The Cat's Corner

[ditchcrawler]

43 minutes ago, TheShipsCat said:

This discussion about tiller height is interesting and I appreciate having my perspectives challenged.  Mucch of the valuable feedback comes from those who under similar circumstances have developed steering habits that allow them to just live with the high tiller.  What I've been doing so far is the step ass previously pictured, plus I find myself sitting on this shelf in the back of the semi-trad:

   s

I don't know what the original designed purpose of this shelf is, but it makes a fine bum perch.  I might have a cushion made for it.

 

I've read so many opinions on this forum about the proper place to stand and the proper way to hold the tiller and the proper way to steer... all of which would only work for me were I a proper 6 ft 2.   Seems that for many what is proper is dictated by individual circumstance rather than tradition.

 

What I really don't want to do is make serious and expensive modifications to the craft that a subsequent owner might need to spend a bunch of money and headache undoing.

 

I'll continue to work with my workarounds, and maybe even cast about a bit for a fabrication shop (likely not narrowboat) who has the tools and skill to make the double bent drop tiller easily.  Yes, shorter than the original to not catch a hand between the handle and the semi-trad.

 

Maybe.

It made my back ache trying to steer like that 

[TheShipsCat]

Unneeded wash basin in the backup WC out, washing machine in in its place.  Couldn't resist this bit of tinkering.

[gatekrash]

8 hours ago, TheShipsCat said:

This discussion about tiller height is interesting and I appreciate having my perspectives challenged.  Mucch of the valuable feedback comes from those who under similar circumstances have developed steering habits that allow them to just live with the high tiller.  What I've been doing so far is the step ass previously pictured, plus I find myself sitting on this shelf in the back of the semi-trad:

   s

I don't know what the original designed purpose of this shelf is, but it makes a fine bum perch.  I might have a cushion made for it.

 

You mean like this. 

 

Mrs G uses the same. No properly made cushions, just a generic one with ties that have a couple of neodymium magnets on to stop it blowing away. Also functions as a backrest if sat on the cockpit seat. 

 

Our tiller is also quite high. I tend to steer with it tucked under my arm, or occasionally perch on the shelf opposite where she's sat (no cushion for me though). For some reason, despite being right handed I really find steering with my right arm uncomfortable.

 

[TheShipsCat]

On 28/05/2026 at 10:14, LadyG said:

Ive got 2 x 275 W,  550W,  which is just adequate for a low user.. 650 will be better, not sure about the extra cost and the serial v parallel electrics?

I wonder if you have considered having the first four panels tilting, because this would be fairly easy to alter. You could of course have the middle ones tilting, gives you a differernt aspect. I would think about having a group of two then three on the port side, but not bother with the two starboard ones, particularly if costs were  being stretched. 

I think one has to be careful to prevent any corrosion.

I keep a boathook / strong deck brush on the roof at the front because you sometimes find them usefull when handling.

I keep a small boathook at the stern.

It was obvious what was needed, really no need for a list. 

I'm intending on mounting with magnetic feet.  No holes in the roof... yes, cabin top, as much as I can get away with.  Keeping the panels as conforming with the roof curve.  Tilting is more faffing about than I want.  Would rather overspec the wattage to make up for the inefficiency.  I saved enough on the price of this boat to make a bigger budget for solar.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

45 minutes ago, gatekrash said:

Mrs G uses the same. No properly made cushions, just a generic one with ties that have a couple of neodymium magnets on to stop it blowing away.

I'm stealing that idea! I steer the same way on a semi trad with similar steelwork to yours. 

