Bod

It is clear from the above post that the belt in your photo is the water pump drive belt (fan belt in old terms) This will have to be removed, along with the cam Timing belt, under the yellow cover. To prevent major engine damage, ”Timing pins” have to be placed in the engine to prevent any and all movement in the cam shaft and crankshaft before the timing belt is touched. A simple service job, if you have the tools and knowledge! If I recall correctly, it’s the screws that hold the water pump in place can be”difficult!!” to remove. As a matter of course, replace the timing belt, it has a limited service life, failure of the belt will destroy the engine. Bod

How far will your remaining budget go towards finishing the boat to a moveable standard? What jobs could be left undone/unfinished, to be done at a later date as funds allow? Bod

Well done! @Leo SS-copay Thanks for coming back with the good news. Bod

New gas bottle has got gas in it? If so is the valve open? Back to basics. After that, it's looking to stop taps and giving time for the air to be pushed out by the new gas. Bod

@Gybe Ho My only advice, which has nothingto do with BSS. is to have at least 2 coats of gloss paint put on top of any primer/undercoats, supplied by the build yard. Colour at this stage is not important, it's just to prevent/lessen the rusting that will come through, as you work on the inside, making the final outside painting preparation much more difficult/expensive. Bod.

Renting a property out. Only consider doing this via a Letting Agent, they will do the legwork of finding, checking, a tenant. Keeping up with legislation is a job on it's own. Limited deposit amounts, deposit safe keeping schemes, not to mention credit checks, boiler servicing, smoke alarms, CO2 alarms, etc. Yes, an agent does cost, they have the contacts for repairs, tradesmen who rely on on the agent for work, so are not likely to over charge. A good agent has the "nose" for a bad tenant, and will not take them on, and is prepared to have conversations with the tenant before things get out of hand. Periodic inspections of the property by the agent are normal, and to be expected, every 3-6 months to start with, shortening or lengthing as the tenancy progresses. The difficult part is coming to accept the property is not your home, but a working business asset made of bricks and mortar. Do not leave anything of value to the tenant, you will lose it! Oh and whilst it's empty, you are responsible for the Council Tax. Bod.

It might be possible to replace the entire neck, speak to a vehicle radiator repair company first, they will require the manifold to be removed and taken to them. The brass neck will fixed to the cast manifold, soldered? Bod

https://www.bedazzledledlighting.co.uk/ Try these people. Usual disclaimers, I'm a happy customer. Bod

My advice, for what it's worth, only use a training course, if it's on a wide beam with wheel steering. Anything other will give a misleading experience, it's better to start as you mean to go on. If your getting the boat in May, then the Crick Boat Show might be worth a day out. Bod.

Do you have a multimeter? Or any way of checking the battery voltage, during charging or engine running. New batteries, will come to no harm if charged before fitting. Set multimeter to the 20vdc range. Measure battery voltage, both individual batteries, and full bank, expect to see 12-13 volts(if not charged for 12+ hrs) Start engine (run at least 1200 rpm) again measure battery voltage, expect to see 12.5 rising to 14.5 over the next hour. If no voltage rise, then suspect the charging system is at fault. Same with the boats mains charger no voltage rise, suspect charger, mains input. Bod

Daft idea.. WD40, light oil, unburnable propellent. Spray WD40 into intake, engine runs for a short while. Tappet clearance ok(?) Is the WD40 light oil sealing a broken/stuck piston ring allowing enough compression to run, till it burns off? Bod

How do you plan to replace the electricity used over night? Bod

In my experience with rusted nuts and bolts, is to echo the above advice, remove as much rust as possible, use "Plus Gas" or other proper penetrating oil. (NOT WD40 it wont work very well!) Use a well fitting single hex socket with as longer breaker bar as you can fit in the space. Once the nuts/studs move a decent ratchet handle may be easier to use. You will have to prevent the the shaft from rotating, maybe in gear, with the propeller jammed. Bod. PS How is the rusty cone that the nuts are against fixed to the propeller shaft?

The only style of boat that might work, could be a "Dutch Barge" style narrowboat. Where would you be thinking of going in this boat, some of the bigger waterways, can take boats bigger than standard narrow boats. Bod

What work are you considering doing on this boat? DIY or paid professional? Bod.

Brown wire, 2 possibilities. 1. the only extra fitted is a Sterling Alternator controller which the wire goes in that direction. 2. There is a brown wire scotch-locked into the the back of the alternator. I hasten to add, none of these "alterations" are my work, the boat came with them. As they work, I'm not going to disturb!! Bod

Apologies' for the upside down picture. This is the starter on my M414, which may be the same as the 310 (according to a Vetus parts list). Hope this helps. Bod

If you can find out if these engines were used in any other applications, small tractors, diggers, dumper trucks etc, that may lead to suppliers. Or even the original manufacturer who might be able to supply. Bod

You apply to the Thames Authority, for the area you wish to be in, nothing to do with C&RT. Buy a Gold licence, and abide by the T&C's for the area you wish to be in. Bod

Certianly in the past, some very Learned mind have succeeded in muddying some unclear waters! Bod

The difficulty C&RT have regarding the Legistration they are controlled by, is that some goes back to the original Canal Enabling Acts, as well as the 1970's to 1990's Acts. Some of which predate the Human rights, Equailty, Disability, modern Acts. Certianly under the Waterways current legistration there is no requirement for a Court Order to remove a boat. This is done for "fair play" to be seen done. It would greatly help all parties if there was a few Court cases to settle the various disagreements. Bod

Section 7 1983 Act, yes they can. Bod.

Yup! Definitions C&RT of Houseboat only, in this context. "Houseboat" licence definition may have to have the legal C&RT definition altered by Parliment to allow. Without writing reams of explanation there are only the two licences, with as you point out have various sub sections. ( As you know the "Rivers only licence" is not a licence at all it is a Certificate.) Bod

Having read the "Terms of Reference" this commission is to look at ways of controlling the growth of the C.C community. A simple approach would be to look at how robust the current Waterways legistration could be if fully enforced. Boats removed in 28 days for Obstruction,(section 18 1995 Act, and section 8 1983 Act) the occupants put to the Local Authorities for re-housing. Just how draconian could the C&RT be. Then approach the Local Authorities with the idea of more offical on line moorings, with residential planning permission, also more marina resdential PP. These would of course attract Council Tax and mooring fees, both to be set at attractive costs. Also the use of Section 7, 1983, Control of Unsafe Vessals, could be a way of ensuring greater safety on the waterways. The current legistration is strong enough for purpose, it just needs using! Bod I suggest reading of the various Acts and Bylaws, they do allow the Trust to do much more than is currently done, and much quicker.

I feel we are talking at cross purpose here. the current legistration does allow for sub categories, as per your example, but in my idea these can only be for the current two categories, Pleasure boat or Houseboat there is no third definition. Bod