Ratty's Retreat

Thank you for all your replies. Let's hope that the situation improves by next year.

I was told by the BCA information office that the restricted opening days had been agreed with the local boaters, seems at odds to what you are saying? Re your last sentence, how can the BCA get significant use and feedback with such restricted use? John.

Thank you.

My Wife phoned the BCA in March to plan our July holiday. We wanted to go up on a Monday to return the following Friday, no problem they said just phone the previous day to book. I called this week to see all was OK, apparently not. The 1st two flights of locks are only open Sat and Sun between 9.30 and 11.30 and the 2nd two on Mon and Friday, so the minimum time on the canal is a week, which is impossible for us. Apparently the land slip at Dogmersfield has not yet been removed, so cruising is limited. We are asked to "use it or lose it" we would love to but the BCA don't seem to want visitors or the revenue. John.

That's what I was quoted too. John.

Leesan sell the kits for £1300 up. Fitting difficulty /cost depends where bog and tank can be located and pipe runs.

Thanks everyone. Just ordered from Rapid as I use them a lot. Strange that none of the usual sources came up when I Googled. John.

Thank you for all your replies, it makes sense. I would like t use the small brass crimps as found in commercilly wired plugs but I cannot find a source them in the UK. Any suggestions please, as I do not want to use the plastic insulated crimp type as they are too big and introduce another connection with potential for failure. John.

Is tinning the ends acceptable? John

Posted too late, it's already been said.

Thanks.

Are the photos posted earlier the same Duchess as the OP saw? Reg no is 504354 which seems high for a 1976 hull, or doesn't it work like that? John.

Does he do driving licences as well?

Very good, thanks. John.

Personally I would mount it by the switch panels inside the boat. It all depends on personal preference and boat layout.

Congratulations to the Byfleet Boat Club to conquering the Basingstoke. Have you staked your claim with a BBC flag

We hired for a few years, realised we loved narrowboats and then bought. Generally people are very friendly. There are some very shiny owners who think they own the river, who raft up and shout at others to slow down through the narrow gap they have created. We all have to start somewhere and I must not generalise, except fr BMW drivers and Le boat cruisers, maybe they are one and the same?

Mike. OK to clarify: You originally asked "Why does the header tank come off the bottom run rather than just having it T off the top?" I replied saying "Header tank is the cold water feed to the system, so should feed into bottom." To elaborate, the header tank contains colder water which has to be fed into the system at the coldest ie lowest point. Feeding it in at the top could upset the thermosyphon. The drawing posted made no reference as to how the header tank was fed as it is not relevant to the original posters questions. Your solution works, providing it is monitored. Hope this clariifys what I said, nows let's talk batteries and their similarities to header tanks!!! John.

Really, I don't think I said that. So how is the system filled and evaporative losses replenished, or are we looking at different diagrams?

Header tank is the cold water feed to the system, so should feed into bottom. Some rads have 4tappings, one at each corner. Others have 2 at the bottom, which are no use for thermosyphon. John.

Hello Ratty and Moley. Seems we have something in common!! Check that the length of boatyou are looking at is adequate, Ratty's Retreat is 38' long and ideal for 2 people. We spent a week away with 2 friends and it was cosy. On the other hand you don't want to pay extra for unnecessary length. Good luck in your hunt, as Mr Owl would suit the theme, where's Mr Toad?

Electric carving knife worked well for me.

We have made ours removable , saves banging your head on the bracing board at the top. I'm sure it has a proper name. Only takes a couple of mins to remove and replace. John.

As above. a friend has the TK103 which has external aerials which have to be invisibly mounted outside the steel hull. Works very well. Anything with internal aerials is a waste of money. Get a SIM card from a company with good coverage John