[Battery Charging primer]

@WotEver

I am a numpty when it comes to the electrickery dept.  Thank you very much for a guide in plain English that even I can follow.

I realise there is much more to the subject but this has given me a base from which to start.

[Batteries stolen near Atherstone]

That’s sickening.  You work your butt off to pay for goods and some scum bag decides they will have them for free.  It would be nice to think they did their back in moving them or they got some battery acid in their eyes!

It was good of people to try and assist which kind of shows the other side of humanity.

[New covers - great job]

Very smart, they set the boat off.  Thank you!

Those mushroom vents and the vents at the rear are very shiny

[New covers - great job]

I’m intrigued as to the hatch and door covers.  Come on, shows us some photos, pretty please 

[Heron narrowboats]

31 minutes ago, Jo_ said:

We have a Heron. Built in 2004. Two owners - we bought in 2009. Gorgeous boat! Just been for a bare-metal then up repaint at Streethay. 58' trad. I particularly love the 'sweep' of the roof line.

I realise it is difficult to tell from just one photo but that looks like a lovely paint job.

[How to mount a satellite dish]

I would have thought ‘oyster’ would have had a self seeking dish which was suitable but perhaps you don’t want a permanent installation even though they fold flat.  I just thought of them as they seem to be on the ball and would have a product for Sky Q

I bet a question to VANBITZ would bring the answers you want.  They are of the Moho world but are known for the their alarm and satellite system installations amongst other things.  I know they are highly regards.

[Emojis]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

Sadly the one I wished to respond with is not one of those available.  

[Spare 2LW oil bath air filter and manifold]

4 hours ago, Halsey said:

 

hope you are enjoying your boating!!

Sadly she is still attached to the umbilical chord.  Will hopefully get out at some stage with a bit of luck 

[Emojis]

1 hour ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

Because the forum software was written before the dawn of time. Or at least before the invention of smartphones.

 

3 minutes ago, David Mack said:

You can use the emoticons available from the smiley face symbol at the top of the new message/reply window, but you can't use the ones which may be on your phone software.

Thank you both.  At least it reassures me that I am not a total numpty

[Emojis]

When I attempt to make a post which contains a smiley I get a message in effect saying I can’t use an emoji.

When I then use symbols representing a smiley when the message is posted a smiley appears in the text!

Any ideas as to why please?

[Spare 2LW oil bath air filter and manifold]

Lovely looking engine

[Eco Fan]

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/heat-powered-stove-fan-now-1999-delivered-wcode-shop4world-2899179

 

[Adding a click or notch to indicate in neutral]

How about a simple black line or piece of tape marked on the shaft?  It’s a black line on mine.

[TV on the blink]

I realise they don’t affect the red light on the tv but what about the batteries in the remote?

[Mobile phone signal booster]

21 minutes ago, Dr Bob said:

Yes, this is the problem. On the boat I am using a router and an external antenna for data coms and it works fantastically in a very poor reception area. However when using the phone to talk to people I have to stand in the cratch or on the roof. Why oh why dont manufactures allow you to plug in an external antenna? Actually now, I tell them to phone me on Whatsapp and use the data connection.

I don’t know the full details but on 3 you can use wi fi (if you have it of course) to make voice calls where the phone signal is weak.

Also on the rear of the 3 Home fi there is a socket into which you can plug a landline handset.

As we are hoping to move onto our boat in the near future I will be investigating  the above two methods as the phone signal inside the boat is very poor.

[Photos of your boat.]

9 hours ago, Joe Bourke said:

Another one of them effing widebeams.

Beautiful 

[Gardner Engine Forum]

3 minutes ago, Athy said:

Oh, it's easy - I managed it years ago (when we bought our first n/b, which had a Petter PH2), though I am far from technically-minded, so I suppose I have more of a train-spotting sort of interest.

I am most definitely not technically minded and my wife refers to my DIY as Destroy it yourself however that doesn’t stop me being able to appreciate quality and fine craftsmanship

[Gardner Engine Forum]

1 hour ago, Markinaboat said:

Martin,

All of the paperwork I gave you at handover includes info on all of the above including copies of the Gardner Engine Forum magazine (or whatever it's called). I think the book they are referring to may well be the book I gave you as a pressie. You have the original workshop manual and parts catalogues including copies to keep the originals clean. Also, all of the original hand-written factory sign-off paperwork laminated (1931!) as well as the first refurb at Gardner in the 40's.

For the benefit of other posters here, Charles Mills has looked after this (Danny Williamson) 3L2 and the new owner has 3 x large boxes of spares incl. cylinder head, valves etc etc. Engine has done 1450 hours since it was rebuilt by Danny in 1999. Fuel pump/governor reworked last year by Walshes via Charles. There is a very comprehensive photo history of Danny's refurb which Charles used for his engine survey when we bought the boat in 2015 at 1150 hours on the clock.

