Heffalump

Oh no I mostly agree with the sentiment! I wouldn't say complete crap, but you definitely get what you pay for. I think inappropriate in so far that you might be better with a mobile unit rather than an HT, and that you'd need to buy an aftermarket antennae to replace the rubbish it ships with. And probably illegal, I'd have to do some research on this particular model as I believe it's a newer one and they may have tightened up on the internal specs, and I don't know the UK Marine specs & requirements. Some hams did research based on the UV-5R and found that some models were compliant and some were too emissive. Is that a word? In my case it was ideal, the frequencies I use it on have no emissions requirements, it's a cheap HT with a backlight and it can handle me running through trenches and jumping on it all day! (Oh and the battery appears to last forever.) I think in OPs case it would be worth spending a little more and getting something a little more reputable.

Not true Alan, They have over 100 channel storage, I've named all my frequencies. Using 12 as an example, the frequency is 156.500. I've just stored it in my Baofeng's memory as "Mar 12" and it works just fine.

This. I use mine on UK mil frequencies which aren't far away from UK marine frequencies. Often overlooked is the emissions!

Aha! That's better I was going to suggest you spoke to whoever does your blacking! Yes, that does of course, exclude cabin sides, roof, and other bits

Thanks Laurence

Even better, get proper butter and don't keep it in the 'fridge! No need for sorrow! Yes thanks, your reply was very helpful

Looks like it's worth two quid!

I'm quite surprised by this change of demeanour from you LadyG... Both the one-upmanship and perhaps failure to realise that different people are scared of different things. Sometimes you can be scared enough that you can't do anything to remove the perceived harm, where someone else might just step in and diffuse it. Some people have panic attacks at the thought of leaving their house, other people panic when their child is being suddenly attacked by a medium sized animal. Some, allegedly, fear nought. We judge ourselves by our intentions, and others by their actions.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3462885/The-electricity-generator-pedal-Free-Electric-bike-create-24-hours-electricity-just-hour-exercise.html Excuse the daily fail link. But seriously for that price tag I think you're unlikely to find something that is safe and covers your needs. Happy to be proven otherwise!

Just working out as I go, if you black every three years you're saying to save 21 thousand pounds over three years for a 70' narrowboat. Even the first google search I clicked gave me a price of £620 for slippage, pressure washing, wire brushing, mioguard on patches, blacking, and return to water. That's £2.95 per foot per year.

I suppose it's over the yardarm somewhere bliz

Note also that employers are required to provide hearing protection when noise levels exceed 86db!

Well done! Must get that lubrication sorted now ha!

Good shout Tony, you're closer than I, I was trying to think if there's anything I could do. MP - Is there a way for you to check that the valves and rockers are moving properly when the engine is turning? Decompression lever and turn by hand if possible to save electrickery

Have you checked the air system for blockages? Fuel to the pots leaves only suffocation or no compression!

Ah that makes a bit more sense! yes in that case for your other days stealing electrickery from the pub and just charging for an hour to replace a few LED bulbs worth we can agree! I'll definitely be using a lot more than you!

What you've just said is a good 3 hours of engine time, plus more if you're cruising more than a couple of miles. Not quite £1 a day then

Yes, which is all I'm really interested in You'll be using more fuel than that when underway. If you cruise along at £1 an hour fuel usage you'll probably manage a mile in an hour, but if you want 3mph you'll need to use more fuel in that hour

£1 is 45 mins to 1 hour based on a pound a litre, by my workings out

Not very helpful, but there's nothing in the workshop manual about it, it just tells you which positions to put it in! It does mention decompressor levers for hand starting, which should be towards the flywheel when hand cranking. Is it possible that these have opened giving you that same sound?

Thanks for that, whilst I would like solar, to begin with it would depend on if it was already installed on a boat, until I saved up for some! I had budgeted around 100-120 squid for diseasel a month in my workings out.

TV, washing machine, fridge, phone, laptop

I guess that depends on how much elecktrickery you use

If we're talking about the baofengs they are switchable between 4 and 8 watts, mine is anyway!