Rob Harrison. There's no 6-month tourist visa without leaving the country. A TR visa will get you 60 days which can be extended another 30 days before you need to leave. There is a Special Tourist Visa (STV) which is 3 X 90 days, but you don't need to leave the country. The conditions of this STV can be onerous. Go to your embassy website and read up on these visas so you have an idea what is required. There is a possibility by the time you get here that land borders will be open and so if you have a multi-entry TR you can do a border bounce which will give you another 60+30 days
Larry Stevenson. Yes. Although your time is limited. Do you have 400k baht already in a bank account? If not you can apply for the 60-day visit family extension (if you've not already used it), which will give you the two months for the money to "mature".
Drive to Ban Phe. Park the car in one of the ferry company car parks and get a ride back. Board the ferry (either slow boat or fast boat) and you're there! Very easy.