[haggis]

I find a garden kneeling pad makes a very good seat either for sitting on the roof to steer or sitting out the front . It is light and is easy to store out of the way when not needed. Mine is like this one although self coloured 🙂 https://www.charlies.co.uk/smart-garden-ultra-gardening-kneeler-cherries/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19749435116&gbraid=0AAAAADMDH8Tjc5o-Yl9abib0nKok7j8O4&gclid=CjwKCAjwuO_QBhAWEiwAIkVhUxWM-qYGlSnC4uPjkIQNWFkScb4LC8RcNY_D-e5nbYnY_zg-s6sVvBoCS1YQAvD_BwE

 

When we bought kelpie she had a thick pad with a wooden base for fitting on the roof (trad stern) to steer but I have never used it as it is quite big and heavy to manhandle -

[Stroudwater1]

4 minutes ago, haggis said:

I find a garden kneeling pad makes a very good seat either for sitting on the roof to steer or sitting out the front . It is light and is easy to store out of the way when not needed. Mine is like this one although self coloured 🙂 https://www.charlies.co.uk/smart-garden-ultra-gardening-kneeler-cherries/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19749435116&gbraid=0AAAAADMDH8Tjc5o-Yl9abib0nKok7j8O4&gclid=CjwKCAjwuO_QBhAWEiwAIkVhUxWM-qYGlSnC4uPjkIQNWFkScb4LC8RcNY_D-e5nbYnY_zg-s6sVvBoCS1YQAvD_BwE

 

When we bought kelpie she had a thick pad with a wooden base for fitting on the roof (trad stern) to steer but I have never used it as it is quite big and heavy to manhandle -

Additionally you can use it to avoid knee nettle stings or mud  when tying up the goats chains/ nappy pins or for to kneel on when cleaning boat sides? 

[haggis]

1 hour ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Additionally you can use it to avoid knee nettle stings or mud  when tying up the goats chains/ nappy pins or for to kneel on when cleaning boat sides? 

yes, you could although I leave tying up to himself if  bending down in mud is involved 🙂 . It is a very useful item .

Available from most garden centres.

Edited May 31 by haggis

[MtB]

14 hours ago, TheShipsCat said:

I don't know what the original designed purpose of this shelf is, but it makes a fine bum perch.

 

I'd say that is exactly what it is designed and fitted for.

 

When steering my trad stern boats I get tired of standing up after not very long, and I hop up and sit on the roof to one side of the slide to steer, and rest one foot on a small step attached to the opposite side of the hatchway. And yes, a cushion made and shaped to fit! 

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, haggis said:

 When we bought kelpie she had a thick pad with a wooden base for fitting on the roof (trad stern) to steer but I have never used it as it is quite big and heavy to manhandle -

I hade one like that but don't use it as it made my back ache so now I just stand

[Rob-M]

6 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Additionally you can use it to avoid knee nettle stings or mud  when tying up the goats chains/ nappy pins

I use a paint roller handle for this so I don't have to kneel down, just reach down with the end of the roller and hook the ring of the goat chain.

[ditchcrawler]

35 minutes ago, Rob-M said:

I use a paint roller handle for this so I don't have to kneel down, just reach down with the end of the roller and hook the ring of the goat chain.

The radiator ones are best with the longer reach for chains. For hooks I have seen T handles welded on 

[Wanderer Vagabond]

11 hours ago, gatekrash said:

You mean like this. 

 

Mrs G uses the same. No properly made cushions, just a generic one with ties that have a couple of neodymium magnets on to stop it blowing away. Also functions as a backrest if sat on the cockpit seat. 

 

Our tiller is also quite high. I tend to steer with it tucked under my arm, or occasionally perch on the shelf opposite where she's sat (no cushion for me though). For some reason, despite being right handed I really find steering with my right arm uncomfortable.

 

That tends to be my method too. Tiller tucked under right arm, hands in pockets and minor direction changes by simply leaning slightly one way or the other,bliss

[MtB]

2 hours ago, Rob-M said:

I use a paint roller handle for this so I don't have to kneel down, just reach down with the end of the roller and hook the ring of the goat chain.

 

I use the cabin shaft for that!

 

(When I can't find my extra-long paint roller handle  )

 

 

[cuthound]

A cheaper alternative to modifying the tiller might be to use a step to stand on.

 

On my boat the engine cover is lower than the stern deck and I prefer to steer from inside the hatches, which made looking ahead difficult.

 

My solution was to make a large tool box and stand on that.

