Slim

I can only say that I had an isolation transformer (Airwork?) and my polarity indicator worked I had a GI for years and went on to fit an isolation transformer. Never considered myself a muppet. Why would I have had?

I had my boat for 28 years and I always had the same issue as the OP. Wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding in reverse. Going forwards absolutely no issues. Going up a lock could be 'quite interesting' if the boat surged forwards. Bog standard Eastward Engineering budget hull with an average length swim. Any number of 'experts' looked at the hull over the years and no one could see anything out of the ordinary. Engine was a BMC 1.8 with a 2.1:1 PRM 150 box. Prop was a 17"x 12". At one point the prop was looked at by Crowthers who agreed that it and the drive train were perfectly suitable. In the end I learned to live with it.

Do a search on here for ' bleeding a BMC 1.8 (or maybe 1.5)' or some similar wording and you will find any number of informed suggestions and tips. Alternatively look in 'vintage engines' under BMC.

I think you will find that this is the experience of most. It's just that some seem to thrive on disaster.

Let's face it , if there's a problem to be found you'll find it. Not beyond the wit of man to track down a previous GP. Start with the geographical area it was in and work from there. A persons NHS number is on every hospital notification letter.

The only time I ever needed a tow this is what I did. (no sign). The first person I approached happily helped out.

As I watched the video, over the top of the screen up pops an ad for the RNLI Point taken, I just had visions of Radar's (MASH) pet Guinea Pig. So what was the fuss about cos there was one. 😇

Weren't they once given female names but that was considered sexist.

I left my boat there for several weeks some years ago. Considered re- locating there but as I recall the pub was some distance away. 😉

When I had a Drascombe Lugger day boat I found a company who made the curtains for curtain sider lorries. They made up a really durable cover for much less than boat cover companies.

😃😃

It's not just strength, it can be stamina. A flight such as Hatton solo is totally different to doing it with a crew of even one.

Actually, in the EV world batteries are specified in kW. My observation to the OP would be more around the area of his health. Are you thinking of solo boating? If so you will find it fairly physical. Consider all the up and downing involved in negotiating a lock (and you will be transiting wide ones).

I also question whether the pipe will get past the gearbox internals. I had a fair amount of trouble getting the thinnest of my Pela probes down to the bottom of the casing. Yes, it is better but access can sometimes be very difficult, especially as the bones start creaking.

Gunk? No way. Jizer or Hypa-Clean. As for Elbow Grease, total waste of time , tried it on the BBQ yesterday.

I don't know the answer but would running it through an isolation transformer work? Fully expect to be told NO but maybe with an explanation.(still a schoolboy at heart)

Don't know, didn't give it a thought at the time. Checked up on bank statement and the payment cleared 17th Aug 22 (and the cost was not in the region of £30 it was £68

The water pump casting, not the engine block. Similarly the holes that needed opening out were in the water pump casting . As for finding a better made item from a recognised manufacturer (the one I replaced was a Quinten Hazell item that I fitted when I did a full nuts and bolts re-build of the engine in the 1990s) you seemingly have little knowledge of old BMCs . Sorry I didn't answer your question about replacement in the future. Assuming any replacement is made to BMC specifications it will fit perfectly That was the chance I took based on quite a few years experience. Anyway had I not been successful it would only have cost me about £30. It was in a cardboard box with no obvious markings. I did check it whilst I was at Calcutts to ensure it was the correct version and both I and the fellow serving me agreed it was. It simply wasn't cast and machined accurately.

When I moored at Harefield a nearby lake (flash) held fresh water mussels. The crows used pick them up then fly over the marina and drop them on the roadway to crack them open.

Final response. I agree that drilling out holes and grinding off some of the casting is not normal, I never claimed it was. The pump WAS the correct one, it was just badly made (not an isolated case with third world products) .

Two things:- 1) It wasn't the wrong pump, it was simply badly made. 2) I didn't "hack it to bits". I simply ' fettled' it so that it fitted. Some people should not make statements from a position of ignorance (a term used correctly.)

That's where mine came from😁 What's more while I was struggling to get it to fit (dodgy back) i had a full time boat mechanic have a go. He confirmed the problem.

Another point worth bearing in mind, assuming that the 1.5 and 1.8 pumps are similar. Pumps currently available for these engines are of far eastern origin and the tolerances they're made to are pretty naff. Offer the pump up without the gasket or any sealant first to see if it will fit. When I changed my 1.8 pump last year I had to drill several of the fixing holes out by up to 2 mm and grind some of the casting away.

In my 28 years of narrowboat ownership (including 17 retired) I can count on one hand the number of times I've been held up for any significant length of time due to overcrowding. Now, finding an overnight mooring anywhere near a convenient spot, that's a different story. Perhaps short term moorings are the area that should be reviewed (dare I say policed)

Fall out with the boss and you're not only unemployed, you're homeless