daveswoodensigns

Thanks

Thanks, but that is why I was thinking of Maidstone or Tonbridge as this part of the River is not tidal. I use to live not far from Maidstone, a lovely part of England. Asking as I am not able to get there at the moment due to my 100 year old mother.

Does anyone know of residential moorings on the River Medway in Kent between Maidstone and Tonbridge.

To all, thank you for your many comments. I guess that many of you will still be puffing out fumes and polluting our rivers and canals for decades to come. Bye bye.

Here is another interesting discussion about some of the latest solar technology. https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/most-efficient-solar-panels. And what about this. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/15/uk-firms-solar-power-breakthrough-could-make-worlds-most-efficient-panels-by-2021 Been following these guys for a few years. https://insolight.ch/ The world is changing and these products are available now. Happy reading folks.

"100kWh of batteries is a truly enormous battery bank, far bigger than anything ever fitted on an inland waterways boat, and will cost several arms and legs; to have any chance of charging them and keeping them that way they'd probably have to be lithium." Solar Thames Boats already have this amount of batteries, all be it on a 12.6 widebeam.

Nothing will ever change if we are so negative. Here is another company that is trying to do something to clean up the dirty diesel on our canals. https://www.ortomarine.co.uk/ They are based at a place I use to live. Regarding the 100 KW of batteries I did mean to say 100 kWh, sorry for that. I am not an electrical engineer but I have rewired my own house and have seriously looked into new battery technology for a number of years. I have seen over the years appalling electrical installations by so called professional installers. How some of them ever passed their exams is beyond me. Here is another article that may be of interest talking about how we need to start making changes now to how we use the rivers and canals before legislation overtakes us boaters. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/blogs/waterfront/a-quiet-revolution Yes, it will mean big changes so please can we all begin to pull together and look forward to helping the next generation of boaters to enjoy what we do.

Have you looked at the company building electric canal boats, you might just be surprised what is available right now. The CRT is making plans to put in electric charging points, they know that is the way forward but as with most organisations in this country, we will probably lag behind the rest of Europe until we are forced to change. May be the very sad and evil events taking place in Ukraine and the fuel situation will make us all think a little more about our futures.

Now that will be the day! All running around on our endless energy 🤣

There does seem to be a lot of negative thoughts from people on this forum. I appreciate that life on the water is not always wonderful, neither is living on the land. If you look at the history of the canals it was a hard life but some chose to do it. Today, technology is just about changing everything in life. Some new technologies which are being developed as I write, are incredible but a simple life is still possible provided you don't want everything. There are new developments in solar technology which will provide greater output even in winter, not great, but better than what we have now. By the time I move onto a boat these I hope will be available.

Good point, may be not. I was looking on the map at the Thames, not the Oxford.

Funny enough, I was thinking of the Oxford as an alternative. I don't really want to try cover the whole network, just a suitable stretch of canal where I can comply with the rules and run my two businesses.

You may like to look at this company https://thamessolarelectric.co.uk/ Heating and cooking in winter would be by means of a stove or onshore electric link. To be decided.

I was thinking the same about the K&A, now too crowded, but I would like to stay in the south. I am also looking at the southern broads but they have length limits and you can only stay 48 hours on most moorings.