Redhawk106

Btw, FWIW, whatever you decide to do with your website, for those that know about the Way Back Machine, it turns out they have actually been archiving your website since 2005. So the information on your site will be available there too. You can even go back through the years and see how your site changed. The link is here: https://web.archive.org/web/20231204062155/http://tb-training.co.uk/index.htm Btw, if you don't want me highlighting this here, let me know and I'll delete my post right away. But I only included it as your website is already noted on your profile and seems well known here already.

Yep that was me via email. As others have said, it's that the communication between your web server and your site visitor will be encrypted with Https and not with http. Thing is, for your website it means absolutely nothing as I imagine your users do not enter anything on your website. Its purely a one way data exchange from you to them. Sadly you're the victim of the blanket simple approach for chrome to just say, hey let's encourage everyone to use https so that nobody can snoop on anyone's traffic, regardless of whether the site needs it. I'm still happy to help you sort things out and actually might save you the hosting fees in the process as a bonus. What I am proposing (using https) does not involve encrypting any of your website files, it'll be stored exactly the same as you have it now. The only difference is that the internet traffic between your site and your users is encrypted so nobody can intercept it and read it. And thats the https basically euch will solve the chrome thing. I imagine other browsers wil follow suit at some point. Btw as mentioned by Francis Herne, https is now offered by many for free, such as LetsEncrypt. My suggestion was to host you site on GitHub Pages where you can do so for free, and you get 1GB space and https certificate for free. Also has the added bonus of you being able to allow others to update the site with you if you would like to, but by no means have to. I do this for my parents B&B website and its worked great for them. Let me know, and I'll be sure to make sure it's smooth and easy, but I totally understand if you don't want to. Don't worry your site will still be accessible as it is now, just people might have to click past the warning (as they will have to for many other http sites)

ok cheers all, got lots of good info from you on places/marinas to contact. When we come down to Oxford in the next week we'll be sure to check them all out!

What about the River Cherwell? What's that like? Is that an option?

I can see how that comes across yes, but we have actually researched online for maps, that's what I was doing most of the day yesterday, but maybe not found the right ones. And we bought guidebooks and maps in the past but not for this area yet as everything has come up so quick. Definately one to do and thanks for going into detail on which ones etc. Indeed, and there is some confusion on whether it's 25km or 25 miles and whether it's from Oxford or your main "base" site. So just in case we will consider further afield too. Side note, we're actually in another country right now on the other side of the world, seeing family with the newborn, when we got all this news, so it's been hard to go in person to research or buy books until we get home. But shortly we'll be back and going straight to Oxford to check it out and the surrounding areas. Thanks again Tony for the further tips in your last post, it's really helpful.

We're definitely not doing it to save money, well aware that whilst it can be done, theres plenty to consider in terms of maintenance and fuel etc etc. We've had to do extensive renovations on our boat, and even we might even be able to make back that money, the boat is not finished yet to be able to sell it for a decent price, still lots of finishing touches without which the boat will look VERY unfinished. So hence hoping we can put that off for a couple of years. So we're not opposed to moving into a marina, its just if they have space, and can fit the boat, and so far its been slim pickings. We are currently paying about £900/month for our central London mooring, hoping that outside of London it will be cheaper, but still the availability and travel distance will be a factor. As for space and a second boat, that would be a great option if we could afford it and it would allow relatives to visit us and see the baby more and even help out with that too. But there's the big big cost element of an extra boat and mooring fees. Im wondering if we could perhaps find a marina 'close ish' and then for the days that my partner needs to be closer to a work site, hope that its near a river or canal, and move the boat closer for those days, and then it would only be the 24hr mooring here and there and pop back to the main mooring for the rest of the time. Is that too intensive to move the boat that much every week? (Not done it yet, just been stuck in the marina).

