The Crusty Crow

Yes he would really like MLAT. He could join in with all the other Victor Meldrews in there having a moan.

Oh dear! Oh well nick norman. If you really wanted to have a moan you could have posted your experience on "moored like a twat" Facebook group. Or ask a friend to help you to if you're not competent enough. Anyway, have a pleasant afternoon. Tararabit.

I only use this forum when looking for advice from members and there wealth of knowledge. Not somewhere i would choose to slag other boaters off. Until now. However your pathetic "moorons" post ended up on a Facebook. So you're now famous on there for being a moaning old git too. Why don't you go and tell the boat owner on there how he was in your way?

Pot, kettle black comes to mind. There was more than enough space on the lock landing for you to use it. I came past there whilst they were moored there and stopped off for an hour. This is also a lock that is hardly ever used as most folk use other flights at factory or smethwick. This is why it is heavily silted up and difficult to manoeuvre. But hey ho, carry on with your lovely summer hobby of racing around the BCN and moaning about anyone who has the audacity to be in your way. Hopefully you have mothballed your boat for the winter so those of us who cruise the BCN and surrounding canals all year round can get on in peace.

Well you sound like a right judgmental old git. Unfortunately more and more of your type seem to be taking up boating. You watch a few episodes of Tim and Pru and decide that boatings going to be your new hobby. And then moan about other canal users because they don't fit into your blinkered idea of what boating should be. Hopefully you'll soon get bored and swap your boat for a nice caravan. Then those of use who enjoy the diversity of the inland waterways can all get on in peace.

Thanks everyone for your advice on this. I'm waiting to hear back from Thamesway so will make a decision after hearing what they say. For now i'll leave it disconnected and keep the revs low.

Thanks. I've already written to Thames way but have yet had no reply

Hi everyone. I've fitted a Thames way hydraulic gearbox in my boat. The gearbox has an inlet and outlet for water coolant. The boat that the box and engine came out of was raw water cooled which was linked to the gearbox. My boat has a skin tank. Can I connect the gearbox up to my engine coolant? Could this damage the box? If I can where would be the best part of my engines coolant system to connect the inlet and outlet to. I've not come across these boxes before. I've installed it and its running fine. We havn't moved with it yet though as I don't want it to overheat while its not being cooled. anyone have any answers to this query please?

Thanks Tony That sounds about the best advice I've had so far. I've only got a few inches at the front of the engine to the bulkhead so wouldn't be able to move the engine forward if i put a bigger box like a prm on. I've been really careful changing between forward and reverse since the first plate went. Leaving a few seconds until the prop has stopped turning. There was still quite a load snapping click when i put the box into forward or reverse after the engine had warmed up. i think this jolt is what has destroyed the drive plate. My engines quite old and tired. we're liverboards and run the engine every day for power so i'm thinking now of replacing the engine and box. Unless I can find a modern replacement ZF as the post above suggests.

I'm in need of a new gearbox as my drive plate has broken for the third time in 3 years. I'm trying to find a PRM Hydraulic box if possible. I'm not sure which model is suitable though. I've been told to look out for a 150. A member on here has told me that they have a 260 3 to 1 ratio for sale. Does anyone know if this would be suitable? I have a BMC 1.8 fitted. My old gearbox is a Hurth. When I originally fitted the engine I purchased my propeller based on these specifications. I can't afford to change the prop as well so I need a box that I can replace the old Hurth with. Any advice anyone?

Thanks for all the advice. Will start at the cheap end. Hope it's not the rings. Will look for a new engine if so.

After 2 hours of boating today I moored up and went to check the weed hatch. When i opened the deck i noticed a lot of oil in the bilge next to the engine. I have one of those gauze pancake filters that sits above. There is a large patch of engine oil on the top of the bearer too so it looks like the oil has been coming out of the filter. I checked the dipstick and found that there is no oil in the sump. Lucky that I pulled over when I did. Anyone have any idea why this would happen? Also the engine was difficult to start earlier when i set out. Usually it starts fine.

