Leaderboard

When will the people of this country realise that they are totally responsible for their own safety? Getting blathered on alcohol and/or drugs is not a responsible way to behave and if their demise by falling into a canal that has been there over 200 years is the end result it is their own fault and nobody else's. Sam.

It doesn't matter how well CRT maintain a waterway, it will never be good enough for some. Each time they improve things, it sucks in more demandy middle class boaters who expect the moon on stick with a switch to turn it on and off, and the grass to be combed all the same way.

Aren't there some instructions somewhere about operating lift bridges safely, single handed. Where is Phyllis when you need her?

Casper Blackburn didn't die because of a lack of CCTV and railings. He died because he failed to take responsibility for his own safety. We can't keep on making the world ever safer just so that people can abdicate personal responsibility.

I thought lifejackets should be a different topic. I do think they should be worn by skipper and all crew actively involved with boat handling and lock operation.

Years ago in the 1950', 60's and 70's vertually everyone with diesel vehicles used easystart on cold winters mornings, the air reeked of it especially Barkingside Ilford where most of the Black cabs lived with the 2.2 engines which thrived on it. It was easier than lighting bonfires under the engine and wafting lighted newspaper torches over the air intake. In my 50 years in the motor trade I honestly can't remember an engine being damaged by it, although their life may have been shortened a bit. I remember a truck with a Perkins P6 in it that started up backwards on easystart, quite frightening as the governor didn't work in that direction, Engine screaming. Exhaust poured out of the air intake and air sucked in through the exhaust pipe. Forward gears became reverse and reverse became forward. The driver managed to stall it up against a wall which burnt the clutch out, but the engine was still a goodun.

And / or the dreaded "ignorant of the subject" proof reader.

Only my own opinion, the canal has been there how long? At a guesstimate more than 100 years. Is there really a need for fences,cctv and other measures. Sad that it is, that someone has suffered by falling into the canal, but I live on the canals and have fallen in once, due to my own incompetence. And I was sober!!

After travelling fairly extensively around the system this year, albeit keeping to the west, we have had no real problems with the infrastructure. In fact, it's been fine. When a problem arose on the Llangollen, it was dealt with expediantly. But.. The South Oxford is dire. It's almost planned neglect. The channel is severely impeded by overhanging vegetation and reed spread. It's always been shallow, but in my opinion, the pound containing Twyford wharf, must have a potential breach. Lock paddles are broken. Lift bridges are missing counter weights and are downright dangerous. Having to prop up a lift bridge with a pole is inviting disaster. We reported faults en route to the Thames. Nothing has been done upon our return. What is going on?

There you go! the inside out and the outside in met in the middle ? We have some pitting as you describe on the sides, mostly well below the waterline, though nowhere near 3mm deep. That's why we are now using epoxy. When we first blacked the boat the dry dock bloke had a look and said it was pretty common and he had seen it on almost new boats. I wonder if some of it is related to the mill scale coming off?? ..................Dave

We used to brew our own fuel for our control line model aircraft which used diesel engines. Although firms like Keil-Kraft brewed fuel, ether could be bought over the counter at chemists in those days, as could Dr Collis Browns chlorodine for tummy ache. We mixed it in dads shed with caster oil. I can't remember the ratio but we always overdid the ether for more power. Once we were nearly put to sleep with the fumes, and staggered out of the shed like zombies as high as a kite, trying to avoid mum who was outside wringing the washing through the mangle in the garden. We flew persuit flying with two planes flying the circle with crepe paper streamers streaming behind them. The idea was to chop off your oponants streamers with your propeller as close as possible to the aircraft. My engine was an ED Racer of 2cc, although the Oliver engines were better but more expensive. Sirweste could shove a couple of gallons in his fuel tank to mix with the diesel, but the ratio is pretty crucial.

Owls eat beetles but they ain't trees.

