Slim

I found that shop a couple of weeks ago on my trip from Aldermaston (K&A) to Ellesmere (Llangollen). An absolutely charming farmers wife did her best to sell me some provisions, especially the home cured bacon!!!! When I explained that unfortunately I had a fridge full of bacon, sausages and eggs courtesy of Tescos her face was a picture. I had to turn down the offer of homemade apple pie on the orders of my bathroom scales. Over the next few days as I struggled to see any bacon through the white sludge in the frying pan my thoughts kept going back to that home cured bacon still, next time

Having just finished a solo trip (apart from a few days) from Aldermarston on th K & A to Ellesmere on the Llangollen in 3 weeks I can only say that I love hirers!! Apart from one hire boat that held back whilst i worked through a lock on my own without exception they were helpful, happy , relaxed and appreciative of the occasional snippet of advice. In particular i would want to acknowledge the mum of of one family who 'volunteered' two of her teenage kids to help me down the Audlem flight on the Shropshire Union. Whilst they didn't exactly deafen me with conversation (well, they were teenagers) they were polite and willing. On the other hand the attitude of some of the' Shiny Boat Brigade' is best glossed over. I just don't understand spending 6K+ on a paint job or 100K+ on a new boat and then worry if another boat came within hailing distance.

When i first painted Vital Spark I used Flint Grit No 5 on the roof which I sourced from Trimite Ltd in Uxbridge. Because of some work I'll soon be doing I need some more of it.. I've been told that Trimite have closed their sales counter in Uxbridge and they have failed to answer several enquiries via e mail.( I can't find any mention of it on their products list) Does anyone know where I might obtain about 10 kilos? The best description I can give of it is that it looks very much like the chippings you get on roofing felt. I suppose my absolute fall back option is to buy a couple of rolls of felt and try and brush sufficient off. Buying it is far more preferable. (if I don't respond to questions in the next few days it's because I'm off crusing!) Frank

What type of load did you add? I had an identical probem with my Hoover WM and Genisis generator. I found that a 1KW fan heater running at the same time did the trick. Frank .

Sorry,pressed wrong button !! Decided to go the long way around as suggested above. Many thanks for all the advice, Frank

Just had a phone call to see if i would be interested in moving a 62' NB in a couple of weeks from Newbury on the K&A to the top of the Llangollen. Since I'm fed up with decorating at home I'm very tempted. Can anyone suggest the best route/? (in 15 years of owning a NB circumstances have meant that I've never been north of Braunstan). I will be single handed and in no great rush. Many thanks Frank

Gibbo, Just to say thanks for your advice, exactly what I needed.. Frank

Ah well, so it looks like I've just bought £159.99 worth of snakeoi!l. If I have it won't be the first time. In the meanwhile can anyone help me with a setup issue concerning the type of AGM batteries I have. They are Mulicell AGMs and are about 4 years old. (5 x 110 ah) The Smartguage manual states that there are two types of AGM battery One that is similar to a flooded cell battery but with the electrolyte held in glass matt. These are set as battery type 1 in the SG. The other type of AGM has additional chemicals added "similar" to gel cells and is set as battery type 3 in the SG. Whilst I suspected they were the former type eg set to type1 (based mainly on the price I paid at the time) I took the advice in the manual and phoned Multicell. Unfortunatly whilst they were pleasent to speak to they were not too informative. I was told that there was only 1 type of AGM and that any suggestion there were more was "bunkum" PLEASE DO NOT SHOOT THE MESSENGER I AM ONLY REPEATING WHAT I WAS TOLD. Any advice would be most welcome. Frank PS Whilst I intend to keep, fit and use this particular snakeoil I have a shed full of it I've bought over the years.

So there I was earlier today,walking the streets of Watford having had three encounters with Santander (Abbey National to you and me) with the prospect of another one once I receive a replacement plastic card which I then have to return to them (don't ask).I suddenly felt the need for retail therapy. Passing Maplins I found myself enticed inside and sold a Smart Gauge. It's all the fault of the propaganda on this site. Frank

Surprised nobody has mentioned pecentage increase for 2011 (excluding VAT). I'm told mine is up around 6.7%!! Wish my pension was going up that much.

