charles123

There is humor on the site but sometimes you have to create it by challenging subtlety some of the big hitters here, and because some of them are prolific posters they usually rise to it Charles

Anyone know where I can get some letter box vents, the ones about 10 inches in brass or cast. The last ones I got some years ago came from Highline but they dont have any now? Thanks Charles

Victron battery monitor http://www.energy-solutions.co.uk/victron/bmv600.html Standard information and alarms Battery voltage (V) Battery charge/discharge current (A) Ampere-hours consumed (Ah) State of charge (%) Time to go at the current rate of discharge Visual and audible alarm: over- and under voltage, and/or battery discharged Programmable alarm or generator start relay. Charles

Kevin You could try The Boatmans Cabin Co, as I recall Laurence Hogg had a connection with manufacture of these and sold out to the Boatmans Cabin Co, at that time their range included cast iron authentic to the working boats style and adjustable, I don't know if they still do them in cast but they do a range of styles Charles

I have specified a 4 inch offset to the engine beds for my new hull, to allow more space to pass by in the engine room. The prop shaft will be the conventional design, universal joints at each end and hollow tube in between. Length of shaft about 10 ft. The engine will not be fitted by the hull builder. I would appreciate any thoughts/advice on this arrangement Thanks Charles

I cant help with the question but can you leave the genny on show so we can be sure to find somewhere away from you to moor up? Charles

Good for you, what I don't get is that you buy a shell but have not given any thought where you will fit it out How does that one work? Charles

I thought it one of the better ones on a subject covered many times. Tarrant of course like most presenters has no clue about canals so was reading the script which as I say was better than most placing canals more in context of the industrial revolution than most that programmes that focus on some aspects like the pottery trade. Would have preferred Fred the weather man present it mind you,ideally with his hand up sooties kilt Charles

I made an independent objection to Vale Royal Planning Dept to the flash development in the small flash where the "half boat" is located. I did not know there was a development on the towing path side which must have had approval, there are smaller flashes here popular with fishermen that are not so clear to see because of trees but I thought there was not much land here between the canal and the railway line to build much of a marina Charles

Heat exchangers are readily available off ebay at a fair price because they are used in domestic central heating boilers that wear out and get replaced but the "heating engineers" take them out as they are ok and sell them. The description on ebay will tell you the diameter of the 4 pipes you need just match these to the size of hose you need, some for sale they have left the fitings in place so you should be able to fit your hose over them and secure with jubilee clip Charles

We all know about LED lighting but I came across these fluorescent bulbs Solar Energy Saving 5 watt 12v Fluorescent Bulb (they do other powers) The site says "These bulbs exceed traditional energy saving bulb qualities. Super bright and flicker free. Each 1w is equivalent to 10w of a standard incandescent. (56 lumens per watt) 12v with a ES 27 fitment. This Edison Screw fitting is the standard size 27mm diameter" http://www.sunstore.co.uk/buy/solar-energy-saving-5-watt-12v-fluorescent-bulb_101974027.htm £7.14 Appears powerful light output for the power useage, any good does anyone know and I wonder if they are voltage tolerant?

Cant help on your question but curious, I though you could only stay in countries like the US for 3 months or something like that how do you get to stay for 2 years in the two countries Charles

Its down the Runcorn arm, there is a layby where the former boatyard was the remainder of boats moor on the main line but as a dead end there is not much traffic. Easy parking, quite small site, seemed to be ok to me and a good place to moor. As recall the owner who I have met and was very friendly and helpfull lives on a L&L short boat on the site Charles

A fair question to ask, but with a slow running engine its not producing much heat and in my case the coils are running through 15 gals of cold water in the tank which must draw a lot of the heat out. Plus the 2LW is prone to smoke until hot which is not pleasant Charles

Tim describes my intention for the 2LW, to tap for the calorifier before the thermostat to the keel tank. The disadvantage is the engine is warming the calorifier from switching starting up instead of heating up the engine. I like the idea of adding a second theremostat that keeps the water in the engine until hot enough to open for the calorifier. Here is a link to one off a Landrover http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/9607/3126/5/PEM100990-THERMOSTAT-HOUSING-ASSY.html Which is in line to the water hose so needs no mounting. What do we think of the idea? Charles

I have specified front and rear hatches for my new build to be not the lift over type as they are very difficult to open from the inside. I can understand why builders do it that way as its easy to secure from the outside with hasp and staple I will get round the security issue with a van door lock to keep the doors secured from the outside and the hatch is secured with a simple padlock on the runners behind it to stop it coming open. There will be a lip set in slightly under the hatch so there is no gap between the top of the doors and hatch For the rear hatch I have specified a one ft longer one than normal to allow angle of the steps will be shallower so you don't have to duck under. To me getting in and out of trad with BMC seems very difficult because the steps are so steep, you are almost going up or down vertically, I don't want that I like the aluminum idea that has been mentioned, much lighter to handle and more secure and less maintenance than wood Charles

I have had a one off expansion box made by TT Marine, they did not appreciate what I wanted it to do as are firmly in the camp of "you need a silencer to make the engine quiet", whereas I am in the camp if you have one then show it off. Loud is good for 2 and 3 vintage engines Charles

Just looked at your blog, good work there too, I see you got those ships aluminum windows from Trinity Marine (I assume) they are amazing value and look the part Charles

good luck with the engine, nice one, what year was it created? You are going to struggle on the gravel, if you can borrow a pump up truck and some 8 x 4 ply the pump up truck will roll over that no bother but you have to get the pallet onto the ply first! Charles

I broadly agree with Robbo, had both, the Mikkuni is better, both are noisy, power hungry and expensive to put right when they go wrong. I am going with gas next time, but an oil dripper would be my next choice like refleks Charles

I cant help regarding a wooden one but on the hull I am having built will have 3 skylights fabricated in steel and welded in. The two bigger ones are about 2 ft across by 2 ft 6 inches long, with a smaller one over the engine. Any fabricator could make one but I would suggest larger glass like Starmans photo rather than the tiny portholes that don't let much light in. Mine will cost £1300 on the build price for the steelwork only Charles

This is interesting, I understood traditional red oxide was primer designed to be overpainted, and its does not wear well for walking one etc; does the gloss version wear ok like any other gloss paint? I am looking for a roof paint and decks myself and like the red oxide colour but there is not a direct RAL equivalent in enamel except for Oxide Red which is acceptable but not the same colour as red oxide Charles

I think its brilliant, but annoying for the writer to keep on saying its an exact replica, clearly he has never seen a submarine let alone a U boat Charles

I dont have facebook and dont want to sign up can you put it on youtube please I would like to see and hear it? Charles

I know what you mean, I had wooden floors on a previous boat and in the saloon will have carpet tiles next time. A good place to start with is to see whats on offer is Ebay, if you buy spares you can change them round and to clean them take them off the boat, scrum them and hose them off come up as new Charles