Bugsworth Tippler

The web address for the radio recordings is now : https://www.waterwaysongs.info/ref_canal_songs.htm and the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website front page is : https://www.waterwaysongs.info/index.htm

This is very useful. I have two 750w electric heaters (the marina supply won't cope with more than 2kW) which I can control remotely. They haven't been on in the recent cold spell as I think my Webasto system with froststat is coming on. I have the batteries linked to a battery charger so they should be OK but I'm slightly reluctant to rely on the Webasto (not sure why!). I'm about to remove the Webasto froststat fuse so I can see (remotely) when the electric heaters come into action (Envirotxt and Powertxt both send messages to my mobile phone). Opinions would be welcome on whether to rely on the Webasto or the electric heaters.

I used an Envirotxt device from this company (no longer produced) for many years to find out the temperature on my boat and recently purchased a Powertxt to control two 750watt electric heaters. It didn't initially work but I had wonderful assistance from tekview-solutions via e-mail and phone calls and am now pleased to say it does what I wanted. It keeps me informed of power cuts, temperatures and switches power to the heaters on and off. I am sure the reason it didn't work was down to a failure on my part, perhaps over confidence and failure to read instructions properly. You do need a 2G sim and I ended up buying one from tekview which was very reasonably priced. My other SMS devices work well on GiffGaff sims which are also quite cheap to use.

Thanks for the info. If there were some urgency and heavy machinery access was available (it appears not), I'm sure this could be done in less than "several weeks". With limited resources C&RT obviously have more urgent jobs and so, yet again, the end of the Peak Forest Canal is cut off from the rest of the network and local businesses and boaters adversely affected.

Songs of the Inland Waterways https://www.waterwaysongs.info/index.htm Lyrics and recordings of songs about the UK and Ireland waterways. Audio and video recordings including full recordings of radio and TV programmes plus other items of historic interest. The site has well over 300 songs listed at present.

How complicated can it be? Several weeks!!! Update on 04/08/2023: Please be advised navigation remains closed at Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal due to the failed bearings. Due to the complex repair, and the unique structure this bridge will remain closed for several weeks. Our teams are continuing to investigate alongside our specialist contractors and explore all the methods of repair that are available. A further update on progress made will be provided by Friday 11 August.

Magpie Patrick. I'm sorry to hear of the demise of your father whom I worked for from about 1974 for a few years when I started out on a 'teaching' career. I had no idea just how involved in the waterways he was. As I remember, he was supportive of a staff trip I organised for an evening on the Magic Lantern narrowboat when it was moored in Marple but didn't reveal much about his waterway passion in the workplace. Perhaps I wasn't at the school long enough or perhaps my memory is imperfect. I do know that 50% of all the schools I taught in were knocked down - you can work out the establishment from that.

Update on 28/06/2023: Following the damage to Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal by a third party, the Trust have visited site, inspected the damage and restricted access for safety reasons. The Trust is now undertaking the evaluation and engineering assessments necessary to determine requirements for its repair. Access for suitable equipment to the site is also restricted by the approach from the public highway and by a need to obtain access permissions across third party land. As a temporary measure, this week our teams will be securing the frame in position making the structure safe to resume road access to neighbouring residents. Our teams continue to work on all the necessary requirements to undertake a permanent repair to resume navigation, although it is anticipated this bridge will be closed for several weeks. A further update will be provided as soon as possible but at the latest by Friday 7 July. Several weeks !!!

