Tinally

This would seem to be linked to a statement about inland waterway transport made by the vice-president of the EU on the 10th of this month in which he said..." The Commission will propose measures including new standards for engines to encourage investment in low emission technologies ".

More EU interference! " The latest regulation is designed to reduce air pollution by cutting emissions from combustion engines in ‘non-road mobile machinery’, Brussels commissioner for industry Nelli Feroci said yesterday." As well as small gardening and handheld equipment, bigger off-road equipment including excavators, bulldozers and crop harvesters, as well as railcars, locomotives and inland waterway vessels are also in the Brussels executive’s sights. I'm not worrying for now, but I feel this may be a problem in the future, especially for those of us with elderly engines.

Missed that!

Here we go again! Yet ANOTHER new marina is planned for the Witham, and I'm not holding my breath. Planning permission was given recently for a new marina at Boston ( and some time previously at Cherry Willingham, just downstream of Lincoln ) These would supply hundreds of new berths plus developments of new housing/hotels/lodges etc. Now we hear that yet another one is planned - this time at Woodhall Spa, halfway between Lincoln and Boston. Again another 300 berths and again more housing development. Now I'm not against any of them - more mooring choice for me - but I really cannot see it happening.How do they hope to fill 300 berths in this area? There is just not the demand. Have C&RT been selling dreams to the local landowners again?

I've bought some gasket paper. It can live in my emergency box until needed. The next thing to break will, of course, require something I haven't got on board!

ASAP have come up with the gasket....at a price. I'd better have a spare as well while I'm buying. I'll sort the battery after the New Year. We won't be going anywhere before then. If it freezes hard it could be some time before we go out. Bardney Lock is the last place in the country to unfreeze in the spring! Thanks everyone.

It LOOKS like one on ASAP's site. I emailed them earlier with my pump number for confirmation. Failing that I guess I can make one. It's fairly straightforward - no odd shapes! I will go and see my local motor factors dealer after Christmas and see what he recommends for a battery.. He has boats, so he'll know what I require. Just thought I'd ask around to see if were any brands I should avoid. I did have a small solar panel on the batteries until one day I went boating and found the batteries flat because it had malfunctioned. Maybe I'll try that again. It was a while back and I believe solar panels have moved on a bit in recent years. Thanks for your input.

Two questions in one topic! First - I split the gasket on my water pump whilst freeing a stuck impeller. Anyone know where I can a gasket for a Jabsco 29440-1051. Everywhere I look they only seem to come as part of a replacement impeller kit. Secondly - my starter battery is sick! It's a gel one, where you peer through a little window and if you see green, it is OK, see grey and you'd better get the charger out. Mine is pure white! I believe the technical term for it is "Knackered"! Any recommendations for which brand to replace it with. It's got to turn over a Ford 1600 diesel and often stand unused for several weeks at a time.

I dare say the police will be able to sniff out the criminals! They'll have to sell them cheap to undercut my local supermarket! Hardly worth the effort.