Dave_P
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Posts posted by Dave_P
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40 minutes ago, Onewheeler said:
Rather than anodes, I might be tempted to place a piece of mild steel chain under the boat along its length and connect a small solar panel between it and the hull to give active protection. Make sure the panel is connected the right way round! It won't stop it rotting from the inside though.
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?
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7 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:
I think it would be simpler (and cheaper) to simply get it to where you want it,clean it up and paint it whatever colour you like.
You said you have plenty of helpers,so once in place a couple of days work.
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.
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2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
Or, just buy a plastic pond liner from the garden centre.
Well yes, that's the plan I think.
7 minutes ago, BEngo said:If you stick any piece of mild steel in water it will corrode. The steel itself is not homogenous ( there are lots of bits where the composition varies, there are carbon inclusions etc... ) and some parts are more anodic than others. These corrode fastest and usually form pits. The chemistry at the very bottom of a pit is complicated but creates the conditions that make the pit grow.
Blacking keeps the water away from the metal. Anodes provide an anti-corrosive potential so that even the most anodic bits of steel are less anodic than the Anodes. This means the Anodes corrode before the steel. Empirically, the Anodes have an effective range of about 6 feet.
In this case the hulk is going to corrode from the inside out, as well as the outside in.
The ideal thing to do with the hulk would be to blast it inside and out and then apply an epoxy coating system designed for in water use. You could then forget it for 20 plus years.
N
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.
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7 minutes ago, blackrose said:
I don't really understand this? Anodes are added to provide sacrificial protection to steel on all sorts of underwater objects, many without any electrical systems. They work by introducing galvanic action between the dissimilar metals to the detriment of the less noble metal. It has nothing to do with the electrical system onboard a boat, unless of course there is a fault with the electrical system involving the hull in which case the anodes might fizz away much quicker.
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.
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15 hours ago, matty40s said:
Forget the anodes, not needed if no electrics.
It depends on how long you want your project to last, but blacking should suffice, both internal and external to prolong the metal life........however, its structure will probably last for years anyway, and maybe it should be allowed to dissolve into the natural environment on it's own.
Thanks for this. I couldn't see a point to the anodes either. It seems the boat yard have just sent out a standard blacking quote. That concerns me, as it implies that they haven't really thought about what's needed here. I've advised my friend to ask about a DIY option so we can make sure it's done properly. The charity is not short of helpers and yours truly can oversee the operation.
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13 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:
Is it going to be moved?
Yes. The boatyard is about a day's tow from the final resting place.
1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:I'm struggling to think how this will look like anything other than an abandoned hulk with water lillies growing in it (like that one on the Stourbridge you refer to) unless it's moved off the canal. Might be nice on a traffic roundabout.
You may be right, but I think I'd quite like the look of an abandoned hulk with waterlilies in it. My friend is a very capable horticulturist so I'm sure she's got some think great planned.
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I have a friend who has agreed to take an abandoned and derelict, but floating, hull off CRT's hands. It's to be used as a sort of floating pond (don't ask). I think it's to do with a charity. The boat will be lined somehow before waterlilies etc are added.
AFAIK CRT aren't charging her for it and they legally have to crane it out anyway so it can't be reclaimed by the former owner.
CRT have suggested that it should be blacked while it's out at the boatyard.
Questions:
1. Would you black the the whole boat inside and out? Or black the outside and vactan the inside? Or something else?
2. Would you epoxy it? Is it worth the cost? The boat is virtually worthless, but once this project is in place, it won't be easy to black it again.
3. Is there any point in putting anodes on it? The boatyard seem to want to do it, but I've always assumed that the joey boats I see moored up have no anodes. This is kind of the same thing. No engine or electrics. The boat will not move once in place.
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2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
Well they wouldn't saty in business very long if they relied on my business. I've neve had a problem finding a 7-day blacking yard.
One of the best being :
Undercover, you can stay on board, shoreline hook-up, water, toilets and any work done that you want.
Yes, I found one similar. They're out there if you look. I expect the marinas rely on their moorers not bothering to look elsewhere.
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1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:
You have obvioulsy not much experience of any 'proper' boat yards. Every one I have used has always been an 'in on a Friday morning and out on a Friday morning'
Then a agenda pretty much as Biscuits lays out - except a 3rd coat on day 4 or 5 , and an extra 'hand brush painting' in all the nooks & crannys' (up the weed hole, around all the joints and angles, on the rubbing strakes etc)
Depends on your definition of a proper boatyard. The bad experience I described above was very much at a very well established and very highly regarded boatyard. Try ringing round a few and you'll find that friday to friday is very much the exception rather than the rule these days. Mosty boatyards just want you in and out as quickly as possible. Why do one boat a week when you can do three?
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9 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:
Yep, that's how I do it usually.
Day 1: enter drydock, wash, scrape, cupbrush.
Day 2: first coat
Day 3: second coat
Days 4-6: any other jobs while in the dock.
Day 7: exit drydock.
