Moonbeam

Aye, that's rather what I wondered, it would be a fair bit of clambering...but I'm still in love with the thing. Curse my lack of funds...

I just happened to come across this sweet boat with a centre wheelhouse (weird, but I rather like it). Wasn't this owned by a forum member at one point? I suppose she isn't a very traditional boat, but I'm rather enamoured of it already. If only it was 2009, I could put in an offer*sigh*

*wince* I welded better than that after a few days on MIG, crikey.... That's a real shame, I'd not be impressed.

Cheers...actually I just realised (like a noob wot I is) that I can get a non-residential, long term mooring, which essentially suits all my requirements. I don't have a car and I don't really need to be on electoral roll, I don't need a landline because I've got a mobile and all the other requirements needed by other people just doesn't really apply to me. Found a place which offers such long term moorings for a pretty decent rate in a rather nice spot so I'll keep my eye on that marina and a few others. I feel a bit of a numpty but most books I've read and most advice I've received seemed to make it out that you either get a residential mooring or you have to keep moving every two weeks...the idea of annual moorings never even occured! So that's a bit of a relief.

I've scored the job- one thing down, getting cash in! - and this means I can now work at home provided I've got the internet (and the internet is everywhere these days so I've got no problems). After I get some of the folding-colours in the ol' billfold, I'm off for a "Dutch Barge Experience" day for January - I've already called about what days work best and the instructor seemed rather impressed I was booking for January instead of June! This will give me a bit of an idea of what I'm in for. If I'm still quite keen, I've considered getting on a residential mooring waiting list early on, and probably join up with the RBOA at some point as well. In any event, so far, so good I think. Just taking it slow and steady for now, though a mate in Bristol and another one as far away as Australia have already offered their assistance in any fitting out I don't feel confident taking on.

Got a leonberger, me, but the Leo breed are very adaptable even for their size, and she does love the water (Leo's paws are webbed) however I'm already working on watertraining with her so she doesn't just automatically leap into the first body of water she sees. Recalls are IMPORTANT. The best bit about the wee girl (who won't be a wee girl for long) is Leos are one of the few breeds I know that doesn't pong when she gets wet. All a good thing.

I also can wear a knockout cocktail dress too! Sometimes I ain't all butch Thanks everyone for the concerns, I do appreciate them, and I can understand where they're coming from, I have definitely learned a few things, and yeah, Reading sounds an option as well, but I do have a while before I actually save up enough for a boat so I'm doing my research well early! thanks for the link to that site, I'm going to add it to my bookmarks for later. Cheers!

Right, yes, bank holiday, and sprog ill at home, so meh, haven't been back, but am now, so cheers. Firstly - on the "oooo, young whippersnapper, it's a boat and it's hard work" thang; I posted in my intro that at one point I lived rough- since detail seems to be required, I've lived in converted buses, campers, even under bridges, not because I am a druggie or mental, but because sometimes, Stuff Happens. I've had no power, no electric, no water, and no heat before, and done this in winter as well. Hot water in a tank which I don't have to heat up on a wood stove is a luxury item to me. So what would be considered awful, adverse conditions to most "society people", been there, done that, have the arthritis to prove it, y0. I've been doing heavy labour since I was 14, and while I'm out of practice, I'm returning to bodybuilding and can bench about 200lbs easily. I've done welding, construction, engines, and a bunch of other incredibly ungirly things. So thanks for the concern, but daily maintenance on a boat is soooo not an issue for me, if anything I'm looking forward to getting my hands inside the guts of an engine which doesn't require a computer degree to work on like most of them these days I understand some people don't understand that and certainly aren't prepared for it, and I'm sure there's things I'm going to come up against which will be a "Oh bugger" moment, but I'm probably more prepared than most for what happens when the batteries go. Since I want an electric engine powered by alternative energy, I'm aware most marina yard staff will have NO idea how to work on it, so I'm going to have to know the engine inside and out. Secondly - I don't really want to discuss the autism stuff, thanks, but my son on a boat one day a week shouldn't be a problem, and if it is, well then I'll rent a room somewhere. Again, that may seem a big deal to other people, but it isn't for me. I'll just handle it. I brought it up because when someone mentioned lack of social time, I can assure as a mum with an autist child and Asperger ex-spouse I didn't HAVE social time. So even going to a well to fill up and have a chat with a random person is to me a rich goldmine of interaction. Simple pleasures! Thirdly - I've just managed to score some freelance work for my typing (80+WPM with no errors finally pays off!) so depending on how that goes and whether or not it's a scam, the having to commute may have just taken care of itself, at which point I can attempt to find a mooring on the K&A, which I'd prefer anyway, or the Medway, I wasn't really keen on mooring on London because, well, doesn't seem there IS any! And I know there's overcrowding everywhere and I imagine breaking into the mooring clique (who take bets as to which newbie will sell up their boat within six months) will take some time, but I'll deal with it as I've dealt with anything else. As far as hiring goes, there's a course on taking a dutch barge out for a day where they give you the whole spiel on skippering the thing and the work involved. My plan was not to go on one of these cruises during balmy (!) July, but rather in January, preferably when raining. I figure when it's good, it's very good, but when it's bad, it really sucks...and I'd like to have that bell curve! I find it rather strange, because it seems most people I talk to with narrowboats seem to think widebeams can't go anywhere, and yet people I've talked to with barges say that's not necessarily true - the main areas I want to cruise seem to be fine, however I must echo the above poster in that I really don't think I want to go wider than 10 feet in the beam. So cheers again for the details, but just wanted to assure - I'm no stranger to hardwork and hardship. While other people's luxury fits have all the audio/visual/jacuzzi tubs, mine is...a washing machine. It's no joke doing all your laundry in a tub, and I did it for years, so no thanks!

My son won't be staying with me permanently - that's personal information actually and I'm not going to disclose it, covered there even so.

That's why I was considering a tank which actually has bacteria which would break down nasties, and THEN use it. I've mates in Washington who have a very small septic tank which does just this, but they also use biodegradeable soaps and detergents as much as possible, and they have a particular bacteria culture in the tank. I'll have to ask them the specifics, but honestly, the principle was so simple it's almost a bit staggering why more people don't do it, and that's where the rub is right now for me. I don't have a problem with people poking holes in my ideas, as it gives me a chance to think (barring people who want to keep arguing about minutae rather than the main topic just for the sake of being right ). However I do have to wonder how much of the "can't be done" has to do more with the fact people don't want to be inconvenienced for five minutes or don't like the sound of something for themselves personally, which seems to be tainting the view. I haven't actually been given a reason why this couldn't be done other than just inconvenience's sake. As you say, you personally could fit a piece of equipment which would cut down on costs, but it's expensive and inconvenient and you could be doing something more fun instead. For my part, I'd rather scrimp and save and maybe go without a bit in order to do something which, for other people, would be considered a waste of time and not so fun, because personally for me that makes me happy. To each their own. On the plus side, I've managed to find a link to a refitter who does take a bit more "green" approach, and they've given me some good ideas. So that's good in any event! Cheers anyway, all!

Good plan - it's easy to find references online; see, look! That's getting a fair bit off, but in any event - AGAIN *deep breath* Point being, I do not feel my washing up liquid or shampoo belongs in the water. So...what are the options?

Social life? HA! I'm a mum of a child with autism, going out to fetch the water would be a day out for me! Probably with a lot more chance to talk with other people doing the same. Thanks for that however. Cheers, HD, I do have that site bookmarked, and it's got some great info too, but not much hands on. I'm getting a bit concerned now however because so far it seems none of my ideas and ideals on boats meet with anyone's approval, so I must have the wrong idea somewhere.