iteldoo4me
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Posts posted by iteldoo4me
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Seems to me your just complicating life for yourself...If you dont like the idea of 'all that tugging' then perhaps you should re think about having a narrowboat......
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Having been down that 'road' of new with loads of faults,given my time over again I would have a second hand boat,as the grief and dissapointment almost took away the antcipated joys of boating.Although rectification and court cases were in my favour,Its easy to see the error of ones ways after the events have arisen.Life is a learning curve.
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Having just spent a jolly easter re-wiring the engine room I have been left with a fab (even if I say so myself!!!) installation with 24v starting(Lister JP2M) and 12v domestics all wired properly etc....However.....!!.......I have fitted a Victron Phoenix 12/50 Charger which is fine apart from an annoying habit of running its fan when on float and the slightest current flowing (less than 1A). Question is does anyone else have one of these units and do the all do the same??? I have spoken to Victron and am awaiting a reply from technical in Holland. I appreciate that a fan is needed to cool the unit but I didnt expect it to run when the unit is essentially on standby! It does go off sometimes but only long enough for the fan to spin down then it starts again. It Wouldnt be so bad but the unit is in the engine room and we sleep in the back cabin.....and I told the other half that the unit would be quieter than the Newmar Ferro charger that we had installed....doh!!!
Any thoughts welcome!
Gareth
My fan runs also on standby...hardly hear it all though...maybe yours has a bearing fault...certainly shouldnt be keeping you awake !
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I think BW have a out of sight out of mind policy - If the section of canal goes through a town the tow paths are tended and everything in the garden is smelling of roses, if not you have got no chance - they are too busy thrashing the grass on the Cain Hill flight within half an inch of its life, and I agree with you about the BW flotilla - they just abandon barges and tugs anywhere that takes there fancy. Mind you I am going to contradict myself now, have just come back from Ellesmere Port on the Shroppy , the tow path is all tarmac in this area but the canal is full of crap, I have never seen such a dirty stretch of canal in my 15 months of cruising the system, sightings included a fridge, computer screen and numerous shopping baskets. I dread to think what joe public thinks of the canals when he goes on his 30 minute boat trip from the Boat Museum.
RANT OVER - Have a nice day
Thankfully I can claim now not to be a moaning old git......
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During my first cruise for almost 5 months due to the high level of water we have had to endure,I was dissapointed at the number of unattended 'faults' by BW on my travels.The main being poorly maintained lock gates that wouldn't open properly,and masses of amounted wood floating near the locks,half sunken burnt out boats protruding out of the water,severed trees hanging precariously into our paths...which in my opinion should really be dealt with.With BW spending lots of our 'subscriptions' on real esates and plush looking offices for themselves,I wonder what other boaters have to say about this.Am I being picky?....and is this an issue that has been noticed in other parts of the country other than mine; and the namely Trent & Mersey?Perhaps it is just the onslaught of the new season that has begun and BW just havent got round to it?Any ideas when BW might be moving the half sunken narrowboat at Sawley weir,thats been bobbing up and down for near on 3 months now?and why oh why do BW insist on mooring their dredging boats on the narrowest part of the T&M canal making navigation just oh so difficult...Come on BW its about time you bucked your ideas up and spent time keeping our cruising waters clean and clear!
Would all other readers to this please be good enough to comment on their own findings as I dont wish to be singled out as a moaner...many thanks and happy cruising for 2007.
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I suppose for many of you who know of the dilemmas I had with my boat this year,and its outcome by taking the builders to court,I just had to say that for my part in all of the time it took to get sorted out,which it did,and is now a decent boat,that I got the last laugh,and Hixon Boats (I can state the name as the administrators of this site have a copy of the court hearing I won)can no longer advertise with the major boat mags.It may seem an importance to name and shame,and I agree,but for obvious legal reasons,sites such as this could not risk the posibility of being sued for liable.So if your unhappy with a boat builder,and they dont do rectification work,then sue em'.Then you can splatter their name all over the world,and never fear being done for slander.
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I consider myself a considerate boater and for most of the time slow down when passing moored boats. There have been two incidents recently that got me wondering what it is with some people.
Anyone got any experiences to offer?
Charles
Being reasonably new to boating,with only the last few months being able to get out and enjoy the waterways,but fully aware of the considerations expected to other users,be it stationary or on the move,I was suprised to find a very irate couple ,who moored at the side of the bank on the erewash,shaking their fists as I passed by, giving me nurable indications and suggestions to leave the planet when a very small amount of wash obviously disturbed their solitude.Being unable to slow down anymore without actually stopping,and not being of a disposition who will lightly let a person abuse me with words of distaste,I stopped shortly after,pulling into the bank,whilst the offensive one,wife in tow ran along the bank to greet me in a way that I can only describe as intended murder!I could of prosecuted him for overstepping the noise abatement ruling,but whilst these pair obviosly wanted to spar with me I gave them fair opportunity to back off with gentle words of wisdom,being I would be forced to defend my bodily bits from damage and suggested he got a life,on mars preferrably.This of course didnt exactly hit home where I had hoped,and ended up with me chasing him back from where he had gallopped from,scuttling into his 'pretty' vessel,wife in tow.
