ETS Jess

Hi All. It's been an exhausting experience, there's still work to be done but i'll bring you up to speed on developments. So as you know one of the leisure batteries exploded. I'll give you a little background info if it will help. My set-up was as follows : I have 3 x leisure (12v 110amph, possibly Wetline brand) batteries in a box and in a separate box the other side there is 1 Starter. All in the engine room. My 240v land line comes in at the back of the boat, and (I believe) splits off into 2, one cable running down the boat to the 240v sockets (washing machine, radio etc) and one cable running into a battery charger/power pack (Sterling Power Products I think its a ProCharge PT1210). That then charges the batteries when i'm moored with my landline in. Otherwise the batteries are charged via my engine alternator. The starter battery is also connected to the 3 leisure (i'm not sure why, prob in case the starter goes down so I can start the engine with the leisures?) On the 12v loom, I have the bilge pump, the lights in the boat, the fridge, the water pump and the shower drain pump. We've established that the 3 leisure batteries have dead cells - they were checked 3 weeks ago with the hydrometer and 3 cells over 2 of batteries were in the white (fair) area, the rest were in the green. I assume they had deteriorated further. The previous owner of my boat (who still lives at the yard i'm moored at) recons the batteries are about 6/7 years old. My neighbour, Neil, charged his (old) spare battery for me so I had some temporary power (for the fridge mostly) - i'll come back to this. So, it blew up on Tuesday night. As I said the washing machine (240v) was running when it happened. When I saw the plume of smoke from the engine room hatch, I legged it down the gunnels, fire extinguisher in hand, only to find the latch had dropped down, locking the bloody thing. So ran back up the gunnels into the boat which was now full of what I thought was smoke, into the engine room, prepared to tackle a blaze. Tons of "smoke" but no heat or flames, got the latch up and doors open, my neighbour Andy, had come up the gunnels and was waiting at the stern, we assumed it was the engine so pulled all the floor panels up and that's when Andy's hand started to feel like it was burning.-And it clicked, it was the batteries - - and then it clicked we'd been breathing in hydrochloric acid fumes. We backed off and had a very quick think about what to do, Geoff, another neighbour fetched his paint mask for us and we went back in. The battery box was a mess. acid over everything, all over the inner keel, in the bilge, up the wall, every where. I think the engine itself has managed to miss it, luckily. Andy (who is my absolute hero) got the paint mask and went back in the engine room. We disconnected the 240v land line, hit the battery isolator switches. He unfastened all the battery terminals from all the batteries (covered in acid) and pulled the 2 good batteries out, then got a rope round the remains of the exploded one and he carried it (sloshing acid about over his legs!!) down the gunnels to the land. Geoff said we needed to rinse it all out, or neutralise it. Andy is a road worker and happened to have a load of cement lying about, which obviously contains Lime, an alkali, it was the only thing we had lots to hand to we covered all the acid with cement and went a for cuppa. We left all the doors and windows and hatches open and I stayed in Andy's boatmans for the night. Next day, we went in worried about what we were going to find, and it was great! the lime had done a brilliant job, and it just flaked off with a scraper easy peasy. scooped it into a bucket. The acid had gone through some of the paintwork. we were scraping the cement out the battery box and the smell of battery acid was really bad again, we decided we had to take the battery box out and check under it. This seemingly simple job took almost 3 hours due to how it had been built. and low and behold it was a right state underneath. So we thew some cement on it and went for a cuppa. Chipped it all off again later and washed the entire engine room with soapy water. The acid had corroded patches of metal where it had sat under the battery box. This was really worrying as the battery box was sat on the Diesel fuel tank, but it seems solid still. We painted all the bare metal with fertan and i'll paint it with zink oxide on sunday. And now the interesting part. While looking at the battery box terminals, Andy (long suffering but very awesome) got a shock off them, dispite everything being turned off. Then another shock. Geoff had a poke about with a volt meter and traced it to the (isolated) starter battery. So we disconnected that. No more shocks from the leisure battery terminals. We plugged the 240v land line back in, fine, Geoff then turned the battery starter on and the bilge pump came on. But no batteries were connected... checked the fridge and the lights, everything was working, 12v and 240v. Then Geoff said it's prob best to not do that, as we weren't sure what voltage the battery charger was sending to the 12v stuff. So Neil brought his (old) spare battery round and we hooked it up to the terminals (charger turned off) and I had light and a cold fridge last night. I turned the Charger on today as the battery had gone flat(ish) over night to have a shower and after 2 minutes I could smell battery acid!!!!!!! Ran back to the engine room to turn the charger off and there is a little smoke coming out of the battery!! So! is it the battery charger going wrong or is it just that the batteries are old?? I have ordered 2 new batteries for collection tomorrow morning, but I don't want to connect them up to the Sterling charger until I've had that checked. So i'll be charging then in Andy's shed for the next week. And just a quick note - I know there'll be part of this you've read and though "Jesus! you shouldn't have done that!" including running into the smokey engine room and throwing cement about, but my boat is my home, and everything in my life is on it. I worked hard (3 separate jobs) for 2 years to afford just the deposit for that boat. If you're ever in that situation, where you think you're about to loose everything, im sure you'd do the same! Oh, and Andy is ok, we hosed his legs down and he's none the worse. though his trousers disintegrated while at his friends house yesterday! We're both breathing ok now too, we were quite wheezy Wednesday and yesterday. I'll keep you posted! Jess

