Sea Dog

Lots of folks here who know more about how to find the info you seek than me, but this site is a handy place to look up boat info as a starter. For Mollie Kershaw it has this listing.... Mollie Kershaw Built by Amberdale - Length 17.4 metres ( 57 feet 1 inch ) - Beam 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft 0.61 ( 2 feet ). Metal hull, power of 50 BHP. Registered with number 510853 as a Powered. Last registration recorded on Wednesday 22nd May 2013.

That's a bit of a sideways remark!

Not really right, no, but it probably doesn't matter too much. Think of cavitarion as the ripping of holes in the water - the resulting "bubbles" collapsing is what makes the associated noise. It can also cause damage to the prop, which some will have seen in high revving applications such as outboards. In applications where it matters, eg warships, one technique to overcome it is to inject air through tiny holes on the propeller which fills these cavitation "bubbles" and stops them collapsing. So you're actually using ventilating to combat cavitation! You can also get cavitation, as you point out, from a rudder or stabiliser fins if the vessel goes fast enough, sometimes known as rasp. Cavitation needs relatively high speeds to cause it, beyond what I think is achievable with any surface on a narrowboat. So whilst anti-ventilation could be a better description of what it does, if the plate concerned is best known as a cavitation plate in narrowboat applications, any distinction is a bit academic and I don't think it matters that much as long as anyone concerned understands what you mean. For what it's worrth, my experience bears out what Dot Piper said to Neil2 above and, on my Piper at least, I don't think I need one.

Don't get me wrong Nick, I like the effect the strips gives and I don't sit around in the evenings with my main lights on. If I'm charging though, I'm usually also steering and even if I do need to run my engine alongside I don't do it in the evening. So such lights would only be on when on shore supply (when this sort of wattage doesn't matter) or when on batteries (when it does). I'm just asking if there isn't a lower power way of achieving a pleasantly illuminated boat. In particular I'm wondering whether 3528 LED strips might be a better starting point or whether there's another, lower power consumtion option.

According to the table posted earlier by nickhix, for a 5m 5050 LED strip (12v 75w) we're looking in the range of 30w-65w load with increasing voltage and nicknorman's figures above seem to bear that out. My LED main cabin lights are 6 x 3w downlighters and the space is very well lit by them. If that (nominal) 18w does that, I can't see that these 5m 5050 strips, which are essentially mood lighting, are worth the tariff. Maybe 3528 strips may be better? Or the perhaps small individual recessed lights? I like the idea so I'm not trying to raise a spoiler here, just wondering if it's worth exploring the more battery friendly options.

Seconded. Mind you, he should have a word with the woodyard - they've flogged him some 'timber no good joiner would touch with a long shaft!' I'm jesting based on Dave's earlier post of course - it's really rather lovely.

I've had that site bookmarked for a while Gareth, but it seemed so out of date I thought it was a relic. Good to see it is alive and well (at least for some areas) and that its being updated by such as yourself. As you say it's only as good as the info boaters send in. Thanks for flagging it up.

I was surprised not to find one on my (pre-used) boat, built by Simon Piper - a yard which, together with his Dad, has done quite a number of fairly decent boats in their time. Possibly like the OP, based on my previous experience in boats with such plates fitted, I thought I'd look at the underwater end and take the dimensions when it was out of the water.for blacking with a view to getting one fitted shortly thereafter. When I'd measured it all up, I realised that since I don't have weed hatch access from the upper deck of my Trad (and hence a perfectly dry bilge!), the contraption would have to be hoisted out of the weed hatch tunnel inside the engine space any time I needed access. That would be a real struggle, so I'd have to need it pretty badly to make it worthwhile. This set me a thinking - after a year of reasonably extensive cruising, I've had no ventillation related noise or issues from having an unfaired trunk opening in the uxter plate and, given a properly sealed weed hatch, I don't suppose I would. I think that any air up that tube would have to be dragged down and out of it to vent the prop - and it would then be equalised with water so thelimited supply of air to vent the prop would be a quickly exhausted. There may be some small amount air still up there at the top of the trunk, but it won't be interfering. So, whilst it's not broke I won't be fixing it - but if I find I need to I'll be straight round to see Martin (Kedian)!

I think the plate you refer to would be termed a (anti) ventilation plate since cavitation is, as someone said above, related to prop design and speed. The issue you are trying to combat (with such plates as might block up that there weed hatch hole in t'pictures) is the prop drawing air down from above, thus ventilating it. Is it actually causing you an issue Dominic (other that people keep pointing it out to you - presumably divers)? Cos if it's not broke, why fix it?

Doesn't really matter now, does it..............

Graham, the CTEK and Optimates mentioned above are designed to be connected 24/7 and do proper battery maintenance cycles. Follow the link I posted for details or look up Optimate for similar info. You'll find they're much kinder to your battery than a standard charger.

