SLC

Recently in Northampton a boat caught fire. The smoke alarm not only saved the owner and dog who suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation, but also alerted other residents to the fire. The boat was lost, other boats damaged and pollution caused. The smoke alarm saved lives and alerted others to the fire. Words escape me sometimes when I read what is written here at times. Furthermore, a CO alarm can help to identify poorly maintained equipment and generators which could have safety implications for third parties.

BSS use words like recommend which are not prescriptive and to me, living space is also vague when the living space extends the whole length of the boat!

The BSS is a little unclear about the number of CO monitors fitted. It recommends one for each area where a stove is fitted. I am also unclear about living space as I would consider sleeping area and dining area to be 2 separate spaces and therefore it makes sense to have 1 in each area (living space). Considering what they cost, it would appear to be common sense to have at least one, ideally 2 and test them regularly, replacing them after expiry date. We have 2 stoves and there were several occasions when one monitor went off and the other didn't. Both monitors were working, my point being that you can get CO build up in one area of a boat and a single monitor may not detect CO.

I need some help please! We moor in a marina where we are provided with good Wi-Fi and where 4G is available. I would like to install a system capable of receiving both signals depending upon local factors but also upgrade to 5G. The idea of this would be to provide options (flexibility) when perhaps the 4G speed is less than satisfactory, usually at night. We do go cruising and found mobile phone tethering to be quite effective. However, the phone has to be held against the window, goes flat quickly and my other half cannot set it up on her own. We require something more permanent and substantial to replace what we have which is basically broken. Maxview Roam 5g appears to offer what I need but the requirements for mounting the antenna on the roof cannot be easily met. It has to be on a flat surface and 30cms from other metal items. I wish to mount any aerial at the front of the boat where I have existing cable apertures I can use, but the roof surface there is neither flat nor is there the necessary clearance to prevent interference e.g. the metal hatch is close by! I was therefore thinking of a pole mounted aerial which of course needs to be collapsible. Assuming I purchase separate items, what specific components do folks recommend I need to achieve my aim? e.g. router, aerial, mountings, cable etc. Price is not important, but the expensive Maxview system appears to me to be unworkable because of the mounting requirements. (Or is it?)

A gas engineer visited my house in the 1980s and used a lit match to find a small leak which he did. That would surely have been natural gas.

It's interesting that electricity supply companies may be forced to offer rates without standing charges as well as with standing charges. The argument being that standing charges are unfair on those who use little electricity.

More and more people are being dragged into the threshold for IHT and it is a deliberate policy by the Government and people will, rightly or wrongly, see it as an attack on them

There are many charities that do this and Guide Dogs and the National Trust are 2 bodies that generate a lot of income through wills, and I mean a lot. Therefore, the CRT are trying to tap into a huge potential source of income. It is a sign of the times that CRT are having to do this and dare I suggest it, the people who value our heritage are approaching the end of their lives and are considering their legacy especially after the Government's attack on estates.

Or GP practices. The social care problem is one this devious Government will never address for so long as the younger, working people question why they should pay for it. Previous Governments were just as bad.

A bit late in the day as this appears to be dated October 2024. Nevertheless it is to be welcomed even if it is not enforced! I note the comment that conventional fire extinguishers may not work. By that I assume they may operate but not extinguish the fire. Begs a question, what fire extinguisher should you use.....

I guess you could steer your boat through Northampton Railway station! We too have wondered about our mooring and if the ropes should be slackened off. Would explain why the boat next to us keeps drifting into us!

Dogs can spread crayfish via their coats. It is one reason why dogs should be on a lead when walking some of the dales in Derbyshire. They are supposed to keep out of the water but I wonder if dogs are being unfairly / disproportionately picked out here since crayfish can be carried by other methods. Not that you would think so looking at the number of dogs of leads.

When we bought our boat we had a survey carried out, a second pair of eyes so to speak. The boat had a BSC but the survey flagged several fails and these were issues I would have agreed with. I am a little cynical about the BSS and it's enforcement. Our survey was much more reassuring although it comes with the usual caveats such as the surveyor can only inspect what he can see or have access to.

When we first bought our boat we took out insurance with RCR. Opinions vary on insurance especially here but we are fortunate to be able to afford it as well as considering it to be prudent if only for peace of mind. Third party insurance in particular - I wonder if the poor boater at Northampton had third party insurance and indeed the damaged boats insurance cover? When our prop got entangled with one of those infernal cray fish traps, there is no way we could have untangled it. RCR to the rescue. Anyhow, I digress. RCR offer a free annual engine and electrical inspection and an annual service at a reasonable price. By taking advantage of this, we learnt a lot about how to service an engine and what to look for ourselves and now I feel I could do the service myself. I only have to find a container to hold used oil and dispose of it which is the difficult part tbh. We would recommend that the weed hatch is checked regularly as that cray fish trap made us acutely aware of what happens if you do not service it regularly.

Having Googled these (I have too much spare time!), my cookies highlighted several videos on You Tube about these devices and I have wasted more time looking at them and it is clear they are a total waste of time. In fact, if moderators permit me to write it, a rip off. A scam. The permanent electromagnets are too weak (makes sense) and even if you drive them using an electric drill you get little power output. All volts and no do. Furthermore, the build quality is awful. So in summary, and should anyone find themselves looking in on this subject, avoid them like the plague. You do not get something for nothing.

Sad news and condolences go to his family and friends. He made a huge contribution to canal boating and was great actor.

Stoopid question. Do the red and black wires have to be connected to a battery for the controller to work? Matched impedance and all that....

If you recall 6e+2 is scientific notation as derived from a scientific calculator. 6 times 10 squared, 2 meaning squared. So 6x10x10 = 600. It is a way of handling big numbers on calculators which can only show 8 or 10 digits.

With any velocity is key here. I note that long established, renewable power suppliers provide circa 600W but the blade diameter is circa 1.5m. I also assume there is a preferred mounting position, I.e perhaps at a height that would not get under a canal bridge!

If I was selling a poor product on Amazon and mischievous, I would give it a rave review! I would add more detail though.... Never liked the idea of wind power. Bought a canal boat not a yacht.

Similar items on Amazon have zero rating, not fit for purpose. Very little power output......

I think the Shoreline cable is rubberised or at least that used in our marina. It has to be tough, easily bent and flexible while at the same time providing appropriate protection. RCD and mcb has to be provided for both overload and earth leaks. So, get a new cable that meets the specification and don't bother about the existing one. Protect everyone and everything. Ensure cable is CE marked.