while working on our communal moorings on Tuesday night, we were stopped in our tracks by an almighty bang. Looked around, couldn't see anything, then panicked thinking it was my (on board) washing machine. Nope. "Must have been in the woods" we said and then I saw the smoke coming out of my engine room!! And this was the sauce of the bang! enjoy! http://www.gandafitting.co.uk/images/j2 http://www.gandafitting.co.uk/images/j3

Thanks everyone Unfortunately I didn't get the Job, but still hoping to mover closer to the better half soon. Gaggle - she's 46' NB

Thanks Bottle

Awesome, thanks guys, i'll have a good play with it on sat. It's a very old Morse and an old BMC so i'm not surprised it needs a bit of TLC The boat is about 35 years old and there isn't much in the way of service history so who knows when the last time it was adjusted was!

Thank you! i'll try that on Saturday and report back. Jess

yarr! ....erm, I mean, no. No it wasn't me.

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There have been a couple of break-in's on Narrow boats in the Pelsall Area (Wryly & Essington), some reports saying it is a man on a Canoe/Kayak - please be aware, keep valuables out of view and doors/hatches locked when you're not around. Pelsall, Cannock and Walsall police are all aware, if you see anything please report it Jess

Hi All. Was doing a bit of maintenance on my 1.5 BMC last weekend, changed the belts etc. I've had a loose lever on the Morse control for ages, so seeing as I had the tools out, I tightened that. Realised the cables were quite loose too and after a bit of looking around and poking it looks like the whole system is a bit bodged. Where they attach to the control end, one of cables isn't fastened, so when you move the lever the whole cable (inc sheaf) moves, rather than just the wire inside the cable. Other than that, I think the system is in good condition, but a lot of adjustment is needed, ie: *Movement forward and backward is very stiff *The engine rev's loads before the propeller is engaged in either direction Has anyone played with a Morse? any tips? Is it worth trying to de-grease the inside of the cables or is it just better to buy a new set? Thanks, Jess

She is a she, Actually.

