Noah

Sorry to make you repeat all that Gary, I should have read the full thread before asking! I'm just starting to understand all of this CE Category marking stuff. It seems like tens of thousands more to attain Cat C on paper for little difference in boat design and build. I wondered why replica Dutch barges were so expensive! Noah

aye

Interesting looking alternative to a Dutch barge, I look forward to seeing internal fitout pics. I assume the buyers have European cruising in mind? Is it Cat D or C, Gary? Noah

I've met some truly obnoxious boaters from both ends of the age, wealth or shinyness scales. They have definately been in small minority but unfortunately these people always leave a bitter taste that lingers. I always try to treat everyone the same, and now I just totally blank those whose piss me. I got into boating thinking it was going to be a chilled lifestyle for all. Noah

Now there's a thought, a smaller version of my house coalbunker in the front deck! No problems clearing Froghall tunnel then. Noah

I've found that's the best way too Alan, by not riddling too much of the ash bed away. I only riddle very slightly in the morning before refuelling and I've found I use a lot less coal now. My Squirrel is at the front end but an Ecofan helps to circulate the heat down the boat and reduces the hell-hot zone at the front. I try to be "enviro" and burn some wood but I get sick of the tar and creosote problem. I now only burn logs on a very hot fire instead of slumbering so that all the volatiles are burnt off instead of depositing in chimney and on roof. Just had a 1 tonne delivery of Taybrite for £98. Should keep house and boat going untill next spring! Noah

Until you go out on a choppy estuary or the boat gets a bump. Then the water layer can be sucked up the feed pipe! Noah

Alan I bought a CAV type sedimentor and fittings from a nationwide agricultural engineering suppliers www.sharrock.co.uk who are also the main dealer for my Kubota engine. I didn't find the parts staff in my local branch very helpful though. As Ian suggests ASAP are very good and stock everything you'll need. I see that Ledgard Bridge have just become agents for ASAP (possible discounts?) https://sslrelay.com/s130174336.oneandonesh...ures/Suppliers/ Took me a full day to weld on a bracket, plumb in the copper pipework and test. Was it Tony Brooke's diesel engine course? Noah

I’d bail it out Pirate, if I were you, or install an automatic bilge pump to remove the water! Noah

How about a "mechanical converter" instead of an inverter. There's a narrowboat on a brokers site this week with a 1.5kW one of these monsters. I didn't think they were ever fitted on boats. I spent days on my mate's farm trying to repair an ancient 7kw converter. Noah

Yippee! Thanks again Martin, it's my only practical route out of the Northwest. My Christmas trip also depends upon that lift bridge and I had visions of it being closed until spring! Noah

Welcome John and Gill Nice fit out. I see you’ve avoided the “Swedish sauna” look by carpeting up to gunnels instead of having too much timber! Looks more homely and warmer to me. A couple of questions for my own benefit (doing partial refit): Did you find that the curtain rails needed the centre supports? I’m going to fit 10mm brass rods. Do you still think that they would need supports because I’ve not ordered any? Do I see speakers under the gunnels? I’m looking for some 12V ones of similar size. Noah

Not again!! Thanks for the info Martin. Scuppered my plans for next week's trip then. I wonder for how long it will be out of operation this time, I was stranded there for weeks in early spring! Noah

My car-type stereo is connected to the back of a 12V socket rather than wired all the way back to the batteries. It's a pain having to reprogramme when I visit the boat because the master switch has been turned off and the stereo has lost memory. Has anyone tried one of these "memory saver" devices for car stereos? I assume they contain a dry cell battery, but what about a rechargeable one and a relay that switches over when the main power is turned off? Noah

I encountered crimped bullet terminals today for 230V AC. I didn't think this was allowed. Never used them myself on mains, are they OK? Perhaps they would be with heatshrink for extra insulation. Noah

Hello and welcome PeterV Nice pic. We've got them as far north as Lancashire this year, the first time I've ever seen them outside of mainland Europe. Noah

