OldGoat

A very nice man (won't give his name, 'cos you'll all ring him up) from Beta said:- Strictly 15/40 ONLY in kubota engines (in the UK anyway). Wouldn't budge - even whey I said 10/40 was on the list (for colder climes). Makes reasonable sense as canal engines run cooler that in dumper trucks (or whatever). A complete pain as 15/40 is getting more difficult to source. However, I did find some Comma 15/40 at a very good price in my local motor factors; so it pays to shop around. Morris posh oil is lovely, but very expensive and as for mail order - don't ask....

Some alternators need that light to power their circuits. Seems daft as light out = no problem. BUT if light out means alternator isn't working 'cos the bulb is blown then you don't know there is a problem - if you get my drift! Anyway I really replied 'cos the Sherborne St crew are really "salt of the earth". Known only to the locals as most boats fear to tread down the loops, especially as the Oozels loop has a nast exit of you want to turn right. Being a furriner from dahn sarf, these things don't bother me and I make a point of visiting them on the few occasions I venture up to Brum. Good fuel price and some interesting offers in the chandlery. Please shop there frquently as once they're gone they're gone....

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This thead is a month old, and as such is probably "dead", but here goes anyway. I was an early convert to Beta kit, having been put off by Lister Canal Stars (smokey). Anway the original Beta MD was ex Lister, so that made it OK. I put a 2203 in my NB - we intended to do some continental cruising. It's done over 4000 hours and been used for ten years. I'm happy with it, very quiet and smooth, relatively low revving, and a good power curve. Recently I've heard good reports of Izusu engines; one hire fleet I know has moved away from Kubota kit to them. Someone said the units were based on a Mitsubishi design, which develops its power at higher revolutions - that doesn't please me; shades of automotive engines which don't adapt too well to canal use. Whatever you buy, if you want to do any serious river use (Thames, Trent) in a large NB, then you should consider a 1900 cc engine or greater to punch the flow. Gas is a complete NoNo, quite apart from the issues discussed above it would work out horrendously expensive. The same applies to electric propulsion - unless perhaps you could acquire a quantity of NiFe batteries (they last forever; my battery bank is at least 30 years old) but lead acid are unlikely to last more than 5 years and are expensive.

Umm- Diesel smells of - err- diesel, which you can evaluate by visiting your local garage. Yoy can't trust the colour as it's no longer a bright red. I find it quite difficult to differentiate which is which by colour. If you do acquire some, do take care to filter it, 'cos if its been some grotty industrial tankage its bound to have some muck in it. Mutton cloth in a funnel would be a good start. There would be no duty to pay (assuming that you might be worried about liability), as you wouldn't be "purchasing" it from a registered dealer...

I'm not trying to be contentious, but methinks it's a matter of degree. I haven't looked up the regs on the OFCOM site, but I would suggest that engine failure would merit a Mayday call, it's too serious for a PanPan. Secondly there's no particular procedure required to make a call and VTS won't know if you've got a licence or not. You should hear how badly and amateurish some "qualified" users work! Of course you can always call VTS on your mobile - after that's the process for short boats My point is not to make an argument, but to persuade folks who otherwise would be put off going up from Limehouse because of the radio issue. It's a fabulous trip viewing London from the river and it's an incredibly under used waterway. If you go up at the recommended state of the tide, and avoid the trip boats times it's a doddle.

OK, OK - I hold my hand up; I was wrong! I was working from the 2005 PLA guide (now withdrawn and replaced by a silly map), and the BW better guide. Some time ago but after the length requirement was changed I had a long conversation with a PLA representative who reluctantly agreed that all that was really required was a listening watch. I will still stick to my guns that you don't need a licence to listen A non qualified person may transmit in an emergency. You can call VTS by telephone to announce your entry and leaving its waters. Anyway it makes sense to go in convoy and someone else is bound to have a VHF radio.

I've never got my head around why folks buy a 3 or 4 stage charger and then leave it connected to shore power ALL WEEK The essence of these units is that they put oodles of power into the batteries as quickly as reasonable. Ummm - perhaps I should modify the above and say 3 or 4 stage high output charger. If it's on all week then a cheaper 10 amp unit will do the job at its leisure. I purchased one of Charles Stirling's budget 3 stage units and it does the job for me. Having said that I also bought one of his posher boxes for another set of circumstances and that also delivers what I wanted. Just my two pen'orth

