Onewheeler

Being slightly pedantic, the new contract only covers the work to connect the two sides of the roundabout. The new lock E of the roundabout is part of the phase 1b restoration which awaits HLF funding. Good to hear about the contractor! Martin/

There is no door catch adjustment so when the seals bulge due to corrosion behind them it's a strip out and wire brush job. If buying another Squirrel the first thing I would do is dismantle it and put copper grease on every screw. Then sell it to someone who doesn't mind cracked casting.

That sounds interesting. Mine does need adjustment every two years or so. Does your modification avoid the need for that?

I've only had one fail in 20 years, at the end where it connects to the controller. It caused a spectacular stop onto the visitor pontoon in Bristol harbour, 30 minutes boating before locking down to the tidal Avon and Severn. Worth keeping a spare and knowing how to fit it.

I like my Boatman. Easy to light, very controllable. A separate ash box would be nice but not enough to make me want a Squirrel. A poker with a bent end is handy for riddling the ash. The bloke that makes them is very nice but takes an age to respond to emails. Not sure about the colour options. Black is easy to touch up.

It certainly is, at least for a few weeks. Had to paddle baarefoot to get off the boat on Friday, it peaked at about 1.3 m over usual in Oxford. Back down to about a metre up but it will take a while to get to a navigable state.

Radiators are designed to transfer heat and so will freeze more easily. Pipes can be insulated. You'd have to insulate them anyway if you propose a recirc system. That alone will increase heat loss and battery drain under normal operation. Radiators are also usually steel so will corrode. Dunno about finrads. It would be a right PITA to have to drain the whole system and refill it regularly and bleed it all.

I think you're running tap water through the radiators with no inhibitor or antifreeze? Doesn't sound like a good idea. What happens when it's cold and you're away?

I replaced an old Jabsco manual toilet (horrid thing) with a Sanimarine SN31 Comfort last year on our boat on the mainland. Lovely piece of kit and not expensive as these things go. I preferred the one with a two way rocker switch to pump out / fill, there's less to go wrong. It's not even very noisy. I used to have an electric RM69 on our narrowboat. No end of trouble, it blocked frequently and very, very noisy.

A 1/2" inch drive is handy for turning the engine crankshaft by hand. Or a dedicated big spanner. Don't forget to take it off the nut when you try to start the engine else it may wreck several hoses. I know about such things.

There aren't any closures planned on the Thames for a good distance either side of Oxford as far as I recall (I am hoping to do some winter boating). Whether College Cruisers or Anglo Welsh at Eynsham are open I have no idea. The Thames might be unnavigable, in which case with College Cruisers you'd at least be on a canal in a nice place. Otherwise one could have a pleasant week bimbling around Oxford and Abingdon. Martin/

Blowlamp.

Fascinating. I was dragged up on the banks of the Thames in Fulham. There was a timberyard at the end of our road, can't remember the name but they described themselves as warehousemen and lightermen. Us kids used to watch barges of timber being towed in. It burnt down around 1972. We suspected an insurance job as it was replaced with luxury flats (starting at £19,000). Martin/

It's worth the extra for a MPPT controller to maximise whatever the panels can deliver. Size it generously in case you decide to add capacity. Otherwise make sure that you have sized the panels to enable you to walk on the roof safely.

When I get around to it I'm going to mount the nav lights currently in the spares box with flying leads and magnets. For the odd occasion when they might be wanted it will be no problem to put them in place temporarily.

Ours has lasted 25 years. Depends upon what you do with it.

For a long shaft try asking for a mopstick handrail at a timber merchants. Usually 4.something m x 50 mm. Look for defects in it that might weaken it before buying and give it a good coat of paint if leaving it outside.

We're in a boat share on the more civilised side of the channel. There is a share for sale still - see the for sale page, circa March. (PM me if interested!) Advantages: it costs much less. With the right mix of people most of the skills needed for maintenance can be covered (we could do with a painter / decorator and a carpenter). Disadvantages: one needs to fit in with the others and leave the boat tidy. Also need to find where other people have hidden essential things like the cafetière. Martin/

Bow line round a bollard, ditto stern line, stand in the middle holding both. Avoid lunchtime when the lockie is on lunch break.Or, going up, tie one end on and control the other.

On the Warwickshire Avon the locks do not behave nicely. I find it easier going up to tie the stern to a bollard and take a long line with you to the top gates. Operate the paddles a little at a time until you get a feel for what the boat is doing.

All good points. However wash from the big boats is not really a problem when moving and they are mostly considerate. Mostly. Drag when moored is more of an issue. There have also been a lot of closures in recent years due to lack of water on the smaller and sometimes bigger canals. Another thing to consider is how to operate locks. Are you single handing? Some of the locks are deep and need lines moved as you go up. You'll need to work out a procedure for going up and down. The usual method is to take a line from the front to a bollard and keep tension on it with the engine. Harder without a crew to control the rope.

The downside is that you'll usually pay an arm and a leg for water and electricity in Belgium. Typically 1€ per kWh or 100 L. It's usually included in the fees in France. Remember that Belgium operates as two countries: the licence in Flanders is fairly cheap, and free in Wallonia. I've not been, but I think it's even more complicated in the Netherlands. Also, often the electricity supply is centre-tapped in Belgium which is confusing. One should not rely on neutral being on the "proper" pole of the connector. It's useful to have a phase-reversing adaptor (a pair of connectors cross-connected) and a socket tester - like https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ms6860d-socket-tester/91596

I think adaptors are available, but easier to buy a new regulator.

If you've got a holding tank, you'll need to be able to pump out yourself. Ideally connect it permanently so you don't have to dump it all in one place! The DBA is worth the fee just to access the online waterways guides. They are updated by members and are generally a comprehensive and accurate list of where it is feasible to moor, as well as facilities and costs. Another thing: in France diesel is not seen much in marinas and is usually expensive. Most boats carry cans to fill up at service stations. VHF is useful on the bigger waterways, and essential if you are going into Belgium. There are specific regulations, and you can expect to be inspected occasionally. Fire extinguishers and lifejackets must be in date. You need a bucket on a rope for fires! Look at the DBA knowledge guides (but remember that a lot of the more complicated stuff relates to boats over 20m). I'm not sure if nav lights are compulsory or not (if not traveling at night).

Hose connectors are nearly all bog standard BSP. Shore line connectors are nearly all the usual 16A type. It is very useful to have a couple of 30m mooring lines and some very big mooring pins. Main difference is that nearly all toilet waste goes over the side. I've only seen one pumpout in France. Elsan disposal can be found at municipal camper van sites which are often waterside. On many waterways the only feasible mooring is at dedicated spaces. Mooring online in the middle of nowhere can be impossible due to depth, rocky banks or wash from commercials. A narrowboat is not ideal. Many moorings are on pontoons and limited to 15 m or less. It can be done though. More specific advice on the DBA website but you need to join to access their very useful waterways guides and forum. Martin/