I really dont understand the mentality of some of these people,do they think they own the waterways,I suppose they do,and maybe a caravan or a lodge in the himalayas would be more suited than their floating anger box.
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Why do some people have to have a bow thruster?
When you put the back into the canal bank does it swing out when you put the bow thruster on to bring the front in?
It looks so comicle.
A bow thruster is a bit like an automatic on a car,if you havent got it,you make do with the manual approach.
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If your brain matter was axle grease, there wouldn't be enough in your head to grease the dynamo on a lightening bug's ass. Clearly, the full area of your ignorance is not yet mapped. We are presently only exploring the fringes of that vast expanse. Reading your post makes blindness a wonderful thing to look forward to. You bring to mind a quote from Josh Billing: "Doesn't know much, but leads the league in nostril hair."
tony
you aint all there capt bligh is hardly an insult
Sabres at midnight then!
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Hello,and welcome to the forum.
This a difficult one,but there many threads here I believe on this very question.its really a case of looking around as many boats as time itself will allow,in the long run for many its probably a good option to buy s/h but like everything else in this life,its very much a case of you get what you pay for,a bit like swings and roundabouts.
Look in the boating rags,ie,Waterways World,Canal boat and the like and check out the boats that are for sale,there are plenty of brokers about aswell,which may be a good direction for you to contact with your requirements,even if you are not exactly sure what you want,its probably a mixtureof lots of differant ideals.
Get as much knowledge as you can from other boat owners,who overall are only to pleased to chat about their boats,many will let you browse(well I normally let people look)Then when you feel confident about your knowledge intake you will certainly be wise enough to perhaps take the plunge.There are always options for new boats aswell,and you may well be pleasantly suprised at what you can get for your money,such as a sailaway lined,or a sailaway +,theres many options open to you.Incidentally your height is not a problem,unless a boat has an exceptionally low roof!
I myself bought a sailaway,and knew little about carpentary,electrics,or plumbing,but I still fitted my boat out myself,so even with a budget and lack of no how to consider, there are ways you can fulfill your dreams.
you havent said if you planned the boat as a liveaboard or not?tGood luck in your search.
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Can't beat Canal World,here,for frontline info !
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Yep,I got a mooring same day I phoned a marina up that I was told never have any available!...Only snag was it had no electric.I must be the only boat owner there that doesnt have.But as it was a condition of mooring,then I cant complain,despite that fact I
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Hi Andy,
I would reccomend a system such as a Webasto,costs around a grand for the marine version,easy to fit,and cheap to run.I installed mine in my 55' trad,connecting it up through a twin coil calorifier,(too heat my hot water)with a tap to isolate the radiators.Good system,can give you more info if you want it.All the best .Marc
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Evening all,
Now here is a nice little item for anyone interested in the Birmingham canals, item number 200004597003 tried to email the BCN society, but i'm not on my own Pc so not sure if it went through, this book should be in a museum.Ta ra
Ally p.
Bad move ............checked out the item number and didnt get off ebay for 2 hours!
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We had major words over the phone yesterday night. The guy has told me that the boat "hopefully" (his favourite word) will be ready by the end of next week. He has also told us the same about the end of May, the beginning of June, the middle of June and last week.
He insists that he has sent paperwork in the past and we have never recieved it. He was to have sent it again on Monday recorded delivery .We have never recieved it. He was sending it again yesterday, again recorded delivery and the postman has just walked by my window.
The person who is the agent, I have contacted her time and again and she agrees that he is out of order and say,s she is going to go personally and find out whats happening but thats not happening either. 9 times out of 10 when she promises to return calls it doesnt happen.
I had an old banger of a car that had problems up until yesterday that I didnt trust for the journey to the yard. I got shut of it and have a much better car so I can go at any time now but my problem is that Im scared of losing my temper. Im trying very, very hard now to believe that this is all going to turn out ok but all the time Im seeing this spectre of these people stealing every penny we have. Ive already been in trouble a couple of times in the past through losing it and decking somebody and the trouble is that being the size I am I tend to break whatever I hit and that opens serious doors as Ive found out to my cost.
I have 4 brothers who are all bigger than myself and they are all very concerned and straining on the leash everyday and thats not helping. My partners brother is a solicitor and he was always very much against our idea and he is also on my case every day and also straining the leash. None of this at this time is helping, although it may very well do in the next couple of weeks.
My suspicions could be wrong and the yard owner is just a guy who,s word isnt worth a carrot and we will end up sometime with a good boat, but the more this lack of communication goes on and these constant broken promises and the "hopefully by next week crap" the less likely it is looking to all here.