Here we go again ... Stuck for another year! Update on 26/06/2023: As a result of continuing dry weather, we will need to temporarily close the Peak Forest & Macclesfield Canals for navigation from 10th July until water supplies have recovered. The Peak Forest & Macclesfield Canals began the main boating season with much less water than normal following the on-going repair works at Toddbrook Reservoir. The water in Bosley and Sutton Reservoirs has been used carefully and the restricted opening times have been successful in prolonging the supply to maintain navigation. Continued hot, dry weather means that holdings are now getting very low, even taking the recent rainfall into account, and so a navigation closure will be put in place along the Marple and Bosley Lock Flights. The remaining reservoir holdings are required to protect the canal infrastructure and meet the Trust’s legal responsibilities to protect the ecology and biodiversity throughout the summer. We are currently reinstating a feed from Combs Reservoir, which has been rested this year as a result of the repair works to the feed channel. Trials are due to commence Monday 26 June to convey water along the feeder channel. If these are unsuccessful, we are planning to reinstate pumping to abstract water from Combs into the canal via the River Goyt at Whaley Bridge. If a feed from Combs can be reinstated, then a planned closure will come into effect on Monday 10 July, however if Combs cannot be brought back into use, the closure could take effect sooner. We will of course be confirming details with boaters and local businesses as soon as we possibly can. We anticipate that these canals will remain closed for several weeks, but this is entirely weather dependent. Whilst the closures will prevent use of the lock flights, cruising between the lock flights will remain available. Water holdings will be monitored carefully throughout the summer and if there is continued, significant rainfall then it may be possible to reopen to navigation. During the planned closure the Trust is looking into bringing forward essential maintenance along the Marple Flight, which had originally been scheduled for this winter. To conserve as much water as possible whilst these closures are in place, both lock flights will be padlocked closed and secured against operation and the gates will be ‘”ashed” to reduce leakage. Customers should note that access on and off the peak forest canal is currently further restricted by recent third-party damage to Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge which restricts any movement on or off the Peak Forest canal beyond this point. Updates on this closure can be found here The Trust understands what an impact this has on boaters and boating businesses and apologises for the inconvenience and uncertainty that the closure brings.

Yes, it does look like a great idea which I'll investigate. The price of electronic stuff these days is unbelievable (cheap!). Thanks for suggestion.

Thanks to those who took my request at face value and made useful suggestions. The reason why I need to keep an eye on someone inside the boat while I'm tied to the tiller is personal and private but is real and may determine whether I can continue boating.

Hi I need to keep an eye on what's going on inside my narrowboat as I steer it along. Does anyone use a video system of some type to do the same? I'm thinking along the lines of baby monitors. Many surveillance cameras rely on access to wi-fi which I don't have on board. I would hope to power any device from a 12v supply. I'm interested to read the suggestions. Regards Ian

There are over 50 canal song videos on the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website. I'd be very happy to hear of any others.

Notice Alert Location: Navigation Closure: Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals Intersection of: Lock 1 to Lock 12 on Macclesfield Canal and Lock 1 to Lock 16 on Peak Forest Canal Monday 4 April 2022 08:30 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Water resources Update on 01/07/2022: Whilst we have experienced recent rainfall, this has had no impact on our reservoir holdings which supply the Macclesfield & Peak Forest canals and navigation remains closed on the Bosley and Marple lock flights. Whilst the locks remain closed, our teams are currently reducing the supply from the reservoirs to the canals, however due to the levels dropping on the summit pound, which is between Bosley and Whaley Bridge, we have had to reduce the supply slower than originally planned to ensure a sustained supply to the pound is maintained to help reduce any risk to our infrastructure and moored boats. During these closures, it is expected that the water levels will drop on the summit pound, our teams will continue to recharge the summit pound daily, though it is expected to take longer than normal to refill. To help prevent water loss, we have a team delivering grouting and leak sealing works around the summit and the pumps supplying a feed from the River Goyt at Whaley are monitored daily to ensure a sustained feed. We have taken this opportunity to complete a range of works along these canals to help retain water, including lock gate replacement works at Lock 1 and Lock 11, Bosley lock flight, with piling works started between Lock 4 and Lock 5. Please note, if conditions continue, we may have to close access to the Bugsworth Basin to help retain water. A further update will be provided by Friday 15 July 2022. Make of this what you will. As someone stranded on the Upper Level I feel entitled to a partial license refund.

