Horsehorn

So... in the process of cleaning out my boat ready to get it up for sale I 'may' have thrown away some of the paperwork including bill of sale. Any tips on how I can prove ownership? I can try and back track to the marina where's I bought it from six years ago to try and see if they have any copy, but wanted to see if there are other ideas! Thanks Lucy

Thanks for your advice all. Going to take another look tomorrow and inevitably call out an engineer to be sure anyway.

Hi, I should have said I'd already checked for head gasket and no signs of white gunk in oil so fingers crossed on that. Catweasel - how do water and fuel fix? Is that a gasket failure? Thanks for help.

Apologies in advance for long post... The end of the story is that when turned off by BMC 1.5 is making a ticking noise that I'm thinking to be contraction sounds of cooling. I have had some cooling problems recently that if hoped I'd fixed. A friend used my boat and reported that it had developed a lot of smoke and they had to pull in. I looked at it and the heat exchanger rubber cap had developed a crack and most coolant/water had escaped. I also saw that the spring in the pressure cap (7psi) looked to have gone, so I've replaced both of these. Today I refilled coolant/water and tentatively ran the engine. It took a little while to start with some white smoke that went pretty quickly (clean filters?). It sounded a little faster than usual and I am nervous to run it for too long in case of overheating. Now the engine has been making some slight ticking noises once turned off, with the ticking noise being more and more spaced out with time. Is this a lag effect of the cooling system being pushing too hard previously? I appreciate there will be more info needed perhaps. and yes, don't lend your boat to friends Is this normal? Thanks

Thanks Alan. I'm guessing if I have a lower pressure rating then this may reduce water/coolant splurting out of the overflow valve a little when the engine is in full swing? But the downside is that it may struggle to get up to temperature, poss esp in the winter? Lucy

Hi all, What psi should you have for a pressure cap for the cooling system for a BMC 1.5? The spring on mine is bust and I foolishly forgot to check what the old one was and I'm not back for a couple of days now. Cheers Also what's the difference between short reach and large pressure caps, and blanking caps? Looking at the selection on ASAP here http://www.asap-supplies.com/engine-spares-gearboxes/pressure-caps Thanks

Hi, I'm considering selling my narrowboat and wondered if anyone can advise on a good place to read about the legal process of doing so without a broker? I bought it with a broker and so they managed the deeds so I'm not quite sure what I'd need to do in terms of paperwork and also liaison with CRT. Thank you

Thanks. I thought it might be the injectors but will follow your suggestion Tony.

Hi, We've had a ticking noise in the engine when it's moving for a couple of weeks (ou moved very short distances) and today when in full throttle to turn around the engine puffed out loads of black smoke and then stopped entirely. It's a BMC 1.5 with a bit of wear and tear. I understand that black smoke is often the consequence of too much fuel or too little air, but any suggestions on how this may be related to a ticking noise and how to rectify? Thanks all

Thanks, glad i didnt burn it!

Hi, What a melon. Absent mindedly started painting the stove with what I thought was my tin of high temp black paint then realised was using almost identical looking tin of black gloss... Is paint stripper the best way forward or could it be burnt off with the fire at low heat? Ta

Hi Pete, Mixture of 28mm copper and plastic pipes. There is a pump that pushes the water heated from the stove boiler along. This will be our fourth winter on the boat and had no problems hnt about half way through last winter, and have lazily left it sitting there over the summer months. Does that help? Thanks!

Thanks, very helpful. Do you think a normal hose pressure (connected to a tap) would be enough to flush the system through, or would a greater pressure be required? Thanks

Hi, Our radiators and pipes attached to the stove's back boiler have got loose rust stuck in them and I'm not quite sure how to get it out! Early spring last year they were making clanging noises when the stove was on and we were told by a plumber/mr fix it friend that the ancient header tank was rusty and so flakes had made it through the system. Question is, how do you flush the pipes and get it out?? A high pressure hose? Thoughts much appreciated. Winters a-comin... Lucy

cheers, thats helpful. ta

Hi everyone, We're blacking our boat in a couple of weeks and need to buy supplies. How many litres of bitumen would I need for 3 layers on a 60ft narrowboat? Any any specific recommendations on the type of rollers or brushes to use? It will e pressure washes but not sand blasted beforehand. Cheers, Lucy

Thanks all

Hi all, We're getting our boat out of the water soon for blacking and plan to get a survey at the same time. Do you have any suggestions of reasonably priced surveyors who work around Stanstead Abbots where we'll be in the marina. Thanks, Lucy

Thanks everyone, glad this is looking very easy Fingers crossed I'll have a panel up and running by next weekend!

Thanks all, will check out Bimble and Onboard Solar. Can only get 200W b0atman as can't afford any more! Cheers, Lucy

Hi all, Any suggestions for quality grade 100W or 200W solar panels that don't cost the earth and are not made from the scrappings off the factory floor? Looking for the ones that come mounted in a titlable frame that can be either locked or bolted to the roof (narrowboat). Ideally looking for a company that sells kits, to make it easier for me to install (electrical novice short on time). Having looked at various sites and on ebay it's hard to discern quality manufactuers. Looking for a total of 200W. I know the merits of MPPG Vs PWM charge controllers, but it may come down to price. What's the difference between 12v and 24v kits? Thanks! Lucy

Thanks for the tips, will check them out today. Cheers

Hi, Does anyone know of anywhere in the London area you can get professional cratch cover repairs? Or alternatively any recommendations outside of London where I could get it sent off to. My sewing machine can't handle the thickness of the material and some of the seams need resewing better than I can do by hand (stern cratch on a semi-trad). Thanks all, Lucy

Hi all, One of our handrails along the roof was badly damaged yesterday due to fast river currents whipping the boat away from where it was tied up. Boat pulled away in wind and currents but still tied on, the handrail bent and popped off the rivets. Turns out the handrails are only painted gas pipes and so ruptured easily under pressure. The rupture is at the middle of the rail and is pretty big, protuding out and overhanging, so ertainly needs attention. We can prob bash it inwards so is less of an obstruction but is obv not secure now. We have always tied our ropes to the handrail, so now can't have ropes on that side of the boat until it's fixed. So... Advice on replacing this gas piping with proper handrails (on both sides of boat). What material? How fix to the roof? Is this a job for a welder? How much will it cost?!? Thanks all, Lucy

Hey all, I am looking to buy a 12v car stereo and speakers for my narrowboat and wondered if anyone out there could recommend/advise on what to get? I am looking for a pretty decent model with some speakers handling decent range along with facility to plug external devices ( laptops/ mp3 players) into the amp. I've just started looking but anyone out there got any tips? Thanks,