[Headlights]

Thanks for the help all. Have order 7" lamp and horn from Midland Chandlers.

[Customer Service?]

I'm afraid it may be a bit more sinister than that, A long time ago I worked in the Sales Office of a company that, amongst many other things, was in the Hardware Manufacturing business. The Larger Wholesalers made it quite clear that if we sold direct to the public, they would no longer handle our products. As there were plenty of manufacturing competitors, and the Wholesale Market was much larger than the Private Market we had to succumb or go bust.

 

Not being able to buy direct I can happily live with, since I appreciate that a direct selling service can cost. However, what really ticked me off was that Spinflo couldn't/wouldn't assist me in identifying the particular model of their own product that I wanted. Once I know that information I'm quite happy to go to a wholesaler and get them to order it, even if it will cost a bit more as a 'special' order.

[Customer Service?]

Thanks for the answers and offers of help so far guys.

 

The one shown in the Aquafax link is the 'stainless steel' finish, or dull grey to you and me, and is not the one we want.

 

The finish we want is shown on the spinflo website:

 

www.thetford.nl/web/show/id=61327/langid=42

 

- more smoked glass type thing going on.

 

(Sorry, don't know how to do the clicky link thing here)

 

I feel a visit to the thetford/spinflo stand at Crick might be called for.

[Customer Service?]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, since it is both a 'letting off steam' rant and a general enquiry.

 

Is it just me or do the manufacturers of non-boat specific goods just not give a stuff about this particular market? I wish to purchase a Spinflo Midi Prima cooker in the smoked glass finish shown on their website, which we saw in the metal at the NEC show earlier this year. I know this finish is not what Spinflo laughingly call stainless steel - battleship grey more like - but don't know what the official Spinflo description is.

 

So I call Spinflo direct. Yes Sir, we have a wide range of finishes available. No Sir, I can't tell you what they all are, we do make a lot of them you see. No Sir, we don't have a list of finishes or a catalogue available. We only supply direct to wholesalers but we can complete a special order. No Sir, I can't tell you what the available finishes are so that you can place a special order with your local wholesaler.

 

So if Spinflo can't/won't tell me what the available finishes are how the chuffing hell am I suppose to make enquiries as to availability at chandlers!?!

 

The obvious subtext of all this is 'boaters/boat builders don't buy our products in the huge quantities caravan manufacturers do so we don't give a stuff about them'.

 

Right, now I've got that off my chest, anyone know what the finish I'm referring to is officially known as and which chandlers will be able/willing to order one for me?

[Stern gland greaser]

Never personally heard this (and I've got the vetus stuff myself) - have you spoken with vetus?

 

Just to tie up this loose end, the Vetus rep strongly advised our boat builder that for narrowboat application a flexible coupling should not be used with the greaseless stern gear. Apparently the Cutlass bearing (whatever that is ;-)) provides all the necessary free play. At a push an R&D plate could be used but wasn't recommended by Vetus. The concern expressed by the Vetus rep was that a flexible coupling could allow detrimental "oscillations" in the stern gear.

 

It seems that Vetus's view is that their stern gear only benefit from flexible couplings, such as R*Ds or Bullflexs, in non canal application where higher engine and boat speeds are encountered.

 

We've followed the advice given to us by our boat builder and Vetus and have not specified any flexible coupling, since we presume they know what they are talking about.

[Stern gland greaser]

I've been told that Vetus do not recommend using any kind of flexible coupling, be it Aquadrive, Centaflex or R&D or whatever, with their water lubricated bearings. Anyone else heard this or know otherwise?

 

(Our boatbuilder is recommending the Vetus stern gear, hence the query, btw.)

[Headlights]

Thanks for the replies, although I couldn't find any tunnel lamps (see, I'm learnin' ) on Puffin Parts Gralyn, although there are some other nice looking goodies there.

 

Guess I just needed pointing in the right direction!

[Headlights]

Good Afternoon kind people. I've been lurking here for a couple of weeks now and I've now screwed up the courage to seek some help.

 

We're (my 'significant other' Sue & me) are in the middle of having a new narrowboat built. Current crucial item that needs sourcing is a brass (or brass effect) headlight/tunnel light. Our boatbuilders have suggested Highline, I think, but I wasn't impressed. Can anyone suggest some possible suppliers/manufacturers?

 

Thanks,

 

Callum