Tony1

Guilty as charged your honour, the only reason I explain all the gory detail is so that people can see they don't really need all that stuff. My setup evolved like Fronkenstein's monster, due to ignorance about electrics, and about what were the real risks involved. In hindsight a bigger alternator plus a clever regulator would have been a far simpler and better solution, but the price scared me, and the straw that broke the camel's back was that my canaline 38 wont accept a poly V alternator, which is the type needed if you want a bigger current output. It needed some kind of crank upgrade. The original upgrade kits were no longer available, and there was some uncertainty about whether the new kits would fit my engine. Nobody involved was able to give a 100% guarantee that it would fit together, so after much thought, I very reluctantly decided I couldn't take the risk of splashing out close to £1500 to get it all done.

Correct- no elsan at Bettisfield. It was a real effort to restrain my language as I was standing there holding my boat against the breeze, and they sat there eating breakfast, right in the middle of two moorings, so a second boat wasnt able to moor there properly. They were hirers, but surely the boat traffic should tell them more boats are going to want water very soon, and not to moor right in the bloody middle? Grrrr. Ellesmere facilities were so busy last year during the summer that even the idiots didn't seem to linger there.

People react badly sometimes to speeding boats (and I still think speeding is rude and selfish, personally), but blocking moorings on cramped water points is I think the thing that annoys me most when out cruising. Thankfully I don't see it too often. Even selfish d*cks realise that someone else is bound to come along shortly and want to moor there, and their normal selfish instincts are constrained by that cold reality. As a word of warning, one place that it does happen a lot is at the water point just outside Ellesmere Port boat museum. I visited four times over the last 6 months or so, and on three occasions there were boats moored on the water point. One had stayed overnight, and another was visiting the museum (but not taking his boat inside). I never saw the owner of the third. I just can't see an acceptable excuse for mooring overnight on a water point and staying there all next morning- other than a medical emergency on the boat. Even someone who arrived there late at night and has a local place of work to get to simply cannot justify leaving their boat on a water point all morning. You would just get up earlier than usual and move the boat off there early in the morning, before you left for work. Its one of the few things that really winds me up. If anything causes my temper to get the better of me one of these days and start shouting, it will be an idiot mooring on a water point for hours. My hackles still rise when I think of those idiots having breakfast on the water point at Bettisfield last year.

Many will consider this overkill, and I dont have a good enough understanding of the risks to know one way or the other, but I've ended up with three BMV712s monitoring my batteries. The day to day management is done by a BMV-712 that is set to switch off the various chargers when the battery SoC gets to 80%, via a tiny cable that feeds into their BMS inputs. When the SoC falls below 55%, the MPPTs are switched back on again automatically. I don't entirely trust the SoC measurement as I know it can drift a bit over time, so the second level of protection is the more normal one, which is based on the charge profile of the MPPTS and B2Bs that I'm using. Its the MPPTs that do all the charging between April and end of Sept, and they go into float when the batteries reach 13.8v, which generally happens when they are about 85% full. So from April to Oct, the SoC monitor is usually the first thing to kick in and switch off the MPPTs at 80% SoC. But if that doesnt work as expected (eg the measured SoC value might display 80%, but the true SoC might be say 90%+, due to error creeping in over time), then the charge profile will cause the MPPTs to go into float when the batteries reach 13.8v- so the batteries should be safe even if the SoC measurement drifts over time. The third protection level, which is the emergency last resort, is a victron battery protect unit which is triggered by a BMV-712 so that it will disconnect all the chargers from the batteries if the voltage goes above 14.6v. I bought it intending to use it as a low-voltage disconnect, but then I read that it doesnt work with inverters, which makes it useless on most boats. So I pressed it into service as the high-voltage disconnect, and the BEP switch that I was using for that purpose was swapped over, and that now works as the emergency low voltage disconnect (since my valences dont come with a built-in BMS). That needs a third B<V712, specifically monitoring low voltage and low SoC events. It feels like all this may be overkill, and its evolved in a sporadic and clumsy way without an original design in mind, and its turned out to be a right dogs breakfast in terms of complexity, but on the plus side I do feel that I'm well protected from extreme voltages. My temp protection is not so good (in fact the MPPTs dont even have a temp sensor on the batteries, but that's a problem for another day. I'm hoping that being conservative about SoC and battery voltages will provide the protection I need against high temps.

