| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| • What additional costs will I have? |
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- Diesel for cruising (and charging the batteries if static for some days)
- LPG gas for cooking in the summer (around £27 for a large canister)
- Logs or solid fuel for the range
- Some rivers require a Environment River permit
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| • How can I get my mail? |
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Post Offices do poste restante. If you know your route, check on the internet for a post office and arrange to have your mail forwarded. Alternatively some boatyards will hold mail for you.
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| • What if something goes wrong with the boat? |
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There is constant advice and support available from Alex, or Clive our Chief Engineer. If something is needed he will either come personally or will arrange for an engineer to visit. We will also arrange (with you) for regular maintenance. However the whole aim is that you Escape and are left free to do so.
During your trip there are some simple checks that you will need to do - some of these are daily, some weekly, some monthly, but they aren't onerous - they need to be done to keep the boat in good working order. Don't worry about what this involves as all this will be fully explained at the handover. These checks are similar to those on a car.
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| • Do your boats have a mooring? |
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No, boats are on a ‘continuous cruising’ license so must comply with British Waterways regulations and moor according to signage on the towpath. This can be 24hrs, 72hrs etc, or if there is no time limit indicated the boat can stay for a maximum of two weeks before moving on. Boats must be on a continuous journey around the system or a significant part of it. Marinas and boatyards frequently offer short term moorings with facilities, BW offer winter moorings and of course a mooring can be acquired but would be at the occupiers expense. For more information on this Click here to go to BW’s website (see links)
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| • Will the boat be warm in winter? |
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Boats have a small internal space therefore heat up very quickly, they also get cold quickly so in winter the stove is always on. If the stove has a back boiler this feeds radiators distributing the heat throughout the boat.. |
| • How do I get hot water? |
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Boats have a calorifier this utilizes heat from running the engine, producing hot water which is stored in an insulated tank. A shore line can also be used to heat via an immersion heater in tank.
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| • How do I get power for lights and electrical appliances? |
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Running the engine charges the leisure batteries (there are three) which run the 12v lighting system. Car chargers can be used to charge mobiles from the 12v electrics. For 240v appliances an ‘inverter’ is switched on converting the 12v to 240v.
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| • What is the difference between a cassette toilet and a pump out? |
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A plastic cassette toilet has a 21 litre portable holding tank beneath the toilet bowl, this neatly slides out automatically sealing the contents for easy transportation and disposal. There are two cassettes and emptying is free at BW’s sanitary points.
A pump out toilet has a built in holding tank beneath the fixed china toilet bowl, a foot pedal operates the ‘flush’, opening and closing the seal between toilet and tank. Pump outs presently cost about 10.00 at BW’s sanitary points and operate with a pre purchased card - they can be tricky to use. Marinas charge about £15 but normally do the deed for you more efficiently, rinsing the holding tank really well.
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| • Can I get reasonable mobile signal and internet access? |
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Yes, but not every single time in every location! There will always be dead spots where the canal is just too low. A USB Flash Drive or Dongle with a long lead that goes out of the window and/or onto the roof (protected inside a plastic bottle?) helps. Don’t expect broadband speeds though. Tethering is another option. Check out boatersphone on links for technical info.
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| • Uh oh I scratched the boat... what now? |
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Don’t be too concerned about small marks, just don’t make a big hole in it.
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| Website Links |
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Waterways route planning
Waterscape
Boatmail
Canal Junction
Boaters Phone
Narrow Boat World
Visit Thames Conditions
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