Curtain rail for side hatch..........................33-11
Fairleads for roof edge..............................14-42
Coir matting for bed..................................16-00
Sheet for mattress cover.............................3-99
Richlow Guides........................................32-00
Lifejackets x 2..........................................98-50
Lifejackets x 2........................................114-00
VHF Radio HX300E................................89-99
Tide Tables for Humber and Trent............1-65
Tidal Trent chart......................................13-00
Frying pan..................................................7-99
Ash trays, for vent drip trays......................1-00
Pillows x 4................................................12-99
Smartguage.............................................156-00
Longthrow aluminium windlass...............19-00
Wooden 'high chair'..................................30-00
Padlock for fuel cap lock..........................14-98
mooring chains x 2...................................12-78
vice.............................................................6-99
TOTAL 678-39
All these items are those that will be left on the boat and will be useful year after year. I suppose the largest outlay was for four life jackets. We bought two and then we we realised we would have guest during our trips up and down the Thames we thought we had better get a couple more when we found it difficult to 'borrow' some. I must admit that I am tempted to wear them all the time when underway as they are not uncomfortable, don't weight too much and don't overly restrict movement. We got the Crewsaver 150 with auto inflate but no harness. I have worn them a lot when at sea and can maintain them myself with no trouble.
The VHF radio I felt was another piece of safety equipment that we should have. I did use it on the Trent and Thames but not much. I think that it would come into it's own in an emergency. I did not need to do a course as I hold the full GMDSS General Certificate from my work.
The next biggest purchase was the Smartguauge. I have no idea about electricity and would get paranoid about using electrical items on the boat. I don't profess to understand how it works by my research seemed to indicate that it was reliable, easy to fit and had a readout giving a percentage level in the batteries that made it easy for me understand the state of the batteries. I did find it easy to fit and I am far less anxious about the use of electricity as I can constantly see the state of the batteries.
The Richlow Guides cover the waters that Pearsons and Nicholson's do not and they are well prepared and interesting to look at too. They were very helpful in sending them and as they put out updates you are able to keep them current so should not be required to be bought again.
The Tidal Trent Chart from the Boating Association was quite expensive really but it gives peace of mind to know where you are and what to expect. We made transits on a rising tide but on falling tides it would be even more of a comfort.
We had experienced damp under the mattress which had ruined the mattress cover. From my research it seemed that the material to maintain an air gap between the mattress and the bed box were really expensive. To achieve the same thing I bought two large coir door mats and cut them to shape. their weight keeps them in place and the bristles keep an air gap open so we have not had any problems. I got PVC backed that stops too many of the bristles coming adrift but other types will do the job for a fraction of the cost of other types of dry mat.
The other items on the list are just items that we needed at the time and will be added to the inventory. Inevitably as years pass the boat will fill up with 'stuff'. We will now have to try to become strict on removing something no longer in use when we buy something new if it isn't a straight swap. I am expecting that the annual costs will not really go down very much, and hopefully not up very much either. We will be blacking the boat somewhere next year and who knows what will occur but generally I am hoping to keep to under £6000. Some things will go up and some will come down is what I am hoping. I often wonder how this compares with other boaters as there are not too many detailed figures to be had. I have often been told that boats are bottomless pits but I don't think they are anymore than homes or cars or gardens or golf club membership. You just have to be prepared to spend a certain amount on everything and hope that the maintenance you carry out limits unforeseen items and you remain lucky.
Fairleads for roof edge..............................14-42
Coir matting for bed..................................16-00
Sheet for mattress cover.............................3-99
Richlow Guides........................................32-00
Lifejackets x 2..........................................98-50
Lifejackets x 2........................................114-00
VHF Radio HX300E................................89-99
Tide Tables for Humber and Trent............1-65
Tidal Trent chart......................................13-00
Frying pan..................................................7-99
Ash trays, for vent drip trays......................1-00
Pillows x 4................................................12-99
Smartguage.............................................156-00
Longthrow aluminium windlass...............19-00
Wooden 'high chair'..................................30-00
Padlock for fuel cap lock..........................14-98
mooring chains x 2...................................12-78
vice.............................................................6-99
TOTAL 678-39
All these items are those that will be left on the boat and will be useful year after year. I suppose the largest outlay was for four life jackets. We bought two and then we we realised we would have guest during our trips up and down the Thames we thought we had better get a couple more when we found it difficult to 'borrow' some. I must admit that I am tempted to wear them all the time when underway as they are not uncomfortable, don't weight too much and don't overly restrict movement. We got the Crewsaver 150 with auto inflate but no harness. I have worn them a lot when at sea and can maintain them myself with no trouble.
The VHF radio I felt was another piece of safety equipment that we should have. I did use it on the Trent and Thames but not much. I think that it would come into it's own in an emergency. I did not need to do a course as I hold the full GMDSS General Certificate from my work.
Modelling the Crewsaver life jacket and the HX300E floating waterproof VHF radio on the Thames off the O2 Arena.
The next biggest purchase was the Smartguauge. I have no idea about electricity and would get paranoid about using electrical items on the boat. I don't profess to understand how it works by my research seemed to indicate that it was reliable, easy to fit and had a readout giving a percentage level in the batteries that made it easy for me understand the state of the batteries. I did find it easy to fit and I am far less anxious about the use of electricity as I can constantly see the state of the batteries.
The Smartguage is showing 80% charge in this photo and may it never fall any lower. We can hope I suppose. Above it are the fuse panels. (I must get round to marking what does what). At the right hand side at the top is the remote panel for the Hurricane heating system with the inverter below. The white bow is our in/out thermometer showing 24.8 in and 23.2 out. Less than half today alas. The lower box is the solar panel readout.
The Richlow Guides cover the waters that Pearsons and Nicholson's do not and they are well prepared and interesting to look at too. They were very helpful in sending them and as they put out updates you are able to keep them current so should not be required to be bought again.
We also used the Richlow Guides for the Chesterfield Canal, Lincolnshire Canals and the South Yorkshire Waterways.
The Tidal Trent Chart from the Boating Association was quite expensive really but it gives peace of mind to know where you are and what to expect. We made transits on a rising tide but on falling tides it would be even more of a comfort.
Just follow the red line on the Tidal Trent chart.
We had experienced damp under the mattress which had ruined the mattress cover. From my research it seemed that the material to maintain an air gap between the mattress and the bed box were really expensive. To achieve the same thing I bought two large coir door mats and cut them to shape. their weight keeps them in place and the bristles keep an air gap open so we have not had any problems. I got PVC backed that stops too many of the bristles coming adrift but other types will do the job for a fraction of the cost of other types of dry mat.
The other items on the list are just items that we needed at the time and will be added to the inventory. Inevitably as years pass the boat will fill up with 'stuff'. We will now have to try to become strict on removing something no longer in use when we buy something new if it isn't a straight swap. I am expecting that the annual costs will not really go down very much, and hopefully not up very much either. We will be blacking the boat somewhere next year and who knows what will occur but generally I am hoping to keep to under £6000. Some things will go up and some will come down is what I am hoping. I often wonder how this compares with other boaters as there are not too many detailed figures to be had. I have often been told that boats are bottomless pits but I don't think they are anymore than homes or cars or gardens or golf club membership. You just have to be prepared to spend a certain amount on everything and hope that the maintenance you carry out limits unforeseen items and you remain lucky.
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