johnjo

No red port left in the bottle. Wait for a year onboard, then do it. Opposite the galley's OK Ours has a set of steps flat against the side, perfectly OK for emergency use. With a hinged lid, it can have a deep lip that covers the top of the doors and down a bit, also if you have a perspex sheet made up, you can put this over the opening on dull days with the lid down to let more light in.

I'd have raised the bed, or put up with a lump, I'm not a Northerner, but suffer from the same affliction and I hate waste.

A lesson for us all there. I shall check mine thorougly. Many thanks for the warning. John

Hello all, our names are John & Jo [Joan] hence johnjo, [sorry about stating the obvious]. Jo's retired & I'm semi-retired, anyway I'm the grumpy one although I'm told I do have a sense of humour, huh. Jo's the sensible one and keeps an eye on the finances, looks after the two dogs and me. I attempt to do the DIY, mechanics, plumbing and electrics, well I did at home but NB's, blimey, what a difference, taken me three weeks to get my head around those on our NB. We've just bought a 1989 John White 57ft Trad, bit dated inside but comfy, going to try out a Rayburn for the heating, cooking & hot water. We have a permanent mooring off line in Middlesex and the idea is to take some long leisurely cruises, no rush and no particular direction in mind we'll just see where we end up and who we meet. Done a bit in the past with hire boats but that's it, and I know, it's very different, we have to pay for ALL the problems and maintenance, but, but, yes big buts [no not mine] no rush to get it back on time, great. My philosophy is to always think of the 'consequences' of my actions, and how would I feel if!!!!!!. That doesn't mean I'm perfect, far from it, but it does help. Great forum, seems some use it like kids squabbling in the playground but hey, that makes it colourful and has given me many a laugh as they get verbally stuck into each other, just a shame when it gets offensive. Can't believe how up-tight some people get over job titles and spelink erars. I think the old addage 'You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time' transposes nicely regarding advice given on this forum into, 'Some of us are right some of the time, but not all of us are right all of the time', so regardless as to whether advice given is right or wrong, so long as there was no malice or mischief intended it should be welcome and it's only sensible that those seeking it make a judgement as to its validity and whether in doubt or not should always seek a second opinion and http://www.canalboat.co.uk/on-the-water/as...-question-forum is perfect for such a confirmation. [hope that's OK moderators] Well that's what I feel and if I've got the intension of this forum wrong I'm sure someone will let me know, please. Good luck and happy boating to everyone, regardless of whether you are a CC, leisure or live-aboard or whatever. Best wishes and regards John & Jo, Ben & Charlie. Edited to say, Sorry, just realised how long this is, oh well told you I wasn't perfect. Not sure this is the right place for this

Call me madam eh! I'll bash you with me handbag! Errr, looks like I was wrong. My fault!

Re: pumpout tanks, I was told by our surveyor and others that Blue will corode an integral tank and that something like the link below is better, but it will take several pumpouts/rinses and stirrings to get rid of the slump left behind. Another way to avoid inboard smells from a pumpout tank is to have at least two vents pipes about of about an 1" each preferably as near to either end of the tank, this allows air to pass over the contents and allow the good enzines to work as well as keeping it vented, if you also use the stuff from the link below there should be no smells outside either, but as said above it will take time to get it right. Hope this is helpful. Regards John http://www.biomagicuk.com/19.html I seem to have fallen upon a thread without any bitching, great.

I agree with Martin, if water was low to start off with then overheating would happen and cause the engine to labour, checking the dipstick will tell you if you have an in engine oil/water mix which will signal bad news, but if remeded quickly will avoid major damage, if the engine was still running with no frightening noises, then I would assume no major damage has been done YET. Regards John

As far as I'm aware, one of the signs of a leaking head gasket is when you take off the oil filler cap if there's a white film inside the rocker, it confirms that water is mixing with the oil because the head gasket has failed, so I assume that somehow water got into your drip tray, how it got there I'd find out as soon as you can. Losing power sounds like an overheat and with a car this can lead to an engine seizing up because of the high revs, with a boat engine the revs are lower plus you are turning a prop and not turning a fixed load [unlike a car which has the weight of the car turning the wheels]. So long as it's only been run like that for a short period I suspect no permanent damage has yet been done, but please don't lose any time getting it looked at or run it until it has been checked. Good luck, hope this helps. John