Yes, I'm sure they were over a grand each a while back- that's why I was surprised to see them now at £500. They were so expensive that they were not, for many people, a feasible option. Self-built units looked a far better bet, with an off-the shelf BMS for £50 to £100, plus a plastic box to house them, copper bars, etc etc. You've been able to get less reputable 100Ah batteries with a BMS for that kind of money for a while now, but not a decent quality name like Sterling. I can't understand why their lithiums would fall in price by more than half, when everything else in the world is getting really expensive, but I were buying lithiums now and I wasn't clever at electronics, I'd go for the Sterlings all day long. We know that the 'long wire' parallel/lead acid method works ok for charging them with an existing alternator, as proven by several knowledgeable members here, so at this point I'm starting to think its as good as chance for electrical novices to get into lithiums as we're likely to see for a couple of years. Especially for the liveaboards with solar panels that work really well with lithiums, they're a proper game changer when it comes to keeping the boat electrics powered. Even today I got a tank of fairly hot water from the solar, although its clear to see that its beginning to wane for this year.

On a related note, for those pondering swapping to lithium batteries, I noticed yesterday that Sterling are selling 100Ah lithiums for about £500. They'll be pretty good quality, there is a decent BMS built in, and you'll get a full guarantee etc in case of cell defects/failures. So if you're frugal and could manage on a 300Ah bank (which would give you at least 180-200Ah to play with on a day to day basis), you're in business for a grand and a half - plus a long piece of wire to parallel them with a lead acid battery (or a suitable resistor), plus a battery monitor. Surely the price is only going to go up, and fairly soon? Now could be a good time to get into lithiums, methinks....

Dammit man, there's only one kind of shilling we'll tolerate in this country, and its not spelled with a 'C'. And there are 21 of them to a Queen's guinea, by God. Why don't you just fit VTOL jet engines on the boat, and be done with it? (but seriously though- if they ever figure out that VTOL thing for narrowboats, do let me know. That would be the coolest thing ever)

Aaaah, I see. Oh dear. In that case I owe Alan an apology for my overly sarcastic reply.

This is the kind of namby-pamby approach that will just make things worse. We need to get serious about this. All bow thruster buttons should be electrified. Nothing lethal, of course (for a first offence). Something akin to a police taser would do the trick. That way these incompetent layabouts will still have the option to use their infernal bow thrusters. But if they do press that button, its going to really liven up their morning.

I've seen a couple of boats doing exactly what Howard described, but I realise now that it couldn't have happened, because it is forbidden. The various engines and gennies I've heard running until 11pm and beyond never really happened either, because that's forbidden as well. Its a good job those half a dozen speeding boats that passed this morning were actually forbidden from speeding, otherwise they might have been speeding and caused some damage to the banks. And they definitely weren't plonkers, or indeed plonker's [sic], so it's all fine.

Good point. Nobody likes animal cruelty. But there is an alternative. There are tens of billions of young layabouts cruising around town centres on illegal escooters at this very moment, mowing down innocent pensioners by the thousands. Or worse, wasting time in gender studies classes, or some similar woke-ish nonsense. All we have to do is to (literally) harness this vast pool of untapped labour, by lashing a brace of the young blighters to each boat. Boats of 60ft and over would be allowed two pairs. Think of the reduced carbon emissions. Think of the fuel savings. I say strike now, before the government cotton on, and throw them all down coalmines- or set them to building Spitfires.

