Noddy

Thanks Rob I would appreciate the name of your insurers as mine made it patently clear that they would not allow anyone else to use the boat. They are no cheaper than anyone else either. Martyn

Due to work committments our boat is not used as much as we would like. I have several friends who have hired boats but can no longer afford the astronomical amounts that seem to be charged. I feel that I can trust them with the boat as they are well experienced and I know they would look after it. The problem is INSURANCE. My insurance company will not insure anyone else to use the boat but I am wondering if there are companies out there that will insure an individual for a weekend or a few days? This is not a commercial venture as quite possibly I would be doing a swap and using their country cottage or campervan in return Thanks in anticipation Martyn

Hi This has been our first season owning and using a narrowboat. We are using it one more time before winter sets in. Besides the obvious, draining the water tank and antifreeze in the engine, is there anything else we should be doing to "winterise" it? I have bought a tarpauline which just about covers the whole boat(45ft) and intend to use heavy duty magnets to secure it - any observations? Thanks in anticipation Martyn

Hi During our travels I have noticed several boats who have a stainless steel "ring" arrangement which allows them to clip their mooring ropes to the metal sides of the canal Anyone know where I can buy them? Martyn

It is about £2.00 for a 4ft x 18inch and is available from hardware stores or more cheaply at "£shops" it is brilliant. We use it under slippy cushions and mats and it works a treat. Martyn

Not exactly Northampton a bit further south at Bletchley, try Loretta at Narrowboat Mania - couldnt fault the service and the deal we got regards Martyn

I can quite honestly say I have never dealt with such an inept bunch as British Waterways. We applied for our license and end of garden mooring more than a month ago on the Grand Union. I was given so much duff information from the local office at Milton Keynes such as paying the whole mooring fee to the landowner and he will pay half to BW which is not true. I made a complaint ending with the words "I would have thought that the amount I am expected to pay would at least guarantee a satisfactory service" which did get a reply. Last weekend I had an argument with a local who obviously walks the towpath taking names and numbers of boats not displaying a license ours being one of them. I complained again to Leeds who actually found my license application and told me it was still "in the system". Talk about dealing with Fred Carno's Army Martyn

Unfortunately my mooring is under a number of trees and whenever we go to the boat we spend a couple of hours cleaning the resulting bird droppings off her. I have just purchased a tarpaulin to cover the majority of it but now have the problem of how to keep it held down. There are fender brackets fore and aft but other than that nothing to tie it down to I have an idea of buying magnet hooks, according to the manufacturers they are well capable of doing the job, well they would say that wouldnt they? Anyone got any better ideas or got knowledge of how strong these magnets actually are? Thanks Martyn

Hi Our boat will be used once every two or three weeks mainly at the weekend. My question is, will it be safe to leave water in the storeage tank for that amount of time or should we drain the tank each time we leave the boat? Thanks in advance Martyn

Hi As somone who knows very little about engines and electrics and generally causes even more problems when he tries to fix things. I am considering joining RCR. Has anyone any experience of River Canal Rescue and would they advocate joining? thanks Martyn

We are waiting for our pride and joy to be refurbished and have renamed her "SHESALADY" whilst out of the water at Bletchley on The Grand Union I am wondering if there is any way of checking her history both from her previous name, "TYNE PEACE" or the BW Index No 48905? Thanks in advance for any advice

The Generator option will only be for emergencies and yes will be run the bank and not on the boat -suitably secured! I realise how annoying generators can be to others in close proximity. The fuel will be in the generator tank will not need to store it as will be outside Contated the seller and they have agreed to fit hook up within the price agreed. Thanks for all the advice received so far

No Problem we have a lot to learn. We have a generator for emergencies I assume, like the camper, that we can plug into that if we have the hookup option

Hi We are about to take the plunge and buy a 45ft narrowboat. I have been to view it today - it is 1990, out of the water and is currently being completely refurbished by the boatyard. My only concern is that it is 12 volt electric only. I am wondering how big a job it would be for the boatyard to convert it to a 240/12v system and what I should expect to pay. Thanks Martyn