Rebotco

Another source of relevant information is the technical pages of www.12VoltPlanet. I have frequently found them invaluable on 12 volt equipment.

I am wondering if there is confusion between the old "Fibreglass" and the more modern "Rockwool"?

Sorry - your cunning plan doesn't hold water.......... .........Unfortunately, neither will your bike! Plus you will drown before reaching 4 mph underwater.

Boat sinks. What to use for hole? Sorry to hear your boat sinks. Is this just occasionally, or is it a regular feature? I wouldn't use anything for a hole because you have most likely got one already. They are definitely bad news in a narrowboat anyway. I suggest you get rid of it pdq - a dirty great cork may well do the trick. 🙄

I've hired electric boats on the Mon and Brec a number of times, over 20 years ago. The main thing is that they have dedicated mooring spots with charging, which are not available to other canal traffic. At that time it was necessary to recharge pretty much every night, but that may well not be the case nowadays. Grounding was often a problem, especially late in the day, when the batteries didn't have enough oomph left to get you out. The barge pole was essential on those occasions. Being separated from the rest of the canal network means even in the height of summer total traffic remains the same. In my view it is the most beautiful of all the canals I've used and I would thoroughly recommend it to both the novice and old hands. They were pioneers of electric boats decades before they caught on elsewhere, and it is probable they are well ahead of the game today.

Those are almost certainly Caldwell windows. They were favoured by Dartline boatbuilders who often supplied the old Black Prince vessels. When I inquired about exactly the same thing, they asked for pictures to identify the correct version.

Not strictly correct - there have been electric charging facilities along the Mon and Brec for at least 20 years! Although this is a CRT canal, it may be the charging infra structure was installed by the electric boat hire companies.

I gave up using a wet vac on my cruiser stern. It is designed to have a wet bilge, and and takes multiple empties with a vac. It does have an automatic bilge pump, but this still leaves about 2" of water. So now I also use a cheapie small bilge pump fixed to the end of a stick, with crocodile clips to temporarily attach to the domestic batteries. I also use a longish piece of hose, which will reach the far side of the towpath. So I just dip the pump into the bilge and it runs continuously, with no emptying of a vac., until I'm happy with the result. If there is a bit of oil as well, it doesn't much matter as its not going into the cut. I find this most useful for emptying the bulk of the engine tray especially, as this cannot be dealt with automatically.

I did this over 20 years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Probably the prettiest canal in the country IMHO. Certainly then, had to moor each night at one of the half dozen dedicated mooring sites. Never had a problem getting a spot then, though there may be more electric hire boats nowadays. By the end of each days cruising the speed was noticably slower and the engine power definitely reduced, which didn't help when you got grounded. So I would say a recharging mooring is essential each night. Things may be a bit different now, for better or worse, but from my experience I would thoroughly recommend it.

Tell you what .......... Let Nick be right on Mon Tues Weds and Gibbo on Thurs Fri and Sat. .......................................................................... then we can all have Sundays off!!!

little electric engraving tools are quite cheap.

Perhaps technology has improved. Nevertheless, there remains a specific lifetime for all CO alarms, quite apart from the batteries.

I think its worth remembering that the internal CO sensors only last up to 7 years anyway. So the whole unit really has to be replaced after 7 years. That's irrespective of the battery condition.

The other consequence of being forced to oscillate between tickover and neutral is that the batteries are getting next to no charging.

I find a particular problem with first time hirers who are told to go v. slow past moored boats. They over react to this and then find they have got very little steerage, which scares them - so they go even slower to avoid hitting othe boats, thus making life more difficult for themselves, and for all those stuck behind them. On the rare occasions I do manage to pass them, I try to explain why they are unable to control their boat properly, and on even rarer occasions, they appreciate the advice!

Whatever "it" it was, it really shouldn't have got out on the passenger side - or left it without locking the door!

If you texted the W3W location there would be no problem with hearing mistakes.

Cyclists travelling at a sedate pace are not a problem and most welcome as far as I'm concerned. It's the brainless twerps who think the towpath is a race track who are the only problem. So it all boils down to speed. Notices, signs, advice etc are totally useless on the brain dead. They are never going to slow down voluntarily for anybody. They must be forcibly slowed down - its the only way. My solution is speed bumps - cheap and effective! These will not affect pedestrians, dog walkers, pram pushers, boaters or the sensible cyclists. But will definitely impede the the lunatic stick insects clad in lycra. For maximum impact these speed bumps should be angled towards the canal. Cheap, effective, and highly entertaining. Think I might patent that idea ......?

Its been quite a while, Bizz, since your wheeze cells have been in action. But well worth the wait at last. This stick invention will likely require further development for the aerospace industry to appreciate its full potential. If you form a research and development company, may I put my name down for about 2 x million shares, please? I'm convinced that within a very short time, Airbus will tell us exactly where we can stick the stick - then the sky's the limit!

1, 2 and 3 Gallon can's with liquored solid brass ’Shaftsbury’ classic watering can Well I hope his watering cans are better than his grammar/spelling!! At that price, I'd want solid gold with diamond insets.

These "Cello" brand ones seem to be very popular for boaters. We've had one for years. HERE

Which is precisely why I am happy to share my experience!

I've been with Craftsure since I first got a narrowboat around 14 years ago. And 2 years ago I had my first and only claim following a period of heavy rainfall and consequent flattening of the batteries by overworked bilge pump. Fortunately it was spotted before it sunk, but still caused significant damage in the engine bay of my cruiser stern boat. My claim in excess of £6000 was paid out by Craftsure, much to my relief. There was some negotiation required, but they were quite fair and we reached a settlement that I was very happy with. Happier than they were, I expect! So I can highly recommend them from experience as an honest and fair insurer. My best recommendation probably is the fact that I continue to insure with them, and likely always will.