Bob, I've come to this topic late and IN NO WAY am I an expert. However I do have a 550 ah services bank of Multcell AGMs that are about 4 1/2 years old and going strong. They are charged either by twin 70 a alternators through an Adverc controller or a Mastervolt MASS 60 amp charger. Monitoring is via a Mastervolt MICC. In common with others i've received / read so much conflicting advice that I simply didn't (indeed still don't) know what to believe. I e mailed Multicell seeking advice and was told by Clive Ringrose from their Leicester branch that their AGMs shold be bulk charged @ 14.8 volts and float charged @13.8 volts. I still have the e mail in question. Frank

What happened to 3 penny coins in a slot, await answer and press button A. No answer press button B and get money back. Also how many boys in the 1950s could walk past a phone box and not push botton B? Frank (as I await a lift off to the pub and a family christmas day

Don't have a bubble stove but have seen them so this is asked with tongue in cheek. How do you fit a pinapple sized object, shall we say 100mm x 200mm into the burner of a bubble stove?

I've had total sucess using a powerful (18v cordless drill/driver ) driving a 100mm self drilling bolt through 18 mm ply on 50 mm timber into 4 mm steel. Not sure about Screwfit type quality as mine came from a specialist fixings suppliers. For info bolts have a shoulder ie unthreaded shank whilst set screws are threaded throughout. Also measurements for bolts / set screws are overall Frank

Vinnie Sorry not to have got back sooner. I've looked at the picture and whilst it's not identical to mine the overall shape and style is. I don't know how to post photos but will learn if I have to. In the meanwhile have a look on this site www.suttonmarineservices.com click on generator identification and you will see Geko mentioned along with Dolphin, Paguro and others. Go into www.volpitecno.com/eng (aka VTE) and you will see that they produce Paguro. Page to the 4000 model, open the PDF file and the control panel in the lower right hand corner is the one I have with my Genisis Dolphin 4E Rod Boreham? at www.advanceyacht.co.uk is a mine of information and always seems to have the time to discuss and advise. He was the one who first told about the badging etc. As it happens he also once told me, with much sucking of teeth, that a replacement control panel was "very expensive".(my start button doesn't always work) . Just thought, if you do want to contact Rod you might want to do so pretty quickly as they normally exhibit at the London Boatshow which is immediately after New Year. If I can be of any more help let me know I'd be interested in the end result Frank

How sad! Someone visits their gran, downs a couple of Sherries with her before midday,is given/loaned something obviously cherished and it's suggested by someone else that they're put on E bay to gain a tenner

Model number of the Beko dryer, i stress dryer, is DRVS62W. Good luck Frank

Is the engine a Farymann 18W, the output 4 KVA (3.6KW) @ 220v. from a VTE alternator? If so it may well be a badged version of an Italian product. Don't be mislead by the fact that the Farymann is German. I have a Genisis Dolphin that sounds virtually identical. The only difference is that my control panel has 2 buttons whilst the 3rd "button" has 2 warning lights in it. For the life of me I can't recall what they indicate. IF we are talking about the same base unit (photos would help) I should be able to to give you some contacts who may be able to help. All my info is on the boat and I'll be going down to it tomorrow or Saturday. Frank

Can't believe I'm respondig to this thread. ( if my wife were still alive she would be speechless!!) I've got a Hoover washer/dryer on the boat and a Beko dryer at home. The Hoover is a condenser version whilst the Beko uses a"steamy hose". There's no comparison. The Beko wins by a mile. Drying cycle for the Beko is around 40 minutes the Hoover at least 90 minutes for the same type of load. if / when I replace the Hoover I'll do my best to replace it with it with a ducted dryer. Frank

Well, my bog standard Beko freezer runs at -18 c (or -21 c) if I press a button. Having said that I live in the soft south so my freezer is colder than my mooring. Frank

Am i missing something? Assuming you have access to a fridge or freezer. Dunk a piece of tissue or cloth in the liquid. Seal in a plastic bag. Place in freezer compartment . Wait X hours. No ice = OK. Ice = problem. Stand back and wait for criticism. Frank

I had a somewhat similar problem when trying to run my Hoover washer/dryer off my Genisis generator for the first time. . Having gone through the wash cycle it just sat there giving the occasional "twitch" but no more. It would work off the Mastervolt inverter(PSW) but as I wanted to use the dryer as well that wasn't an option. .Putting a resistive load on the generator (a 1kw fan heater) solved the problem. Explaining why I had a running fan heater in the fore well when it was 28 degrees C was more difficult. Frank

I wouldn't want to be the first!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rick, Sorry about previous blank post, I pressed the wrong key! When I last had dealings with them their name was AMC Diesel Engineering. Try www.amcdiesel.co.uk It opens as Thornycroft and they are who I meant. I've looked through all my old invoices but can't find the one with the bracket on it. I suspect I'd given up keeping them by then. Whilst I'm sure they were the people I got the bracket from if they can't help get back to me and I will let you know the other suppliers I dealt with. Good luck, Frank