nebulae

Well,I have learned something from this thread. Will check with the engineer who made my engine rev out to full revs.to see what he did. Not sure why I was told that it was o.k.when it was fitted. Dont think it makes any practical difference as the engine will not pull more than 2,200rpm in my boat. Hope the origional poster found the discussion usefull.

Interesting to hear other peoples experience .I did not mention in my posts as it was not relevant,but I have de-restricted my Isuzu so that it revs to 3,000rpm(where it should be giving 42hp). In the best test conditions I can arrange,my Isuzu 4.42 will not pull more than 2,200rpm against a load,with a 17"dia and11"pitch prop.Between 2,000rpm and 2,200rpm,there was zero increase in speed through the water,which is the result of many factors,particularly,I suspect,to the drastic reduction in toque at over 2,000rpm.My normal canal speed is an average of 3mph at 1,200rpm.

Have just checked the power and torque graph for the4L42 Isuzu engine. Max power of 42hp is achieved at 3,000rpm.Max torque is achieved at between 1,800 and 2,000rpm. Torque drops off sharply after this. Power at 2,000rpm is in fact,almost exactly 30hp.Hope this helps.

It may be helpfull to know prop size in order for the origional poster to judge whether the Isuzu engine is set up correctly.. Acording to Nigel Warrens guide to propellers(some members of this forum are probably familiar with these),a 40hp engine ,1,500 prop rpm will require a 17.3 inch dia and 11.4inch pitch prop at 50% efficiency. This would give a theoretical max speed of 8knots(Probably not achievable for a narrow boat.) My boat has the nearest size available 17 by 11with a 4L.42 engine. G.P.S gives me a max speed in still water of just under 6knots@2,000rpm,Obviously,hull form may make a difference between different boats .In practice,if my engine revs increased above 2,000rpm the boat would not go any faster(50ft boat). My engine rev counter has been checked,so I believe it is accurate. As to whether these engines are all limited to 2,000,I can not say.All I can tell you is what I was told by H.M.I.,the mariniser.

The figures quoted in the HMI literature are the engine manufacturers data sheets,not the performance of the marinised units.Obviously,there may be some disparity in the setting of engine rev. meters. Unless the meter is cross checked against a test meter,you can not be sure of the accuracy of the electronic unit. I can confirm that my 4L.42 unit will not pull more than 2,000rpm on factory setting.. I checked with H.M.I.who confirmed that this is correct. Obviously the engine is capable of running at a sustained 3,000rpm(as in the spec sheets) in an industrial unit. There are many Isuzus fitted to hire boats. I would be interested to hear whether any of these will pull at over 2,000rpm?

I have an Isuzu 42hp in a 50ft boat which is about right for rivers. Could be a bit marginal on rivers in a 72ft boat. Remember that 42(or 38) is the engine manufacturers max hp at 3,000rpm .Marine units are restricted to 2,000rpm.Actual hp is probably more like 25hp. HPI Ltd ,who produced the Isuzu marine engines,did not list a 38hp engine. The 4L.35 was 1490cc,the4L.42 w3as1732cc.

My old dad used to put his false teeth in a glass of water(with some sort of cleaner in it). One morning he woke up and his teeth were frozen into the glass. Had to thaw them out in the kitchen.We used to dream about living in a cardboard box.

Falcon is a steel boat built by Ernest Thomas(or his son) as a cruiser and is still at Calf Heath. I believe it was sold at the auction in a part finished state.There is another boat at Calf Heath which looks like an Ernest Thomas steel cruiser. Very distinctive with a long bow and transom stern. I presume he had run out of old boats suitable for conversion,so had started to build new in steel.

If single bottom gates were fitted as an economy measure,why did Telford fit double TOP gates on the Shroppy? If single top gate and double bottom gate had been found to be the most practible arrangement,why did Telford (with the benefit of others experience) go for double top gates.?

I would advise against plywood. I have refitted a couple of (not very old) boats where rot has started in the shower area and once started has spread rapidly with the grain.A right pain trying to replace the boards without destroying the fit out. Old floorboards work well,but beware dry rot.I have this problem at the moment,so I am contemplating using 19mm compressed re-cycled plastic boards. We have used them succesfully for the floor of a cattle lorry. Has anybody used these yet?They are impervious to water,dont rot and can be sawn/nailed

The section of the Montgomery from the end at Newtown to Welshpool has now a very good surface,ideal for cycling. I have seen a lot of cyclists on the path,but have not seen bad behaviour so far. Perhaps being in Wales,we are better behaved than you English?