It does help that I prefer Wigan drydock - you can only enter and exit on Friday mornings so you have to wait the full week.
Why would 7 days in a dry dock cost three times as much as 4 days? There's no extra work being done in those extra three days.
Much the same for me. I'm currently on the slipway and due back in tomorrow. I know it's early in the year but the last of the blacking went on Sunday afternoon and it's been a mild week. Covid cancellations meant a very cheap slipway came available at the last minute so i took it.
My first blacking experience was quite similar to the OPs. I got a well regarded boatyard to do it while I was out at work. It went up the slip, was blacked and back in the water approx 48 hours later. I didn't know any better back then. Predictably, they'd done an awful job and the blacking must have been still wet when it went in, as the weed hatch had glued itself shut. I raised it with the yard and got a shrug and "well we're busy, what do you expect?". Needless to say I would never go back.
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From reading this thread and others, I've got the impression that a good monitoring set up would be to have 2 meters. A Victron/NASA type to tell you when to stop charging. And a Smartgauge to tell you when to start charging. This Balmar interests me, because it looks like it's a single unit which covers all bases (if it works as claimed).
Can anyone recommend someone who could fit one for me? I had a look at the 'simple' installation instructions, and I might as well have been reading Russian!
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1 hour ago, john6767 said:
Feeling in a generous mood today; I think you will find the Hatherton is not part of the BCN
My copy of Another 60 Miles says it is BCN as far as Hednesford Basins to the North and Churchbridge Junction to the west. It states "Although the Staffs and Worcs Canal Co contributed towards the costs of building the branch it was still part of the BCN".
If you want to be picky, you could say these parts are the Cannock Extension and the Churchbridge Branch, but they are part of what we now call the Hatherton Canal.
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I see @BlueStringPudding is a facebook friend of his. Can you confirm?
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14 hours ago, Victor Vectis said:
< adopts smug git expression >
I have 2 of those. Lovely bedtime reading!
17 hours ago, Captain Pegg said:As a bona fide BCN person you’re most definitely welcome.
JP
Thanks boss, I'm still not quite sure how any of this will work, but I'll be ready to help with the team!
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2 hours ago, Captain Pegg said:
Rob-M and I briefly conversed yesterday evening, having been an actual team for the past four Challenges. I too had held back due to being full time at work, albeit from home.
What I could do is enter a team and nominate @Rob-M and @tree monkey and any other working folk who are interested but unsure if they can commit as spokespersons. Just so long as everyone is clear we might not get off the ground. There would no pressure on anyone, including me.
We might ‘beat’ Laurie to the wooden spoon.
JP
Hi Cap,
I'm another worker who'd love to join your team. I also have a copy of the other 60 miles, but unfortunately, it's in my drawer at the office while I'm working from home. I may be of some use though...
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1 minute ago, cheshire~rose said:
Once again I wish I could add a greenie for that, yes indeed it would be great through the winter months when people are not doing as much boating too
There's one for you!
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I'd also add that if this works, why not do it every week? There's plenty of people feeling a bit isolated at the moment
Just now, Victor Vectis said:What do you call a Welsh undertaker?
Ba Dum Tish!
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This idea is not a lot different to our forum chat room, just with added video. The chat room used to be well attended and could get quite busy, but it's died a death. It's a long shot, but why can't we add video to our chat room on here?
1 hour ago, Victor Vectis said:Please be careful with this.
The Archers podcast, DumTeeDum, put out details of a Zoom meeting on Twitter.
It was ruined by trolls. A bloke, ahem, pleasuring himself, another calling one of the organisers the 'n' word etc.
Be warned!
Simple solution: get a list of forum members who want to join and dm them the link
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What am I going to do with this pot noodle now?
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12 minutes ago, David Mack said:
They've nòw amended the closure to just between bridge 25 and Lapworth top lock.
That was my doing!
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16 hours ago, Mrs Tawny Owl said:
I (We) are in the process of updateing the scoring system for this year.
Once that's done I'll publish on the BCNs website, and send to all current participants.
I don;'t see any reason not to make available to everyone, it might encourage otheres to enter.
Not quite sure when, most of my spare time at the moment is helping my sister with lambing and calving on her farm, I saw 3 lambs born this morning, up and feeding within 1/2 hour. very cute.
It will be in plenty of time for those who've already decided their route to rethink if necessary.
Sue
Thanks Sue. I'll look out for it.
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12 minutes ago, tree monkey said:
You pays your money
this years scoring system hasn't been published yet
ok, but does that mean it's going to be published online or will it be only for participants?
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It will be 3 years this year since I joined in with this as a boater, so think I'll probably throw my hat in the ring again this time. I can't remember if it's possible to see the scoring system before officially entering? Is it online somewhere or do I have to pay my fee first? Thinking about where the accumulator sections are and which canals score in both directions.
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Interesting. Will there be an official cycling or walking entry this year?
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Leaking accumulator - help!
in Boat Building & Maintenance
Posted
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.