lewisericeric

Watch out - I was just looking at these for my cabin in the back as an extra heat source. I was looking at the KSP270 which is the same thing but doesn't require electrics and they've put the manual on the webpage for that one. It states:- "Must not be installed below ground level" "Prohibited for use in boats , caravans and vehicle cabins"

I think for us the highlight was definately a last minute booked 2 week cruise in march. We both booked 2 weeks off work and ended up "catching" the march heat wave where every day was absolutely stunning ! We travelled down from New Islington Marina where we were moored at the time, down to Castlefield, then did the Bridgewater, onto the Trent and Mersey where we had two portholes cut and fitted by the great Tim Leech and then made a return journey along the same way that we came. Amazing time because of the weather and still feels like a dream now. A week after we returned the weather was back to rain and cold and still can't believe that for once in my life I had some good luck!! Second to that isn't really travel related, but was being able to fit a good 700w solar array to the boat and learning all about that....wiring, MPPT controller etc etc - that was back I'm May I think of 2012. I only wish that when all these things were happening, that we had our blog up and running to capture the emotions and details etc for something to look back on now.

Sorry to hear about your troubles Titus. Seems to be getting more common. A few weeks back we had about 50-60 quids worth of diesel took from our tank. More info on our blog... Its not as bad as having windows smashed though and someone actually in your boat. We are in a pretty quiet area here and it's places like this where you just wouldn't expect this thing to happen, but at the same time, scroats looking to steal know people are off guard in rural places. No one on the look out and people's guards are generally down. Please report it to the police. I know some other people around by me who have had things happen and not reported it, saying things like " what will the police do" but there's nothing they can do unless they know of a problem in an area. We reported our "crime" and they've been really supportive - I don't expect to get my diesel back but they have sent more police presence up here at night despite it being a really quiet, rural era and they've made calls to me to see if I've noticed anything more out of the ordinary etc etc

Hehe reminds me of in the summer when we had friends on the boat and were out cruising.... We were turning the boat around at an official turning point and at the entrance of a marina on the Bridgewater as we were dropping our friends off there. There was a fisherman on the towpath side and said " you've got all this f*ckin canal to turn round and you choose here" needless to say that he moved along pretty quickly when both me and my mate told him what for. Ridiculous. Al that stretch of canal, and you choose to fish at a marina entrance/turning point??? And then have a go at me!? Funny thinking back now though. I've got a bit of a temper on me and never thought my mate did, but he really laid into that fisherman but it was well deserved. No need to b using language at us and claiming he had rights over the canal

I knew I could count on you dean!!

It's a bit windy tonight up on the Macclesfield! Boat is getting chucked about a bit! Everyone else alright out there?!

Hi guys A lot have probably seen already but we have our very own blog at: Www.edwardsnb.blogspot.com We probably should have started this when we first got the boat as much more was going on then, but we're still having stuff done now, and having a lot of work done by the "professionals" lately, so might be interesting for those looking to have work done themselves etc. Feedback always welcome

I spot my boat there Dean?! Here's a pic from the other week on a walk with Eddie, I love this picture. It looks like a winter wonderland.... Everywhere was still white over with the frost. It's just off the canal, a walk I go on with Eddie most mornings

Any pics of this "invention" Dean?

We have 3x 230w Hyundai panels (poly not mono) and the other day we were getting 8.6amps an hour between about 1-3 when the sun then started descending. It's good because even now in winter, during nice days like that (clear skies) we can run everything on the boat like TV, laptop or iPad charging, Fridge, inverter etc and not have to worry about SOC dropping... Even on cloudy or really dull, rainy days we get between 2-6 amps consistently per hour during day light hours.

Glad I've opened a can of worms with this However, should ANY stove be operated whilst unattended. Exactly, how do we do that whilst asleep.... Yet I leave my main stove on overnight every night over winter!

Glad I've opened a can of worms with this However, should ANY stove be operated whilst unattended. Exactly, how do we do that whilst asleep.... Yet I leave my main stove on overnight every night over winter!

