dixi188

Well, having seen the result of a cock up during oxygen charging that caused a fire and a repair bill of over £1,000,000 in the 1970s, I will follow our guidelines, "Keep It Cool".

I deal with oxygen bottles on a day to day basis on aircraft. The main concern when filling a small bottle, apart from "NO GREASE or OIL", from a high pressure one is heat. Fill slowly using a regulator and monitor the temperature of the bottle with a hand. If it starts to feel warm, stop and let it cool before continuing. Strangely, we are allowed to fill the fixed, crew bottles, but the portable ones in the cabin used for unwell passengers have to be sent away for filling.

We (6 blokes) were in a hire boat doing our annual trip. No stove to make smoke. I've seen several pubs that have canal side position but no mooring. The one in Devizes next to the marina comes to mind. They are missing out on trade, or are boaters not welcome?

Whilst on the W & B last week, we moored outside the Queens Head at Stoke Pound for a drink or two, only for a pub staff member to tell us it is not allowed to moor outside the pub. We moored opposite and walked over the bridge. It is due to Bromsgrove council rules. Why?

Sad Sight yesterday, a boat sunk on a jetty in Fenny Compton Marina. My surprise was that it was completely submerged. Just the roof showing at one end. The water must be 8 ft. deep. I didn't realize the water in the marina was so deep. RCR were there trying to re-float it but went away after a few hours. I presume they will return with bigger pumps.

Rusty 69. Those pics don't look like the one I have. Unfortunately I am over 100 miles away at the moment so can't take a photo. Tony Brooks and Nicknorman. I'll look into the W/L wiring. Many thanks for your help.

Thanks for your replies. Not sure which Sterling controller it is. I think the data plate must be on the back. There is a series of LEDs visible through a slot that show the charging mode. There is only one Alt warning light and looking at the wiring diagram it is for the 50 amp alternator. The diagram shows a warning light for the 110 A one in the voltmeter but I've never noticed it. I wonder if it has been disconnected. The wiring changes, as far as I can see, the B+ cable is removed from the 50 A alternator and a 25 mm jumper linked to the B+ of the 110 A alternator. The more I think about it , it seems as though the 110 A alternator is not working. Under high load the voltage drops to about 11.3 ish volts with a 50-60 A discharge. I am going to get a clamp meter and do as nicknorman says. As for switching on/off, would a switch in the field line do the job. I used to work on light aircraft and the twins had a switch for each alternator so you could check each one in turn under load. I'm not back at the boat for a few weeks so I'll report back later. Many thanks guys. Many thanks guys.

I hope this is the right place to join in. My boat has a Barrus Shire engine with 50A and 110A alternators. The previous owner paralleled the outputs and installed a Sterling charge controller. The batteries charge fine but rarely above 30 amps and, when a high load is turned on, there is always a discharge. e.g. Hair drier that pulls 100 amps via the inverter with engine not running will still cause a 50 amp discharge with the engine running regardless of rpm. Can someone tell me if I can change the wiring and insert switches to allow each alternator to be turned off in turn to check individual outputs and, should the outputs be fed through diodes to separate them? Or should I revert the wiring to original. By the way, the belts are correctly adjusted. Many thanks in advance.

Tiggs and FTS Yup! Got to keep an eye on things just in case. Also does not work on wide locks with only one boat. I've seen the damage on the K & A caused by boats getting caught under the top of the gate and lifting them out of the socket.

At Hilmorton locks about 2 weeks ago we were coming from the south to go down. As we approached there was a lockie walking towards us. He said he had just filled the left lock for the boat in front of us but they had gone over to the right lock and started to fill that one. We used the left lock and were out of the second lock before the other boat was out of the first. Last Sunday we came back through and the same lockie told us that the previous day he had a queue of 17 boats, 12 of which were novices. I think these guys must have the "patience of Job" to do this. As for the way to go up a lock, put the boat on the cill or top gate and leave it in gear until the gate starts to open. The fender and that great big lump of steel at the front are designed for this. Just had 5 weeks of almost trouble free cruising. (Big lump of carpet around the prop in Digbeth) Bliss.

Went through there twice to go up the Ashby and back last week. It was very smelly. I'm glad we were not there this week with the temperature above 30C.

This is good news. I have big feet and this will help with less chance of slipping. I wonder if any of the stirrup steps on lock gate beams can be enlarged. The ones on the K & A are big enough for me but most others I have come across are too narrow for my size 12's.

Got as far as Hungerford and gave up, but as seen in another thread, the K & A is Red after Newbury.

Anybody know how long the K & A is likely to be closed between Kintbury and Reading due to high flows? I was hoping to get from Foxhangers to Frouds Bridge over Easter. Many thanks.

I've left my boat twice for a couple of weeks just north of Heyford station on the south Oxford. Locals friendly and no suggestion of any problems. Trains north and south.

Came through the bridge a couple of years ago to find a full length boat wedged across the cut with a strong wind holding it there. I helped the guys, but they had to remove one of the fenders to get it un jammed. I think the moored boat was a problem but a 62ft boat should be ok.

Started my apprenticeship in 1969. Was told in college that after 1971 everything would be metric! I'm still working on and off in the aircraft industry and most things are still imperial as the Americans rule the air. We do have metric rivets, ie: 3.2 and 4mm dia. but they are really 1/8" and 5/32". All the bolts have unified threads and use A/F (inch) spanners. The Americans use the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Bradford on Avon water point has a newish plastic connector that has worn threads. I used PTFE tape at Easter to get the hose to stay on. I don't think these taps are robust enough for canal use. As for un-licensed boats. I sure many you saw were licensed but not displaying it. Those that are un-licensed are free loaders and need to realize that life costs.

About 5 years ago whilst driving west from Flagstaff Arizona on Interstate 40 the speed limits went from 55 to 65 to 75 to 85 and then 95 mph. I found it a bit scary being overtaken by a huge truck doing 95. We did take a detour to Seligman on Route 66. As for waterway speed, I'm sure I've been passed by someone doing about 30 mph on the Thames.

Who owns the car park at All Cannings? We have used it a few times to pick up or drop off people or leave a car there for a few days, Very useful.

Yesterday we were looking for a 14 day mooring near Avoncliff / Cross Guns. Came off the aqueduct heading east and there's a Cart sign saying permit holders only, so continued for a while noting that after the first 4 boats, none had M permits in the window and there was lots of space. At the cafe boat by the swing bridge my wife asked and was told you can moor anywhere along this stretch for 14 days. So we reversed back about 1/4 mile to moor. (and thank you to the Bruce Truce boat for NOT slowing down while I was mooring and pulling my boat away from the bank!) My question is "Why is there not a sign showing the end of the permit holders stretch" so that occasional visitors like me know where we can moor? Minor rant over!

Don't forget side doors. Our fridge was a tight fit at the back doors but went through the side doors easily.

Came down from Oxford to Reading about 6 weeks ago. Was told one day licence was valid only on day of issue, (ie. up to midnight), so I bought a 7 day one. £60 for a 57ft. narrow boat. This is what the EA website says, "The term ‘day’ is the 24 hours commencing after midnight and finishing at midnight"

Sorry. Keyboard not doing what fingers want, and me not reading before posting. "TWO OAR BARN"

Saw the "TWO OR BARN" on the Oxford the other day. It had a picture of a barn with oars. I thought it quite clever. (anag)