LoneWolf

Dude, dont think of it as consensing your life. Think of it as opening your life up. As for most of the stuff on your list, well it's just stuff; you'd get on fine without it & you wouldnt need an inverter & a huge bank of battries either

And had time to take on water... According to my Nicholson's Bridge 8 is Town Meadow Swing Bridge; would it be possible to moor under a swing bridge? I'm on the L&L south of Poolstock so I'll be sure to be on the lookout for a ghost boat piloted by someone with supernatural powers... Hey maybe it was the boat that went passed me at 1am this morning....

So you'll please both the drunken holiday boats and the waterway philosophers. Well done.

no problem. Yeah, I was dissapointed by 'ebden too (but not done it by boat yet).

I've said both of these, saying something complimentary makes people feel good about themselves & is a good way of seeing if they're up for a lockside/mooring chat. I've also been known to bellow obvious smart arse comments about a boats name across the water oops...guilty of this as well, but only when i think the other person will understand that it's a cliche joke. I do assume couples take turns I promise never to do it again. Well, Hebden Bridge, it's the Stoke Newington of the north innit

Can't say I've had any bother of the 'women drivers' type. Mind you, I think I'd have handled things differently than poor trouble-magnet Fiona. If a boat I was about to pass in a tight spot got into trouble I'd stop & wait till they were sorted before passing. Likewise, if there were trees/bushes on the right & a passing boat was taking a line (or the canal was only 7' bush free at that point) that would 'force me into them' just I'd slow & adjust my speed so that we could pass in a bush free spot. There's never any need to start shouting abuse though. I have encountered inoffensive sexism though of the "ooohhh how do you manage; a woman on your own" type (mostly gongozallers) and come across a few map-turning tool-snatchers who'll start unnecessarily 'helping' when i'm mooring up

Some marinas have 'pied a terre' moorings which sound like what you want

It's a horrendous thing to happen & I wish Di a full recovery. I can see Dave's point as well but I dont think there's much point to hasseling Di for details btw, it's not unusual for people to forget exactly what happens just before an bad accident - it's very common with car accidents. As a relative newcommer to solo boating I'm ultra cautious eg I dislike crossing gates when the paddles are up because I have to take my hand off the rail so I always stop, ensure feet secure & then move hand to the other side of the paddle mechanism before continuing. I hadn't actually thought of the extra dangers when the paddles are open (I didnt realise the culverts were big enough to allow people to get sucked in) but will in future. I count it as part of the Hanwell flight - to me it's "Norwood (Top)"

Not you then, pity. This Mr Jinks was brilliant, I'd just got boat in lock (rejoicing that it was the last one, i was getting a bit knackered) He insisted that i stay on the boat & he did the lock for me, including running back to his boat for the BW key required. He was so happy & cheerful leaping about & full of energy that it made my day.

You dont really need to know though do you? The only defect in 'saftey equipment' would have to be something being or coming loose/detached, which could happen at any lock with any walkway or handrail It's norwood top and the next one (or possibly the one after) that have locks on the top gate paddles.

I'm refering to the Hanwell flight one, where's the other? I've no idea if it's the same person but when i told this chap i was heading for Leeds he said he was from Manchester area. I tend to notice boat names since i have no GPS to constantly monitor ;-)

don't know i'm afraid but i have this bookmarked for when i finally get the stove working if it's of any help. http://www.lock13.co.uk/boats/coaldiesel.htm (sorry, cant do 'clicky' links) Just out of interest, what would be your choice of fuel and what would you call a reasonable price?

If Mr Mayalld can confirm if he was the chap from the manchester area taking on water in Mr Jinks that i met at Norwood top lock on 28 July I could enlighten you as to his level of consideration.

Yoda, your words of kindness, thanks for. It did make me laugh. I'm enjoying the learning tbh, I think my life before boating was somewhat lacking challanges. I didn't actually change the fuel filter, just shoved the old one straight back on still holding it in the plastic bag with only a small bit of fuel spilt. Engine was serviced just before i got the boat which helps; I'm learning to do things as they fall due. I'm near a good auto parts shop at the moment so I'll be getting fuel filters now for when the time comes I think.

