Taking the plunge and not taking the plunge

You will be aware, dear reader, that as a boat blogger it is from time to time compulsory to talk about toilets so, accordingly, I have an announcement to make.  

We've finally decided to join the elite band of boaters with a composting loo.  Having looked at them for a couple of years and carefully listened to the remarks of others who have used them, we've decided to take the plunge and today I ordered one - an Airhead.

There was a bit of a discount being offered at the Crick show which is I suppose what made us do it this week (these things are not cheap!), but perhaps the clincher was a visit to inspect Adam and Adrian's Airhead loo on Briar Rose.  It fits in well where the old loo was and it does really seem to be genuinely odourless.  So once ours arrives and is fitted it'll be goodbye to chemical bottles and cassettes.  I won't miss them - especially the emptying bit.

Having mentioned toilets, I suppose I ought to honour tradition and go on to talk about batteries next, but ours are doing so well at the moment that I don't have anything to say!

Another boat we didn't buy.

As to not taking the plunge, we did actually look over another tempting boat at the Crick show.  (Don't tell Herbie.) A nice tug, ECHO being sold through ABNB with a whopping gert four cylinder Gardner. If you follow the link, you'll get the brochure.  Remember though that internal photos of boats are generally flattering.  Tugs have such good lines and this one had a decent fit out, plus a good shell and at a fair price too. The sort of boat you would love to cruise along on.  The chug of the mighty engine and the gentle swirl of the big prop behind the long curving swim, Kath sitting in a deck chair on the big foredeck, gently sipping a gin and tonic.  Aaaah.  Perfect

So why didn't we go for it? (Apart from the fact that we would have to fork out a fair bit of wonga).  Because, like most tugs, there is alas a down side. It was severely lacking in the sleeping department.  Just a cross bed in the boatman's cabin.  On Herbie we can fairly easily sleep four or occasionally five people, and the fixed double is always ready to collapse on to when bedtime comes.  In fact, although Echo was eight feet longer than Herbie it actually had no more useable internal space.  I'm sure some innovative person could work out some folding or slide out bed under the tug foredeck, but the space looked pretty tight.  A very nice boat  indeed for two people.  You really ought to buy it and give me a ride.


PS I notice from ABNB's web site that Phyllis May II is up for sale.  That's Terry and Monica Darlington's (of Narrow Dog fame) boat. The brochure says "Advancing years force a very reluctant sale."   Aaah.  I wish them well.