch of canal say 20/30 miles. Many people do this with no hassle from BW. Note; any other members want to shoot this down with lots of boring stuff about licences, dont bother I have heard it all.

I CC and I started when I was 22 with a full time job. I have bought my own chair but could do with some toffee popcorn. Tim

+1 for apt reminder I hope that it is going ok for you today. Any chance of photos? Tim Edit to wish luck

Please dont fit padlocks on the back door, or oposite to the normal entrance. It is too easy to forget about it and find yourself locked in a steel cofin.

Just think of the trouble you would be in for threatening someone with a gun. Your boat will have suitable defence in the form of everyday boating objects. Think windlas, mooring pins, mallet, tiller. Or if I was to be sensible I would suggest just taking refuge in your steel tube. Tim

nice

Shall I take it that the marketing team think it is more interesting to ride a cougar than a gazelle? Ooo Er

is it really all frozen? it could be the pipe leading to the outside is but the inside is ok?