NB Lola

You guys do make me larrf!

Mp doubt my biochem missus will also put me right in about 40 mins lol Thanks

Excellent post, I shall get me miltons and clove oil tomorrow!

Breakers yard for windscreen rubber?

Yup, weekend boater is me Kings Bromley gives me enough distance to provide a variety of weekend/week away options

Hi I am looking out for a different marina so I can explore more of the system/ see different places. I am at Willington (which we love) I have just visited Kings Bromley and it looked ok for what I need, being:- Reasonably secure Quiet Accessible within an hour of Beeston, Notts. Not river based. I have also looked at Pilings Lock but I want a full length pontoon. Looked at Aston, nice but a bit like a ghost town last time I looked Nottingham/Beeston Marinas are too close to home. So are Shardlow and Sawley. However, the best way to find out what a Marina is like is to ask you good folk, hence this post. Views?

I have had an internal skin tank in my boat, along the port swim. Engine temp on old engine was always high. Recently had a new Canaline 42 fitted and the temp was still hitting 95c, which in winter for me, was a tad too high. Engine builders recommended more cooling. Rather than add a second tank, I had an external tank fitted by Paul Barber at Wyvern Marine on the Erewash. Temperature is now consistent and low, about 78-80c after a good run, including tootling up the Trent. This will serve me well and I am now a happy bunny! Pictures are on my blog (currently showing on my home page) Sunday 27th February 2011 is what you may wish to peruse. Paul www.canalblog23.blogspot.com

Fish

All about risk, threats, actors and value eh?

Hmm is it popcorn time?

Could not agree more, a rare breed, professional and customer led - top people

All depends on how much disposable income you have

Depends on what you want the fenders to do to be honest

Yeah, I reckon it was the skin tank that did for the old engine to be honest, 21 hp tank for a 42hp engine. my blog details the new external skin tank - maiden voyage Saturday, out of the erewash and up the trent to the trent and mersey, water levels permitting. The shaft was down to ignorance about greasing the stern tube. Having moaned I love my boat and boating. Lola is mine (ouch, ours she says) and she will remain with us for as long as we are able, plenty of years in me yet though (or so my 8 yr old reckons)

Whoops, thats what you get for using an iphone at 7 am Survey very conditional - means there was all sorts of "not proper access to..." the blacking prevented....." Limited access to....." Not having had any kind of boat survey done in the past, I was disappointed to feel that the surveyors report was more about covering him than it was about establishing condition. The owner wanted an agreed price subject to the survey. The survey I had requested was to include a valuation so I said I was not prepared to agree a price, the owner accepted my hesitation and agreed to survey first. When the deal was done we shook and accepted my fate, a few surprises, not least the fact that the oil and battery alarms went off within 20 mins of moving off. Two of the leisure batteries were completely disconnected. The batteries were remarked as being only a year old. My marine sparky, once the boat was moved, said they were shot. The blacking fell off, the engine failed, the prop shaft was replaced, the skin tank was just plain wrong for the hp of the orignal engine, the uxter plate was sitting too low (ballast removed), the gunwhales are narrower than expected. the gearbox was shot. Need I go on? The answer? choose your surveyor carefully. I had negotiated a good price even though these issues were not brought to light and she is now all fixed and a joy to sit on the tiller (which needs replacing next year!). Hell yes it cost me and hell yes I have learnt alot, and no I did not take issue with the surveyor, too many conditionals. ....... and nearly a waste of time!

I made no offer, current (June 2010) Market is weak. Instead, I arranged surveyor and then found a yard, be careful some yards can charge v high. I then got the owner to move the boat I then had the survey, make sure you get a full engine test Also the survey was very conditional sivas to be nearly a waste of time. Ensure you can get the boat high enough to get a proper baseplate check The price was then offered. The owner wanted a subject to offer, I simply said I did not have enough knowledge to do so Also try to get a valuation survey, older boats need them sometimes to get insurance

The Verdict Based on the evidence I have decided to only black half of it I used to be indecisive, not so sure now

Sufficient funding, so is current funding inadequate!

That's what happened to us on the Severn. Ideal given they are floating pontoons

My engine boards are disintegrating and I am looking for advice on whats best to replace. Not knowing much about boards, the ones i have at the moment have a pentagon, like a beehive as a pattern. I am reasonably happy with this type, where would l source some boards and would it be easy to jig saw them or do I need to have them cut to shape? Any other tips appreciated - i also want to put sound proofing on them Thanks

You must be using Vista, try windows 7!

I have found it is rytex? Any good?

Hmm Zulu time, better pick me spear up