Okie dokie, no worries, i'll PM you my number, feel free to txt me if you're free that weekend, My boyfriend lives in the village, i'll be up from Friday night till sunday night x

I've only been on the water since last May, It's the way I was shown how to do it by my neighbours is all, but yes, every boat is different, not absolute full lock, you'll feel the "biting point" I guess. Anyway, i'm hoping to be in Parbold next weekend (8th/9th) if you would like a hand x

Easy peasy! Mine is 46' and I can *just* turn her on the spot without needing to use the winding hole. But that will obviously depend on the width of the cut where you are. If you take her to the winding hole, just take your time. Full lock in, the boat starts to turn. Once she's turning, give her a good bit of power to keep her going. then point the tiller full lock the other way and put her into reverse. She wont turn much going backwards, you're basically just pulling the bow back away from the side of the winding hole. once bow is well clear, full lock in the first direction again and give her some power, and again, once the bow gets close to the bank, full lock the other way and into reverse. repeat until you're turned The wind can help you turn too, it can also have the opposite effect, so just take your time and you'll be reet! Jess x

Hi Bluebelle! May I ask where? I have just this afternoon posted a topic re. mooring needed between Preston and Parbold on the L&L!

Oh Burscough, really? I thought they'd be full! i'll call em, Thank you. Still open to suggestions, thanks all Nightwatch - i'll check out the CRT, thanks

Hi all Any moorings, small boat yards, marinas etc in the Botany Bay area of Lancashire? I'm currently on the Cannock Extension off the Wyrley & Essington but my partner lives in Parbold (nr Wigan) and I now have a job opportunity Preston, so looking at options for moving! How exciting! Thank you for any local knowledge Jess

Is there any major difference in structure between a multi-fuel, wood burner type stove and a Diesel stove, e.g. a Bubble? Basically i'm pretty broke this month and I've very little money for Diesel, but due to my job I have lots of fire wood available. Could I burn it in my Diesel stove? Would the wood resin block the diesel pipe work? Would the wood burn too hot? Would the flue/chimney block with the wood smoke? I've not had any hands on experience with a wood/multi-fuel stove, only the diesel, so i'm unaware of any differences. I'm not in any real danger of freezing, I get paid at the end of the month but just pondering options... Jess NB Gracie

Hi all Thank you for your replies The deposit was put down last week and this sunday my partner and i are taking her for a spin with the current owner (CO). I have a friend who knows boats, i'll ask if he will join us, he will know the right questions to ask and things to look out for - testing taps etc I have the last survey in my posession, the only "advisory" was the wear in the counter plate needed attention. The CO has had the plate replaced - i've seen this. The engine bed is clean and tidy. I will contact the CO and will ask him to show me proof of purchase - i know it is the right thing to do, but i don't half feel rude for doing so. The CO and his partner will be living on-site for 6 months of the year, i can't imagine he would have sorted me out a mooring with the site owner if he was trying to pull a fast one? BUT you never know i guess. Is there any way of tracking ownership of boat via the BW number? Surely BW will know who owns the boat? He has a licence for it which i've seen. I signed the Change of ownership form last week, i assume i will receive a letter of confirmation? The form should have been posted by the CO by Tuesday this week, i've not received a letter yet, but it's only thursday. Insurance! I have put a deposit down now, and if the Change of ownership form has been posted and processed, surely that means the boat is my responsibility now? I have called for a boat insurance quote, but they needed more details - nots its travels at and horse power of the engine. I know she has a 1.5 BMC and is capable of traveling at least 4mph. i'll ask the CO on sunday and the insurance comp are calling my back on Mon. Anything else? I'm starting to get excited now, i move in (or on lol) on the 11th May

I put the deposit down on my first Narrowboat on Thursday! SOOO excited! Any tips for a first time owner in regards to exchange of ownership? I'll have her lifted and surveyed before committing, but she's a lovely boat looked after really well, last survey was 2011 and she passed with flying colours (know this is no guanentee) Can you remember the day you got your first NB? any questions you wished you'd asked? Any thing you would have doen differently? any advice appreciated Kind regards, A very happy Jess

Hello all! My name is Jess, and I'm a first time boat buyer! looking forward to finding my dream live aboard and very over-excited about everything boaty I will keep you all posted my boat hunt! Love Jess xx