ronie

Hi, We are going to put in a woodburner (well multifuel stove) and run a central heating circuit off it. We need to put the burner in ASAP so we can get boat safety before going in the water. We have a cruiser back, so approx 55foot of cabin space to heat. The living room / kitchen where the burner will be is the front 20 feet of the boat. The rest is made up of 2 cabins off corridor, through bathroom, 2 cabins off corridor then back cabin across boat. We were thinking of puttin a radiator in bathroom, back cabin, and in each corridor, making total of 4 radiators. From calculations online I think we need about 2kw in the living room and then another 1.5kw for each radiator - does that sound about right? WOuld love to know what other people have to heat boats and how effective they find it. Thanks Ronie

Hi, Have just (we think!) put our engine in. But .... how do you know if it is right??? we brought a lister canalstar, lowered the bearers and then fitted it. We have a flexible coupling, and we moved the engine and adjusted the mounts (flexible) until the bolts just fitted straight into the gearbox. It went on smoothly when it was right, but when it wasnt it wouldnt if you see what i mean. We used no gadgets or anything, just relied on the fact that it slotted in easily to mean that it is aligned. Is this too simple??? And if so, what should we do differently? don't really want to faff around, but equally don't want to either a) sink or f**k the engine over! Any input appreciated! Thanks Ronie

Hi, Just want to say thanks for everyone who has taken the time to reply - it is much appreciated! looks like we are going to be needing a new skin tank - and as we don't have a lot of money, making it ourselves (gulp!) Any suggestions as to how to connect two tanks up? And does anyone know a good place to buy fittings for the skin tank? As far as I know it only needs one baffle is that right? Anyone done one and have any tips as to the best way to tackle it? Should add we are not professional welders so simple is the way to go! Thanks Ronie

Hi, We have a 4 cylinder lister canalstar, which we need to figure out a cooling method for. The boat previously had a 1.5 BMC (before it was stretched to be a 70ft boat!) The skin tank for that is about 2ft by 1.5ft by 6" thick. Now in searching google for info on how to determine skin tank size, there is not a lot of clear information, but some calculations suggets it would need to be about 11 square feet!!!! There is no way any boat I can think of could possibly have a skin tank that big is there???? It also seems to be that they need to be thin as well, further limiting the size they can be. Does anyone know how to calculate the size of a skin tank? Or does anyone have a similar engine with a skin tank they could say what size it is? Any other advice would be welcome, as we are not having much luck in finding plausible answers! Thanks a lot Ronie

Yes you can claim housing benefit for help with licence and mooring fees. This applies regardless of the legality or otherwise of your mooring. There have been two appeals (that I know of) on this issue, which concluded that housing benefit would be payable. Here are two links regarding the appeals - it may need quoting at them if you do wish to claim - the initial reaction is often "no" however this is incorrect. www.administrativeappeals.tribunals.gov.uk/judgmentfiles/j2392/R(H)%209-08%20bv.doc www.osscsc.gov.uk/judgmentfiles/j1819/CH%200318%202005-00.doc Hope this helps someone who needs it! Ronie

Hi, Not had time to read all the replies to this posting, but just wanted to say - go for it! You know your kids better than anyone else, and would not even be considering this if it wasn't even slightly suited to them. We have had 3 boats in our life, the first was when we had two kids aged 2 and 9 months. The second was when we had three aged 7, 4 and 1, and our 4th child was born aboard - first baby born on the caldon canal in over 60 years! We left it due to wanting access to land for growing food, and it was getting a little difficult with a newly mobile baby! Now the kids are 11, 8, 5 and 3 and we are fitting out our third as we missed it! It isnt all roses, when its cold and raining and the towpaths muddy and you are all going stir crazy it is hard work. We have never had a residential mooring as we have never been able to get one, but we have had a mooring that we have paid for. If you need to get kids to school and work it can be tricky, but there is always a way if there is a will. The improvement in quality of life and finances make it well worth it in our opinion, and despite the fact that the kids will only have a 6ft by 4ft cabin they are thrilled because it is their own, and they are raring to get back onto a boat, not even complaining at having to hang around a boat and van for 4 hours a day to let us get it done so we can move on - so I guess that tells you how keen they are! Trust your instincts, life is for living - not working to survive! Ronie

Hi, Its not a new boat - it was a 57 foot that has been stretched to a 70 foot with a new top and we are refitting it - trying to use recycles / re used / second hand bits as much as possible, so a second hand but reliable engine is what we need! We wont be using the engine loads as we have a lot of power from solar panels, so dont need to run the engine for battery charging. Thanks for responses everyone - seems a 1.8 would be big enough, if we don't mind a bit of rattling! Ronie

Hi, We now have ballast in our boat (yay! ) and are now thinking about finding an engine! What size do people think would be good? We have seen a 1.8 BMC - would that be big enough? It will push it but will it stop it? Any recommendations would be great, and also if anyone knows of anyone selling a good used engine that would be fab, as price is a factor! Thanks Ronie

Thanks for that, and all the other input - will ask at the boat yard when we next go up, as they can actually see what we need, but if they can't help for any reason will be in touch with either gary or kedian to take them up on their offer of help. Thanks a lot Ronie

Thanks everyone! It sounds like 4 tonnes is a good start, and once the engine and fitout is in will see what else it needs - it will have 2 adults and four kids living on it permanatly with all their associated tat so I guess that will help!! Thanks for the tip about the ratio of fore to aft will bear that in mind, will also be trying to get more in the corridor sides and less in the cabin sides so should be fun - not to mention lifting 288 concrete blocks up into the boat - won't need to go to the gym that day!!!! Ronie

Hi again, We are hoping to ballast the boat this week, and I know that the ballast will need altering when we are in the water, and need trimming, but is there a formula somewhere to work out how much ballast you need? We are planning to use high density concrete blocks because they are cheap and will fit nicely in the spaces in the floor. We will have room on top of them for concrete slabs or metal if needed to trim the boat. We reckon we will get about 4 tonnes in the spaces without adding concrete slabs etc. Is this likely to be a reasonable amount??? Thanks Ronie

Hi, Though the boat is in hesford, we live in stoke on trent, and so do not know what is around there - who are evans's - and eddie? apologies for the ignorance - the last time we did a boat we had it moved to stoke where we knew all the contacts and shops etc, but this time we want to get it floating and cruise it down rather than pay for a lorry which costs a fortune, so we are trying to do it in an area where we don't know anything!! Thanks for taking the time to respond though - it is much appreciated! Ronie

Hi guys, Thanks for all the replies its great! I am told we have a skeg (though I'm still not quite sure what it is!) but other than that need everything else! Gary,I can send a photo of what is(n't!) there and can draw a diagram for getting it made up if you let us know exactly what information is needed - how much approx would it be? Also whereabouts are you? Our boat is currently in Hesford Marina in Lymm, Warrington. Thanks for all the other tips its nice to have found a supportive place! Am sure we will be on here a lot over the next little while as we get to grips with fitting our boat out! Ronie

Hi, Just bought a 70ft shell (YAY!) that was a 57' and had been stretched. It has no tiller, rudder or swan neck. Where can we get one from??? I have tried googling and chandlers and cannot find one - unless I am using the wrong terminology! Any help with where to look and approximate prices would be fab! Thanks Ronie

Hi, We are (hopefully!) soon going to be in posession of a shell and need to locate cheap ballast. Does anyone have any idea of where would be good and cheap near warrington?? Thanks Ronie