classicstove

Waterways World has more articles/content on traditional boats and boating Canal Boat and the above seem to have about the same content on practical boat tips

Has she got al the cross stitch kits ? http://www.canalshop.co.uk/acatalog/stitch.html or any nice china for the boat http://www.narrowboatceramics.co.uk/

I considered putting a washing machine on my boat utilising a Victron box that could switch between battery to 240v, engine alternator producing 240v or from a land line The cost was quite prohibitive so I have settled for a £15 inverter from Maplins which copes really well with the computer and low usage items but also have a much bigger box (which stays in the cupboard most of the time) to run a hoover or similar. I have a home mooring thougfh which allows a shore hook up

You may like to consider buying a slightly more expensive charger which will not only charge batteries until fully charged, then provide a trickle charge to keep them in good condition and extend life and some of those available also now offer desulphatation (if thats how you spell it) which also helps to prolong the life of the batteries

If you are happy to have your boat in a marina, then there is Cowroast Marina at Tring, Middlesex Boat Services at Winkwell (near Hemel and British waterways Marina at Apsley

Use a coal bucket and when refiling with coal, cut the corner of a coal bag and then your hands should stay a lot cleaner If you find difficulty getting the right amount of coal on the fire, tip the coal bucket at 45 degrees and then use a small coal shovel to take the coal out of the bucket

I have broken one some years ago now but I had all my weight on it The Marsworth Flight used to have working sideponds. The top lock (by the house where the daughter lived in The Bargee) still has (last time I was there) paddle gear with paddles attached. A lot of effort is required to get them up but they did work

Try Canalshop on line. If you are close, a visit might be good http://www.canalshoponline.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d17.html#p137

Think about the issue from another perspective If the engine is very cold, is there no way you could raise the surrounding temperature so the engine fires with less turns ?

I have always been a fan of Masons Paints as it is easy to apply (you will find some that claim to have a high pigment level are difficult to get a good finish on) and will dry with ferw brush marks Satin finsih sounds nice for home buy I'm not sure if seen a boat paint with that finish advertised

You could look at thermostatic greenhouse heaters which have a low heat output (so cheap to run)

Sounds a lot Although, if the boat did a fair maount of cruising in the summer and charged batteries daily in the winter, does not seem excessive Does the engine smoke when hot and at tickover ?

It may freeze (does anyone know the feezing point of the various fluids such as Elsan Blue?) but if you have enough spcae in the container so it can expand, then you should be OK

I think the keys is: Local residents have been taken on guided tours to show the work planned for the area.

Remember that Anthracite is a bolier fuel and as such will only burn effectively when lots of air passes over it and it will burn very hot If you try either Taybrite or Ancit both have been made from a mix of anthracite dust and cement sio will burn at lot easire and with less air so are easy to control

I suspect they will only burn coal and wood The hire boats I have seen with a real chimney normally have a bag of coal on the fore deck

I had a new gas regulator fitted earlier in the year with pigtails (the connections between the regulator and the gas bottles ) - the cost was about £45 plus fitting Midland Chandlers website should give an idea of cost other other types of gas valve

I was on the Stratford Canal yesterday and ice was starting to form As the temperature is expectred to stay low around freezing, I expect the canal to slowly freeze completely over and not thaw until we get a significant rise in temperature

Lapworth on the Stratford is bright and sunny with a very thin layer of ice in the shade

Thanks for sharing Tony - always good to get recommendations and I will add it my guide on Canalside Pubs

I always drain the water and empty the tank around the end of October so if I can't get to the boat for any reson, I know the carpet will not be soggy when I get there During the first few years o f ownership, I did leave the water in until Christmas thinking that the weather nevers gets bad to the new year, and it froze ! As I have copper pipe and plastic fittings, they parted company from each other so as the weather warmed up, the carpets got wet. The Paloma was OK though

Think about having it grit/sand blasted so there is a rust free surface to work from