I agree with this yep, wondered when it would be brought up. I'm not really sure how I feel about this to be honest. If you're not capable of assessing a risk such as helmet wearing on a 70mph motorbike then I kinda don't see the point in forcing the person to wear one... As I said previously, I compete at a reasonable level in downhill and gravity enduro mtb races. I choose full face / open face helmets depending on the event / terrain. Helmet use here is mandated, which I agree with as someone who cannot see the risks involved shouldn't be part of racing in the sport. What's not mandated is body armour, as the risk here is less clear. There's a lot of variation in what people use. I would not agree with dictating the amour choice, grown adults should be able to choose for themselves what protection based on risks. Educate, don't dictate.

Really? Most people are really bad at risk assessments. Some mandatory aids and laws do help.

I have no qualms about any boat owner having a CO alarm, I have one and it has set off once when a boat breasted up with mine ran a petrol generator on the back deck even though my doors and hatches were closed. But I object to the dependence on technology that mandatory use would cause. People need always to be aware of risks to their wellbeing and life, not rely on a battery powered detector with a defined working life which can be faulty. Since this culture of health and safety started the common sense element of peoples' lives has been eroded to the point where it is expected that the nanny state will ensure your life and safety from all risks. This is a very dangerous premise, not healthy at all.

No it is not the same. You are jeopardising the 3rd party if you produce CO, by having your own alarm it tells you to stop / switch off the offending appliance. By your logic you shouldn't need to have fire extinguishers - if you set light to another boat you'd rely on them to have their own extinguishers. What a selfish attitude and not one I would have expected from a member of this forum.

Well, there you go, easy fart is OK 'cos he's not bothered with that either. I'll tell that to the next boat owner who needs a new engine, they may think differently. Being the occasional horrible bugger does not inhibit you from graciously accepting good advice freely given.

Co can affect the boat moored next to you. You falling in without a Life Jacket doesn't.

A whole lot heavier too.

Thank you doctor. As is always the case, if you don't mind, I'll await a second, or more, opinions before accepting and deciding on a diagnosis.

4 engines! No wonder you use so much fuel.?

That is probably because whoever installed it or repaired it know putting them (and heater plug cables) is asking for problems.

Hi everyone, thanks for all your suggestions and advice turns out it was an empty gas bottle! it's quite small 3.9kg so maybe the surveyor doing the gas test emptied it because the hobs were running for a while. the other bottle was actually full so no need to suspect foul play

It depends on what you are after by networking them together I suppose? Victron have a open source following so if you like playing (and quite technical) you may be interested (As you know I'm looking for central control/monitoring using a Pi). https://www.victronenergy.com/live/open_source:start The GX screen that Victron do is actually open source and you can implement on a Pi -https://github.com/victronenergy/venus/wiki and some blogs regarding https://www.chronicle.me.uk/victronPi/, https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2018/04/11/homemade-pi-open-source-raspberry-flavour/,

Nope! Gas under pressure will escape from the test nipple when the manometer tube is removed. There is no motive force to make air enter the pipe even once the pressure in the pipes has fallen to zero, UNLESS the plug is left out for long periods over which the ambient temperature varies. A rise then a fall in temp will suck in a bit of air, just as is happening with Athy's gas system with the tiny leak earlier in this thread. (Just explaining, not engaging in warfare!)

Sounds like someone has swapped out the full bottles for a couple of empty ones just before completion of the sale. Presumably the survey was done ahead of completion and therefore before the OP took ownership. I suspect you would get a really big smell of gas if it was emitting and not lighting. That can happen if the top piece of the job isn’t seated correctly but it doesn’t sound like that is the case. JP

Must be something wrong with ours then as the 170hp diesel in there doesn't shake it at all! As the chap at Burton Waters found out last year when his petrol boat exploded when refuelling taking out the fuel berth and another boat!

