Bones

thanks for that - and the link, its really helpful.

My boat was bought in June and the BSS certificate was new in February. The electrics have been condemed by three independent people - one and inspector, one a boat fitter, and one a professional. They shouldn't have passed. Although a certificate is a useful guidline, it doesn't really tell you whether it represents a level of safety.

I love going it single handed - the peace and quite is wonderful, and there is no worry about crew. My crew - (when they decide to come along) are so accident prone and inificient, they only inhibit any cruising so I insist they sit inside or on the bow and don't try to help. They bring out cups of tea but generally stay out of the way... sometimes they disappear across a field with a camera and return up the canal red faced and puffing with excellent pictures to show me (after cruising) of what they have seen. Its certainly relaxing, and without any need to be anywhere particularly I love it, with or without a crew... although Somerton Deep Lock gets to me!

I see what you are saying, but I knew nothing about boats! I knew how to live on one, but wasn't sure what was a good or bad boat. The survey showed up the steel work as being good, and the engine survey told me that was ok - OK so I knew a BIT about engines, but only motorbike ones. Also, having looked at a fair few boats in breakers first I could spot the huge variety and what was and wasn't ok. Its possible to get hold of the BSS. My policy on wiring (which I know nothing about) is: if it looks a mess and you can't work out where the wires go (even from the engine to the board) then there is trouble. If connections aren't done properly (ask in the electrical shop how to connect 2 pieces of wire) then thats a good sign. There are tell tale signs. My boat isn't upmarket by any means, I bought what I could afford, and it was the best I saw for what i could afford. At the end of the day I knew what sort of thing I was looking for, and also knew I wanted to understand how it worked (where the water came from, where the gas pipe ran, how to fix the electrics), so I could work out where a problem was when it went wrong. I'm now making it so I know about these things. I think it really depends what you are looking for, and if you know that, its not so bad. Besides, its quite good fun by all acounts - especially looking at different boats on the inside!

very true!! My boat did have a BSS but I knew it shouldn't have had one when I looked around it - but I was looking for a sound hull and good engine. Its easy to look at these things with rose tinted spectacles... I knew this one was the boat for me, and I took a friend with me, and spent time moving it before i bought it.

me too - but on reflection perhaps the way you put it is a bit better than the way I did - which I realise makes no sense now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i run fast and have a gentle forward depending on the lock/position/etc

I'd probably not be a human fan if someone paid me £80quid and I expect they are more reliable than I am. Personally I quite like a chilly bedroom - its good for the health and a good excuse to have duvets and blankets from floor to ceiling. Its never that cold down there.

spirits in the sky?

shot? doesn't that make her more likely to?

As far as I can gather from talking to people and reading the posts here they are great. My boat is 54ft so I can shift the air around by periodically flapping my arms with cardboard attached which seems to move the air around quickly, although over time the whole boat does get warm (except the engine room which is my reverse sauna so I don't want it to get hot!). They sound like an excellent toy to posess. btw: I fell off my skateboard last night so I wasn't totally frantic in waving my arms and still quite effective - although I probably look VERY stupid - but one has to for the sake of experiments!

what model have you got?

Stupid question - the fridges are 12/24V - does this run on mains as well as 12v if not whats the 24? (DOH)

I cooked a full blown curry on mine last night - fabulous! And a cuppa to keep me going in the meantime

What about whippets.. I had one outrun me once

I'm really interested in this too. I have asked around and many people recommend a 240 with an inverter - what does everyone else say about this? I was also thinking about a 2way (240 or 12v) but they are the same price as a 3-way so I would go for the latter rather than the former if a 240 was out (with an inverter)

mine is similar to yours but the panel is to the right of the lever. I found that to be the easiest way for me.

if i remember right... its all been done.