Perhaps I shouldn't have enquired of my insurers, but I did and that's what I was told. Different insurers, different conditions. I'm not going to risk it though, I don't want to take the chance, and anyway I've too much work to do on her this winter so it's not a problem. All comments welcome. Regards John

So far that's all I've been able to find, I was told that there was a way of getting it almost for free [better than PAYG] using two offers together from Vodafone, you take out one offer which then makes you a customer that's entitled to another offer with Cashback that amounts to almost the same as you paid out for the first offer which you can then cancel after one month and get your original payment refunded less one month. Someone else out there might know about PAYG mobile BB but can't say I've seen any yet, sorry. They might also be able to post a link, if still available, to the Vodafone scam. I'll watch this string with interest, hopefully we'll both benefit. Good luck. John

Hi Troll, checked with insurers and they said so long as I didn't go onto the system they would cover me third party but not the fully comp I signed up and paid for [Not a lot of diff between 3rd & F/comp], but as soon as I licence her the cover will revert to fully comp, in other words I damage your boat you get paid but I don't for ANY damage to mine. Hi Sue, but if I do have witnesses, no problem, and anyway if you have insurance why deny the truth. I don't wish to sound 'holier than thou', but if I hit your boat and did some damage I would expect to put my hands up and pay up, or rather get my insurers to pay up. Like I said I'd be pretty p*ssed off if someone hit mine and then denied it. If I'm at fault, then I'm at fault, then I'm at fault, aren't I????????????????????? There will always be times when boats collide and paint is the only victim and I'm sure many of us are not going to lose any sleep over it, but real damage has to be repaired and paid for even when it's pure a accident and not the result of a poorly maintained boat that has say a jammed rudder from lack of maintenance or care. Why should you pay for welding or new plating because some idiot couldn't be bothered to pay for insurance.

There are several, 3, Orange, 02, Vodafone, etc: try the link at the end of this post, you'll need a laptop with the majority although some offer a laptop in the deal but LOOK at any Laptop that some offer, some of them look great on paper but when you actually SEE what's on offer it don't look so good. Make sure your selection covers the area you're going to cruise, also check the download allowance and speed, take time to check what you get for your money. Hope this helps, at least it's a start. Have fun John http://www.top10-broadband.co.uk/types/mobile_broadband/

On the system with no licence, then a good bet no insurance or safety certificate. In my book, no right to be there. Mine is not licenced at the moment, but it is insured and it has a new safety certificate, but importantly it is in a private marina [Not a flash expensive one]. It's insured so that if I do something in the marina to someone elses boat or damage my own I can get compensation, it has a safety certificate so that I can be fairly confident that all is well with her and if I need to claim I'll get paid, and I will stay in the marina until I do have a licence. The point I'm making is that anyone taking there boat onto the system without the correct paperwork risks, in the event of a claim, of being refused payment of compensation to themselves and IF THEY DAMAGE YOUR BOAT, YOU WON'T GET PAID EITHER. So tell me what will all of you who seem to think it's OK to use the system without the required paperwork will do when an uninsured boat damages your boat and the owner shrugs his shoulder and b*ggers off. If it's not licenced then there is always the possibility it's not registered in the users name either so forget reporting it now, it's too late. I ain't no goody goody I break the rules the same as anyone but not to the detrement of others, if someone damaged my boat and couldn't pay for it I'd be pretty p*ssed off, so don't give them an inch, if they can't afford to run a boat then they shouldn't have one.

Thanks for that tinca steve.

Thanks for that, no mention of Sycamore which I was going to use, so'I'll try it and post how I get on if anyone is interested. Well, you can tell I'm a newby, posted a reply without a reply, then managed to post 3 copies in all, wouldn't be so bad if the poem wasn't so long, [not a complaint] I'll eventually get the hang of it. Perhaps someone knows how to remove the bits not required. Sorry!

