andyb116

I know this boat well, it has been moored at elesmere port for quite some time, has had a brand new beta 38 about 4/5 years ago and is owned by a church organisation of some sort, have done some work on it and its had a fair amount of money spent on it.

Have worked on a few of these, never start on 4 cylinders, always smoke like a pig on start up and the exhaust fumes always stink, even when the smoke has cleared. If it's fitted with the original gearbox it's the size of a prm500 and twice as heavy and about half as strong as a prm80. We've had three gearbox oil coolers go as well.

I maintain a few of these, very well made and fitted out with everything you need, just on a smaller scale. As you say a waterborne camper van. But one of the few I maintain is used as a live aboard for six months of the year.

We use a considerable amount of keelblack at our workshop. Due to previous opinions and insults on this forum when I've tried to help, I'm not prepared to discuss this publicly, if anyone wants info about what we've found, please feel free to pm me. Andy B

Nick Norman, if you blow the pictures of the covers up, it gives the current ratings on them, I thought the same when I ordered my first batch though.

With my job I use buss bar p/no VA/189B/2 from a company called Furneaux Riddall, these comply with the BSS and all the relevant BMET ISO's. I have no connection with this company other than being a satisfied customer. They have a very good website.

Your spot on meanderingviking, if it's the genuine vetus filter p/No STM3690 it will pass, the one thing with the vetus 2 pots is that some had mechanical fuel pumps and have to be manually bled after removing the filter.if it's a Baldwin filter, they come with a plastic drain plug.

If it's the genuine Vetus fuel filter on the side of the engine, you'll find the plastic nut is only a cover to help you undo the aluminium drain plug underneath it. Have gone to a few boats that have been failed for this, till I proved it to the inspector with a new one from stock.

If i remember correctly, the correct idle speed is 825 +\- 25 RPM

Tony brooks, I find your reply quite offensive, as someone who has a HND in engineering, a degree in vehicle engineering, is a fully qualified British marine electrical technician (BMET). Qualified welder (mig,tig and mma), qualified machinist and blacksmith, MCA Boatmaster, assessor and trainer and has worked on historic boat engines for over 20 years within my own successful company before retiring (and yes I do have the bits of paper to prove it). And the end of the day I was just hoping to offer someone a job (not a yard hand) as wood is an alien substance to me and that as a manager that's the trade we need help with. Well at least I tried. May be, judging by your post I shouldn't have bothered Andy B

Further to my first post, I've now been given authority my the mods. i'm the workshop manager at Tattenhall marina near Chester, we're looking to recruit a narrowboat engineer on a semi casual basis, this is an employed position, but not full time. Ideally this person would have a good background in narrowboat repairs and maintenance but with a leaning towards woodwork/carpentry. for details I can be contacted on 01829 771775 and leave a message and I'll get back to you or pm me on here Thanks Andy B

Does anyone know if I can place a recruitment advert on the forum and who to contact for permission. Moderators please feel free to pm me. cheers Andy B

WotEver, if your bored and got a lot of spare time the ISO'S you need to look at is ISO 13297:2014 for AC & ISO 10133:2012 for DC Andy B

Best practice, not a requirement for inland waterways though, to use tri rated 2,5 cable. hope this helps, Andy B (BMEET).

I would suggest you go to Beal.org and look for isolator switch SH24. I have changed loads of the plastic switchs you are using, they don't like to take as much current as they state, especially find a lot of melted ones on the domestic side of the electrics. I have replaced all the faulty ones I've found with the SH24 switch and never had any problems. Please note I have no connection to beal, just a satisfied customer who has brought from them for many years. Hope this helps. Andy B