George94

From the AA site: "Although tremendous progress has been made in improving the performance of modern day antifreeze/coolants there is still one factor that can reduce their effectiveness – the quality of the water used for dilution! High levels of calcium and magnesium in tap water, that cause furring of kettle heater elements, can also lead to deposits and scale build up in the engine cooling system. If you are in a hard water area it is advisable to use distilled or deionised water in the cooling system rather than tap water."

I suspect they do this partly because it helps to weed out people who aren't serious. Their 10% commission is actually very small when you consider that the job might only cost £300.00, and they guarantee it on top of arranging everything. If they spend their time giving quotes to people who then disappear, or who use the quote to beat down somebody else's price, they are not going to do very well.

What model is it? It has a rather historical look about it.

ETA: I love the interior. Much nicer than these pale Ash jobs that look as though they came straight from Ikea. As for age, my boat is 101, and still going strong. Just hang in there. A man (or woman) of taste and good sense will be along in due course.

Nice boat, but it's got a Shurflo pump. That's the killer.

I had forgotten the thread title. Thought we were talking hoovers generally.

Maybe it would be best if nobody spoke to your accountants. ETA: From HMRC - Partly exempt businessYour business is partly exempt if your business has incurred VAT on purchases that relate to exempt supplies. This is known as exempt input tax. Generally, you won’t be able to reclaim exempt input tax. However, provided the amount of exempt input tax is below a certain amount, it can be recovered in full.

My experience was mentioned earlier in the thread. So far I haven't had to replace any replacement, but when I do you will be the first to know. If I remember. You appear, rather unsubtly, to be accusing me of lying (quote: "or just pretend it is"). The question is, why should I? I have no axe to grind. You on the other hand keep defending Shurflo pumps in the face of quite a lot of evidence (do a search of the forum) that they are prone to failure. People often see their own faults in others.

Old joke. (Many a true word, etc...) Why is a Springer called a Springer? Coz it's prone to Springer leak. But seriously now, many steel boats are built from much thinner steel than narrowboats. A lighter boat needs a smaller engine, stops more quickly, and uses less fuel. The vee hull should make a Springer handle better, and being less buoyant, it will require less ballast. There nowt wrong wi' a Springer.

It makes sense to repair wherever possible. It also makes sense to choose equipment that doesn't need repairing too often. A search of this forum shows that Shurflo pumps fail frequently. Possibly the reason is that far more people use Shurflo than any other make. However my experience is that they fail more than any other make.

You haven't tried a Miele. But in fairness, you'd have spent another thousand. Appropriate for a boat hoover.

Dysons are massively over-priced for what is effectively a few bits of plastic and an electric motor. But I will give them one thing. They ARE easy to take apart and service. Armed with a long Torx screwdriver, you can strip 'em down and reassemble them in no time at all. Usually, the equipment threads are OK (or were until somebody I won't mention appeared). Stick around if you can. It's the knowledgeable few who make this place what it is, at its best.

I don't think the owners, poor clods, can do much about it. It's the boats themselves and their sardine can plating. I have the highest regard for Springsters. Brave men (and women) who take their lives in their hands every day.

I hope you are not suggesting that Springer-owners are more prone to being Section Eighted than other people. That would be Springerist, and you are inviting a visit from the thought-police. Not to mention angry Springsters with knuckle-dusters, nailed clubs, and other such weapons typical of that class of people. ETA: I see Loafer has already fingered you as an undesirable. The thought-police can't be far behind.

I did, but your post suggested you were buying spares often - "I always buy Shuflo spares in advance on a Freaky Friday - cost £22.36.!

Well, that's a good sign. Unless they have all sunk.