Bramangie

You are right and correct 👍🤷🏼‍♂️

Just ordered a tonne pallet load (50X 20kg bags) of NewHeat from Ace Fuels based in Halifax for £505 delivered. This is the 6th year we used their product and it never fails to keep us warm. Their summer price has just appeared on their website .

What a great idea 🙏👍 let’s hope this feature is updated on a regular basis . Good beer well served takes some beating and a huge bonus if it’s under a fiver a pint . 🙏🙏🙏

I’m sure Terry Watson engineering over near Ollerton , North Notts would very quickly make you a new prop shaft . He keeps a good selection of stainless and none stainless bar in stock. Wouldn’t take him long to machine a couple of key ways in place . You’d just have to nip over there to pick it up.

I think 24” is the accepted industry norm and yes as they form part or foot of the hull side scantlings then it all helps to maintain the boat’s strength. I do have a keel in place on the boat’s base but these are rare in today’s boatbuilders. Without doubt the strongest boat I have viewed has to be an RW Davis Northwich Trader boat. Great steelwork but deep drafted and very hard on the tiller when steering. it’s all about compromise when having a boat built . Getting a near perfect boat is near on impossible.

Dave Harris built the boat but his meanness on certain issues was certainly noticeable. Sadly these traditional boat builders have virtually all retired now however Dave Ross at Brinklow BS and David Kemp at Stourbridge still build great strong and sturdy boats 👍👍👍👍

My new boat built recently by a very experienced boat builder insisted on putting the floor bearers 30” apart throughout the boat . I wanted these at 24” but bowed to his experience. After fitting the 18mm marine ply floor screwed well down and sealed I noticed the floor creaked and bowed downward slightly when walked on. I should have strongly insisted he put the bearers at 24” and fitted 24mm ply . The floor will be covered by T&G oak flooring either crossways or longways . Hopefully this will cure this very annoying issue. love your bathroom floor but not your shallow shower tray .

Gardner 3LW engine for sale . See for sale section for more details .

Last week I contacted Seaward Engineering for a pair of Gardner LW crankshaft thrust washers . Badly needed to complete an engine rebuild. John Dick was most helpful and got them dispatched and delivered to me in under 24 hours . Great service from a great traditional company. Both John and Andy are in their seventies but still looking after icons of engineering excellent. Thankyou both 👍

Hi Matt As a short term fix then a wonderful product is “Devcon” molecular metal putty or “Belzona” molecular are two products most older ships carry with them to effect similar repairs. A really good Gardner man based at Alfreton is Rob Knowles . He’s rebuilt numerous LW engines in the past and I’m sure he might know of a good L2 specialist that may be able to help with a replacement block. Sorry to hear of your predicament. I’ll let you have Robs phone No if it helps. Good luck Bramangie

I’ve used Clements Engineering twice recently and fully recommend them for new propellers . Also you can have one free re-pitch if feel the original build pitch needs adjustment . if it’s a repair you need or a prop resizing or re-pitch then Woodward’s of Hull are an excellent company to use.

I was visiting Crick marina yesterday (smaller mooring area) and noticed a stunning Narrowboat called “Leon”. I’m thinking this is a Barry Hawkins boat ??? and it appears to be quite newly painted . Can anybody help me locating the owner to find out which company or person painted this boat. I have a new traditional Narrowboat which will soon be ready for painting . Thanks for any help you can supply. Bramangie

Called in at Midland chandlers Penkridge this week to pick some parts up. On the way back to Hatherton marina I passed a TFM farm shop in centre of Penkridge that stocks Morris’s oils . I bought 25 litres of SAE 30 golden film mineral oil for £59.18. Absolute bargain I reckon and lovely people to deal with . Can’t recommend them enough . Loads of general maintenance parts in stock . They have numerous depots around Shropshire and Staffs.

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Dave Harris ??? He’s recently completed a stunning 57’ boat for me along his very traditional lines. This will be Dave’s 49th build and sadly maybe his last. He is now fitting out Boats and taking things a bit easier as retirement nears . A true craftsman.