Tankage for a month of splendid isolation.

[ditchcrawler]

4 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

Use the offside line in broad locks to get a better pull angle.  Serious suggestion.

 

 

 

 

Yes, I keep meaning to do that in broad locks, I haven't done any recently. Of course if you use the offside one you have to flick it over whatever is on the roof, the engine exhaust being the highest 

[Momac]

On 14/07/2024 at 19:07, Alan de Enfield said:

Why waste potable water on toilet flushing ?

I've used fresh water flush since soon after owning  my first boat . This eliminated  odour from the marina/river water .

Its not uncommon to have fresh water flushing on boats.

 

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

1 minute ago, Momac said:

I've used fresh water flush since soon after owning  my first boat . This eliminated  odour from the marina/river water .

Its not uncommon to have fresh water flushing on boats.

 

 

 

Its not uncommon but its a waste or good drinking water, worse in houses where the toilet uses more water 

[Momac]

Just now, ditchcrawler said:

Its not uncommon but its a waste or good drinking water, worse in houses where the toilet uses more water 

Hygiene is never a waste of water.

 

 

I don't live on board but find when on an extended cruise its best to take on water whenever passing a water point unless there is certainty of water at the next stop , well before running out of water. We use portable bottles to fill from a water point for drinking water rather than drinking tank water. 

We make use of C&RT and other shore toilets as much as possible.

[MtB]

5 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

Ah it would have taken me a few months on the Cut to work that one out. Now I can see the advantage of the central ring plus fairleads shown in the earlier photo.

 

Beware that earlier photo of the boat with two centrelines in fairleads. 

 

Note how the lines hang out over the sides for a short distance in the photo before coming back inboard onto the roof. A perfect recipe for for the short distance getting slowly longer as you cruise along and the lines slowly working themselves overboard and into the water. An awful risk of them fouling the blade when that happens unless you have the lines impracticably short. 

 

I think fairleads on the handrails are a dopey idea. I just attach two lines to the centre eye. 

[IanD]

13 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Beware that earlier photo of the boat with two centrelines in fairleads. 

 

Note how the lines hang out over the sides for a short distance in the photo before coming back inboard onto the roof. A perfect recipe for for the short distance getting slowly longer as you cruise along and the lines slowly working themselves overboard and into the water. An awful risk of them fouling the blade when that happens unless you have the lines impracticably short. 

 

I think fairleads on the handrails are a dopey idea. I just attach two lines to the centre eye. 

 

Agreed -- I have one line attached to the centre eye, and just move it to whichever side is needed, never any problem.

 

OTOH unlike many boats I don't have any roof furniture (vents, flower baskets, protruding solar panels, pigeon boxes, aerials, roof storage, bike, wheelbarrow, wood, coal, exhaust stack, chimney, water cans...) to make this difficult... 😉 

Edited July 17 by IanD

[LadyG]

12 hours ago, Momac said:

Hygiene is never a waste of water.

 

 

I don't live on board but find when on an extended cruise its best to take on water whenever passing a water point unless there is certainty of water at the next stop , well before running out of water. We use portable bottles to fill from a water point for drinking water rather than drinking tank water. 

We make use of C&RT and other shore toilets as much as possible.

I boil the tank water, as in making tea and coffee, but use bottled water and soft drinks otherwise. 

When I bought the boat I used a very powerful water jet and some chlorine to give the tank a good clean out, since then I've used the water points,  but I always run some to waste for a  minute , and through my hose before filling the tank.

 

Edited July 17 by LadyG

[Gybe Ho]

2 hours ago, IanD said:

OTOH unlike many boats I don't have any roof furniture (vents, flower baskets, protruding solar panels, pigeon boxes, aerials, roof storage, bike, wheelbarrow, wood, coal, exhaust stack, chimney, water cans...) to make this difficult... 😉 

 

 

But I require all those on my new narrowboat because I want the instant street cred of a real rufty-tufty liveaboard. You forgot the roof-top Yoga decking.

[cheesegas]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

OTOH unlike many boats I don't have any roof furniture (vents, flower baskets, protruding solar panels, pigeon boxes, aerials, roof storage, bike, wheelbarrow, wood, coal, exhaust stack, chimney, water cans...) to make this difficult... 😉 

There's a solution for everything though - I have large solar panels and a roof box full of paints/tools so I have two centre lines, one either side tied on to the roof bars. Never had a problem with them falling in the water either, I simply step off and grab whichever line is on the side of the boat I'm getting off.

[Gybe Ho]

2 hours ago, LadyG said:

... water points,  but I always run some to waste for a  minute , and through my hose before filling the tank.

 

 

This is another coastal/inland narrowboating difference. In coastal marinas we use marina provided hoses mounted on the pontoons. It is not unusual to see the end of the hose uncloiled and sitting in seawater. Because of both these factors yachtsmen typically let a hose run for a minute and wipe clean the end before filling the tank, I see this less often in Narrowboat land.

