Grace and Favour

IF the immersion heater in the calorifier is (we assume) 240v and is run from either your generator/shoreline, then the length of time it will take to heat the water depends on how many Kw it is. A 1Kw unit would take about 3 hours to heat the calorifier, (and a 2Kw unit about 1 1/2 hrs). You definitely need to determine whether the engine will heat the calorifier (though I suspect that as an indirect raw water cooling system it may well not) . New batteries and bigger inverter are certainly easy to fit, as are solar panels (though you may well find that a new solar controller is necessary depending upon the type of controller currently fitted. In truth, almost everything is 'do-able', but always at a price of course. To address your question of will the calorifier keep water warm during the day - the answer has to be - it all depends upon the insulation round it. Your description of a blanket wrapped round it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the insulation, although it would be very easy to box it in, with generous air-space around it, (even a simple thin ply boxing would suffice) - and fill the space with rockwool, or polystyrene beads. (Or wrap it round with bubble-wrap.)

I've had similar concerns with the batteries on G&F when we bought her (they were Numax 100Ah 'sealed'), the best set of judgements I could come up with was to treat them as wet cell, but just make sure I never gave them an equalisation charge.

I believe you should set the kit as Wet Cell open.

Ragwort is an injurious weed apparently

Iv'e used both Towergate Mardon, and Collidge & Partners, and both have been fine, although I've not needed to claim on my policies.

I just like listening to broadcasts of The Navy Lark, and HMS Troutbridge, of course, was always being steered into things other than water.

AIUI, locations of Japanese knotweed should be reported to the local Council, I am under the impression that they are required to deal with it(?)

Fabulous!

Oooh! - - that sounds attractive.... how many barrels can you fit in your car, Bob?

Completely unlike your statement of course.

I can verify that Supreme Marine in Castleford have stopped selling fuel, but "Theodora" refuelled at Stanley Ferry only a week or so ago. We're currently in Leeds, and will be (slowly) making our way to Stanley Ferry next week to refuel.

"The Dark Side" is a reference to a website/blog/site called Narrowboatworld

It's not a tax - it's a purchase cost of buying a service for a year.

I think your recent experience proves that people observe, learn and appreciate things at completely different levels! Maybe, in readiness for your next set of visitors, you could provide an A4 list of bullet points on the norm 'do's and don'ts' (AKA idiot guide to living on water)

Origin of Aglet: late Middle English: from French aiguillette ‘small needle’, diminutive of aiguille

Cellulose thinners (on a rag) is certainly what I would use. (some clear 'brass clear finishes' similar to Incralac can also be removed with methylated spirit on a rag

Immediately after pump-out, we add the correct dosage (125ml for a 400 ltr tank), (together with a little yeast solution as a belt n braces approach) We dont have any smell problems - even in hot weather (other than the LeeSan mega-wonderful-everything-resistant flexible pipe is just starting to show its age, and will be replaced with solid pipe soon)

Have you visually checked the prop? - I've caught cotton sheeting round the prop that I could turn quite easily by hand, but wouldn't let the prop spin faster than 1,000 rpm in gear

Only you can make an allowance for the length and diameter of any 'header pipe' feeding your blackwater tank, but "Full" would be when it's reached the bottom of the header pipe. "Really really full" is when the waste matter has reached the top of the header pipe. And, with regard to hearing a 'sloshing sound', I believe that both water and human waste can make a sloshing sound, (although water is the easier to "slosh" providing it's of a lower viscosity and particulate content than the waste)

That will always be the case. A "garage" will normally sell far more fuel than a marina, (and therefore buys it cheaper, and normally sells it cheaper) A marina will normally work on higher profit margins too. Now - whether you can buy only your'non-propulsion' requirements from a marina - is another issue altogether. (although - with Sawley, it used to be that if your bought from their self-service pump when the (poor excuse for a chandlery) wasn't open, you can only purchase at "non-propulsion" rate.

Good, that must be the very first thing you do - Primer, as you will know, will absorb moisture. I'd suggest paints/process - but assume you've already bottomed it

Ludo, I think you'll find the concensus of opinion is that this boat isn't so much a boat, it's more of a lost cause. It will cost you considerably more to 'put right', than it's worth. I suspect the reason why the owner wants to get rid of it, is that he doesn't wish to pay to have it scrapped. I too suspect that there will be cheaper routes to boat ownership, for you.

That would create terminal wind!