Viking23

You get more therms per £1 with Butane, ie heat more water, but marginal. Propane works when outside temperature is close to freezing or well below, butane does not. The propane regulator that bolts to the propane bottle, being brass to brass doesn't always seal that well, so excess force may be needed, as on butane there's a rubber washer that seals better. I have bought a propane regulator that has a rubber washer, with a wheel adjusted clamp, so no spanner required. This has solved the gas leak, but to be fair, not sure if BSS approved. No leaks must be better than having propane wafted around though. I also keep a spare butane regulator to hand, in case there is only butane gas available. You have to be competent to fit regulators, I have a gas leak spray to test my pipework etc, that's how I found the propane gas leak. Hope it helps. Propane for us all the time now. Richard Edit to add. gas regulators have a limited life, so not a bad idea to replace them now and again.

This report and inquest of the death of a couple at Wroxham revently has probably been published or referenced on this site before, but just in case, here it is. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/591058f840f0b67b04000002/MAIBInvReport9_2017.pdf I'm sure after reading this, and reading about other similar incidents, you will really understand the importance of a CO alarm, the fumes from other vessels or even dying barbeques emit huge amounts of CO and if placed near an open window of any accommodation could cause game over. Richard

If you look at places like Machine mart, they have a rotating chain pipe cutter, that can cut an exhaust in seconds, very little noise too, if ever you have watched exhaust pipe fitters. The theft must be reported, there may be DNA evidence that can link a thief to a crime and the scene, fingerprints on the wheelie bin, skin flakes from knuckles, hair follicles, mud from your drive on their overalls etc not reporting the crime is like aiding snd abetting, making it easier for the criminals to target their next victim. If he doesn't report it... guess what, give it a week and the thieves may be back for a nice shiny new catalyst. Give the Police a chance, they might patrol your area and get lucky.

I think MM if two alarms are screaming at you, then I think this would be very rare, if all fuel burning aplliances are extinguished. Ventilation should quieten down the alarms anyway, but it might be possible that certain under arm spray, air fresheners could damage the sensing elements of the alarms, so maybe look at aerosol usage too. I will now mention another cause of false alarms.... baked beans or any other food that causes vast amounts of wind lol. If in doubt, share your sleeping bag with your Co alarm lol... Richard

We always managed to get under Potrer Heigham bridge in our Viking 23 and spent a lot of time both outside and inside the Pleasure boat inn. What we did notice though, many of the day boats had very short mooring lines and could not reach the mooring posts as these were away from the quay heading and not placed well for small boats to reach two, so often either tied off to any other boats spare mooring lines or just had one line attached. So if setting off to go to Hickling, make sure the bow line reaches the stern and the stern line is of a good length too, or ask for some extra mooring warps. Richard

We have two Co alarms, we found the digital display version more sensitive to low levels, and in the worst case, you could move it forward or aft to help locate the source of the Co. Co alarms do go faulty, so maybe best to have two, from different manufacturers or go for three and go for a majority fail ie what do 2 out of three say? We can get paramoid on this, but since we bought a non display version first, that is still on the boat, so we can sleep well at night. I'm not sure if Co alarms are susceptible to moisture, eg from the shower or kettle, I know some smoke alarms are. Richard

I do have a reservation on these types, as the positioning of a smoke alarm may well be different to the positioning of a Co alarm, and at best it's a compromise. But any alarm is better than nothing, but if wrongly positioned might as well not be there. Instructions vary on alarms, for smoke alarm avoid the ceiling to wall corners but generally fit them high as smoke normally rises, however Carbon Monoxide is around the same density as normal air so fitting to a ceiling might not be the best place.... or is it? I would like to see a data sheet as to where best to site a smoke alarm and a Co alarm and compare that to a combined smoke/Co alarm. A boat is different to a house, low ceilings, often more ventilation than a house too, so as conditions are different maybe something needs to be revised for fitting to a boat. For reference, our Co alarm shows the ppm, and is positioned on a forward facing bulkhead, about 4' forward of the rear door, and about a foot down from the ceiling. The position is opposite to the cooker, and the Paloma instantaneous gas powered water heater, with no false alarms from those yet... So as it measures building Co levels from the engine when running, I think this is a good location for my application. However, it would not be a good position for a smoke alarm, due to false triggering from burnt toast, so the smoke alarm is placed on the ceiling further forward over the front "V" berth, this is an optical one, rather than the ionisation one, less prone to going off with toast lol. I am not recommending where to position either smoke alarms or Co alarms, but this works for us in a rear cockpit single cabin cruiser of 23' length. "I think" I adhered to the manufacturer's recommendations, but any further advice greatfully received. When fitting alarms, if all else fails, read the instructions... No this is not good advice, your life and others may depend on it, so read the instructions first, be preparred to resite them too if they are not performing well, and keep the instructions on board, and note the replace by date too. Keep safe. Carbon Monoxide, the silent killer. Richard