Its not worth the grief to lose your cool.Read the August edition of WW ,page 57? I think,I sued a boat builder and won,although the circumstances are slightly differant,we cannot let boat builders get away with ripping us off.Believe me a solicitors letter is a start,£120 approx,then a small claims court,it does work,but it takes time,I hope you get some results soon,incidentally who is the 'agent' ? Regards
Marc
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280003142842 EBAY .ITS 39FT BUT UP AT 10000 AT MOMENT
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Problem with a lot of boat faults is they are often not seen or found out about until the boat goes in the water,and with fitouts exceedingt a year in many cases,theres not a lot the owner can do
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I have just fitted a Webasto as there was so much negativity about other brands,but I also have been told that its the filtration that is causing problems with other brands.I also suspect there are fors and against for which ever company you go for,I hope to be getting lots of good use,trouble free, from my Webasto,
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I live in nottingham,and my boat is moored at Shardlow on the trent and mersey,and overall I think you are going to be relieved to know that overall there is very litle problem with vandals,and yes I would say its exaggerated,occasionally there are bound to be a few high energy kids who want to have a laugh at boaters expense,but I consider that normally if we boaters are not offensive to these youngsters,then they respond with interest and not intimidation.Enjoy your trip to our city.
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STRANDED: BUT WERE VANDALS TO BLAME?
(from Evening Post Nottingham)
12:00 - 27 June 2006
Two boats were stranded on a canal bed after two lock paddles were left open.
A narrowboat and a small cruiser could be seen tipping to one side after coming to rest on the muddy bed of Erewash Canal.
Shopping trolleys and bikes were submerged in the mud, despite the canal being dredged just two years ago.
British Waterways engineers were called out to close the paddles and allow the lock near Milner Road, Long Eaton. The locks were apparently left open overnight on Sunday - although whether it was done intentionally by vandals or accidentally by a boater remains unclear.
Marc Lovett, who lives in nearby Cranmer Street, was walking his dog at 8.15am yesterday when he noticed the problem.
"The water level had dropped really low. All the bank had gone black," he said. "There were two boats on there. There was one narrowboat and a little cruiser sitting on the mud.
"It was almost surreal. You could see all the rubbish in the canal.
"The canal was dredged two years ago but you wouldn't think so seeing the mess there. There were bikes and supermarket trolleys and all sorts."
Mr Lovett, who owns a narrowboat which is moored at Shardlow Marina, said the water level had dropped by about five feet.
He was convinced the locks had been opened by vandals.
"A lock is just a step down. If someone opens the top and bottom gate they do it deliberately and people who own narrow boats don't do that.
"It must have been done by kids."
But Stephen Hardy, a spokesman for British Waterways, said it was not possible to tell how it had happened.
"We believe somebody has left one of the paddles on one of the locks open," he said. "That has let the water flow through which has caused the water to drop by about two feet.
"We are not in a position to say who did it - whether it was a boater or vandals. I have been assured it is not necessarily unusual for a boater to forget to close the paddles."
He added that although a special key called a windlass was needed to open the gate, it was possible that another implement could have been used by vandals.
Mr Hardy said the British Waterways maintenance team was working on getting the water level back to normal to minimise disruption.
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Hi,
Good to hear all coming together, saw the piece in "Narrowboatworld.com", read OK. Talking to our MP with reference to the other H*R*N problem.
Must stop these cowboys taking good peoples money and riding off into the sunset.
Enjoy the boat and think "job well done".
M & P.
I think the goverment are a load of cowboys,they dont want to know about legislations,or protecting people from getting ripped off,its a dead end wall I keep walking into.I hope you have more joy than me.My local MP said she would get involved with this topic,I'm still waiting 5 months later!...An acknowledgement would be good!!!!!ha
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August edition of WW will be having an article about the Hixons saga and my boat.Not 100% sure what will be said,or even if names will be spilled,lets hope Peter does a good job,.....trusting you all know what I'm gabbing on about??
Incidentally the boat has had all the rectification work done now,bringing my boat to the standard it should of been 10 months ago.Now to to enjoy her!
>>>>Good to see narrowboatworld.com didnt pull any punches.<<<< -
Would the person with the BCS thruster please contact me.I am deliberating over buying one,but have been hearing 'stories' and would like to know from a bearer of this machine if any thing is mechanically or otherwise unsound about it.many thanks.Marc
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Well done...Er did I hear you say dirnks in the bar?
Indeed!
Always good to hear of someone getting there in the end, it makes it so worth while.
It was always about the principle,not the money.why should these people assume they have a right to rip us off?,I can soon enjoy my boat,a little late,but worth the journey.
do!!!!!
>>>>Good to see narrowboatworld.com didnt pull any punches.<<<<
Missing boat - Holly - NOW FOUND!
in General Boating
Posted
Someone here in line for a citizens arrest perhaps....its all very intriguing...bit like the scarlet pimpernel!!!