I'll check out the marinas mentioned, thanks. As for the boat, its actually a rare widebeam with a V shaped hull, so apparently better suited to river use, but I do understand a river is still very different to a canal. I fully expect we'll move back to land one day, but was hoping it would at least not be for another couple of years, especially after the financial and time investment we put into this boat. We both want to try and make it work on the boat, so I'm going to keep hoping for options. There's plenty within the 55x10ft that we can do to make more space for our young one. Will be heading over to Oxford in a week or so for a couple of days, so will check it out. If theres any areas people recommend I check out, please let me know. I guess theres also the bonus that technically we wont have to be working IN oxford, its more working on different sites in the area, the 25KM area around Oxford, so potentially maybe theres other rivers or canals? We have a car, so its flexible in terms of getting to work sites. Other than the Oxford Canal, are there any other canals/rivers in that radius that have locks suitable for 10ft wide, and more suitable for our purpose? Should also mention that my partner only has to work a few days a week on site, the rest can be from home, and I work full-time from home, so I'm flexible. The thought about Reading is also worth an option. Better than a commute to/from our London marina. And Thames and Kennet Marina is worth calling up, thanks. Only thing I can think as of a problem is that there is literally a requirement to be living within 25KM of Oxford, thats part of the job spec

Would be willing to find a marina, all options are currently being looked at, just don't want to give up on boat life. And at this point im just looking for more information on what we can do. Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'll look into the marina's mentioned. I agree that getting a narrowboat would make things a lot easier as we would be able to use the Oxford canal, and potentially much more, however, I don't think this would be an option, as my fiancee has already said she actually wants to get a bigger boat (proper widebeam rather than our narrow 10ft widebeam), as we need more space with the new addition of the baby. Also aware that even going up and down the thames, its going to be hard going/impossible with pump out and water facilities which seem few and far between. There is a requirement to live within 25KM of Oxford, so I don't know if that makes things more flexible or worse... So.... hence I'm nervous its going to mean we have to give up on boat life. I'll look into the marina options mentioned and hope that someone can suggest more things to look at. Thanks for the tips so far, appreciated.

Sorry to ressurect an old thread, but I'm doing so in the hopes that the OP can also provide an update on how it went for them. We are looking to do the same thing, as we need to be in the Oxford area for work soon, and we are currently in a marina in London. We have a 55ft by 10ft widebeam, so we're not sure what to do. I've heard we probably wont fit onto the Oxford Canal due to width, but I've not confirmed this yet. Does anyone have suggestions on what we can do, we need to be up there by around September and I don't want to have to find that the only option is to sell the boat and rent a flat in the Oxford area. We've only just lived aboard for 2 years, and not even had a chance to do any cruising in the the countryside. It's just been renovations none stop and then a baby came along which slowed the reno's down. Any and all tips welcome, I really want to be able to continue our life on the boat for a couple years longer at least! Cheers!

Wow, quite surprised by this reply, not the nicest welcome to the forum. You could have just said "can you elaborate on your abbreviations". It's certainly English. But, glad others stepped in to explain, and to show it's not the normal behaviour on the forum to receive such a reply. As others explained, DM is direct message, but maybe you know it better as PM (Private Message) which is the abbreviation people used before DM. And with typing all this on a mobile phone, abbreviations make things a lot easier. Let us know if you need a link to many other common abbreviations. And back to the topic in hand, interesting app, hope to hear more!

I'm interested in this app too, although I've not actually posted enough to be able to DM you. Mainly just been reading the site for information. Can you DM me for my info? I'm a software dev too btw if i can help out.

Yep only to floor level. Any tips on stopping the slippage? I have noticed old crumbs of poly going into the bilge during crane lifts etc. Maybe the boards won't be so bad though, but a tried and tested method would be welcome if anyone has some Thanks for future explanation, especially on the mess and experience after welding (already knew about moisture). Will definitely steer away from the rockwool then. Interesting on the spray foam from cans to fill gaps, aren't those mainly open cell ones? Any way to tell which are closed cell? I assume that's important if trying to fill gaps. Or should spray can foam be combined with the aluminum tape to seal gaps for moisture barrier.

Is it the best stuff even at the waterline with the possibility of pit welding? The rest will be the board I mentioned in the original post, which I imagine is similar to kingspan. And yes, sadly the moisture is a concern with the rockwool. Trying to weigh up the pros and cons for that waterline section 😞

Thanks for responses on spray foam but I don't think it's cost effective for us, as we're only able to do below the windows right now, and it's mainly in one room (kitchen). We're currently living aboard so fumes from the spray foam would I think not be manageable. I think spray foam would really only be an option if we stripped everything out. Currently everything just had to be moved to one side of the room, then back again when we do the other side.

What's your reason for rockwool being horrible stuff? Would like to know in order to make informed decisions. Many others have said it's great if not using spray foam including high heat resistance, so it's hard to know who to listen to without more details / understanding on reasons.