[Lady M]

It's a good idea on inland waterways too.

[LadyG]

1 hour ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

But I require all those on my new narrowboat because I want the instant street cred of a real rufty-tufty liveaboard. You forgot the roof-top Yoga decking.

Plastic grass in stern, if not the complete roof

4 hours ago, IanD said:

 

Agreed -- I have one line attached to the centre eye, and just move it to whichever side is needed, never any problem.

 

OTOH unlike many boats I don't have any roof furniture (vents, flower baskets, protruding solar panels, pigeon boxes, aerials, roof storage, bike, wheelbarrow, wood, coal, exhaust stack, chimney, water cans...) to make this difficult... 😉 

Where do you keep your wheelbarrow, I had to chuck mine in the cut, useless on a boat...

[Jon57]

12 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Plastic grass in stern, if not the complete roof

Where do you keep your wheelbarrow, I had to chuck mine in the cut, useless on a boat...

Yep just pulled it out from Huddersfield narrow😁

[mrsmelly]

On 15/07/2024 at 16:26, Alan de Enfield said:

 

We took a visitors mooring for a few days in Plymouth (at the Mayflower marina) for "The Cat", it was £30 a night but for that you got all the electric you could eat, potable water and your own bathroom, complete with bath, shower & sink. Very good restauant on site, mechanics and sailmakers on site - every thing you could want.

 

Being 23 foot beam they fitted on the outside pontoons alongside the moorings for the Princess boats awaiting sea trials..

 

We then took a swinging mooring off Torpoint.

 

Big neighbours alongside the swinging moorings.

 

I used to live aboard on my first liveaboard boat there in 1973 onwards 🙂 One of my little girls now owns a house directly opposite that length of moorings. Small World innitt.

On 15/07/2024 at 16:26, Alan de Enfield said:

 

We took a visitors mooring for a few days in Plymouth (at the Mayflower marina) for "The Cat", it was £30 a night but for that you got all the electric you could eat, potable water and your own bathroom, complete with bath, shower & sink. Very good restauant on site, mechanics and sailmakers on site - every thing you could want.

 

Being 23 foot beam they fitted on the outside pontoons alongside the moorings for the Princess boats awaiting sea trials..

 

We then took a swinging mooring off Torpoint.

 

Big neighbours alongside the swinging moorings.

 

I used to live aboard on my first liveaboard boat there in 1973 onwards 🙂 One of my little girls now owns a house directly opposite that length of moorings. Small World innitt.

On 15/07/2024 at 16:26, Alan de Enfield said:

 

We took a visitors mooring for a few days in Plymouth (at the Mayflower marina) for "The Cat", it was £30 a night but for that you got all the electric you could eat, potable water and your own bathroom, complete with bath, shower & sink. Very good restauant on site, mechanics and sailmakers on site - every thing you could want.

 

Being 23 foot beam they fitted on the outside pontoons alongside the moorings for the Princess boats awaiting sea trials..

 

We then took a swinging mooring off Torpoint.

 

Big neighbours alongside the swinging moorings.

 

I used to live aboard on my first liveaboard boat there in 1973 onwards 🙂 One of my little girls now owns a house directly opposite that length of moorings. Small World innitt.

[IanD]

1 hour ago, cheesegas said:

There's a solution for everything though - I have large solar panels and a roof box full of paints/tools so I have two centre lines, one either side tied on to the roof bars. Never had a problem with them falling in the water either, I simply step off and grab whichever line is on the side of the boat I'm getting off.

Tied to the roof bars -- which are just welded onto the roof, not bolted/welded through the roof to a strongpoint/plate/crossbeam underneath?!?!?

 

You do realise the risk you're running of them being ripped clean off if you strap the boat to a stop? 😉 

Edited July 17 by IanD

[Alan de Enfield]

7 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

I used to live aboard on my first liveaboard boat there in 1973 onwards 🙂 One of my little girls now owns a house directly opposite that length of moorings. Small World innitt.

 

 

There we are (circled)

Edited July 17 by Alan de Enfield

[cheesegas]

3 minutes ago, IanD said:

Tied to the roof bars -- which are just welded onto the roof, not bolted/welded through the roof to a strongpoint/plate/crossbeam underneath?!?!?

 

You do realise the risk you're running of them being ripped clean off if you strap the boat to a stop? 😉 

They’re built quite robustly with a welded support every couple of feet, and the bars themselves are 3/4” dia pipe. Strapped the boat to a stop many times and never observed any movement at all. 
 

Can totally see your concerns if it was a thin bit of 1/2” square bar with a support every metre or so though! 

[mrsmelly]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

There we are (circled)

I like Guzz 

[IanD]

1 minute ago, cheesegas said:

They’re built quite robustly with a welded support every couple of feet, and the bars themselves are 3/4” dia pipe. Strapped the boat to a stop many times and never observed any movement at all. 
 

