Peter-Bullfinch
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Posts posted by Peter-Bullfinch
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One aspect of a traditional engine is the exhaust stack height. Many i see are very short and the gas seems to be in the steerers face.
To get under most bridges ours is 39 inches high including the deflecting hoop which is about 8 foot 3 inches above the water line. It does however hinge at about 14 hinges by means of an old door hinge and one of my grandma's cooking scales weights as a counterbalance plus a length of cord to pull it all down under the occaisional low bridge.
This all keeps the exhaust well above our heads as we steer.
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Yes Athy, its a 22hp Sabb.
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Don't dismiss older boats with traditional engines and back cabins. There are examples of really well maintained older boats like this. I think that in many cases if someone is willing to take on looking after an old engine they are possibly the sort of person who will take great care of the rest of the boat and all of its associated equipment.
Our boat is 31 years old with a 40 year old Norwegian fishing boat engine which runs beautifully. The boat has been blacked every two years of its life and the paintwork and woodwork kept in good order.
At 57 foot there are the great advantages and joy in having a traditional style of back cabin and a generous engine room. The compromise is that the saloon is shorter than some at only eleven foot but for the two of us and up to a couple of guests from time to time the layout works well.
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Good builders merchants will sell hickory pick axe handles which work fine. Ours cost about £6. I shaved a bit off with a saw to the suggested dimension but it would have worked just as well without.
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Our boat is an accurate 57 foot but with fenders it is 59 foot. We have been up and down these locks quite a few times with no problems. You may possibly have to do one or two locks on your own and not share but it only adds a few minutes.
Take care and watch the cills and keep your rudder clear.
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The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has Unesco world heritage status. I would imagine that it might be difficult to install offside railings here without a fair amount of vociferous planning meetings being held.
(Picture of my wife threatening to pull the plug on our recent canal journey.)
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The Plas Kynaston branch which led into the Trevor basin arm can be seen in this old aerial photo of the site.
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I also use the Bimble Tracer plus their MPPT controller with two 100w panels. It works really well for us from March to October for the fridge and lights etc plus trickle charging the batteries in winter.
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There is the huge derelict old industrial site just beyond the Trevor basin which could be regenerated. There were plans drawn up years ago to extend/restore the canal back into this area. There is ample land for car parking and there would still be large areas of this brownfield site left to develop.
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Just maybe they decided to cut the corner into the River Douglas from the Ribble rather than carry on to the Asland Lamp which is the turning point.
It will have looked tempting to cut the corner at high tide but not only is the bank there there is the Ribble channel training wall.
This is a really good safe trip which many boats make successfully every year but you do need to follow the advised route.
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They crossed each way. Once it was blowing them to the tow path, once it blew them to the unprotected edge. I know this is supposed to be an adventurous activity and I'm all for adventure for young people ...but... if I had been leading it my safety assessment would have said at this very busy time for so many novice narrowboat hirers this was not a good idea at all.
I'm sure we would have all stayed out of the way and stopped for a few minutes, if we had known, by some one on the bank warning us. After all canoes can travel very quickly and are soon out of the way.
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This is another view of all of them crossing the Aqueduct before the next narrowboat began its crossing. In retrospect it was the high gusty wind which was alarming me. Some of the young people looked equally concerned.
I feel that these young people would have been far safer and happier in one of the nearby meres at Ellesmere rather than this congested navigation. Even stretches of the nearby River Dee would have been more suitable.
When I have reflected more and listened to all of you I will send my thoughts to the C&RT.
In my younger years I canoed and kyacked extensively both competitively and in sea conditions. I built my first canoe as a lath and canvas one so you can appreciate I may not be fully up to date with current practices!
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We crossed the Pontcysyllte Aqueducts in a strong wind today. There have been groups of canoeists back beyond Chirk over the last few days. It wasn't safe at all as we came towards the Trevor basin to be confronted by a large mixed group crossing in front of us. There were other narrowboats coming from the Llangollen basin ad also the Trevor basin arm trying to hold back to let us exit. Only with extreme care was I able to miss being blown towards the group. This was a crush hazard for them.
There was a C&RT volunteer at the other end of the Aqueduct. His heart must have been pounding as he watched it all.
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Ours is a 22hp Sabb 2G but from a fishing boat originally. 1977
Gearbox is a Borg Warner Velvet Drive.
Come on the rest of you Sabb owners....dont be shy...post a picture too.
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Well done Chop. Looks lovely. Here is a similar one but not quite so shiny.
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Thanks all of you for your help. Yes, the electrical connections aren't ideal at all. I have gradually (but slowly) gone round the boat sorting out untidy wiring and this area is now getting it's turn.
Hopefully it will last until winter but as we travel round the system I call into chandlers and collect bits and pieces for my end of season projects.
I will probably replace the pump like for like as you've let me know they are still available plus I will repair the original and keep this as a spare which will be useful.
This forum is brilliant for help with jobs that we tackle only rarely and advice about the parts and process.
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Barbridge bin compound....i did walk all round and check each side. Both ends were padlocked. I threw mine over and luckily managed to score a direct hit into the bin.
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We have a Jabsco self priming shower waste pump. I have no idea how old it is but the boat is 1986 and I'm fairly certain this pump hasn't been changed since 2000.
The pump is now taking longer to draw the water out and I suspect the diaphragm is possibly worn. The pump isn't leaking at all.
What model of pump might be a good replacement? In addition, would any of you know if there are readily obtained parts so that I could refurbish this one and keep it as a spare?
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Three lock keepers on duty at Hurlston four locks today. One was a dead ringer for Bill Oddie. Excellent service. Pity that the Elsan there is bust and the tap has been removed at Barbridge together with the padlocked rubbish bins there.
Is this back on track enough or just a mild and bitter whinge?
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9 hours ago, billh said:
Does HS2 explain why the marina development at Whatcroft seems to be on hold? nothing much happened there in the last couple of years.
There is a lot of pontoon steel work piled up on the bank plus a couple of floating pontoons presumably to work from moored by a temporary work jetty . A stone work road has been laid down from the nearby lane. Three or four pontoon end piles have already been driven in on the bank edge.
Seems very slow progress though. I heard a tale that it was planning consent holding the work up.
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The staff also have large battery powered yellow work lights for the front and/or rear of your boat to assist. We always use a plant light, Durite type, at the rear in addition to our headlamp to illuminate the boat roof in relation to the tunnel roof and walls.
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I was appalled, even as a young lad in the fifties, watching a boatman chuck the contents of his soil bucket into the cut as we walked to primary school. It must have been ripe because the smell wafted up to us watching from the bridge above. This was Maghull on the Leeds and Liverpool.
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5 hours ago, mross said:
At the Polished Knob, in Todmorden, you can get two pints of proper beer for £3.40 but only on a Monday!
Usually live music too on a Monday afternoon. Great value. We go by train so no driving either.
Montgomery restoration
in History & Heritage
Posted
The new nature water reserves at Aston locks have now begun by Land and Water. I believe this is Heritage Lottery funding.
The Shropshire Union Society were hard at work at bridge 83. Today they were removing the canal bed blockwork laid in 2012 by WAG.
Progress to Crickheath expected by 2020. Kier are apparently contracted to help restore parts of this section.