LEO

Interesting picture, some detail (top left) which might help = railway line crossing, timbers suggest lock gates (wide lock style?)...... .

Err. have you checked your batteries for distilled water level, making sure the plates are covered and able to accept charge?..............if not top them up, do this carefully as the liquid is acidic and any splashes cause problems.........

I think yours needs flame settings adjusting by an EXPERT.........these fires come in various sizes made by various companies, the common ground seems to be a 'fit all carbs ' on which there are 2 screws which need careful adjustment...............I have a similar fire ( a Kabola Old Dutch) - same carb - needed a new one - got one - it fits a Rayburn, Refleks and others. needs very careful adjustment to set it up --- don't fiddle with the screws - a 1/64th" make a lot of difference to oil flow. which takes ages to burn off. Get the expert in).

I have the same stove as you, and have faced similar problems (I think our paths have crossed) - yep! those holes are important and the Refleks&Kabolas like to be level for most of the time, but I think the photo shows one that needs a good service/clean...........good luck, they like to run for long periods, short burn times are not good for them.

Please do, not sure if you have the booklet, it really is good, ATB Mike

Hi. all the winterising tips are good, but I also cover the engine with an old 10+ tog double or kingsize duvet, well tucked round. provides load of protection against cold and draughts. Used to do it with a 1.5 and continued doing it with a re-placement boat...

Err.. not much Alan, they just make sure boaters are about No.6 on the list of canal users, and are a PITA to CRT..... M

I have several books written by Mrs Ginger, two about the stores and another called Fen Tigers. All good, if you want them let me know. Also a good booklet about painting water cans........that's a 'keeper'.

I have some Alan Firth prints, but have given most away, I went to a talk he gave to Chiltern IWA branch at Amersham, about 1980ish and bought some framed prints, my only observation, complaint was, he painted the the same scene and then reproduced it changing the season/time of day..........I went onto Harley Crossley paintings, having met him at a show at Braunston, he had a poor, wet show, was packing up a was pleased to sell me a nice original.

The prices do vary, I have only purchased units at the lower end of the price scale (abouit £40).and in Amazons sales, you also need an SD card, and batteries, results are reasonable, not sure how waterproof they are, last one I bought was an Apeman unit, seems to do the job, I normally leave them 'on site' for a week, it can be tedious sifting through the pics.........

I have two trail cameras set up in the garden, good shots of deer, badgers and foxes, various birds and a rat, on the mooring it's foxes, the odd rabbit and other moorers dogs. Quality of filming can be variable and take care as moving leaves can set the cameras off............

Good Luck.hope all goes well. Mike

Hi, Been there, seen it, had one, it takes years to get that colour, my current boat has the look, and it is pine, but scumbled.......looks good, shame when new owners paint it. Fittings look good too, but new decs and fittings.when you need them.......trim, stock availability, kitchen cupboards and make them fit.........my main thoughts were, when do we move away from galleys or kitchens and incorporate modern thinking? most people want catering facilities for lots of peeps , when only 1 or two peeps on the 'liveaboard' home......perhaps soon we shall see 'Nest' controllers for boats... Thanks for the pics

Really I was 'pondering' and thinking 'outside the box', it's so well presented, re-painted, blacked, re-fitted, and as said, just like a modern flat, but with little character, shame and I do wonder (and have been wondering ever since I saw a lady on TV, heat up a conventional oven to cook up a Pizza) when people will start thinking - it takes 15 or so mins to preheat a oven, whereas the small cooking 'boxes' in a 'Fat Fryer' takes 2/3 mins... that's a lot of energy used or saved and using modern appliances will mean radical thinking of boats and houses in the future...............saving space, useful if you are a live aboard..............but in modern life, more important = saving money. I do miss the the 'golden aged pine' look, it seems the '50 shades of grey' and white look and MDF have taken over.. The rippled sides, are an unusual feature, experienced members have covered this fully. I would follow the advice given......good luck, whatever your decision. Mike.

Yep. it appears immaculate - as a modern flat- on water, no disrespect, but life is sad. are you going to be a 'live aboard'?, soon values will change, people will want 'aged' pine, even better aged oak, and lots more, I have been experimenting with cooking Fat fryer ( badly named, really small ,very, oven cookers, power banks, and such like), and I think whole ideas, thinking!, on boats. life for one or two people will change............the only thing which will shine through will be (and sought after) will be the stockpot on the coal fire................really why do I want a huge oven, which takes ages to 'pre heat' to cook a small meal....

We had a really good trip touring all round Ireland a few years ago, HolyHead to Dun whatever and then clockwise, really excellent. B&B's (good value and never a bad one) good countryside and views, good roads and Western Ireland amazing as was Donegal, did not touch Dublin (ran out of time), Belfast good, Guiness - excellent, Kinsale lovely, try it!. Finished with a couple of nights in the centre......Weather good. Highly Recommended, Followed up the year after with a Trip round Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, Central areas excellent, carry a spare can of fuel though, petrol stations few and far between, again B&B's all good, and on the islands don't forget Sunday Observance, lots of places shut. Good trip. Let me know if you want more info.

Read this posting with interest, am in the last days of my boating. almost breathing a sigh of relief...............who will make sure my beloved 2LW has the duvet tucked down...............no disrespect to OP......but in 1976 - we all wondered about the hail from the hire boater - 'hey I have been bailing out the weedhatch all evening and the level has not gone down' ------now about about that 2LW, it's in a nice tug.......

Thanks, film good but dialogue - very poor, speak more slowly, lots of useful info, but gabble ruined it....

Hi NC, Thanks for all the updates, excellent, enjoyed all the pics, and postings. please you all got back safely.. M

Good pics, brings back a few memories, the ferries and 'booze cruises'. have a good trip.

Have a good trip.look forward to updates. We were in St Margaret's Bay this year, good beach Cafe and Ian Fleming;s house, it's changed since I was last there in 1960.............

Thanks, I found the change pretty painless, Saga aren't brilliant at any insurance really.

Saga no longer offers Marine Insurance - now handled bu Knox Haven...................

Interesting, I worked as a Chartered Surveyor all my working life, giving (or trying to give) unprejudiced advice to sellers and purchasers about the condition of properties, sadly, many people disregard such advice, don't read reports fully and often once their mind is made up to buy a place they can't be persuaded to not proceed with a purchase, or negotiate a reduction. I am a firm believer in pre sale condition reports, properly commissioned and monitored, so that you know what you are valuing and selling and buying....be that houses or boats.............but what the heck, according to some that purchased wrecks, 'I am a 'frigging idiot who does not know my arse from elbow'..............