Can totally see your concerns if it was a thin bit of 1/2” square bar with a support every metre or so though! 

You didn't spot the sarcasm then, given earlier posts on the thread about centreline loops only welded to the roof... 😉 

Edited July 17 by IanD

[LadyG]

39 minutes ago, IanD said:

Tied to the roof bars -- which are just welded onto the roof, not bolted/welded through the roof to a strongpoint/plate/crossbeam underneath?!?!?

 

You do realise the risk you're running of them being ripped clean off if you strap the boat to a stop? 😉 

I never get off the boat without having a line in my hand. Well I did once and the boat decided to engage gear and try to overtake!

2 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

This is another coastal/inland narrowboating difference. In coastal marinas we use marina provided hoses mounted on the pontoons. It is not unusual to see the end of the hose uncloiled and sitting in seawater. Because of both these factors yachtsmen typically let a hose run for a minute and wipe clean the end before filling the tank, I see this less often in Narrowboat land.

I'm originally salty water sailor.

Before the advent of marinas (took all the best moorings and filled them with leisure boats and then charged proper sailers to park overight). I could have a summer cruise in the Western Isles on the back of a box of kippers from Tarbet Lock Fyne, a tray of eggs, and a few loaves of Mothers Pride (bread).

We had a supply of quarter bottles to pay for lobster, fish,, diesel and any other necessaties. Went to the pub, had a half pint in a dimple glass and rowed back before closing time. Had difficulty finding out when that was!

Then we went to Islay, discovered that closing time is unknown.

Went to Belfast Loch during the troubles, and discovered there is no closing time.

 

Edited July 17 by LadyG

[dmr]

3 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

This is another coastal/inland narrowboating difference. In coastal marinas we use marina provided hoses mounted on the pontoons. It is not unusual to see the end of the hose uncloiled and sitting in seawater. Because of both these factors yachtsmen typically let a hose run for a minute and wipe clean the end before filling the tank, I see this less often in Narrowboat land.

 

Any hose, including your own, should always be well flushed through before use to remove any old stale water. Most hoses are not food grade so a bit of plastic chemicals stuff can potentialy disolve into the water.

Just now, dmr said:

 

Any hose, including your own, should always be well flushed through before use to remove any old stale water. Most hoses are not food grade so a bit of plastic chemicals stuff can potentialy disolve into the water.

 

...and to remove spiders and baby frogs etc 😀

[Gybe Ho]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

You do realise the risk you're running of them being ripped clean off if you strap the boat to a stop? 😉 

 

 

This will be a carefully designed breaking strain to prevent a capsize, soon to be encoded in the UK RCR handbook just to confuse internet pundits.

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

There we are (circled)

 

 

You should be in Portugal by now if you intend to get to Antigua for Christmas.

[Alan de Enfield]

7 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

You should be in Portugal by now if you intend to get to Antigua for Christmas.

 

Currently in Morecambe Bay, just been to Asda to top up vittles.

[Gybe Ho]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

Before the advent of marinas (took all the best moorings and filled them with leisure boats and then charged proper sailers to park overight). I could have a summer cruise in the Western Isles on the back of a box of kippers from Tarbet Lock Fyne, a tray of eggs, and a few loaves of Mothers Pride (bread).

We had a supply of quarter bottles to pay for lobster, fish,, diesel and any other necessaties. Went to the pub, had a half pint in a dimple glass and rowed back before closing time. Had difficulty finding out when that was!

Then we went to Islay, discovered that closing time is unknown.

Went to Belfast Loch during the troubles, and discovered there is no closing time.

 

 

I never had the pleasure of cruising the Western Isles, it makes a favourable life-long impression on those who have sailed those waters. Marinas are more contentious in coastal sailing because the coastline is finite with limited natural shelters, I remember the community outrage when Yarmouth Isle of Wight was filled with pontoons.

 

I will have to Google "a supply of quarter bottles to pay for lobster" but I remember dimpled beer glasses before straight glasses became synonymous with male virility.

2 hours ago, LadyG said:

Plastic grass in stern, if not the complete roof

 

 

I just added a new row in the diy narrowboat fitout budget for Plastic Grass, now at a grand total of £25,500 with many more blanks to fill.

[Alan de Enfield]

18 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

I never had the pleasure of cruising the Western Isles, it makes a favourable life-long impression on those who have sailed those waters. Marinas are more contentious in coastal sailing because the coastline is finite with limited natural shelters, I remember the community outrage when Yarmouth Isle of Wight was filled with pontoons.

 

Does the Western Isles include Anglesey ?

 

Anchored up (in our cruiser) in Pilots Cove just round from the off the SW tip of Anglesey (Menai end)

 

 

 

Centre top with our tender on the beach

 

Edited July 17 by Alan de Enfield