RichLech

I intend to ensure my tank is full for the winter but will probably also use some additive. I've seen reference to Marine 16. Any other recommendations? If I use such an additive, will my Eberspacher diesel heater be OK with it? thanks to everybody for all the help I am getting learning how to use and look after my new boat.

Just getting to understand the various systems on my newly aquired narrowboat. I've sorted out how to switch between shoreline and invertor power. It is a RING RINV2000 Invertor. Can you have the engine running while using the invertor, thereby off-setting some of the battery drain? Richard

I'm just buying a narrowboat with Eberspacher central heating and it has been tested as working by the surveyor. There also seems to be a non-adjustable thermostat that I am told is a frost stat that activates the Eberspacher at 5 degrees. Is this a recognised configuration? Is there a way I can test it without sitting on the boat until temperature gets down to 5 degrees?

Thanks for all your help. The surveyor only went as far as noting that the coolant level was low and thet he could not identify any leeks. He suggested getting the engine checked by a qualified marine engineer - advice that seems to be standard from other surveys I've seen. He did note that the engine ran well. I'm not sure there was enough fluid in the engine bay to determine a colour. I think (hope) the most likely explanation is the one offered by Paul and Brin above ie. that what I described as a header tank is actually an expansion tank. Anyway, I going back to Pyrford Marina tomorrow (they are brokering the boat). I have already asked them to check with the vendor. I intend to get them to ensure the cooling system is topped up to the correct level and then to run the engine for a couple of hours while I am there. I can then check for leaks and fluid loss while the engine is at normal running temperature. Thanks again for all the help.

Interestingly I've just been reading the handbook for the Barrus Shire 45 which is the engine in the boat I am planning to buy. It states that the engine should be run "at or near full load for 15 minutes (maximum revs, in gear) every 50 hours". Personally I don't think I'd feel comfortable doing this on a canal but I do intend to use the Thames quite frequently. Hence I should get an opportunity to exercise the engine going upstream. Thanks for all your input.

Supplementary question..... The boat has skin tank cooling. Is it all one system topped up by the one engine header tank or are the skin tanks and engine systems separate with some sort of heat exchanger to transfer cooling from skin tank circuit to engine circuit.

Need some expert opinion....... Had a survey done on planned purchase over the weekend. Surveyor found a few relatively minor issues for which solutions are clear but there is one that is causing me concern. The boat was built in 2005 and the engine is a Barrus Shire 45hp. The issue is that the cooling system header tank appears to be empty. Engine runs well and did not overheat on our 2hr demo run. Engine was last serviced Jan 2011 so I had mentally budgeted for a service which will obviously top the header tank up. However, my experience with other diesels in tractors and Landrovers is that header tanks generally do not need to be topped up, even at service intervals. So, I'm wondering where the cooling water has gone. There are no obvious signs of leaks but the laft hand side of the engine compartment does contain a little fluid while the right hand side is bone dry. I am on a steep learning curve; am I right in thinking that this is a sealed engine cooling system that serves the calorifier? If so, this must provide other potential leak points. Is there a secondary coil inside the calorifier and are these known to leak inside the tank? Any advice/opinion will be most welcome.

Thanks for all the responses. I was not asking with any particular engine in mind, just out of curiosity that has now been satisfied. I didn't make the connection before I asked, but I have heard of the glazed bore issue wrt old tractors. However, I run an old MF35 (Perkins 3 cyl) at tickover on a log splitter which provides very little engine load. I've always felt that as long as I run it at heavy load (eg sawbench) now and again it will be OK.

During my quest for knowlwdge I have seen reference to boats with engines running and in gear when moored. Why would some-one do this? I understand the need to run the engine to charge batteries/heat water, but why in gear?

Thanks for all the useful advice. I actually agree with those that point out that the idea is to get away, but unfortunately one of the part time occupations that helps provide the funds to get away is also one that contracts me to be available for infrequent but necessary consultation. Happy Cruising!

Many thanks for all the advice and guidance. I had no idea it would be such a popular topic! Being a newbie I think I'll leave them down for a while although I appreciate that sods law states they won't be in the right place if I make contact. I don't expect to be going through any narrow locks for some time so I won't be holding anyone up by getting stuck. I'll be careful when I go through locks side by side with other boats.

I'm just trying to get to grips with the pricing of fuel used in boats. I think I understand the 60/40 split business that seems to be a figure that HMRC will not challenge. I also understand (I think) that the seller of fuel to be used in boats has to apply the split and derive the appropriate cost at the point of sale. However, what's to stop anyone using red diesel that's been bought elsewhere eg. a rural filling station that sells red diesel to the agricultural community.

Just buying a boat originally priced over 50K but got 10% reduction. Not sure how this stands up against other experiences but having looked at a lot, this is the only one that really said "buy me". My first boat. Like buying a house. Look at a lot that are OK but you knoa when you eventually step onto "the one".

So is it customary to have the fenders down along the side of the boat while cruising? I've seen some with and some without.

Well we've just put a deposit on a lovely boat. Coming out for survey on Sunday. Looking ahead we anticipate spending quite a bit of time cruising and I'm wondering how best to keep online for e-mail and browsing. At present I don't do anything very clever; just a PC at home and a very basic PAYG mobile which I don't use for e-mail or browsing at all. So, what are the easiest and cheapest ways of staying online.

That's great thanks Alan. Most helpful.

Following on from my recent post about builder Heron, I am also looking at a boat built by Acorn Engineering. Any experince or opinions of this builder would be very welcome .

This fascinating as I am in similar position to OP and am trying to get to grips with terminology. Can some-one please explain what the chines are? I'm also struggling with the decription of the swim or uxter plate. Can anyone supply a diagram explaining the various shell terminoloy? Squarelips - apologies for hi-jacking your post.

I'm going to view a boat built by Heron on Friday. I have seen references to this builder which seem to suggest they came to grief, but the boat quality was actually OK. Anyone got any experience or opinions to offer? Many thanks.

Thanks for all the replies. That Kelvin looks absolutely lovely but I think I'll be going for a cruiser stern with the engine under the deck.I want to limit length to 40 - 45 ft so a mid engine room is not practical. I'm familiar with Perkins (two old tractors with 3 cyl Perkins) and know of the BMC diesel. I know both would be fairly easy to maintain. All the rest are a bit of a mystery to me. All the talk of engines raises another question. What sort of power should I be looking for. I've seen engines ranging from under 20 to above 30hp. I do want to river cruise, particularly the Thames so what power should I look for? By the way, what is a hospital silencer.

Looking at numerous narrowboat ads there seems to be an fairly extensive range of engines used. I realise there will be numerous opinions but I would really like to hear experienced boaters' preferences, and the reasons for those choices.

Did quite a bit in a small cabin cruiser on the River Wey and Thames about 30 years ago. A couple of narrowboat holidays since. It's something I've always wanted to do more of and the time seems about right.

Many thanks for the replies. There will be more questions.......

After dreaming for a lot of years I'm just getting around to seriously considering buying a narrowboat. As I look through adverts I come across terminology that I need help to understand. Firstly, I see reference to flat or V bottomed boats. What are the relative advantages or disadvantages? I see reference to engines being keel cooled. What does this mean? I'm sure I'll have more questions but any help with these will be a start for me. Many thanks.