 

Am missing Nellie already but practicalities (the feminine type) dictated our semi-trad Betarised replacement! I must admit, in the 135 miles and 200 lock trip back over xmas and the new year, I didn't miss breathing the smoke although I did of course miss the oh so sweet exhaust note 'du du dah, du du dah'. The Beta is quiet though so I have less of an excuse for not hearing my better half now ;-) 

Hi Mark

When I saw all that material my eyes lit up and yes the pressie you gave me is indeed the one referred to by Athy.  I can’t wait to start looking at it all.  

How does one go from ‘having no real interest’ in vintage engines to not being able to get enough information?  The photos of both the boat build and engine build will be perused with real pleasure.

Thank you very much for the comprehensive handover on Saturday and for everything that you and Chrissy did on my behalf due to my health issues.  I’m truly grateful.  I will treasure the boat and try to maintain her to the very high standards that you have set.

Kind regards - Martin

 

15 minutes ago, Joe Bourke said:

Martin,

Danny Williamson is one of the regular contributors on the Facebook Gardner Group. He's just done a 4LK for Jonathan Wilson. 

Hi Joe

I did see that engine on Facebook.  As you can tell I did join the FB group

[Ecofans - the Ultimate test?]

51 minutes ago, Markinaboat said:

Don't forget that the boat already has an Ecofan! :-)

Hi Mark

Fortunately I was a tad slow off the mark and was I relieved that I hadn't gone to Amazon when I saw the eco fan onboard Nellie on Saturday

[Sky TV on board]

Thank you all so much for the replies.  I think we will stick with the iPads for Sky Atlantic and Sky Sports making use of the data allowances and use freeview for regular viewing.

@Eclipse No2 don’t worry I wasn’t going to physically attach a dish to the roof it was just for occasional viewing using a portable dish lol

[Sky TV on board]

I currently have a sky+ subscription at my home address.  Now that we have the Narrowboat we would like to spend some considerable time on board hopefully doing some extended cruising.  The question is how best to go about having sky on board.

i know I can use Sky Go via the iPads but that uses data.

Sky Go extra requires an Xbox or such connected to the sky box and then the sky box uses data.

i suppose my real question is if I instal a dish on the boat could I simply take the sky box from home and use that subscription or does sky prevent you from doing so via some technical trickery?

If I am able to get sky using my subscription what is the best dish system to use on board?  I realise cost has a bearing on the matter but could we ignore that for the purpose of this question as I can evaluate that at a later date.

If there are other methods of getting it I am all ears.

[Gardner Engine Forum]

16 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

Well remembered Joe, I do have a 3L2 and it is indeed a fine piece of engineering. In the 19 years I've owned it the only maintenance has been oil changes and a nip up on the timing chain. If I'm feeling energetic it'll start by hand on all but the really cold days, never misses a beat and is very frugal. A long day at canal speed uses around 2 gallons. 

As you've probably heard the 3 and 4 cylinder engines do get smokey after days of slow running and idling at locks etc. Been based on the Chesterfield mine gets a regular clear out on the Trent, the amount of crap left on the roof from the exhaust is quite impressive pushing a tide for an hour or two! 

That sounds impressive and I am really looking forward to using mine.  I will only be about a days cruising or so away from the Thames at Brentford so would like to take on there.  The width of the Thames may be a good opportunity for some practice with a good flow of water over the rudder.

[Gardner Engine Forum]

1 hour ago, Split Pin said:

Gardner Engine Forum was formed in 2001 by a group of enthusiasts all of whom were or still are narrowboat owners.
In its infancy it was supported by Gardner themselves and later Gardner Parts
Most of our members have narrowboats which by nature have the smaller engines fitted i.e 2-4Lw's

Steve (GEF Vice Chair and general goffer)

Thank you for the comprehensive reply.  I have previously read some of the newsletters which I found both enjoyable and informative.  As soon as I get access to a printer the cheque for membership will be in the post.

Whilst I am no engineer I would have to agree and say they are a fine bit of craftsmanship.

[Gardner Engine Forum]

26 minutes ago, Joe Bourke said:

There are many interesting "boaty" groups on Facebook. The Gardner group has a lot of expertise on there, including some ex Gardner employees.

I hope I don’t live to regret it but my daughter has just set up a Facebook account for me!  Once again thank you got the information.

[Gardner Engine Forum]

3 minutes ago, Athy said:

Graham Edge's book 'L. Gardner & Sons: Legendary Engineering Excellence' gives a comprehensive illustrated history of the company and its products. As you might gather from the title, Mr. Edge is a wee bit partisan, so events such as the sometimes bitter relations between management and workforce at the Patricroft factory are glossed over, but there is plenty to enjoy.

Athy many thanks for that.  My father was in the textile business in Manchester before we moved to Ireland in the 60’s and when I mentioned the Gardner engine to him he said they were highly regarded engines back in the day.