peterboat
Patron
-
Posts
10,271 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
16
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by peterboat
-
-
So, I think it's a 1980 Pedro, the interior is very similar to the link above, it's down on CRT site as fiberglass but it's not it's all steel, I paid 14.5k for it which I think is a bargain I will measure the lenght beam instead of relying on CRT, all the rails on the boat are stainless so that might be a give away?
I have got lots done today and we have had a little outside cruise which was lovely, will report back with more information
-
1
-
-
Well thankfully Google came up Trumps I have ordered a modified pump that still drives from the camshaft but has been upgraded to make it more reliable, also it only has one impeller listed unlike the original, so fingers crossed it will be sorted by next week. So that's more of his tatty wiring can be ripped out thankfully. What hurts is the original wiring is a work of art, its very neat and well done.
-
5 hours ago, LadyG said:
I think they had to charge extra for widebeams, not so sure about cc, it might be tricky.
Widebeams have a much smaller cruising range which is how it is, so maybe charging people more for less isn't really fair? After all it doesn't really matter if a widebeam is on a wide canal it's what it was designed for. Maybe all narrowboats should stay on narrow canals, after all they pay less so should accept less?
-
17 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
Same here, its lovely.
I hope it will be when finished, hull dark blue, and top structure cream. It has to come out for survey and antifouling so rubbing down the hull and spraying it seems like a plan at the moment.
-
5 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:
Looks like a proper boat- what beam is it ? (I'd guess at about 8'6" or 9')
I never wanted a rear cabin, but since having one I wouldn't be without it. So much space.
34 x 10 rear cabin is big enough for normal mattress
So sorted out the wiring to the Webasto heater so it works, in the process discovered the leisure batteries were creamcrackered!
I have a couple of Lifepo4s spare so looks like they will be pushed into use.
The real disaster is though a missing raw water pump! Apparently he ordered the wrong impeller so he took the pump off and fitted a very small electric one!! I am looking at crankpully driven ones currently
-
Spull chucked strikes again!!
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
So yesterday I bought a steel Dutch cruiser, its a boaty boat rather than a corridor 🤣 I currently have a widebeam but I have lusted after this boat for a few years, it has a Sole 44 diesel engine with 146 hours on it. The previous to last owners can only be described as the artful Bodger! He didn't fix anything correctly ever!!!! The list of bodges he did are endless, as I sort them I will list them, i have fixed the water leak on the front hatch already. I only have until the end of may to do it as that's when the BSS runs out, pictures for perusal
-
9
-
4
-
1
-
22 minutes ago, Midnight said:
The whole surcharge idea is a dog's dinner and will cause more problems than it fixes. It's going to be a nightmare to administer so I just cannot see how it will be cost-effective. It would be so much easier to manage and better for the budget if we all paid the same (higher) license fees. I suspect surcharges will be ditched before 5 years are up. About time Parry & Co were ditched too.
I agree the management of CRT have forced on us the worst of all systems
-
20 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:
I don't really know why insurance is regarded as being so important, as far as CRT is concerned. If they have to recover your boat after it sinks, I presume they would either sue you for the money or you'd pass them to your insurer. It's to the owners' interest to have some form of insurance, not CRT's.
But insurance companies always supply details to third parties, that's how knock for knock works. Yiu don't specifically authorise it, it's implicit in the contract.
Many people still seem to be labouring under the illusion that they have a right to privacy, and to keep online information from being freely available.
No guarantee that your insurance will recover your boat unfortunately, it seems that some companies have dropped that from there cover
-
22 hours ago, nicknorman said:
My point was a general one and not specifically all about me(!) - the point being that charging to a specified limit voltage (which is what solar controllers do) can result in either under or over charging. The latter being more of an issue for Li. Of course it is not an issue for LA.But to continue with my particular issue I have a 100Ah Li battery and a 100W solar panel. So even in summer on a sunny day (in Scotland) it only is likely to charge at about 5%C and in winter much slower, 1%C if I’m lucky!