Yeah, I know, but the Salwarpe does affect the navigation towards the culvert from the town and if that's tanking through it's pretty likely that the brook will be high too. Neither did I mention the corrugated wotsit by the rugby club, but if she's managed the M5 then she'll be ok there - I was just trying to keep it simple. She also said "as a newbie I know I won't be as fast as somebody more experienced and with limited daylight etc could do with a hand" so that does suggest she's not gonna be breaking any records in the present weather conditions on short winter days. And we wouldn't advise someone new to boating to do that ring in 2 days at this time of year, would we? I saw that too, which is why I said "IF you're coming from the town". Throw me a bone here guys - the lady did say she was a newbie and no-one else had pointed out the navigational issues which she could well be about to face and which may well prove to be show stoppers in the case of the M5 culvert. I was just trying to help, but I'll happily delete the post if you really think it's so unhelpful.

Not wishing to teach you to suck eggs but, since you say that, if you're coming up from Droitwich town to Hanbury you are aware of the height retriction under the M5 aren't you? The already quite limited clearance changes with the flow in the River Salwarpe and there are Red Yellow Green navigation boards at the locks and a depth gauge by the M5 culvert to refer to. Also, the Hanbury flight is unusual. You empty half into the side pound then the other half through the bottom paddles and fill half from the side pound and then top up through the top paddles. Much of the year there are volunteers to help, but it's unlikely they'll be there now. They were there in force just before Christmas though, so you never know your luck! I'm not there at the moment so I can only offer moral support from afar I'm afraid. To be honest, I'd take 2 days, particularly at this time of year. Dunhampstead or Tibberton would be my overnight choices. Should you press on, once you reach Worcester Warriors, it might be best to put a little more distance in before you moor up! You may know all this already, but a little local knowledge can sometimes help. Best wishes.

Thanks for that. Best I get in there with my torch and see what the potential for replacement mountings is then.

Are Eberspacher units similar in this respect NMEA? My 4W sounds like someone's tapping on the hull with a spanner, slowly at first, then gradually quicker. Do you know what component is causing that and is there a fix?

There's your problem, right there! What sort of a muppet gets to 45 and hasn't sorted out not having a name?!

Well, I've learned what a 'Chugger' is today! Matty, the extracts below from the links may explain why they weren't interested in you as a boater: Canal & River Trust are looking to gather together a team of friendly and passionate people who love their wildlife ..... You will be talking to the other path users..... Maybe if you'd taken the time to sit on your bicycle, planting rushes whilst sniffing glue and knitting yourself a wooly otter hat you'd have made a better impression? ETA a wink in case anyone thought I was being serious.

I once fitted a solid fuel stove in a canoe when I was winter fishing, but the damn thing melted it's way through the boat's bottom and I sank in ice cold water. My own fault really. My Missus did say "you can't have your kayak and heat it*

See also CTEK. When my old Optimate died I moved to a CTEK and it's the dog's danglies. You can even get, for less than a fiver, a quick connector that has LED Green Amber Red battery state indicators so if you're not connected you know when you need to connect. I'm on a mastervolt inverter/charger afloat, but I use an MXS3.8 with 7 step charging to keep 2 motorbikes happy at home. One for every application too (6v, 12v, 26v, golf trollies to ships) see the range here. Just an impressed customer, honest!

I visited Upton a couple of times last summer. I managed a night, maybe two, on the pontoon in the photo, but there were unoccupied long-termers there, some undergoing work by the look of it, so I was lucky to squeeze in. Maybe that's changed now reading Jackie's post above? When looking at Nick F's picture, there's wall moorings a little further down too (by the Swan Inn iirc) but as stated, not great in times of rise and fall. The trip boat is moored on a pontoon too, but each time I visited the other potential mooring on there was taken up by a canoe-like paint cat contraption. Tingdene Marina offer free overnight moorings under an agreement with Upton Parish Council according to Nicholson's who say free tickets are available from local shops and the tourist info kiosk (in the rather nice church building). When you ask, you'll be met with wry smiles - it seems this is not actually the case! Upton is a lovely little place and imho deserves full boaty support when they're not under water!

I share your frustration, but your idea is too widely aimed. Like most humans, dogs don't crap 24/7 but instead have daily routines. They can be trained to go on command quite easily too. So, responsible owners know exactly when the dog will empty itself, hence there's no need for nappies for responsibly owned dogs since they're not contributing to the issue here. Same as dogs don't need to bark, jump up or otherwise make a nuisance of themselves - if a dog's a nuisance, it's usually down to poor training due to the ignorance (not necessarily deliberate), laziness, or irresponsibility of the owner. They say there's no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners - I'm not sure about that, but I would offer that if a responsible owner has a problem dog, they'll make sure that it has little impact on the rest of the world. Just my 5 cents. YMMV.