We have one in the cabin with a digital display, and when the petrol outboard is running on the mooring and the rear of the cockpit cover open to the elements, you can smell the fumes coming in, sometimes the digital display reads 55 ppm but hasn't reached the trigger level, so time to do something about it. It has also happened whilst cruising with the wind behind us and the canopy completely down, the fumes go passed us forward into the cabin, and readings of 33 ppm detected, we also have a fixed alarm with no display, but if that goes off, then we have been exposed to Co for a long time at much higher levels, so the display works for us. Early prevention, essential. Just closing a hatch or opening a side window affects the Co levels very quickly, it can also make it worse, so in my opinion, ventilation alone without monitoring is just not enough. Co alarms have been known to be triggered falsely by battery fumes, so good ventilation is essential, and best to use the vent kits with pipes going outside the boat to reduce the explosive gases and sometimes sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide when the batteries are near the end of their lives. If a Co alarm goes off in the night, ventilate the boat well, in extreme cases get the crew on deck. Switch off ALL fuel burning appliances, heaters, gas fridges , generators, engines etc. Wear an extra pair of socks and a hat lol, but also consider you might be being poisoned by the exhaust of a boat on either side of you, more especially with stern on moorings, or where the quay heading is high and wind speed low, and a flume of Co gas building up around the boats. You might have to wake the crew on the offending boat, they might not have a Co alarm, and may well be exposed to fumes much higher than you. They won't like being woken, but better than not waking at all... Yes they could die overnight. Ask them if they suffer headaches, some will say yes of course, some through over indulgence, dehydration etc but others exposure to high levels of Co. Co does kill, just because you haven't died so far isn't proof that all is ok, after all, how many times has you car seat belt saved your life, luckily most of us haven't been in that position, but we clunk click every trip. Maybe some only do it because it's the law, but I would guess that most do it as a just in case situation. After all, an airbag in a car is not that effective if the seat belt is not in use as well. Keep safe, keep your crew safe, keep your neighbours safe too, fit a Co alarm. Richard

Chris, thanks for sharing, I think you need to share your emotions more, I certainly have, and the forum members are really helpful. They have supported me in many ways. I have had many PM's from people that have given a lot of advice on how to get through some of lifes challenges. Here as I rest on our boat, having an awake moment, I never thought I would have the confidence again to stop on the boat, this break is for 9 days. The first night for you will be the most challenging, after that you will gain more strength. I know you well enough to know that you will take care, but in a mooring situation, you really must wear your lifejacket, easy to think you can cope, but on my first attempt at a wild mooring since my condition, I realised I wasn't as nimble as I thought, that shook me up a bit, so lifejacket every time for me. Look after yourself Chris, we are thinking of you. Richard and Roz

Hi Chris, Roz and I are proud of you, I would also think Judith would be to. You have been talking about doing this for a while, somehow now is the right time. Your Viking 20 is looking like it used to, it's a credit to you. I see you have some new fenders too, you just need to stay over a few nights, remember the good times that the boat brought you. Our boat is so important to Roz and I, and I know boating has been in your blood for a very long time. I am sure with the help of your boat you will get through the next phase of your life, you are already getting out more with your long walks, now combined with a few cruises you will get stronger. Best wishes, Richard and Roz

A couple of times a couple of members have implied that they will use an expletive followed by the word "off" when replying to people complaining about the running of engines. Not for one moment would I think that any member of "this forum" would lower themselves to that level to reply to any fellow boaters. We have all seen boaters use disgraceful language, and by joining in we are becoming like them. I of course take both comments as complete tongue in cheek, and I hope everyone else does too. We have great standards on this forum, and others like me support and maintain these standards. At times of being disturbed by running engines, either noise, smoke or fumes, I have always had a quiet word with the person, I never start the conversation with...Oy you... turn that +#$¥€&@ engine off. The last time I did that, the Ranger took offence. lol I start the conversation about the holidays if they are enjoying it... earn some respect, then ask is there a reason they are running the engine....? did you know it's not necessary blah blah... a cruise would be more efficient.... when they agree, nod their heads, then you can tell them to €*¥@ off.. The missing word was "cast" lol... Yes, cast off, go for a cruise, warm the engine, charge the batteries, come back an hour later.... and find your space taken lol.... Probably have a worse group take their place... doh.. Richard