This is genius. You need to market this idea asap- some type of horse-based animal pulling a canal boat...

Of course common sense tells me you're right, but losing my bow thruster felt like I was breaking up with an attractive pop singer. It was just an ornament for my ego. I never really needed it, and I never really liked it that much, and it impeded my development as a human being. But if I had a new bow thruster tomorrow, I'd be pressing that red button like it was going out of fashion.

I had a bow thruster when I first got the boat, and I thought it was great being able to get the bow away from the many weedy, reedy banks that I inadvertently got stuck on. Then my wonderful bow thruster broke. Then I realised that bow thrusters are the work of the devil, and used only by villainous cowards who should all be shot. For the religious folks, I would remind you of the old psalm about it being easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than it is for a boater with a bow thruster to get into Heaven.

Yes- this was at Chester locks, although I don't recall there being a photographer. I've now deteriorated to the point where I keep a separate stock of 'civilian' grade clothing, for use when I visit shops or pubs, when I know that normal people will get within a metre of me. My wardrobe system has been refined, in that a given shirt may be taken off front line duty after a visit or two to the shops, but it may still be perfectly suitable for cruising duty, which usually doesnt involve close proximity to civilians. This fragile rotation system was stretched to breaking point with the long, hot, and of course sweaty days of this summer, with shirts often not being suitable for cruising after even a single trip to the shops, due to excessive perspiration, and most evenings would see a shirt or two flapping from the stern in an attempt to dry it out after yet another wash. The whole business of wardrobe management is hugely complicated by my not having a working sense of smell (due to the Australian flu), and by my policy of buying two of any shirt that I like. This had led to several toe-curlingly embarrassing moments when I've realised I've selected the wrong shirt for a trip to the shops. So, instead of rocking up at the Co-op in a crisp clean shirt like a normal person, I've inadvertently selected the horrible sweaty shirt of the same colour that I cycled 8 miles in the previous day, which now assaults the senses of passers by as violently as a chemical weapon attack. Even after I thought I'd lost all vestiges of shame, that still made me wince.

My brother holds the opinion that I have already hit rock bottom in terms of personal appearance and general cleanliness, but I think there's definitely scope for more grubbiness and squalor in my existence.

The idea of washing sheets in my little plastic machine has an air of implausibility about it, but it seems I merely lack ambition. I feel inspired by your successes, and am now determined to experiment with a sheet. That said, I'll be passing Tattenhall marina in another week, and they do have the most wonderfully-kept array of washing machines and dryers, and at very reasonable prices too. It would be rude of me not to use them, and their equally wonderful showers. The whole venture can be woven around a visit to the very nice cafe they have. I tried the sausage and egg on toast on my last visit, and I seldom miss an opportunity to get my grubby paws on that kind of thing when I pass close by. The Morrisons public machine cost a criminal £9 for 45 mins of barely-effective drying, and I think £6 for the wash, so this keeping clean business is starting to become a bit expensive. I think its time to let myself go.

Since you have thrown down the twin tub gauntlet, it is now mandatory that I post a derogatory reply. I have to point out that these portable washing machines are a bit limited in terms of capacity. I have one, and I can only really fit things like shirts and small clothing items into it. Trousers are possible, but require some supervision and intervention in the washing process. Larger things like sheets I haven't tried personally, but I have the deepest scepticism about the prospects of success with such large items. On the other hand, I used one of those public washing machines outside Morrisons last week, and even my impaired nostrils could detect a whiff of unpleasantness in some of the clothes that came out. So there is that.

