Captain Beaky

Hi again. To complete the story here's a pic of the connector that undid. On closer inspection a bulkhead pipe clip has snapped, allowing the elbow movement to rub against the bulkhead. The paint behind it is rubbed clean. Funny how when it rubs it only manages to loosen and not tighten! By the way they are branded Hepworth. Cheers

Thanks both for helpful comments. Yes I did top up, ran the engine without pressure cap for 10 minutes, then cap on, up to temperature again. All ok. I'm hoping to go back this weekend, and will take a photo or two. I will also check there are no steel ( or plastic ? ) compression parts left on the bilge floor ! Cheers Mike

Hello Folks. BMC 1800. Last weekend one of the connectors in the engine-to-calorifier circuit came apart resulting in a few litres of antifreeze to mop up in the bilge. Sorry no pictures at the mo. There is an initial hose from the engine and then jointed to hard pvc plastic plumbing. The connectors are plastic compression type, about 15mm, an outer screw-on ring connecting with an inner threaded pipe with the compression part and O ring. Checking out pictures on here seems these are used quite a lot on the circuit to the heating coil in the calorifier. When it parted the outer ring and O ring remained on the loose pipe, that is the screw thread appeared to have come undone. So my question is ( at last ) is, if the pipe had blown out I would expect the pipe section alone to blow out, leaving the screwed cap done up tight and still in place. Can anyone tell me if excess pressure could be the cause of a screw thread undoing, or is it maybe just a badly done-up connector being vibrated loose? The connector is just positioned in contact with the engine bulkhead, at the end of the hose from the engine, top connection. Any thoughts please? Thank you !

Thank you both. Tony, your Marine Diesel Maintenance Engine & Boat Maintenance APBrooks 2007 is still my bedside reading ! Cheers

Hello Please can any of you technical types give an opinion on these? A boat we are looking at has a 3.5kW Travel power system with a generator mounted on the BMC/ CB Marine engine. The boat we are interested in buying has significant pitting on the baseplate ( considerable number of 3mm pits on a 10 mm baseplate). Less so on the sides. The boat is about 22 years old. Is this independent domestic 230v circuit and any earthing a possible suspect do you think? The boat has also only just has a galvanic isolator installed which may be more of a solution. Any ideas?

Hi Folks. We've viewed a trad that was built / fitted out by RS Narrowboats in 1992. I cannot find anything about them on t'internet. The boat is 'Rattler' at Saul Junction. CRT reg is 52156. May well have been 'Bethany Bear' in an earlier life. Does anyone have any info on the builder or the boat please? Oh boy is it a sellers market ! Phew !

Could someone please evaluate how good this beer might be for hand sanitisation? If effective, going to get some would then qualify as an essential journey. ?

Just spotted this thread, and no I am not the same Captain Beaky referred to by Bruce Insanity, which means sadly I have never owned a Steve Hudson boat.

Happy Ending, just arriving at Marple we found the owner's boat and was able to return said hat to his neighbour(s). First proper sun today so I hope he hasn't already bought a replacement. Probably not, being they ain't cheap!

Hi, thanks for the replies. we are heading 'up' the Caldon now, but plan is to eventually return back up the Macc and onto the peak forest to bugsworth basin. The name had been written on the label but the ink was not able to withstand purity of the T&M water quality.

Saturday 15th June, just gone through Harecastle southwards. While waiting at the north portal the first boater out at about 11 am said he had lost his Tilley Hat. well good news friend, we have retrieved it ! We know your boat said Romiley but can't remember anything else. If you can describe which type of Tilley hat and maybe size, we can start to get it back to you. The southern tunnel keeper wasn't very helpful really and was dealing with four boats to be fair. We are on NB Silkwood. cheers

Yes well for my part we have now decided not to proceed with this boat although this is not just the builders plate issue more to do with the heating system. There were other issues that mean we are now back to hunting mode. Your opinions have been very helpful though and something to clarify when boat hunting. Thanks everyone.