I have never had a problem getting access to the Montgomery Canal. Yes,there are limits to the number of boats allowed,but the number of boats on the canal at any one time never seems to get near the limit. Anyone doubting the need to keep the canal open for boats should walk the last length into Newtown. A tarmac path and a sewage pipe do not make the same contribution to conservation as a water filled canal.

I believe that something in the order of 200 Duker flats were in existence on the Bridgewater and Ship Canal after the second world war.(not all in commision). When the new steel boats arrived,that was the end of the wooden boats.I remember Alf Hayman telling me that with some cargoes,the old flats needed caulking after one trip.(I think the cargo was copper ore) Once the wooden flats were laid up,that was the end of Sprinch Yard in Runcorn,where the boats were maintained. The yard had two dry docks for flats and one dock for little packets.Many years ago,while a digger was on site,I had the digger open up the arm to the second flat dock and the packet dock.(I got in to a bit of bother as I did not have planning permission) At that time the drop down gates to the docks were still on the bed of the canal. The digger driver lifted them up with the digger and they were still in quite good nick. Sprinch Yard is now the base for the Bridgewater Motor Boat Club .I believe that many of the flats were dumped in Big Pool behind Sprinch Yard. Also at least one wooden narrow boat. Big Pool has been progressively filled in. At least one flat was left in a pond between two of the new Runcorn Locks.Big Pool was also the site of a boatbuilder, Cant remember the name,but it was still on the gates many years after the yard closed .I think there may be some flats buried in the docks next to Bridgewater House.

Photo of us on the Farmers Bridge site today. The photos seem to be on a loop,so the same photo comes up from time to time.

Coming up Hazlehurst Locks on the Caldon earlier this year,we were held up at the top lock. A single hander had tied his center line to the top of the lock ladder. The boat surged forward and pulled the top of the ladder and the coping stone so the coping was hanging over the lock. The coping is a massive stone,but not massive enough to stop the boat surging forward.

I agree that an auction,even with its drawbacks,is the best way to sell an item where the value is unknown(with a realistic reserve to prevent it being given away) Where I differ is where a reserve is hidden and is not realistic. In a sense,the value is not unknown,because the vendor thinks they know the value.The fact that everbody else disagrees,just means that there is no sale at the end of the auction.

Interesting point. . May be ,if something worth £100 is bidding for £1.it may encourage some people to take a chance. On the other hand,if you want an item,you can afford it and the bidding is around what it is worth,if it says reserve not met I would not bid. Very easy to get carried away and pay over the odds at the last minute trying to find the reserve.

Droitwich is very pleasant and the canal has no drawback so far as I am concerned. I have never had a problem with the M5 culvert,but I gather it is possible to run a bit of water to increase the air draft? Dont know if this is correct as I have never had a problem. Whats the problem wiht a few locks? I thought they are part of the whole experience.

If I sell on ebay,I make the starting price the reserve. No point in trying to hide the reserve. Make it a genuine auction with the item on sale from the first bid. Sometimes people put a start of 99p because the listing fee is cheaper. I once sold a Rolls Royce differential to a man from Rumania.for 99p. He came and collected it and gave me a bottle of wine as a bonus.

Sad that there is no trace of the mill beside Welshpool Town Lock. If you know there was a water wheel where the run off is now,you can sort of figure it out. No doubt you are right that a dry dock would not be viable at the moment on the Welshpool section,but of interest historicaly where maintainance facilities were when the canal was trading..I can not see any trace of the dry dock at the Refail,but I have seen a reference to the existance of one(I think on the book of the Canal). Also one at Beeches Boat yard at Welsh Frankton. Dont know of any others.

Walking past the Powysland Museum(The old warehouse in Welshpool) today. One of the Heulwen charity boats going through the lock. Very nice to see. First time in 30 years I have been there when a boat goes through. Dont think they get to Refail(limmit of navigation) very often. Boat looked if it has just been blacked. No dry dock on the Welshpool section.Apparently,there was a dry dock at the Refail.. Cant see any trace of it now. One private boat(a Sea Otter) moored by the museum at the moment.

Had a couple of cruiser stern boats,one after the other, Very few modern trad stern boats available at the time .Hated the cruiser stern. Now got a trad stern type.Happy now.