If I remember correctly, one Marple lock needed major repair as a consequence of being left empty while another was repaired a few years ago. Why then are some of the Marple locks being left empty now as they are closed to navigation? There is water flowing round these empty locks so why can't C&RT manage them so they all contain water at all times? A little thought and effort could save them a lot of money in the future and prevent further closures. BTW the Macc Upper Level is very low and difficult to navigate. I don't know about ditchcrawling - it's more like sludge surfing.

The cheaper option was from The Starter Motor and Alternator Company https://www.startermotoralternators.co.uk/ There may be cheaper options but if there are I don't want to know. I bought at the higher price from the Manchester company mentioned earlier in the thread. For the record I fitted the alternator myself and amazingly it works!

I have now replaced the alternator for a new 12V 90 AMP MULTIFIT PRESTOLITE ALTERNATOR 66021590M. It appears to be running well and giving a voltage of 14.59V on the battery monitor which is very similar to the voltage on the starter battery. From memory I don't think the previous alternator gave anywhere near that value (probably 13 point something). I now know that a value below 14.2V was unsatisfactory but wasn't clear on that before. My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread and improved my knowledge. One lives and learns - and I wish I'd known the actual identity of the alternator sooner so I could have avoided being 'ripped off' and paying £46 more than I would have paid if I'd bought from a company with an website who had them in stock and offered free next day delivery!

The ten year old alternator which charged the service batteries was the one which was faulty and which I am now getting replaced. The identical one (same make and age) which charged the starter battery was replaced a couple of weeks ago by RCR. I realise now that both had been giving less than the optimum output voltage for some time but the starter battery alternator had developed a mechanical problem and literally stopped rotating. I don't know the exact fault on the service battery alternator but may investigate.

I've been out and about so missed the last few postings. I have taken the alternator out of the boat and to Manchester Auto Electrical who were recommended to me. I obviously didn't check the voltage on the D+ but it would have been useful to have done so and I will be able to do so in future (see below). I think the connection to D+ was good (closer view attached). I think the warning light was functioning. The chap at Manchester Auto Electrical pointed out that beneath the Isuzu label was a Prestolite label but he didn't have anything good to say about them as they seem to use their own parts which are not easy for him to get. However, he has sourced an identical replacement which I should get tomorrow. The Macclesfield Auto Electrics would have been useful to know before I drove to Salford but never mind. I'll file that info away. Thanks to everyone for their advice. Ian

Thanks Tony I will get the alternator looked at and maybe buy a new one. Ian

Is this picture any use?

Just an update : When I went to the boat today the service battery voltage was 12.65V and the starter 12.79V. The 'dodgy?' alternator is as supplied by Isuzu (HMI Part No. 900383-ALS). The alternator as supplied by RCR has no identification marks that I could find. I checked the wiring and the connector block but everything seemed fine. With the engine running the battery voltage (as read by the BVM) was 13.0-13.1V and the current flowing into the battery bank was all over the place ranging from 5A to 30A. When the engine was revved the voltage remained steady at 13.0V and the current input went down to 4-5 amps. After a while I switched off the engine and connected the mains operated 20 amp 7-stage Smart Battery Charger. https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-20a-connect-forget-automatic-leisure-battery-charger/ The voltage reading was then 13.1V and the current flow to the battery bank was approximately 20amp. The percentage reading started to rise from the previous reading of 83%. I know it would be very useful to have measured the voltage from the alternator but for safety reasons I chose not to risk being in the engine bay with a working engine. I have enquired of RCR as to the make of the alternator they supplied. They will get back to me. If not too expensive I shall buy a new alternator to have as a backup should problems continue with the current one on my summer trip. I may also get an expert to check the system though if the alternator 'problem' is intermittent this may or may not help. I'm not sure this additional information would help anyone who knows about these things so I'll thank all those who helped previously in case this is the last post.

I'll check the multiway connector tomorrow. Thanks