Rebsy

We have a mifi from the 3 network. Cool little device, it means that more than one item can log into it (using wifi) at the same time and use the Internet. It also handy that as it's wireless it can sit somewhere where there is a signal and I can be comfy in my sofa unlike with a dongel where I have been known to sit on top of the boat to get a signal. With regards to buying an expensive boat, my view is that all boats are different and the way we use the space differs, for example I like having my bedroom in the middle, others I know prefer it at an end. With that in mind, we bought a second hand boat with the view to see what we liked and disliked about it's layout and what we would want on a future boat. In fact, so far we have been happy with our boat and we have no plans to change.

I can't do that quote thing. However regarding the above post, it's not about 'Tar, brush, paint' I said that I was amazed that with one hours training that people feel confident in using a boat. Nothing about all hire hire boaters are all terrible etc etc. It was all about peoples confidence It took me a days training and many an early morning cruise to get confident with an experienced boater. Surely you would agree that it takes more than an hours worth of training to be competent. In fact I am learning all the time. The excuse from the people who hit me was that they didn't know what they were doing. ..they had a hours training and I was amazed that they had the confidence to drive such a long boat.

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, I do like a good old cuppa.. and really who would say no to a cup of tea and digestives??? Anyway to give an update: I spoke to the hire company who were lovely. Offered some paint and invitied me to visit them so that I could see what training the hire boaters had before they took out the boat as I questioned how much instruction a person got before being let loose, I have not taken them up on their offer yet, but I thought it was a nice gesture. My concern was that when I got my boat, I had a whole days training and even after that, I took everything so slow and I am amazed that with only an hours trainig that people feel confident in navagating a boat. Perhaps I was being over careful. Currently my I am have been annoyed by the speed that boats travel and it is not only the hire boats the private boats go equally as fast.. But perhaps thats for another topic, or one which has been done to death.

Today a hire boat crashed into my boat. It was a real crash rather than a tap or scrape. Everything went flying, vase broken, tea all over me and a scared cat. Even some paint came off the side of the boat as they continued to scrape along. The drivers were drinking. I was very shaken by this. I have left a message with the hire company. I know that everyone is entitled to their holiday and to enjoy the waterways but they have actually caused damage to my boat which is my home. If it was a car then insurance details would have been taken. What do others do in these circumstances.

Our cat was an older girl when we moved onto our boat and is very happy. We had to watch her at first especially as she kept wanting to go behind the stove when it's on! She fell in the canal once and it took her a while to get used to the engine. I have mentioned before on this forum but I think it's worth mentioning again that we have a Loc8tor tracking device. It's really good for getting her back in and it's a peace of mind.

My cat has been amazing, I have been really proud of her. She was a rescue and lived with us a year before we moved onto the boat. We were worried as she is an older cat but she really took to it well. As soon as we stop I show her the correct side and she goes exploring. We have also done the Pavlov thing as well. We did but a loc8tor which she wears round her neck. Which is a hand held tracking device. I have used it a couple of times when she had not returned for a while and I was worried.

I am not the most qualified person to reply and do not know anything about moorings in Dudley so I am sure that someone will come along soon enough to give some expert advice, however I have struggled with the 9-5 and living full time on a narrowboat and I would urge you to take a hholiday on one first to get a feel before spending your hard earned cash. I heard a recent story of a couple who just could not cope living afloat and are selling up at a loss after a year. With regards to an address you could use a family member or friend? And have you checked out the mooring vacancies on waterscape? Coming home in winter and putting on the stove never worries me, you just have to make sure that you have enough coal and wood to hand. So a bit of planning is in order. You will also need to plan how you will get your hot water if by running the engine then you will need to be home early enough to do this as you are not meant to run the engine after 8pm. The same goes with battery charging (though a Marina may solve that problem). I spent a lot of my weekend doing boaty things, filling up with water, pump out, buying fuel and my pet hate is spending Saturday mornings in the Launderette. I thought that lving on a boat would give me more free time, but in fact I think it's less and defiantly more planning is needed to fit all the chores around a 9-5 job. I have seen many people buy a boat and try to turn it into a house, with all the modcons which are simply not pratical especially without electricity hook up. Good luck.

I light the stove in the evening with a mixture of wood and coals. At bed time I add a number of coals and close the vents, not all the way but only leave a little gap open. By the morning the coals have just finished, so it's not very warm in the morning but not freezing either. In the morning the first thing I do is put the kettle on, the gas ring being on produces some heat, then I add more coals to get it going again and before I leave for work I close the vents like at night. I never bothered with coals and starting the fire again in the morning whist I was at work until someone asked me if the cat was cold, so now I add a few coals for the cat as part of the

Thank you all once again for the helpful replies. I think perhaps I was over worrying (as per normal!) Regarding Birmingham I was avoiding it as I was concerned over safety, or again am I concerned over nothing??

