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OK, many thanks for the reassurance. The SG seems to have settled down now after a few months -- I seldom drop below 80% so a relatively light power user, however these Lucas batteries appear to be working very well and I'd recommend them to anyone thinking of changing.

Gibbo, So when fitting these types of sealed batteries should you set-up the SG for "Normal" or "Sealed" batteries. I ask because I fitted some Lucas 110 XV batteries earlier this year with the SG selected to "Sealed" and wonder if I should change it.

I'll hold your coat

Agree! Also on the Highway 61 Revisited album (possible his best album IMHO) "Like a Rolling Stone" --- magic!

"Happy Birthday to You!" because it's usually accompanied by friends bearing gifts ! I have so many favourite songs but if I had to vote for just one it would probably be "The Times They are A'changing" by Bob Dylan. To me it captured the mood of the mid 60's better than any other. Followed by "Always on my Mind" by Elvis or Willie Nelson version, for very sad and personal reasons (although I was never particularly an Elvis fan).

It's a pretty safe bet, Martin. In the last week I've updated my mobile phone, bought some surround sound speakers for my desktop and a new 12V vacuum cleaner for the car. And although none were of Chinese "brand", China featured heavily in each case. BTW my son's been working in China for the last 4 years so I don't suppose I can complain really!

And more to the point: If so, was it made in Britain

Thanks for that. It's one of those jobs that I've been putting off for ages and if it really is as simple as that I'm starting to kick myself for not tending to it earlier. Fingers crossed it's the same model!

Thanks for the info. Looks like it's worth having a go then.

I'm sat here looking at a list of those minor "niggly" jobs that need sorting out over the winter. Fairly high up the list is to take a look at the morse lever. It vibrates/rattles like hell when in neutral and when in gear it very slowly creeps to one or two "favourite" positions, so for example if I want to pass a line of moored craft just above tickover (under windy conditions of course) I have to hold it in position. I was wondering if it has any type of adjustable clutch mechanism. i.e. can this item be serviced or is it a case of replacement? Its about 10 years old.

I go in the Anchor a couple times a year. Beer is usually very good as is the food, traditional pub grub at lunchtimes at good prices, don't know what the evening menu is like. Mooring is OK and trouble-free but can get noisey early morning when the nearby quarry gets working but I assume that doesn't happen on a Sunday morning.

No! resistance is probably the cause (too little of it somewhere) Leave it Gibbo or I'll only end up with dampness in the bottom of the wardrobe.

I saw a ratchet windlass being demonstrated on WaterWorld a couple days ago that looked quite ingenious, but never actually seen a ratcheted device used on the cut. So what's available?

That's the one! Also useful in times of nocturnal confusion to remind one not to p*ss in the wardrobe

Mine is probably too dim to be seen in daylight but definitely shows up at night. Very dim but not a problem, in fact it's quite useful because it acts as a guide as to where to press the panel push buttons if I decide to check on the battery status on my way pass the control cupboard to the loo in the dark.

Mine too.

OK. Point taken and understood.

Isn't bulk charge where the alternator is running at max chat? i.e. the alternator output is current limited by its regulator? Or have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick?

As the Sterling Alternator Controller is shown directly sensing the battery voltage surely it will raise the alternator voltage sufficiently to overcome the small line drop. Therefore removing the ammeters would not of itself result in any great difference in charging characteristics -- although of course it might be worthwhile making the change to a more modern shunt fed electronic meter from an accuracy point of view.

Although in my youth I've done top and bottom end overhauls on petrol engines, rebuilt Mini gearboxes etc, I have to confess that I know sod all about diesel engines... so this might be a daft question! While I was out cruising last week I was unable to turn off the engine (Beta 28HP under cruiser stern) using the ignition key/Stop button. So I was scratching my head deciding the best course of action to shut the thing down -- turn off the fuel cock? Bung a pair of socks in the air filter inlet? Bung a spud up the exhaust? In the end I discovered that the main battery switch had opened (God knows how, as it is under the deck!), so I re-closed it and BINGO... engine Stop button now worked. So, having thought a bit about what to do in the future (e.g. in the event of a Stop solenoid failure) I thought I'd pose the question on here! So what would YOU do?

Never mind the "Interests section". What's happened to the membership number? As member No.14 I had a sense of seniority, even though at my present rate of posting I'll not get to be a "Long Standind Member" until around Nov: 2019 The new look is steadily growing on me though!