rbateman

I am totally new to boating. I bought a widebeam a few weeks ago and a friend and I came up to Mirfield in Yorkshire this weekend to pick it up after having it re-blacked. I had hope to stay on it for a few days before getting it craned out and transported down to London. It now seems unlikely that that's going to happen anytime soon. Firstly, the water pipes had burst in 11 places due to freezing (the shipyard not having drained the boat). With a friend, and numerous trips to B&Q, we managed to fix this up to the point where, as best as I can tell, there's no leakages anywhere. The engine (a BMC 1500) worked fine when we turned it on for the first time, though there was no actual starter battery - just 3 batteries serving for both the starter and leisure supply. Worried about draining this very quickly, we rewired it using the battery switch that was installed (but not in use). There is now an individual starter battery (a Banner battery with 640 CCA) and two 70W leisure batteries whose combined output voltage is only 9v, despite being fully charged (according to the Absaar 20amp battery charger we're running off a generator.) Having rewired the system, it now seems like the engine just won't turn over. It turns on, the ignition light is lit, and the voltage registered is ±11, but it only cranks over once or twice before stopping. I'm unable to tell whether this is because the battery has too low a power rating (74AH) or because it's not charged enough (despite the fact the charger saying it is). Wiring it directly to the engine without being connected to the switch also fails to start the engine. On top of this, because the leisure batteries are so terrible, now that they've been rewired properly, the lighting on the boat is incredibly dim to the point of being useless. The shower is also blocked and no amount of plunging seems to unblock it. I'm worried that this is because the waste tank is full, though the toilet flushes. I'm hoping that tomorrow someone at the shipyard (I've not been able to take it out because of the problems mentioned) will be able to give me a hand at least diagnosing the engine issue and, hopefully, sell me some new leisure batteries. In short, as I sit here in the semi-dark, far away from friends and home, I guess all that I'm hoping for from you guys is any advice, a reassurance that it gets better. I would very, very much appreciate it. Ryan

Thanks, David - I will.

It's the Navigation Garage - an old boatyard that's now apparently a garage. Recommended to me by the local marina. I wasn't aware of Shire Cruisers - I'll give them an email. Thanks, Dave.

Yeah, that's what I'd been told/read. Ah well, I'll keep looking for places where it can be craned out. Thanks for the replies so far, all - much appreciated.

It's a widebeam, yes - sorry, should have mentioned. I'd take the time to move it at least part of the way myself but unfortunately I can't take the time off work right now.

Hi all, I've just bought a boat and am planning on living (and working) on it for the next few years. The boat itself is up in Mirfield in Yorkshire right now, having just been re-blacked, and I'm hoping to get it brought down to London, where I'm planning on mooring it (at least initially). Transport is proving to be a problem though. I was hoping to use a transport company (someone recommended ABTuckey) to bring the boat down to Sheperton on a truck. The nearest crane to where the boat is currently dry-docked only operates on Saturdays, unfortunately, and both ABTuckey and Sheperton marina charge more to transport/crane on the weekends (which is understandable.) So I was wondering: does anyone know of any cranes near Mirfield that don't operate only on weekends (or where to even start looking for them? Alternatively, does anyone know of a better transport company or place to get the boat dropped near London? Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. thanks all, Ryan