If installed in the bedroom??? http://www.elyboatchandlers.com/wall-mounted-heaters/dickinson-newport-solid-fuel-heater

I must be "other" as well then. I young, 27, but don't own a boat because I'm skint. I have my own apartment and rent that out because I preferred or wanted to have a boat. I agree with a previous poster, statistics are rubbish just made to suit whichever company is paying for them, I'm sure people who own or live on boats all have different situations, not just the few mentioned above

Yes I posted at the same time as tony, so my thanks was for the previous poster. TONY - my engine is often on for 3/4/5 hours a day not to mention my 690w solar array. Tell me, even in the height summer, are you seriously saying that my engine needs to be on for 5 hours a day!? What the bleeding hell have I got solar panels for!?!!?

Thank you ! One problem solved....

Good point bottle. Of course it could flash onto 14.4+ for just a few seconds. This is all scrambling my brain hence some of the things I'm coming out with! I'm clutching at straws. Ok, tonight when the engine was on, we were at 14.2.... If I switched the fridge all lights and inverter off it was reading 14.4 so I do believe now that it is charging at that rate but showing less as I am using loads? Therefore are my batteries still getting a full charge or am I meant to be switching EVERYTHING off on the boat to make sure they're getting charged properly and at the right voltage???

Thanks pete and others.... One other thing, I've been going through the outback MPPt long which goes back 128 days and gives me the maximum voltage attained. I've noticed that everyday a combo of solar and engine power has resulted in the volt peak being at least 14.4 and at least once a week the batts are going into a voltage of 15-15.2 What do you guys think about that. Once or twice over that 128 days the batteries did reach highs of 15.6-8 , but only once or twice.

The engine is running for about 4 hours a day easily if not more at the moment AND we have 690w of solar on the roof. The other day we had about 5amps from the panels and we had the engine on and voltage on my outback MPPt controller was showing at 14.4 ( not sure what it was on smart gauge reading, as I said earlier that has gone on the blink and has had to be sent back) Not sure what to do for the best really , so many different ideas! Roger-the same roger that fitted my Dometic toilet!? I should also mention that my 14.2 Volt max that I notice on my smart gauge usually when the engine is on is also with stuff on in the boat? Inverter, fridge, odd light or tv on too..... So that will make a difference? It could be CHARGING at 14.4, right? Shoreline isn't available on my mooring where I am so dependent solely on solar array and engine power.

I have a beta 38 engine and I think, off the top of my head that the standard starter alternator is a 70amp one. I have 3x 110ah wet batteries that I top up each month. Can't believe that a small volt difference between 14.25 and 14.4 volts can damage a battery though by not charging it enough. And as I said before, why the hell is smart gauge telling me readings are at 100?? As I said , i know it can be up to 10% out with anything over 90% but how far out then?! My batts must have been dropping below 50% for them to be suplhated?

Thanks guys. Just to let you know that I have a prestolite 110ah alternator fitted and he told me yesterday that they charge between 14.2 and 14.4... So, would fitting one of these relays make sure I'm getting the 14.4? Anyone know specifically about presto lite alternators? Cheers Sorry one other thing, would it be better to just get the starter alternator sorted and then the leisure alternator would be givin the batteries 14.4v charge directly surely? Sorry one other thing, would it be better to just get the starter alternator sorted and then the leisure alternator would be givin the batteries 14.4v charge directly surely?

He has suggested maybe fitting a sterling or adverc battery management system. However, why then has smart gauge been telling me every day that ,my batts are at 100%?? I'm guessing then, that this HAS caused damage to my batteries? Or that just maybe I'm not charged to 100% ( I know smart gauge can beup to 10% out but with this diode then what is the maximum charge status my batteries would realistically be at? And has this cause damage or if this battery management system is installed , will it all be fine??? Hw much are these adverc/sterling battery systems?

I've been slpeaking to the guy who did it for me and he said a split diode was fitted. Does that mean they're NOT one battery bank? Is it good or bad?!

I've been slpeaking to the guy who did it for me and he said a split diode was fitted. Does that mean they're NOT one battery bank? Is it good or bad?!