The naughty-website block is standard for this type of Voda's service, so it's not a fiddle for the offer in question (another boaty forum that I visit has commented on it). I was lucky to purchase one of the 1Gb for ever-packs (Voda have now changed the offer to 3Gb for 30 days). For occasional users - holidays on your boat perhaps - the 1Gb was/is a good deal I've had mine for six months and have only used 3 sqids of the allowance. Probably due to the fact that I can't always get a usable signal on the Oxford! The Voda card is "rubbish" as there's no easy way of attaching an antenna - unless you risk ruining the unit in forcing the case off. I bought an unlocked dongle via Fleabay and popped the Sim in it. The Voda dashboard is a bit minimalist - I prefer the standard Huwaei Mobile partner version which then runs whatever Sim I pop into the dongle. Result - Happiness

I blame the schools (not).... It occurred to me that this poor chap had bought the boat with a view to living on it or as a weekend bolt hole. Getting the vessel from A to B would then be a necessary evil, and if the assumption is correct, perhaps he felt there was no need to learn the techniques? I am saddened and immediately relieved by the large number of boats in marinas or on moorings who appear never to move from one year to the next. My views are reinforced by seeing numbers of broadened narrowboats on the canals and rivers. These don't look right from the outside, but inside they are palatially bling, or is it blingly palatial. They've been purchased as a low cost weekend pad. The owners don't want to cruise (thankfully), but have to move occasionally to avoid being classed as residential. I can't conscience anyone who is not as much an anorak as I on the matters of waterways, boats, engines and the like, but I am grateful for the diversity of folk and boats. I just feel a little sad for those who don't seem to understand that there is some need for basic knowledge. That comes back to my silly comment above; peeps have facts drummed into them nowadays, but the spirit of education seems to have died. Just absorb the data and spew it out in the exams is today's maxim. Oh dear, I am getting old.

On the Thames, NarrowBoaters are regarded with deep suspicion or even contempt by other boaters. However showing them and the inevitable band of gongoozlers that you can handle your boat and your lines (yes, "lines" , please chaps) will result in instant approbation from all. The vast majority of Thames resident boaters can't handle their -lines- or their boat, so you are instantly one up.... Getting on to the side of the lock going uphill is not for the fainthearted, there are steps up, but never where you want them, meanwhile your bow (if you are "driving") is rushing sideways towards the other vessels' Gelcoat. So, stay on board, coil your line, leaving slack in the free end, and heave the coil in the direction of a suitable bollard. After a few ignominious attempts, you should get it right. Having mastered your lines, the next lesson is how to enter a lock keeping the boat parallel to the side of the lock until you slow to a stop. Using full astern always ends in disaster, and bow thrusters are definitely cheating. Do it well and "you are a better man, my friend"

Here's some notes from a Thames "resident" - Marine band VHF There's no requirement to be able to transmit messages. The PLA regulations only require you to keep a listening watch, but then you'll have to borrow a hand held set from somewhere.... Even if you have a portable transceiver you are allowed to use it without having a license / passed the test in an emergency. The point is that the PLA issue bulletins every hour and they want you to listen to them in case there's a problem. Direction of travel Unless you've done it before, it is not a good idea to do the trip downstream, there aer lots of obstructions on the South Bank (moorings for commercial boats, the LondonEye), and navigating if the stream is running give you less control. The approach to Limehouse is awkward for a NB even at slack water as there are trip boats, police and other commercial users who don't obey the speed limit and cause quite considerable wash. Much better to do it upstream with the tide and you can hug the North Bank where the obstructions are "kinder". Insurance Some companies are vague about / prohibit the Thames transit - so check with them first. Non tidal Thames The best way to make most of the river, is perversely downstream as you can make progress quicker travelling with the current. You'll need a Visitor's license - it ain't cheap, but there are discounts if you are going to the IWA National rally. You can get a license at King's or Teddington Locks (depends which way you are going...) Most folks just use this as a conduit - we did before we were converted (!) It's beautiful, and there are lots of places to stop - provided you don't mind tying to a tree. The "best" places may charge a fee - Windsor, Cookham, Henley about £5-£6 per night. Avoid Maidenhead - £8 and just under the railway! There are a few EA owned sites and they are free - unless they are by the locks where a fee will be charged. The bucket-and-chuckit facilities may be yuk (are they really ??) but the self pumpouts at Molesey, Boveney, Shiplake, Mapledurham (new), Abingdon, Eynsham (and two others), work well and run for 12 minutes - good for boats with two tanks. Water - few and far between is via hydrants (large hoses) at Molesey, Chertsey, Boveney, Shiplake, Mapledurham, Cleeve, Abingdon, Eynsham. Publications The PLA used to do a great booklet, but that's been replaced by a map (not so good) here http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/NEW_Inner_PRINT_FINAL.pdf BW have good publications - already discussed, and the Environment Agency - have a look at everything on www.visitthames.co.uk I've said enough for now.