In winter I use it to run the telly and Sat box and the electric blanket for Friday evening and Saturday evening. So that probably takes out 40% of capacity. Meanwhile it may get between zero and 5% back in during the day in winter. So I leave on Sunday with it quite low and hope that when I return on Friday evening it will be replenished - otherwise I need to get the genny going. Then as we move towards spring, it gets more charge each day and at some point - varying each week according to the weather, it is going to get to 100% during the week and I am going to be using much less power of an evening. So there is a risk of it being overcharged.
All of which is simply to say that solar controllers are not optimised to Li charging.
I have always charged by solar on my Lithiums, however I do have things running, the fan on the toilet and the fridge freezer so this seems to keep things correct on my system. Even still I have seen my midnite controller showing no charge and the batteries at the correct voltage, maybe the quality of the controller is what counts?
-
5 minutes ago, nicknorman said:
On the other hand it also has to be said that IanD has no experience with fitting out a boat with lithiums. He paid someone else a lot of money to do it for him. Although I can see why you might think otherwise.
I fitted out my boat years ago, still using the KISS principles and they are still working fine, ok I have no alternator but I do have a wind turbine. I have bought another boat so as yet I have not decided what I am doing, but it most certainly will involve Lithium batteries for domestic and possibly drive if I go the electric route. For me its always been quality chargers that can't go over voltage and that's worked for years
-
50 minutes ago, nicknorman said:
Yes this is true, and not just modern diesels. But not the sort of diesels found on narrowboats.
I just asked an AI chatbot why. This is the answer:
- Modern diesel engines may still feature throttle bodies, primarily for emissions control and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR).
- The throttle body’s butterfly valve can be controlled by the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or a solenoid-controlled vacuum line.
- Under low engine load conditions, the ECU restricts the amount of fresh air (from the turbocharger) entering the intake manifold. This creates a pressure differential, aiding the EGR system by allowing more exhaust gas to be recirculated.
- During engine shutdown, the throttle body acts as an Anti-Shudder Valve (ASV), ensuring a smoother shutdown.
I also asked it why some BMW petrol engines don't have a throttle valve. This was the answer (quite useful these AI things!)
Certainly! Some BMW petrol engines are designed without a traditional throttle valve, and here’s why:
-
Valvetronic Technology:
- BMW employs an innovative system called Valvetronic in certain petrol engines.
- Unlike conventional throttle bodies, Valvetronic eliminates the need for a butterfly throttle valve.
- Instead, it electronically adjusts both the lift and timing of the intake valves.
-
How Valvetronic Works:
- When you press the gas pedal in a Valvetronic-equipped BMW, you’re altering how much the intake valves open.
- The Valvetronic system varies valve lift instantly, allowing precise control over engine breathing.
- By eliminating the traditional throttle valve, BMW reduces pumping losses.
- Pumping losses occur when the throttle restricts airflow during partial load conditions, wasting energy.
-
Benefits of Valvetronic:
- Improved fuel efficiency: Valvetronic optimizes air intake without relying on a throttle plate.
- Enhanced power delivery: The system adjusts valve lift dynamically based on driver demand.
- Drive-by-wire throttle action: Valvetronic operates electronically, providing a seamless response.
-
Production and Impact:
- Valvetronic-equipped engines are manufactured at BMW’s Hams Hall plant in England.
- These engines enhance performance, reduce emissions, and contribute to BMW’s reputation for innovation.
There we go, only issues for the BMW engines is the timing chain is at the rear of the engine, it fails early and scrap the engine!!!
-
4 minutes ago, cheesegas said:
Interesting, I didn't know that, I'll have a read. Weirdly, some petrol engines have gone the opposite way with direct injection like a diesel - they don't have a butterfly valve which reduces energy lost in pumping against the closed valve at partial throttle opening.
No have a look at this.
