Dave_P

1. I'm due to be going through Thames lock at Brentford soonish. The CRT booking system for the day only allowed me to book one specific time. I presume this is because that's the predicted time soon before high water? So I should be able to ride the flood to Teddington, and arrive there around high water. Is that right? 2. Once through Teddington I'll be looking for somewhere to moor. If England haven't been knocked out of the footie, they'll be playing that night so I'll be needing to settle in for that. (No need for disparaging comments about football - we all like different things). Can I moor immediately above Teddington lock on the lock moorings? Or is there somewhere soon after where I can tie up? Ideally somewhere with decent mobile signal, as my tv has been playing up. All suggestions welcome. I'm familiar with the Trent, Severn, Avon, Weaver and the upper reaches of the Thames above Oxford, but this bit is new to me so I'm not too sure what to expect. Thanks in advance.

Hi Ian, First, you haven't been deleted: https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/profile/2164-nine-of-hearts/ Second, I used to use an excellent boat sparky but he seems to have decided to become totally unreliable/uncommunicative, so I'd be interested in the answers too. In the meantime, what about Richard at Sherborne? Hope all is well at the Port. Dave

Then I can hope that my London prediction is true, and I get it all to myself! ?

Yesterday afternoon there were about 2-3 every ten minutes going past me at Norton Junction on the GU. A bit quieter today, but still a few per hour. Judging by Moomin's comment above, they're mainly avoiding the Leicester line. Maybe people think Leicester is still locked down, like it was last summer.

I do normally have a bike with me. But for complicated reasons I won't go into here, my bike is currently elsewhere. I've read this a few times and I think I understand. Thanks.

Update: At 3:30 I discovered that the nearest place I could get PTFE tape was an hour and a quarter walk away. And the place closes at 5:00. So of I went at a brisk trot to get there before it closed. I made it, and after a 2 and a half hour round trip, and returned with a roll of tape - cost 60p! I've now refitted it all and, hallelujah, it seems to be holding (touch wood). Well it's been a rather tiring day. My phone tells me I've walked 28,000 steps, which is good exercise, and best of all, I get to have a shower now. Thanks everyone for all your help - especially Tony, I think I owe you a pint some time.

This is all the bits This is all the bits loosely screwed together This is inside the brass fitting which was on the bottom of the accumulator.

I'll take a picture. The brass fitting I took off the accumulator has ptfe tape in the thread, so that's why I assumed that. Give me 2 minutes

There's another piece which I've found which I thought was part of the accumulator, a brass fitting. I've taken that off and it all goes together now! So I put it all on and it's weeping. I suppose there should be some ptfe tape in the thread? I don't think I have any of that. Any clever ideas?

Update. I got a threaded plug as recommended by Tracy as a temporary fix. Manged to get the accumulator off but I can't get the plug onto the fitting. It's the right plug I think but there's a plastic bit sticking up which prevents the plug from going on. Can I cut this plastic bit off to get the plug on, or is it needed for something?

It doesn't mention it. They also do a blue one which doesn't mention it either. The advantage of MC is that I can go in a talk to them. I could even take the old one in to make sure I get the right size. Me too. Thanks for all the help so far folks!

I've ordered a threaded stopper thingy which should arrive at an amazon locker near here by 1pm tomorrow. I can try and put that on so I can have a wash! Then I can wait until I get to Braunston and pick up this: Is that the right thing?

Thanks. There's no way what I have can be 25 litres. I think I'd have to start dismantling my wardrobe to get that in!

The accumulator does seem to turn, but I was nervous of doing that! Are they called something else?

Ahh, so it's not a specifically boat thing?

Is it this what you mean? https://www.plasticpipeshop.co.uk/34-BSP-Threaded-Plug_p_4270.html The problem is I can't even see anything. The accumulator is sitting on a wooden base and is boxed in underneath. I can't even work out how to remove the accumulator right now. And I'm tired! I'll be able to look again in the morning.

Thanks. Can you recommend anywhere round here?

Thanks for the info. I barely remember school, even less specific lessons regarding lemons. I do have a vague understanding of galvanic corrosion, anodes and cathodes (not learned from school). As I wondered earlier, why don't narrowboats have anodes spaced every six feet along the hull?

Here's some pics in case that helps

I noticed my pump (Jabsco Parmax 2.9) was cycling this afternoon. I was on the move so I turned the main switch off and left it to investigate when I moored up. When I checked the accumulator (the round metal thing next to the pump?) was peeing out water all over the place It was leaking from the join around the middle. I turned the pump back off and also the main cock from the water tank and dried things out as best I could. I then tried to bodge it with some duck tape, which predictably didn't work. So I'm looking for advice. Presumably I need a new accumulator? Or can I repair this another way? I've got a tube of epoxy putty arriving at an amazon locker tomorrow which I'll try to patch it with. I'm currently at Lapworth and heading down Hatton Locks tomorrow. The next obvious place to get a new accumulator is the chandlery at Braunston but that's at least a couple of days away, and to be honest I'd rather let someone fit it for me if possible. Does anyone know a reliable mobile engineer round here, or a boatyard who might be able to do it? Saltisford? Kate Boats? All advice gratefully received, but be warned I've a track record of cocking things like this up when I try to do it myself. I'll try and post a photo of the accumulator.

This sounds interesting. Can you explain more? How would I know which way round to connect the panel? Can you draw a diagram? Would there have to be lots of contact points along the hull or would the whole boat just become a cathode and gradually get thicker?

Couple of things. Painting the outside of the boat wouldn't be possible if that happened. And CRT have to lift it out in order for it to be legally seized.

Well yes, that's the plan I think. This is something I've heard before. On that basis I ought to have 9 anodes on each of my hull sides and another 9 anodes along the baseplate of the hull. 27 anodes in total. Typically a narrowboat might get 4 anodes. 2 at the front and 2 at the back.

If that's right then you're suggesting that some kind of significant current is likely to be found around a boat with no electric system, is not moving and there are no other boats nearby. If so, what would cause that? I would have thought that any galvanic corrosion would be minimal and not really worth bothering with new anodes for. The hull may have some old anodes on it anyway.