Tam & Di

The Dutch barge grease is known as Owatrol. You can buy sprays for it on Amazon, but they're possibly a bit pricey for a 1-off job. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waxoyl-6141711-High-Pressure-Sprayer/dp/B019CXRV16/ref=sr_1_5 Tam

No idea about now, but certainly the Grand Junction Carrying Company built the 12'6" wideboat Progress specifically for the purpose, and we were cruising it regularly at the time of the Fraenkel Report in the 60s when cruising waterway standards were established.

It would be pretty obvious to any marina owner who visited his site regularly. Casting a blind eye over someone living on board is one thing, but accepting an AirBnB situation would be altogether different.

I certainly would not accept any AirBnB boat at our site. Any mooring contract would be with the owner, but if it is let out there is no effective control over the occupants. I suspect that would be the common view of most mooring owners. Tam

On the face of it that's a good idea, but I think there are legal reasons why CRT are not able to reduce the given statutory dimensions. They can probably postpone repairs fairly indefinitely, but then we might end up with fleets of 12'6" boats moored semi-permanently either side of the narrows arguing that they are continuous cruisers waiting for the works to be done. 😀 Tam

Certainly the problem to my mind is people with boats of whatever beam who are not really competent. The nearer your boat is to the limits of the waterways you're on then the more careful (and considerate) you need to be. Unfortunately boating ability is a skill that seems to be regarded as too much bother by all too many people nowadays, whatever the size of boat.

Prigozhin's fat thing was having problems recently too - I doubt that he'll pay for any damage though:

If you are interested in knots you might like to look at this on my barge handling site: http://www.bargehandling.com/Bargehandling.com/BARGE_HANDLING_BLOG/Entries/2016/11/8_Knots_and_whatnot.html Tam

The problem with a sheepshank is it is not easy to release when under tension. The lorry drivers' knot which involves double purchase for tying down his load is vaguely related to this, but I can't imagine using it for the purpose suggested by the OP. Tam

When we were a boating school for the ICC that steerers require on the continent I had one couple where the wife stood on the bow as they came to each lock, indicting which way to steer. After a couple of locks I told him I could not issue him a licence, as that was evidence of HIS ability, not of his wife signalling skills. He then did the next locks, getting progressively confident on his own. Seeing him again a year or so later he could go into locks with his eyes closed (metaphorically, at least). I don't decry all modern boating aids, but some of them are rather like having a bike with side wheels - you never really learn the art of balance unaided. In this instance, what happens the day the camera fails? Tam

Not exactly as large as a boat, but Osokool 'fridges' work very well. For any who may not know them they are a small metal box with frontal door, totally covered in a water-absorbent chalky material. There is a shallow saucer in the top which you fill periodically with water, the evaporation of which keeps the interior of the box cool. We used to keep vegetables and such in a basket on the deck, covered in a damp towel. For it to work you need to let the towel get more or less dry before dampening it again. Tam