I was just thinking, if Whispering Reeds decided to relocate one of their house boats in a similar way, or one of those houseboats currently moored on the right bank through Wayford bridge, what would they actually look like passing the BB cameras being towed by a tug? I think there would be a few comments about them too. Those house boats are part and parcel of the Broads landscape, I hope they continue to provide holidays. So if the vessel in the original OP's photo is actually a houseboat, then to me, I have seen far worse. It's a boat, because it's afloat, but I'll get my coat lol... Richard

I'm not sure it has been mentioned as yet, but you can find the 2017 Digital version here... http://html5.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=Broadcaster&pubid=d55702b1-4b67-415b-ae69-0ad00f49e71f It is late to publication compared to previous years. Good reading.. Richard

I much prefer an early crossing of Breydon, as it can be magical, mist just rising off the flat mirror like surface of the river... As a courtesy, I would mention your early start to your immediate neighbours, they will appreciate it, and basically start the engine and go, don't hang around to have hot water and showers, do that on the way. You might find your neighbours are doing the same early start, and if they are inexperienced, may wish to tag along too, or prefer to have an early wake up call lol. As you are going down with the tide, take care when going around right hand bends in the river, the inside edge is rather shallow, so best stay close to the centre, but still on your side, if traffic allows. Enjoy the trip, I would always plan my crossing to the Southern Broads on an early start.... Pure magic. Enjoy the trip.

The last uniform I wore was school uniform, and I looked like Jimmy Clitheroe lol...

Well I just had to respond to this post, How did you know it weighed 100 pounds ? Wait for it...... It had scales on it's back lol.... When I read posts similar to mine, I often quote... "you need to get out on your boat more", the problem is... I am now on my boat more, 4 days and 4 nights, 3 to go. Enjoying every minute. This break is doing me so much good I can't explain it. So ... no, the jokes don't get any better despite being on the boat lol. Richard

Well here on the Thames in Oxford, there are many ex Broads cruisers, some still have their BA reg numbers and their original Broads location. eg saw one yesterday with Beccles as it's home location. Quite a few on the Thames with the BWB numbers, and later Canal River Trust registrations. We could have three registrations, BWB, Broads, Environment Agency, but We removed all references to the old waterways as they are no longer valid. So why do people keep the old registrations, is it legal?

Well being on the boat at the moment, yesterday I found my stash of electric cards, a total of 5 unused, now, how many extension leads placed end to end will it take to reach our boat in Oxford on the Thames lol...? Well could ths be my £5 incentive to consider hiring a boat on the Broads soon? Well we have managed one night on board, wouldn't take much effort to take that extra step. Richard

Well I had a crush on Glynis Johns when she played the mermaid in "Miranda". Her voice was something else... I don't know why, but I think this was the inspiration for me to take up fishing lol...

Very nice, but you would have thought he would have hoisted some linen. Wind from astern, jib ... sorted. Maybe he wanted to run the engine to top his batteries up lol.

We eat in 5* Michelin restaurants of course. Plenty of them on the Thames as it happens lol. We wish, no, we are day boating at the moment, take the Grandson and a picnic with us. We do have a two burner cooker, with grill and oven, but not been used since November lol I have tested the flame colour and checked it over, so it is ready lol.

Well it's virtually become a caravan, we haven't slept on the boat for nearly 2 years, due to illness, and we are hoping to sleep on it next week, it was close the last couple of days, just too cold, but it will have to be on the mooring, as we need access to the car 24/7 in case I am taken ill If we can just crack the first night it might give us confidence to venture a bit further. Richard

Probably turns the gas off when she turns the bacon over too, and switches off the windscreen wipers when she drives under bridges when it's raining too. lol... We rarely need more than 50p overnight, so to top up £1 seems overkill, but to be fair, it's swings and roundabouts, and I would say overall we have spent less on electric than we have used. Well now we are no longer on the Broads, we have electric hook up at our Marina that we pay 15p a unit, no minimum charge, no connection fee or standing charges. We use what we want, when we want and don't worry about it. As we are on BT, one of the houses nearby also has BT, so we can pick up free, well inclusive, WiFi so we are home from home at the mooring. We also have an excellent digital tv signal too. We use the electric for... Dehumidifier Fan Heater Kettle Vacuum cleaner Tools etc Maybe a toaster for the future. not used any gas for a long time.

Also when doing your own checks and replacement actuators check the expiry dates on the new actuator, as some can have three years or more remaining, and many less than two years. Richard

I have often thought that with scanners and bar codes and printers, that drive throughs could have uniquely identified packaging which can be stored against the vehicle registration number. When fly tipped rubbish is found, the Police can use their time to bring prosecutions using dna on the packaging. The money from the fines would provide self funding for scores of Police officers to chase these criminals. Yes from a law point of view, they are criminals. The advantage to the Police is, most of the drive through tipping will result in a prosecution, quickly raising the crime sucess ratings as a percentage of all crimes. lol