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The BBC did a 2 hour film called The Canal, if I remember the name correctly. It was the UK version of a scenic type film done in a Scandinavian country that did surprisingly well, mindful there was no diction or human contribution. I started watching The Canal thinking I'd get bored in about 5 minutes ... Well over an hour later, I had to pause it to go to bed ... Some of the information provided by silent text on-screen was fascinating for anyone interested in history or geography. It may well have been that video that had stimulated my subsequent interest in owning or using a narrow boat. I possibly got caught up in the theatricality of it all. With annual holiday costs typically sitting at £1200-£1500 for us two on a 'budget' holiday anywhere abroad, I would be very disappointed if the annual cost of ownership of a narrow boat was as high as that. Plus, provided insurance costs weren't prohibitive, I wouldn't be adverse to hiring it out. I priced up weekend hire while looking at purchase prices, and weekend/week long lets were staggeringly expensive. I think one 'modest' venue in the West country somewhere wanted £800 for a Friday to Monday let. No heated swimming pool, no jacuzzi, no maid (ahemm) service either. £800! P.S. I have a couple of friends who did the Med during a cruise, and they have friend that cruise regularly. By coincidence they all met each other on the same ship last year ... The ship was/is owned by an American outfit, and tipping was required everywhere on everything (as best I can make out). It was possible to have 'tipping packages' included in the holiday price, but the couple I know were still compelled to tip their waiting staff at the end of the cruise anyway. I think the holiday cost them the better part of £1800 each and lasted a week I think. (Might have been 10 days, I can't remember exactly). It didn't compare well to a 2 week stay on land, even with food included, and the food wasn't that great given the price. In hindsight the couple now know they paid more than they should, and even fell out with the travel agent over lies/mis-selling of the cruise. (ie. "Your tipping package of £200 each will be included." It wasn't, even though they were told TWICE on separate occasions by two different people that it was,) They did have a great time though, not least due to the lovely couple they met who repeatedly treated them to champagne. Apparently the 'ol fella' was keen to spend the inheritance money before the ungrateful children got to it. Their bar bill ran into thousands ...

Experience to date, suggests the answer to the question posed (as I understand the question) is a resolute and emphatic "NO"! Or "Non certe!" to those who would understand the term. (That wouldn't be me, if there was any doubt. ) While speaking (if I remember correctly) to someone who might have been working in the local Building Regs office, as to what a "suitably qualified" gas boiler installer might look like, there was a suggestion that 'someone who installs a gas boiler without blowing up the rest of the street' was thus qualified. This conclusion was drawn after the immediately previous remark and undeniable reverse logic, that someone who DID blow up a building certainly wouldn't be considered 'qualified'. Where you have 'slop' I would think some sort of (metal) hollow wall plug, with a thumbscrew bolt could be adapted in some way to do the job? But you are right in what you say, not much joined up thinking gone into the installation procedure. Usually, when I consult the makers about this sort of thing the response often includes; "You're the first to ask." While they silently add another tick to a box that already has 100+ ticks in it..... Sounds like the installation kept you away from causing mischief elsewhere at least.