sebrof

I have a vintage Lister JP3 for propulsion, and a vintage Lister ST1 for generating. An alternative for the latter is being sought. Something quiet. John

Thanks. Very helpful. John

Here in Wiltshire, the price of Christmas trees was truly frightening. So we got a re-usable plastic one. Thanks. I agree. John

Well, I take your point about leaving it unattended. However, I've had a wick-burning Rayburn on land which I happily leave running when away, and it's hard to think of a way it could actually be dangerous. Messy if it goes out, but unlikely to catch fire. And it's never gone out of its own accord in nearly thirty years. Perhaps these stoves also need a cut-out if the temperature drops below a level which shows it is working. Going away for more than a day with nobody aboard is not likely to be very frequent, and no doubt a good clean/service (and a good filter) would help to minimise risk. Have you heard of such a stove setting fire to anything? I'd be interested to hear other views/experiences. Valid point about the flue. Are there special brushes, and any ideas where to get them in Wiltshire? However, I do really want to get away from solid fuel for daily use, so this would be a stop-gap improvement rather than a long-term solution. Thanks John

Hello, I have acquired a Dutch barge to live aboard, and have been doing just that for the past fortnight. Very cold, no water, quite an introduction to life afloat! Within this short timescale I have developed a wish-list of improvements, and should be very grateful for your comments and suggestions. No 1 concerns heating. The barge has two solid fuel stoves, makes unknown. The one in the saloon works fine, though is rather messy. The one in the skipper's cabin at the rear supplies hot water and feeds five radiators, using a pump. It is very smoky, needs a lot of attention, and fills the cabin with smoke whenever the door is open. There is also a leaking Ebersbacher, which the previous owner installed, and wishes he hadn't; and, of course, the engine also heats the water. I occasionally need to leave the barge unattended for a few days, and want to leave some heating on. I also want to wake up to a warm boat. Presently the fore-cabin goes down to just above freezing overnight, which necessitates a supreme act of will to get out of bed in the morning. This suggests to me that I should replace the rear stove with a drip-fed diesel stove with boiler, such as a Glemring or Bubble, augmented by some sort of gas water heater for summer. The stove in the saloon can stay for extra heating on cold nights. I would need a competent installer. The boat is on the K&A. Any thoughts/suggestions? Thanks John

Incidentally, why did the fitting-out take so long?