I'm sure you'll have considered this, but worth mentioning just in case its slipped down the list of considerations: I would check out the 'resting' current draw of any potential new inverter (ie when its on but there is no load on it). Obviously its more of an issue if you prefer/need to have the inverter on 24/7, as I would guess you do. Mine is a 2000 watt model costing under £250. It was a cheap and cheerful Amazon purchase, but is still running fine after a year, and it has a resting current draw of about 0.5 amps. That's still 12Ah used over a full day of course, but I have a 240v fridge so I have to leave my inverter on all the time. And some 2000 watt models seem to be significantly worse than mine. The higher power models (say 3000 watts and above), understandably have higher quiescent current draws. Those sorts of figures are irrelevant in the summer, of course, because you'll have more solar power than you can use in those months, but come late October and November, it might perhaps eat into the meagre solar that you are able to collect, and that might force you to use the domestic hookup supply more often than you would with a lower power inverter. Still, all that said it's not a major issue, just another one to consider. I've heard of a boat installing a dual inverter setup, where they use a lower power (and low draw) inverter as default, which is left on 24/7, and they switch over to a more powerful inverter when they want to run the washing machine etc. Its a bit of a palaver just to save money on electricity, but maybe in some scenarios it's felt to be worthwhile?

Correct

Back to my answer- to be honest I don't really care.

I'm sure you're right and there probably is a lot of pointless waste involved in the ad campaigns, but my own take on it is that when looked at against the background of a disintegrating NHS, a vastly understaffed and failing police service, potentially a decade of austerity that will make the last ten years look like a land of milk and honey, and now an incoming fuel bill crisis that will mean great misery for millions of UK people this winter, I'm not sure I have enough emotional bandwidth to worry about CRT's efficiency.

I'm lucky enough that I've never been touched by any form of depression, mild or severe. So I've never been in need of a 'cure', or some form of healing, but I still get a unique feeling from being in a natural landscape- and especially a mountainous landscape, or a rugged rocky coastline. I suspect that on a deep and animalistic level, human beings don't really thrive mentally from living in large, overcrowded concrete cities. I've thought for a long time that for humans, living in cities is like chickens living in battery farms (but much less extreme). We can see and sympathise with the suffering of these animals (or at least some of us can), and yet we ourselves often fail to see what our own needs are, as animals. We continue to live our lives in cities, where millions of us don't get to experience a truly open and natural landscape for weeks or sometimes months on end. Canals and city parks are really just a stopgap, a sticking plaster over the psychological issues caused by a lack of natural landscape and by overcrowding. Almost anyone who has stood on the top of a mountain or a seaside cliff edge will know that unique feeling it gives you. That feeling is very difficult to describe, and to understand. But we all have that feeling when we stand within a vast mountainous landscape. I sometimes wonder if that is the feeling that a factory-farmed animal experiences when it is first released into an open field. The animal probably doesn't understand why it feels happier to be in an open space in natural daylight, just as we don't understand exactly what it is about the mountains and the landscape that affects us so much. We can't even explain what the feeling is, really. And for inner city dwellers, walking a canal towpath perhaps briefly gives them a bit of that feeling of a battery chicken being released into an open field.

Yes, thanks, I was aware it wasnt a proper water filter, that was why I used the phrase 'strainer type mesh thing'. I hadn't even considered the idea of protecting the water pump with one of those- that does sound like a worthwhile upgrade. I lost my sense of smell a few years ago and its not easy for me to distinguish filtered water from unfiltered, but I do remember there was an improvement when I used a filter years ago. My current reasoning for considering a filter is that one of the pieces of 'red tape' that might be thrown on the bonfire very soon is the water quality regulations, and I am concerned that the quality of tap water could deteriorate to the point that many people will default to drinking only bottled or filtered water.

A woman emerged very sour faced from a side hatch I passed last summer, and said she'd just found a dead wasp in her tea, and that she was certain it had come from the water tank. With this episode in mind I did think about getting one of those strainer type mesh things that removes larger particles (and wasps), but I never got round to it. Every few months I throw some water purification tablets into the tank at the beginning of a fill, but it is drinking-quality water that comes from the CRT taps, so any water problems are going to arise from deterioration that happens with the tank itself, e.g. rust. I'm hoping that exposure to any stray bugs will be character-building.