Currently on the Llagollen and love it, but needing to move on in a month or so to make our way slowly back home (southern grand union) finding somewhere nice to stop over for Xmas and winter if ice on Canal (Dec - Feb?) We came up on the grand union, then through Coventry, back down to top of wolverhampton and up on the Shropshire Union. therefore missing birmingham and the Leicester arm. We are debating coming back on the trent and mersey to the Leicester arm and then Oxford onto River Thames(missing Birmingham altogether) and if time a bit of the K&A? We do travel at a slow pace stopping for a week here and there and only do a few hours a day of cruising. I have questions which I hope the lovely people here can answer. 1) A good route to come back?, need to be back home in May. 2) I am really worried about going on rivers. What do I need? .. I figured an anchor (52 foot boat I had read 15 kg is needed?) how long would the rope need to be? Guessing I need it for Soar and Thames. 3) We will be going down stream on the Thames. Will that cause problems? I have read on this forum that I will need to turn the boat around to moor. Is there anything else I need to know? 5) am I over worrying? Thoughts would be appreciated.

I have been amazed at the number of replies to this post and am intrigued how the post has evolved with it's twists and turns. I would like to respond to a couple of comments about the safety of children. I totally agree that children need to learn so that they can have their own awareness of Heath and safety, I agree that risk assessments formally and informally are probably done by all of us everyday, however even though the children were having fun on the boat, I wonder if it occurred to the parents (may be as part of their risk assessment ) the consequences of potential ruined holiday, a very wet and shocked child , a trip to the hospital for something broken or worse. My guess and hope this family had a lovely holiday, but the question is.. Is it worth the risk? I know if I has saved and looked forward to a family holiday, I would not want anything to spoil it. There are plenty of ways that children can learn to be aware of danger and have fun 'go ape' springs to mind but children standing on a boat and not know what's coming round the corner that just does not make sense (and is not worth the risk)

I saw a narrowboat today travelling very fast (no this is not another thread about the speed of narrowboats.) on top of the boat were three children, guessing under 10 running up and down the boat jumping up with sticks and hitting the overhead trees. Not very safe I thought, however, as the boat went past I remembered that there was a low bridge ahead and ran outside to warn the parents, however, I was too slow and I saw the children still running on the roof away from the bridge and at the last minute dive down and lie on the boat..I nearly had a heart attack. I am wondering why don't people think about safety? I was tempted to contact the hire company as perhaps they need to discuss safety in more detail to their customers or were the family just lacking any form of common sense?

Hello, From what I have read if there is a water leak for example the water would make it's way to the bilge area. So I thought I would have a look at my bilge (still learning about boats) and was very happy that it is nice and dry. However, I discovered it is a sealed area of it's own, therefore if the water tank leaked at front of boat, the water could not get to the bilge area to be pumped out. Is this normal? Any thoughts would be appreciated as I am wondering therefore how I would know if I had water under the floor, with no obvious inspection hatch. Thank you.

In a few weeks time we are setting off on a year long adventure travelling on the waterways. What would be your top five must see's? Places you would avoid? And any tips?

We bought an old but very well looked after boat. I called her my starter boat, I guess like a starter home, where I can see what her good points and bad points are and to be more informed. A good example was that the bed is in the middleb(ish) of the boat, not my first choice of location, however during the winter, the bed room was lovely and warm as it was near the stove and I didn't need to use the central heating. We have looked at newer ones since, however I am so happy with my boat, that I think I will have her for a while.

Hi, wondered if anyone can help? I have a Vetus M4.14 engine. We have been having a few problems starting the engine and charging batteries. Our Engineer has identified that the problem could be the instrument panel and it's circut board. The bad news is that Vetus do not make the panel anymore. Therefore does anyone know how or where to get a replacement panel and circuit board? (STM 3754) Or as an after thought can I use a different instrument panel model? (which may have to be adapted) many thanks.

I am new to boating.. have lived on board for about 4 months.. I belive after the initial learning curve, even though I stilll have many questions and things to learn I do feel that now I am more confident about living afloat (despite the cold) However, I am struggling a little with time as I work full time.. I leave the boat at 7.30am and arrive back at 7pm, or on a good day 6.30pm.. bearly enough time to put the engines on until the 8pm no engine curfew starts.. I do have another source of hot water, but it takes ages to heat up, so I often have very late showers. The launderette closes at 7pm, so no time to go in the week, which means that I spend a good part of the weekend washing and heading round to a friends to iron.. Can only move the boat at the weekends as its dark in the eveings (when not iced in) , which means at times no matter the weather I have to fill with water and pump out at the weekends. I know it will be better in the summer, less batter power needed, can move the boat after work etc etc, however summer does feel a long way off. Does anyone else have this problem.. and what tips have you discovered to save time.

Thank you for your replies.. I am always impressed on the level of help that I get when I have a question.. I feel I can almost ask anything! I have sent a couple of PM.. but was wondering about Sea Otter.. are they the boat builders? Many thanks, and hope you are all keeping warm.

Hello, I wondered if anyone could help.. Currently moored on the Southern Grand Union and looking for someone to build me a cratch cover and board (really fed of muddy shoes / snowy shoes being brought inside the boat. However, I would like the crach cover and board to be folded down or removed completely if required (easily). I guess that I may not be able to have the 'usual' crach board and cover style, but wondered if anyone has something similar, knows of something?? Many thanks..

there is at least half a tank.

yes, just no water from the taps.

The advice on this forum has always been helpful for a new boater such as myself. This morning we have no water. Guessing pipes are frozen? Is this a common problem?? Inside of boat is nice and warm.

many thanks for all your replys. I went to get the part I needed locally, it was the second link above. However getting it to fit is proving very tricky.