The first days aboard involved looking in detail at everything and as a complete boat virgin, sussing out how all this nautical paraphernalia worked, winches, masts and the like. I also realised just how many questions I HADN'T asked the old owner before he ran off with all my money! The weather was great, the beers were cold and the batteries went flat. Bugger! I knew I had a generator in the bow locker but had no idea how it worked. I managed to get it started but then realised I had no idea how it stopped. Normally, when you switch a key off on a car, the motor stops. But no, not with a big old Diesel like my Lister. Panicking somewhat, with the engine throbbing away, I quickly mono paddled across the canal to seek urgent assistance from the shipyard. They were busy so I mono paddled back again. A process of wiggling virtually anything that moved eventually led me to a stop lever on the back which when pulled long enough, eventually stopped the generator. At least I now knew how to charge the batteries...