When I first started working a pair some of the older boaters on occasions when they had sufficient money to blow on booze to get them P***ed had this thing of walking /or trying to walk along the top planks usually bow to cabin to prove they could do it even when drunk several fell in the cut & where fished out but a couple fell between the boats & one died & "tother 's pelvis & legs were so smashed up that his boating days ended there & then quite a few fell in the lock crossing the gate/s but the lock was usually left full when folk had tied for the night & top gate/s used as crossing point so it wasn't far to the water .T&M was good for the #of accom bridges by locks

Coincidences have to happen sometime! Check that the pillar valve is open on top of the gas bottle. Follow the pipe in to the cabin and check there are no valves on it that may be shut. When you do change the gas cylinder, you need the correct size spanner. The nut needs to be turned the opposite way to disconnect the bottle. Clockwise to undo, anticlockwise to do up. On my boat, the gas usually runs out in the middle of cooking tea. Outside it will be dark and either raining, or sideways sleet! Jen

I have difficulty understanding why the people of Manchester fall into their canals so much more often and with more dire consequences than the people of Birmingham fall into their far more extensive canal network. Having traversed both this summer, I can only put it down to folk really badly affected by drugs and alcohol, which is hugely more of an issue by the canal in Manchester than in Birmingham (actually, more than anywhere else I've ever been, worldwide). It's certainly not down to an inherently a more dangerous canal infrastructure.

You need to get a Banbury Stick,

Its a caulker of a skool bouy howler innit!

But are the public allowed a bit later?

As an example of compliance with the BSS statement......... If a CO alarm prevents a death it also prevents potential harm to the rescue and emergency services and to surviving relatives dealing with the deceased and who will be exposed to potential harm in the form of stress related issues . This could include members of the waterways workforce . There have been deaths in recent years due to CO on petrol engined boats . I recall one was when an engine was left running and the exhaust fumes were blown int the boat. Another where a faulty exhaust from a fitted generator caused CO inside the boat killing a woman an a child. These deaths could potentially have been prevented by a CO alarm alerting the victims. Bear in mind a petrol engined boat or generator could be run near your diesel engined boat and cause a CO build up. Also a faulty gas appliance or blocked ventilation plus use of a gas appliance or use of any fuel burning appliance could cause a CO build up. I think a smoke alarm and a CO alarm should be mandatory as being functional at the time of the BSS test and maintained at all times as with all other BSS requirements . The appropriate standard for the alarm should be indicated in the BSS requirement. These alarms are not particularly expensive items costing about £20 for a CO alarm and lasting 7 years and smoke alarms costing less than £10 . The alarm in each case may be tested by pressing a test button and also often by observing for an occasional blinking green diode. This takes a minute to do and should not be a reason to add a charge to the BSS examination fee. It is easy to test the alarms yourself once in a while. Among other boating costs I suggest the expense should not be considered a barrier. Fitting a CO alarm takes no work at all - it may sit on a shelf. Smoke alarms come with self adhesive pads to stick them to the ceiling. I do feel the British Standard for CO alarms lacks clarity as some alarms suitable on motorhomes and caravans may not be certified as suitable on boats despite all falling under the same standard. The boat certified alarms do not seem to be any more costly - more a matter that the maker has not sought boat certification. I have a smoke alarm and a CO alarm in my house too. I am guessing the objectors to such alarms do not? As for life jackets ................................ let's leave that for some other time .

Unlike some other makes that don't flash at all. (after the Hudson thred I am not going to suggest a make)

Does your narrowboat not have any bulkheads?

I find that difficult to accept. I can think of many instances where the siting of an alarm might be considered an eyesore by the owners, but not that they can not be fitted. (Still think it shouldn't be added to the BSS though.)

Checking if an alarm is fitted is hardly a taxing process. It doesn't really generate much if any extra work so not sure how it is going to keep anyone in a job.

What they could do is to maintain the locks such that so much water isn’t wasted. You’ll notice they talk about ashing up the gates, which would be necessary if they didn’t leak so much. They could also dredge the reservoirs so they hold more water. Ultimately you are right in that they cannot control the weather, but what they can do is to make the most of whatever water they do have by not allowing it to go to waste. It is too easy for CRT to just use the weather to absolve themselves of any responsibility. Even in normal years, the L&L can be short of water due to all the wastage. It doesn’t have to be like that.