Nitrowing

Thanks, found them here http://www.altecautomotive.co.uk/durite-86mm-tachometer-rev-counters-br-range-of-3-models-2732-p.asp - seems to be a better bet than flying one halfway around the world...

Your right I stood there with a blank face, realising that the PO has left just enough diesel in the tank to get it started and no more is when the bulb lit up to say "There's trouble ahead". I had no problem with bleeding the injectors apart from lack of battery power, which in turn was because the glow plugs were always on - a new battery and a switch solved that... leading to getting the engine running and finding it was virtually pouring out of the injector pump. The issue with the moorings... yes...I'm still not quite sure why the other boats are lived on but I got called to task because of having to do a weekend of overtime, something I made clear would be a distinct possibility from the start. Sending 10 nights in a row may not be the marina's definition of leisure mooring but then being given the reason 'the other boats pay more' is hardly a justification. Seeing as I was (and continue to be) working on the boat every night after doing a 10 hour day - I was seriously expected to travel the 70 miles to and from Cleethorpes after doing this? Surely, the quicker I'm finished and underway the happier we will both be? It's to be expected that there will be a few issues when buying anything, be it a new car that wont stop beeping because the seatbelt isn't plugged, to an old boat that has been laid out internally in a bizarre fashion. Trusting someone and getting toasted wasn't part of my plan.

How large is the opening in the tank? What volume would you like to remove? My tank is stainless steel and has a 3" opening so if I were to try this, I'd try mild steel blocks in there that could be removed with a magnet-on-a-string?

I bought this one and have had no issues with it http://www.transtools.co.uk/hand-tools/engineering-automotive/riveters/silverline-threaded-rivet-nut-insert-tool-4mm-8mm

I haven't complained about any of the information I've been given. If in doubt, ask. I stated that the sale was private. When you pay for a car MoT, do you expect them to go through your vehicle with a fine-toothed comb and find every fault? Oh, surprise, they do - that's the whole purpose of checking for safety. Incorrect cables and fuel lines (especially coupled together!) are a safety issue. I don't expect my hand holding, though that would be nice, I also don't expect to have my throat jumped down when I ask for advice. I addressed the battery charging issue - it had been wired up so the glow plugs were permanently on! Getting old engines to run is always fun, that's why I have old cars, at least there's a chance you can sort it out yourself, rather than spend an hour just taking all the plastic out of an engine bay to discover that you need to plug a laptop in to then find out some unspecified sensor may have an intermittent fault! In this case, I haven't drawn lucky. This is exactly the reason I didn't jump all in and spend big money on my first purchase.

It's a Rebel, I have 2 Kittens too

My engine will probably stop running as soon as any bar opens!

Yes RWLP, I did search google before calling in Sheaf and refurbed units are £300 - Sheaf also seem to have a good reputation and the mechanic that came down this morning was a proper good chap - he didn't even frown when he realised that he was going to have to modify a spanner to get the pump off.

I was thinking along the same lines as ditchcrawler. My ballast is a freezing cold collection of cast iron weights (so cold, in fact, I was considering keeping the milk in there!). Running a copper pipe along the skirting of the interior to a radiator sunk in amongst the ballast shouldn't be too difficult? http://www.screwfix.com/p/pvc-coated-copper-pipe-white-10mm-x-25m/34388

Has anybody tried one of these? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TACHO-METER-HOUR-RUN-METER-GENERATOR-TRACTOR-BOAT-TRUCK-85mm-/111128051397?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19dfbf7ec5 I like the idea of keeping track of what's going on

Northernboater, whilst I agree with some of your opinion, I think you should edit your post a bit further. I've been looking in to buying a boat for about 10 years. I can strip and rebuild anything from a 1969 Reliant 4-wheeler, Harley Davidson through to differential pressure transmitters and coriolis flow meters, make circuit board modifications to PC's and commission nuclear submarines - that is to say, if there is a problem with something I can bee 99% sure at where the problem lies. With this privately bought boat, the previous owner has studied the art of rolling a poop in glitter where it couldn't be polished. When a boat has a BSS less than 6 months old I don't expect to find: - incorrect diesel lines -missing diesel shut off valve -leaking gas pipe -under-rated electrical cables -glow plugs wired permanently live -oil sump leaking in to the cabin etc etc etc The problem with the marina is purely one employee. He's ex-army and a prime example of why I left the forces, he'd bust a nut if he ever got promoted to Traffic Warden! The director, conversely, is very pleasant and understanding. I will be moving on as soon as the boat is functional. Move back to land? lol! Are you trying to sound like a sea-faring salty dog now? The boat is a toy. I'm using it to get to grips with the waterways before I spend 'serious' money, the same way as I bought a £200 bike to begin with all those years ago before I spent serious money. No one starts with a Rolls Royce.

There's no existing stove in the boat, just a pair of gas rings and I have an aversion to gas ;-) I read the information incorrectly, it's only for new boats. I like the look of the Boatman

Mike, I did a google search on the guy and he seems to have a reputation for walking away from older engines! Nick, if the boat was near my home, I'd do the work myself and then pay a fitter to fit it and time the pump! Buying this boat has really left a bad taste in my mouth, the attitude of the marina employee and the hidden bodges refurb of the previous owner are only just balanced by the peace and quiet of being on board and the friendliness of the other boaters!

I'd like a little stove, the only thing I'm not understanding is the cost of the 'extras'. A Pipsqueak costs £200 The Boatman is £300 A Frontier is £150 Clarke Pot Belly £120 All look quite reasonable but... I thought a double skinned flue was a BSS requirement now? How much is that going to be? Then the outlet through the roof and the chimney cover... add to that a slab of concrete for the base and insulation and skin to protect the bulkhead... Is this coming close to the cost of a Weber/Eberspacher unit?