[TheShipsCat]

13 hours ago, cuthound said:

A cheaper alternative to modifying the tiller might be to use a step to stand on.

Read above.

[TheShipsCat]

I'll be hoing through the much-derided Milton Keynes and spending at least a night on my way to Leighton Buzzard,  and to do some obligatory worship at the  Church of Retail.

 

Any hints on best places to moor, places to avoid, and maybe even places worth visiting in MK?

[Mike Tee]

Campbell Park , 10-15 minute walk uphill into town centre, buses are available but I have no idea about them. As you approach the park the first 4 or 5 moorings on the right are long term moorings but immediately after there are 3 or 4 48 hour moorings with rings. More mooring opposite but that puts you on the wrong side for the town centre although there is a bridge just round the corner.

[Batavia]

Bletchley Park and The National Museum of Computing are well worth visiting.  Moor in Fenny Stratford (if you can, these days) and it is a 30 minute walk (or a very short train journey) through the mean streets of Bletchley.

[Rob-M]

3 hours ago, Mike Tee said:

Campbell Park , 10-15 minute walk uphill into town centre, buses are available but I have no idea about them. As you approach the park the first 4 or 5 moorings on the right are long term moorings but immediately after there are 3 or 4 48 hour moorings with rings. More mooring opposite but that puts you on the wrong side for the town centre although there is a bridge just round the corner.

We are aiming for Campbell Park moorings tomorrow.

[TheShipsCat]

On 17/05/2026 at 09:39, MtB said:

 

Fed up with the boat already??!!

 

  

I never answered this properly.

 

The answer is yes, but the CRT bins were so stuffed with other boats I couldn't fit mine in, so I have to keep it.

 

This last month has been mainly about two subjects, the boat, and singlehanding.

 

As for the boat, I continue to really like her.  I get these sudden urges of "I wanna fix something", I pick something, drag out tools and start, sometimes find it unfixable and will need replacing, and go find something I can fix and fix that.

 

Singlehanding is going pretty well so far.  I'm making my peace with the tiller height with a standing platform and switching my position often.  Haven't gotten into any pickles, not bad ones, on locks yet, but I've also been lucky and had v-lockies on the most problematic ones.  Haven't had to climb any ladders yet.

 

And although I knew from the beginning that singlehanding is hard work, now that I've been doing it,  all I can say is singlehanding is hard work!

Edited June 9 by TheShipsCat

[Victor Vectis]

2 hours ago, TheShipsCat said:

< snip >

And although I knew from the beginning that singlehanding is hard work, now that I've been doing it,  all I can say is singlehanding is hard work!

Yeahbut, its very satisfying.

 

Come across any lift bridges with the winding up gubbins on the offside yet?

[TheShipsCat]

40 minutes ago, Victor Vectis said:

Yeahbut, its very satisfying.

 

Come across any lift bridges with the winding up gubbins on the offside yet?

Yes, it is very satisfying, isn't it?  Particularly locking through a (short) flight when there's no one around.  Got through most of Three Locks myself before one lone volunteer showed up.  It was pestering down and I was glad for any help by that time, but man, that first one felt good.

 

Not that kind of bridge yet.  I'd love to never come across the kind of swing bridges they have on the L&L.

 

 

[David Mack]

49 minutes ago, TheShipsCat said:

I'd love to never come across the kind of swing bridges they have on the L&L.

If you've passed through the Three Locks, you've got the swing bridge at Seabrook coming up.

Easy enough to operate, but you have to do so from the offside.

[TheShipsCat]

1 hour ago, David Mack said:

If you've passed through the Three Locks, you've got the swing bridge at Seabrook coming up.

Easy enough to operate, but you have to do so from the offside.

Did.  No problem, you can cross over.  Wait for the 5 sec the pub customers are not crossing, headscratch for a few seconds at first.  Pull the big stirrup shaped handle, push.  

 

The swing bridges in the Yorkshire Dales leave you stranded on the offside.  I'm told you tie your boat to the bridge and swing it, and then do something with your boat...