Picked up a new inverter today from Maplins. Prob still keep my eyes open for a better one though.

RESULT! After a second visit to the store armed with a printed copy of the EU directive. Thanks for the link carlt. The manager said that the 12 month max was printed in the terms and conditions in their catalogue and on receipts. We couldn't find this anywhere. There was some mention about reasonable period but no specific length of time. The manager said we would have to write to customer services but he did give us the area managers name (accidently) and the head of customer services. We sent an email to both explaining our situation. Yesterday we received a phone call from the store manager that Maplins will provide a new inverter which we can pick up in a few days time. We'll probably buy a better quality inverter anyway as I doubt Maplins will do the same again. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Thanks for this link. really useful

Thanks everyone for your advice. we're going to continue with our complaint to Maplins and see what happens.

When my partner moved on the boat last year she came armed with a variety of electronic weaponry. After blowing 2 tooth brushes we invested in a pure sin wave inverter. We decided to buy one from Maplins. and ordered a 1000w one online and have used it with no problems until a few days ago. After the warning alarm came on we switched it off. When we turned it back on again something popped. We tried taking it to Maplins but their customer services department didn't want to know as its about 5 weeks since the warranty ran out. We have a spare 600 watt £50 one that we have had to wire in but have had no problems so I can't see it being a wiring fault. Does anyone know if we can pursue it with Maplins or should we just cut our loss and invest in a better make. Looking at Sterling ones on eBay at the moment. Any advice anyone? Also I've since looked inside and can see that one of the cylindrical (capacitor maybe) components has blown.

Hi folks! I'm after some advice on washing machines. I'm buying a new machine as my previous Hoover one never liked running off a generator even though it was an old school mechanical program type. I need a smaller one too as i've had to dismantle the old one to get it out of the bathroom (I put the bulkheads up after I installed the machine. Whoops!) I've been looking on E bay and have seen small Zanussi machines and Beko ones. Any ideas about best make and model or any problems I may encounter when running off my genni?

yeah your right. Reading back over this most have been really supportive. I've only talked to the guy on the towpath. Thought I would try and help him out as he seems quite vulnerable. I wouldn't like to be stuck here of all places. I've not seen him about all week so not sure what will happen now as we're moving on this week. Hope he can sort it out or BW will probably impound his boat.

Nice one. The blokes just someone I talked to on the towpath. He's not one of my mates. I just felt sorry for him due to the response he 's received since this happened. Thought I would raise his problem on here. This part of Birmingham we're moored at is surrounded by some big housing estates. Lots of bored teenagers around. I wouldn't like to be stuck here. I've not seen him about all week and we're moving off next week so I hope he sorts something out. Got a feeling though that BW may move his boat soon.

Nice one! I've only been on the equipment forum on here. First post i've ever put on this forum. Trying to help someone out and get a load of nasty, bitter, spiteful and suspicious responses to a genuine issue. We were at Druids Heath last Autumn and cruising back this way. Spoke to him last week and found he was still in this situation.

Too right! Quite shocked by some of the attitude on here. I came on the cut to get away from the bullshit like that. If he can source a head YES! i'll help him fit it. No problem!!! You have to report a crime within 24 hours of it happening. Otherwise he would have to lie about when it happened. He told the local beat copper who should have followed it up. Of course I would help him fit it. Why would't I????? Some of us on the cut look after each other. Sounds like your a selfish old git to me. Thanks for all the useful advice from some on here. I hope when some of you are up shit creek without a paddle you'll get the same attitude.

There's a bloke stuck moored on the towpath near Lyons boatyard on the Stratford cut a few miles out of Brum. last year while he was down the pub some scumbags nicked the head off his engine. Apparently they are boaters too. He told the police but didn't go down the station to get a crime number so his insurance wont pay out. He's now also got a patrol notice on his boat. Anyone out there know of a head for sale for a BMC 1.5. If you can help him out i'll let him know.

Thanks Brian.