Well folks I have spoken to three marine insurers for their opinion on this and none have said it is an issue when asked directly. One insurer was incredulous that a 50' NB would be plated as 4 max. And so not likely to be a problem if used within the restrictions of the written policy. So they all agree with the boatyard. I am going to commission a survey anyway so will be gathering more info that way. Thanks for all your opinions so far. Quite interesting eh?

Thanks for replies so far. So now I have a reasonable element of doubt the insurance may or may not be okay ! I agree with Alan de Enfield on this. I'll phone around this am and see what a couple of mainstream ( sorry) insurers say. Although the risk is low, I would hate to discover an event is uninsured, especially if it involved family or friends on board.

Hi folks, been a while. I've read a few threads but need some help. Wife and me very interested in a used 2003 50' NB cruiser. But builder's plate says max. 4 persons underway. Is that to be taken as absolute limit as more on board would invalidate insurance? I was told by the boat broker it isn't important, but I think it may be ! And it is such a nice boat....

Please can someone confirm it is open again?

Top of Caen Hill and whole flight closed from 17th May until Friday 20th 8.00am for masonry repairs. Notices in the area do not warn of this so must be an urgent repair. We went up the flight on Saturday and discussed our intended return on Wednesday with CRT volunteers. We found out Monday: We were informed when we offered a cuppa to a lonely hire boat crew waiting for the return of her party to pewsey wharf. We can only assume the volunteers didn't know it was going to happen when we were there. Anyone else more informed please?

Are we there yet?

Yes on the floating pontoons above the lock, by the Jolly Sailor. It is a fab spot for short boats with a view of Kelston. Peaceful too. I only did the Feeder canal ( back on topic ) for the first time this summer so will have to study it more closely next time. I have driven the feeder road a couple of thousand times !

Hi All along that stretch of the Bristol Avon was heavy industry; raw materials in and goods out. Stone, lead and cotton mills for example. Have a look at the Barton Hill History group website bhhg.co.uk and you will find more info. A bit further on up river were St Anne's Board Mills. And conham Vale lead mines. Also arsenic production. Amazing now it is all so green ! If you are going toward Bath, look out for us above Saltford lock

It is a bit of a stretch but try The Cornubia. A hidden gem by the central fire station. Temple Street. Well worth the effort for real ale enthusiasts. Usually loads of beers available. You won't believe it has survived , surrounded by modern buildings, which will be gone long before it does. Cheers.

The weed hatch should not be used for anything other than it's name suggests. Don't get caught using it in public although you can pretend to be doing engine maintenance by having a tool in you hand.....

I sail and race a dinghy at Saltford, Bristol Avon twice a week. Our club encourages sailing for all ages and abilities. We always have a RIB safety boat to help the other river users through the crowd when racing: Powered boats are asked to stay on one or the other side of the river and steer a steady course. Because of the restricted width of the river a dinghy can end up tacking alongside the narrowboat for the length of the course, depending on wind speed and direction, and speed of the powered vessel. When this happens to us ( wife crewing) we like a chat with the crew of the powered boat: How do, where you come from etc. Also we sometimes ease off and go astern of the NB if that is safest but it can slow us down and we are racing! Tacking, to those who do not understand it, always looks a bit haphazard but is very predictable to those who understand it. As fellow narrow-boaters, I would encourage any CWDF members to find out about points of sail if they encounter sailing often. When we find ourselves running downwind and next to a vessel we usually ask if they have any bacon butties or gin going spare! We love to see all the different NBs coming through. We may sail fairly close astern or alongside but hold your course and you'll be fine. Oh and please give us enough room to squeeze past the yellow marks ( buoys) . We can cope with your wash, but we'd like to see a wave! Comet dinghy 101

Singlehanded? No problem! Wait for another boat to arrive and immediately propose marriage to any eligible crew member that takes your fancy! Problem solved ! Please note this may solve your dilemma I cannot be held responsible for any potential consequences of this advice.