The petrol engines without throttle seem to be BMW based very strange but they work
-
24 minutes ago, cheesegas said:
Also worth noting that because of this, there's a lot more carbon monoxide in petrol exhaust compared to diesels - at low throttle/low load, I seem to remember reading it's something like 50-100% more. All the more reason to run a petrol genny off the boat and downwind!
Actually lots of modern diesels have throttles now, quite why I have not bothered to find out, but I did a 3 litre cambelt last week and the butterfly was there. Perhaps its something to do with EGR or DPF regeneration, or performance? Who knows
14 minutes ago, BEngo said:If you keep away from black smoke (overtorque) situations, diesels produce very little CO across the speed range. That is because there is, even at designed full load, always excess air in order to achieve compression ignition temperatures. Plenty of air meens all the injected fuel is properly burned. The excess air also keeps combustion things fairly cool, so there is little NOx.
No hydrocarbons, no NOx, No CO. All very green. Pity about the PM 10's.
N
Lots of NOx from diesels which is why they have EGRs
-
2 hours ago, dmr said:
24volt is affordable and I expect 48 will come down in price soon, but 24 will do fine. We have a lot of 12 volt sockets and stuff that plugs in to them, mostly fans for the hot weather, and I don't want to replace pumps, so staying at 12 volts for the boat circuits is fine. I rarely see more than 10 amps going out so I could go to 24 volts and run the whole boat off a DC-DC converter (or two to give redundancy) but I am quite happy to stick with 12 volts and then have a separate 24 volt bank for the inverter/washing machine. There was mention up above somewhere of a possible bi-directional DC-DC from Victron, that would be a neat way to link the banks.
Anyway phase 1 of this project is to get a Zeus working with the current 12 volt Trojan bank and see how many amps I can squeeze out of the 100 amp alternator.
I have used a 24 to 12 volt 30 amp DC converter for years with no problems at al, it was a cheap one from ebay.
-
1 hour ago, Tony Brooks said:
I take the general point but I think incorrect. For as long as I can remember, CAV produced double pole master switches for buses, coaches and vehicles that had to be wired insulated return because of dangerous cargoes. I accept they were not readily available at the local chandler and most boaters would not pay for them.
You are right Tony I do a day a week in a bus museum or transport museum depending on who you speak to. Anyway they are doable pole as I asked Dave the manager of service and repair
-
On using an MPPT controller to charge a Lithium battery my midnite controller is designed for wind turbines as well as solar, they do however do a solar only controller so clearly there is some difference in the internals? But what that is I have no idea except for price
4 minutes ago, magnetman said:Is your Boat sinking ?
My feet are feeling a bit soggy
-
3 hours ago, Tony1 said:
Heavens, just imagine. If one were to engage in "affairs of the heart" on the boat it could be a nightmare.
Especially with me being so handsome and charming and everything. And constantly getting pestered by lady boaters vying for my attention and wanting sexual favours.
Well I do declare. The poor B2B would be on and off all night.
Victron better get their act together or there'll be a warranty claim on their hands.
Brilliant Tony I can vouch for everything you say as I havemet you, now where is the promised bung?
-
1
-
-
7 hours ago, David Mack said:
Well currently I have nothing bar an unconnected alternator on the boat. So it's a reasonable question what to install.
But the choice seems to be between a costly professional install, a simple DIY hybrid system with a long bit of wire, getting up to speed with some sort of self-developed electronic control system or sticking with lead acid, the 2nd and 3rd options apparently falling foul of battery manufacturers' instructions, relevant standards and insurance requirements. Hence, slightly reluctantly thinking of heading down the LA route.
Incidentally, have any of the hire boat firms gone down the lithium route, or are they all sticking with tried and tested technology, widely understood and easily fixed if something goes wrong?
Carbon lead might be the way forward? I have a load of Lifepo4s on board, but they are charged by solar and purpose designed battery chargers.