Cheers Ken & ALbion, I'll have a look tomorrow when it's light. Thanks, that's a good site Ditchcrawler - have bookmarked it.

Just the seller i believe There are a couple of 'what are the costs' threads here that list all the other expenses; licence, insurance, BSS compliance costs etc Dont spend ALL your cash on the boat - make sure you have a contingency fund as well

Thanks all - now that i know what it's called I can research any maintenance required.... ... and see if there's a water trap to check

Chin up chicken. I've found your posts helpful in understanding the BW cc 'rules' and how they interact with the law. There's probably a lot more like me that read & learn but dont comment cos the topics gone stale or decended into point scoring.

Exactly. and if I decide for whatever reason to go back to land, I wont think of it as having 'failed' in any way. Just that it's not the life for me after all. At least I wont get to my dotage with the regret of not ever trying it.

Today was my first ever oil change day. I know the square root of nowt about engines but thanks to copious amounts of research on here I’d been down the auto parts shop armed with a list of 3 different options for a part number for the filter. I eschewed all the oil in the shop, ignored the patronising tone of the chap who explained “C, D, E, F it goes like that, means it’s a higher grade so better” and explained that bore glaze was a problem in an under loaded boat engine with your high grades and none of your fancy new fangled additives either (I have no idea what all this means) Got some proper oil (API: C) from the boat place. Gloves, plastic bag all set. Checked manual picture, looked at engine located pump & filter, drained oil; all fine so far. Spent 30 minutes trying to get the filter to loosen trying various bodily placings contortions, grips & rubber gloves (I don’t have much grip with my left hand this week and have puny girl wrists anyway). Finally loosened it and got it in the plastic bag – hurrah! But hang on, it doesn’t look very dirty more of a reddish colour, and too thin – ARSE! I’ve just removed the fuel filter – what a spanner! Anyway all fixed now – the oil filter is hidden on the other side, under the engine in the dark corner where you can only ever see a bit of the end of it. And the thing I thought was the fuel filter (therefore making the one on the engine the oil filter) is… another fuel filter. Why do I have 2 fuel filters? Do I change them both at the same time interval as in the manual (600hrs) or what?

Yes - All easy ones Yes to most & probably to the rest. You could add - "can you cope with reading endless tedious discussions about oil to find out what sort to buy" ;-)

Interesting discussion. There's a lot of truth in the above. I've only been onboard for about 2 1/2 months now so probably still in the honeymoon period. I wouldn't say it was 'hard' as such (so far - but winter has yet to come!) but it's a steep learning curve. Everything takes a lot longer as I think it should - it took me all afternoon to change the oil & filter today. In the next 2 days I'll be fitting a new sf stove (test fire & investigation revealed the existing one cracked & falling appart - 4 week book at the boatyard) But I'm loving it.

You can also get Pearsons guides - the hire base may sell them (£9ish) which probably suit your needs better than Nicholsons (unless you have an interest in old churches). They'll show where the visitor moorings are & give a rough idea of travelling time as well as giving the usual pub reviews

Your post "Only wet if you are confident all your crew members can manoeuvre without. If they can't (and in case you haven't noticed the days of female crew working on true working boats have long gone) I prefer to give Jan all the help she may need." imples that females cant manouver without bow thrusters. Otherwise why make the comment in brackets. I dont see any 'spin' in WW's interpretation What did you mean by your comment?

Hi becki I'm assuming you mean the bilge(s) you can see when you look at the engine. I'd ask the owner where the water comes from & see what he says. It could be an indication of how well the boat has been looked after - if they know where it's coming from why haven't they fixed it? With a cruiser stern it will probably just be an indication of recent rain though. some boats have a 'wet bilge' which means the shower drains there (on purpose) & then the bilge pump gets rid of it. The bit under the cabin floor is also called the bilge but is usually (i think) seperated from the engine/stern bilge. Ask if there is an inspection hatch which will be a hole cut in the floor and then maybe 'hidden' in some way by eg putting a step on it. You can stick your arm in there and feel around to check for water in the other bilge. Not all boats have one though