BD3Bill

Ash tree twigs make the best kindling IMHO.

Hi there, You will find most narrowboats have a 12volt fridge that runs from the domestic battery bank. Some fridges also run from the LPG supply but this is rather old school now. Boats with an Inverter ( converts 12v DC to 240v AC) or generator can use a household fridge. Cheers Bill

Went and had a look, PFFT! Filled in their online survey, no too favourably….. Nice idea, poorly done (hurried perhaps)

Very many thanks to Alan Fincher and Pete Harrison for their knowledge. This was information I didn't have and is very helpful indeed. I had not realised Sweden was a Composite boat either. I knew that Envoy ( formerly Empress) had gone to E Thomas, as did Emperor, which then got renamed ( rather norty?) as Empress and is extant. We can only assume the fates of Envoy and Sweden then. Cut and shut or just cut up….. Cheers Bill

Thank you for your interest none the less Athy :0)

Indeed there is a motor of the same name, built later, but not the same fleet. ……beaten to it, many thanks :0)

Hello All I am looking for information on the FMC Butty Sweden, fleet no 114. I know that this was paired with FMC Motor Envoy (formerly Steamer Empress) during the 1920's & 1930's with A. Aldridge as Master. Sweden seems to disappear around the outbreak of WW2. Envoy ceases to be captained by him and is paired with Dilys (?) My good lady is researching her family history you see. We know for certain her Great Grandfather lived on a boat at Tring summit from verbal family evidence, during or just after WW2. It would be very easy to jump to the wrong conclusions ! i.e. Alfred Aldridge was given the butty to live on when he retired & this was Sweden and that the missing link in her family tree is him…….. Is Sweden still extant? I believe she may have been formerly called Foxton (pre 1922) Many thanks Cheers Bill

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=66878&hl= I asked a similar question recently and got some great advice. Cheers Bill

We have a pair of 4" & 3" ( i.e 7" thick) memory foam toppers instead of a mattress. Fraction of the cost of a proper memory foam mattress. Mebbe a bit soft for some folks though !

You could try : http://www.photonicuniverse.com (The online shop is slightly more expensive than ebay but as you don't want that fair enough) I went for the Bosch panels, you get what you pay for , peanuts…monkeys…. Cheers Bill

Many thanks for all the replies & experiences folks! In view of the body of opinion, we shall try and get my OH a bit more experience on our boat, before having someone along to do a day with both of us on our boat then, as I don't profess to know it all ! Cheers Bill, & the lovely Jayne

My better half wants to learn how to steer our 45' narrowboat. I'd like to sit on the front sipping ale and wind the locks sometimes, and of course if the worst happens she needs to be able to take control. I'm probably not the best person for the job! We are thinking of using Wildcat Enterprises, based on the Oxford Canal (where we moor) Let's have your views/experiences please. Cheers Bill

Well it was a while ago that I started this thread was't it? So to update….. A couple of weeks ago I was doing the periodic service checks and topped up the engine coolant header tank, clumsily, filled it to the brim. Well thought I, no worries, when engine warms up it will bubble out into the catch bucket…… which it did. ( No messy bilges here thanks!) However the other effect, it appears, is that the calorifier warms up quicker! And gets to a higher temperature too. On closer examination I found there is a small ¼" pipe from the header to the thermostat housing. Now this pipe enters the header above ¾ of the way up it. I had been maintaining the header level below this & importantly filling the tank seems to have improved circulation before running temp is reached. Strangely though once the calorifier is up to 78 C ( higher than before, 65 C at the most ) and the thermostat opens the keel tank is so efficient that the calorifier temp then starts to drop back ! So after 2 hours cruising I switch off the circulating pump for the heat exchanger, simples! Such a simple thing after all :0) The next project is a solar water heater so that when we arrive at the boat there is a full tank of hot, I will let you all know how this goes I'm sure, but a full bathroom refit is needed first…... Boats eh? Can't live with em, can't live without em !!!!

Thanks Pete, I did suspect as much :0) I have a couple of tame Sparks I know, one of which has experience with boats. One hates to ask them questions without knowing what one is talking about though! The outlets on the Genny are 13 amp (Household) sockets, this doesn't matter though does it. Lead with 13amp plug one end and 16amp socket the other? Cheers Bill

Get a Speedometer App for your Smartphone, take some readings related to your tacho revs. Do this on varying depth/width stretches. Then you know exactly how fast you are going. Most of the time using less throttle actually results in the same speed on a shallow canal . Our Boat is hugely over-engined and we cruise at 3.7 mph at 700rpm on good water……AND I slow down for moored boats to 2.7mph at 500rpm. If it is really tight and shallow I will knock it into neutral past boats, and no I don't lose my steering thanks. SLOW DOWN YOU BU**ERS! Knocking down the banks and silting up the Cut BAH!!!!! Rant over!

Would anyone agree with the practice of using a plug with a link wire from earth to neutral, in the spare socket, on a generator with two outlets ? This apparently creates the necessary neutral/earth bond needed for a circuit breaker to work on an inverter genny with a floating neutral……. without ripping it to bits and permanently converting it. Oh yes, I have done a lot of reading in the last 4 days folks :0) Haven't found how to wire up a 'magic' hook-up lead though! :0( Cheers Bill ( Realise that hulbond/RCD panel still needed)

Well now, we will all be glad to hear that I have looked at the Smart Gauge site and found a suitable wiring diagram for my use. Thanks again Guys!

Hi Pete. Thanks as always, shall get one. Re reading the instruction manual for the genny however ( Briggs & Stratton P2000 with a 12v output as well, so inverter type ) it does actually state in there the neutral is floating. It's under warranty so I shan't be pulling it apart & fiddling with it. So how the earthing point provided works is beyond me ! Federal law in some countries require it, they go no further in explanation. Interestingly when I turn the genny off with the extension & a tool (stopped) still plugged in the RCD plug does trip, but I guess this is just the current changing as the field in the genny's windings collapses? Cheers Bill

Thanks so much for this, just plain and simple. I had looked long and hard at previous threads and just become confuddled. Fairplay! Cheers Bill

Rated 1.6kw and Peak 2kw, I think it will surely?

I have bought a 1.6kva suitcase generator so I can do work on our boat ( no hook up at mooring ). Should I use an earth spike on the genny when using power tools on an extension lead ? I am using a plug in RCD between tool & extension socket. And I do plan to use the genny to run a 1 or 1.5kw immersion in the future. The boat has an RCD box but no earth bond to the hull that I can see. Hence why I haven't connected the genny to the boats mains inlet !!! and have disconnected the existing 240 circuits just to be sure. Do I need to bond to the hull if I use an earth spike on the genny? Where should the hull bond go from…. the RCD box? Plenty of good places on the engine beds for tother end. Cheers Bill

I had a battery explode whilst jump starting a horsebox many years ago. Fortunately I was wearing sunglasses and had the presence of mind to stick my head in the water trough next to the truck, a very scary experience. ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN WORKING ON BATTERIES !

Big torque & big prop should give you good 'brakes' ( stopping quickly by going into reverse ) too surely ?

Maybe your repeated charges over the last couple of days has done a little desulphating and certainly some good then ? :0) Somebody please do BigCol a favour and recommend a Sparky in the MK area eh? ( although this thread has been an education )

"Broken one of the battery clamps" Mmmm, a major suspect in this ongoing problem perhaps ????