-
1 hour ago, mrsmelly said:
So after saying we would not have another dog at our age......the house has been empty without a dog and this poor eight year old sweetie needed rescuing. So after donating lots of beer money to rescue centre here she is, we must be daft lol
Well done Tim, she will reward you a thousand times over for your kindness and love to her
-
1
-
-
4 minutes ago, IanD said:
It's not even possible in midsummer if you want to cruise all day for several days in a row, unless you go *really* slowly... 😉
Some real figures for a real hybrid narrowboat...
Typical energy use for a full day of cruising : 15kWh (propulsion only -- don't forget to add domestic use on top)
Typical solar yield per day in midsummer (2kWp panels) : 7kWh
Propulsion use can be bigger if you're cruising fast for a long day on canals with few locks and moored boats -- I've seen up to 25kWh on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
The only way to make the numbers add up without a generator (or spending a lot of tie moored) is to go more slowly, certainly a lot more slowly than a diesel boat typically does, so instead of using around 3kW you use around 1kW -- but this is pretty much "tickover speed" cruising, like you're supposed to do when passing moored boats.
Most boaters wouldn't want to do this -- a lot don't even do it past moored boats... 😉
Of course given the onboard battery, with solar only (no generator) it's perfectly possible to cruise for one long day (maybe even two...) if you then moor up for a day or two (or three or four...) to let the solar recharge the batteries. But don't forget you won't get all that 7kWh/day solar for this because domestic power usage will eat some of this up...
Spring/autumn, you're going to need a genny unless you hardly move at all. Winter, you absolutely need one to stop the lights going out... 😞
I do better obviously because of a bigger roof so more solar, but even still I run the genny for hot water and a top up.
I am currently at my moorings and on a landline the last 2 weeks I have used nearly 25kwhs of electric from the landline to make up missing solar and that's with 5kws of solar.
28 minutes ago, Ronaldo47 said:It seems from the article that many of the electric boats are in fact hybrids.
Reference is made to doing a day's cruising on "mainly" solar power, which according to posters on other threads, might be possible on a sunny day in mid-summer, but which is unrealistic for a narrowboat under typical English weather conditions .
do better obviously because of a bigger roof so more solar, but even still I run the genny for hot water and a top up.
I am currently at my moorings and on a landline the last 2 weeks I have used nearly 25kwhs of electric from the landline to make up missing solar and that's with 5kws of solar.
-
38 minutes ago, rusty69 said:
My forecast pension age has already changed about 3 times. The closer I get, the further apart the goal posts get. I have resigned myself to the fact that there probably won't be a state pension by the time I do get there, or it will be means tested. I certainly don't think the perks that today's pensioners receive will be available. I suspect they will pillage the funds to pay for the broken roads, the knackered NHS, the politicians expenses or something else instead.
I get my pension next month, I have just cancelled my TKR because after a little incident mooring the boat the pain has gone away! So currently happy with life
-
1
-
-
On 02/02/2024 at 22:23, TheBiscuits said:
Well yes. A broken ankle and damp knees is the most likely outcome of jumping off a canal bridge on most parts of the network!
Not ours its quite deep an old lady was found in the basin the other week face down unfortunately
-
9 minutes ago, MtB said:
I blame the ever-expanding population Vs. the near-zero building rate of new homes. In the news the other day the UK population was predicted to grow from 68 million now to 73.7 million by mid-2036, according to the Office for National Statistics. That isn't going to do much for the availability of accommodation is it?
“Buy land — they’re not making any more”, was the advice of Mark Twain, even back then. And so far he has turned out to be bang on the money.
And to drag it back on topic, I predict all 5.7m extra inhabitants will be buying fatties and plonking them in the canal system, and never moving them. That should solve CRT's funding shortfall!
I was interested that without migration the population would stay static
New boat to me
in Boat Building & Maintenance
Posted
Thanks
It's now 44 hp as it has a new engine and on the licence application it says fibreglass strange?