lewisericeric

Hi guys, Still having probloems with charging/batteries etc so thinking I need to replace. Can you use ANY type of battery in place of your old ones? Difference in size etc? No idea about batteries and things so sorry if it seems like a daft question! Also I see batteries come in different Ah.....what is that? and what should I get? seen some 75Ah up to 125Ah? What should I expect from each end of that spectrum?

you just cant believe it can you? why would you do it. Oh yeah, for a "laff".... There really are some awful people in the world. Makes me worried to leave my boat

Hi guys. How long should it take to heat 80 litres of hot water via my engine? The calorifier is one of the new surecal ones. How long should I expect to run engine for to get the full 80 litres piping hot

Just to let you all know that we've not had any more squeaking still since taking off the belt and refitting it Thanks again guys- you saved us!

Think thats a wise idea black rose. Im thinking that probably what Im going to do. To be honest it is more the light and view im after really. I think the wind/rain was just bad because we were moored directly head on to the wind and its been terrible here at the moment. Last night we woke up about 4am and the boat sounded like it was literally being blown apart - was exciting (and terrifying!) Thanks all for your help

Thats not bad Laurie'Booth - who did them? I was also looking at these to put in my existing steel doors: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NARROWBOAT-DOOR-WINDOW-/320767389101?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item4aaf39edad#ht_500wt_949 Would be a bit nervous cutting through myself though incase i eff it up! What tool would I need??? I have a jigsaw at the mo, and drill etc. is there special blades for a jigsaw for cutting through steel?

ILL be honest- not fussed at all what wood they're made from. something light colored to match the interior but the cheaper the better....

Do you travel?! LOL What sort of price would you charge for them?

Thanks bob! D oyou know what cost Id be looking at roughly for them?

Question after question I know.....but.... Our NB has just steel doors on the front at the minute, and they're a bit dark.... I don't want to put windows in them, but have the whole unit changed for a hardwood glazed set of doors with a yale lock too. Does anyone know where I could get this done asap? Im in the Manchester area at the moment. Im sick of going to boat builders and being told I'm looking at may/june next year before even having a wall in, door made or some cupboards!! Would it be better to contact a glazing company do you think?

ouch! Anything cheaper? Also, can you get them in any shops rather than online - had so many problems lately gertting stuff online with delivery etc or items not showing up

Hi guys Thanks again for your advice on this - still trying to learn and take in your informatin and links! Where can I get one of those things from which will tell me how much the batteries are charged? What do I do with it? Just sit it on the battery or "connect" it somehow?! Cheers! OH, and I invested in a 12v fridge already (cost a bomb but have to say it's really good) and there's no way I could just dust pan and brush (they don't pick owt up!) and I have a permanently molting border terrier and saw dust everywhere :S Got a battery and wind up/solar power radio now too Aren't I doing well!?

Hi guys Thanks very much for all your kind and helpful answers. We did take the belt off and took it to Halfords, but as a previous poster mentioned they didn't have them. However we got back and put the belt back on and miraculously the squeaking has disappeared so maybe it just wasn't on properly or something? Watch this space, but all seems ok for now! PFU (or anyone).....why is there two alternators (and belts) on NB engines just out of interest???

I only did it for a test - wasn't running it for ages! Hehe PFU - If its something else wrong in the alternator box could it be serious/expensive?

by the way, when we took the belt off and then started the engine there was no squeaking so it must definately be that big thick drive belt. Nothing looked wrong with it though when we took it off. Went to halfords but they were about as much help as shite so gonna go to a mechanics or something tomorrow

it looks like your picture yes, but the part on the left is near to me and the part on the right is near the canal (floor of the boat) , if that makes sense?!

Hi guys After moving aboard everything is still all over the place so cant find my camera at the moment. Its a beta marine 38HP engine though....

hi tony I think its the big thick belt which si attached to the alternator at the top of the engine

Thanks PFU - so it'll be the big thick belt not the little,smaller one?

Thanks Tony, but is this the belt that just goes round the engine? There's two of them??? They all look fine and feel tight so how do I know if I need to get new ones???? The altnerators also aren't directly "on" the belts are they? I know nothing about engines!! Arrrgh!!!

Hi Tony Can you explain how the squeaking belt has an effect on the batteries???? Cheers

thanks matty. it kinda sounds like the pump is going still just a little lower in tone.....and then its on for bloody ages. when the tap's still open though it just sounds normal.... its when you switch the tap off that the tone changes and then its just on forever!

thanks guys - btw I'm not questioning it, I'm just trying to find out what I should be doing/not doing. Ill check the Amps/AH tomorrow guys and get back to you on this one, hopefully you'll be able to give me some good advice (as always!) one other thing....i notice when the inverter goes off, when i use water the pump comes on and takes AGES to switch off again..... we bought a new pump the other day so I know its not that- could it be related ? Perhaps it's struggling to run at the normal rate to pump water when the batteries are low so its doing it more slowly and thats why its taking longer to turn off?

what sort of charging time are batteries supposed to have then?

Sorry if this is really simple but as I'm a complete total newbie, I just don't know if I've been a bit naive about what electrical appliances I thought I could use.... We have three leisure batteries and the other day, we did three hours cruising. In the evening we did a little bit of vaccumming (with a cheap 1400w argos vaccuum) and then had the radio on on the stereo/hi-fi. (its a new one with i pod dock etc) Basically, the radio went off after an hour and the inverter closed down. Today, I had the engine running for around hour and a half. I did some vaccuuming again whilst the engine was running, and I've had a small 10" laptop on charge and on since 6pm and at now 9pm, the inverter has bleeped to tell me its closing down again. Lights, 12v stuff are and always have been ok (12v fridge included) Is this normal? Is that the amount of electric im supposed to get????? Or should my batteries be able to supply me with more?