Perfect conditions (and excuse) to spend more time in the brewery then Allyb Noah

I know just what you mean John. I am in the middle of a partial rewire to rectify some illogical and dangerous work of the original builders and alterations done by previous owners. I’m sure a total rewire would take me less time than sorting this mess out! One example: the main earth point of the hull was a large self-tapping screw that was fixed to the wooden mounting board of the main AC panels. I had assumed that this passed through into the steel bulkhead behind. So the hull has never been earthed (it now has a M10 bolt tapped into the steel). One thing I hate is to open up an electrical panel to find an unlabelled mass of spaghetti with a variety of badly soldered, crimped and twisted connections falling off just because I’ve dared to look inside. Why can’t people stick a simple wiring diagram on the inside cover. I worked as an electrical engineer and I know the problem is not confined to boats. Noah

Good photos Christine, I’m envious! I’ve not been to France for a few years and I’m in need of a fix. Bit cool on the Aiguille was it? I bet there were some people boarding the cable car in teeshirts not expecting the snow and ice up top. Awesome views though. Those huge working barges often have a liveaboard family, sometimes with their car on the cabin top. My long-term plan (dream!) is to sell up and boat across Europe. There are several narrowboaters doing just that, but I’d prefer a bigger vessel that doesn’t look out of place alongside 150ft peniches. French boaters that I've met think that the English are a bit eccentric in our thin boats and mini Dutch barges. And there right! Noah

When I bought a replacement silencer and all threaded fittings from TW Marine they recommended Copperslip grease on all threads. This stuff makes assembly and re-assembly easy and provides a good, gas-tight seal. This was for new threads however, I doubt if it will re-seal old, rusted and worn threads. New threaded couplings might be advisable if it's still difficult to get a gas-tight seal. Noah

Hi Neil Why is this? Have BW any right to prevent narrowboats remaining on one of their waterways? Great writeup and photos by the way. I did the trip by open canoe but used a trolley and wheels for Neptune's! I managed (battled) with a 4ft swell on Ness but standard narrowboats just have to wait for calm, just like the big loughs in Ireland. Noah

Yeah, like when I’m returning to a pontoon mooring with a sharp turn! I’m getting pretty good at steering in strong winds and towpath mooring by jumping off and getting the centre line quickly fixed (bollards, trees, fat kids) but I still struggle getting the boat into that slot on the marina single-handed. I line the boat up downwind and wait a few seconds to drift into position where a blast of reverse will get me into the mooring slot, easy. Just then the bloody wind dies and I’m stranded yards away looking ridiculous! That’s when I’d give a few grand for a bowthruster! Last week in a gale I did a few locks on a boat with a bowthruster and what a difference. When I get my Dutch barge……… Noah I'd love to find an online mooring where I wouldn't get broken into every couple of months! Noah

Yes, my Dad. A retired joiner and cabinetmaker, he’s really of the “old school” and refuses to believe in the existence of power tools! David, I understand the reason for linseed in the mix and I assume that the meths and white spirit are solvents to dissolve different types of dirt, grime and old wax. I wonder if it would improve the mix’s ability if another solvent were added, such as vinegar or lemon juice. I agree about the evils of spray polish! Unfortunately many second-hand boats, mine included, have been soaked in the stuff. I just hope that one of the solvents in the cleaning mix dissolves the silicones. Thanks all for your replies Noah

What does everyone use for cleaning their internal woodwork? I have a mix of oak-veneered ply, solid oak and pine T&G and its all coated in sound, but dirty, matt varnish. I've tried "Heritage" wood restorer, which is expensive for doing an entire boat and does not remove ingrained dirt and old wax. I'm thinking of trying a mix of linseed, meths and white spirit but is this too aggressive, and will the linseed inhibit future coats of varnish? What about a mix containing vinegar, has anybody tried this and did it make the boat smell like a chip shop? Noah