I seem to remember seeing a link to a poem written about different types of wood and how they burned, i.e. the best to the worst for use on a woodburner. Anyone out there know the link or the poem. Many thanks for All the info posted, found it really useful especially the different opinions. John Some of us are right some of the time, but not all of us are right all of the time.

I know this is a bit off track and you probably meant it 'tongue in cheek’ but please don't throw sticks for dogs, a friend of mine threw one, it stuck in the ground and his dog, Ben, hit it at speed and it went through his neck, unfortunately Ben died from the injury, the vet said that this is quite a common occurrence and rather than a stick, a ball large enough not to get stuck in the dogs throat was by far the better choice.

Are you referring to the 'quality exec's that spend £1.75million on square mooring posts on locks????????????????

Went there, only looking! and saw this line 'BW does not issue licences to its own workboats. A separate fleet management system includes ensuring that all our boats comply with safety requirements.' Thought a safety certificate was a safety certificate and a licence was a licence and therefore seperate items, does this mean that if we have a current safety certificate we no longer have to buy a licence, wish, but it seems that BW don't. So, if I get a job with the DVLA Swansea does that mean so long as I have a valid MOT, I don't have to buy road tax????????????????????? Somehow I don't think it works that way.

Looks OK to me, but then what do I know? Buy a Cassette toilet and move aboard. Make them a low offer though, £12k say and see what happens. I've been to Whilton marina, pleasant helpful people, well they would be, wouldn't they, masses of boats for sale, easy access them all, and some knowledgeable people around, lots of privately owned moored boats share the marina as well. Good luck

I agree, believe it or not Ive just bought a 56ft'er for £23k that was at £38k six months ago, we were lucky because the seller needed to sell as he'd bought it for the mooring to put his own boat on and so just wanted to get it sold quickly. My first offer of £20 brought a derisery laugh [no surprise there then] but my second offer SIX weeks later was accepted subject to survey. After the survey was completed I asked the surveyer if he thought it was worth the money, his reply was 'If you don't buy it I will' so there are bargains out there and the longer you can wait the better. She was built in 1989 and has not been painted since, but having seen her out of water for the survey I'm assured by the surveyer that she needs no plating or welding but does need to have a good grit blast, etch priming and three coats of good quality blacking, the costs, well, including craning out/in, hard standing for 4 weeks [living aboard inc:] all materials, gritblasting, all DIY except the gritblasting will cost me £1200 It took us 18months to find the boat that suited us and during that time what we thought we wanted changed considerably, so make sure you have thought through your needs now and for the next 2yrs. Ask around, don't just look at the 'For Sale' ads and just as importantly ask around for surveyers, there are good and bad out there, a good one will cost just as much as a bad one but without the added expense of important bits missed or badly assessed. If you know someone with long experience with NB's get them to go along with you. Whatever you decide I offer you the best of good luck. As an aside, we all have opinions, some good, some bad, but all are valid and are needed to keep the discussion going, without discussion we go nowhere and sometimes end up doing things we wished we'd thought about more deeply.

Check this out, few months old but should still be relevent, why is coal so expensive? speculators, nothing changes! Mind you, with the crunch is should start going down, [or get back to something like normal] petrol & diesel has, I hear Tesco has just cut 3p per ltr at the pumps, hopefully Marina's etc: will follow. http://www.moneymorning.com/2008/02/14/out...ouble-in-price/

Just about to install a standard household under counter freezer, have an inverter and 3 new batts. I'll let you know how I get on [if anyone is interested]. If anyone has already tried this please let me know how YOU got on. If it dos'nt panout I might try replacing the compressor with either a DANFOSS BD35F or ACC GD30F 12/24. Quite agree Iceland for me, yuk! but others out there might need to go there just for the price, we're not all well off [i'm certainly not] but we are lucky and want it for all our home grown veg and our farming neighbours meat which we freeze, delicious.

I can't understand what you are doing on the canals with your attitude, it's a place of peace and quiet. I have a Mitsubishi Legnum VR4 which is capableof doing 140mph, but when I'm on my N/B a max of 4mph is fine, if you're not happy going slow and being considerate to other users of the canal, go and buy a speed boat and go round & round a boring lake somewhere.