ChirpyCoot

This sounds like the source of the engine problem, the more I look into it. Thanks for the info everyone!

I totally agree, Phil! My boat is my pride, joy & will be my home for as long as she chooses to have me

Hi Alan! Ah great point! Never even thought of this! You are right, the fuel was left standing for some time which would likely make it unstable and likely to cause a residue & blockages. I'll ask the mechanic about this and get it cleaned out .The engine sounded very healthy otherwise. This is very likely to be the culprit. A clean and service should see us clear to get cruising this summer without any major hitches (fingers crossed). Thank you so much for this, Alan. I really appreciate it. Greenie coming your way!!!

Hi Kev, Thank you for your detailed reply. Very thorough and helpful I'll get the engine checked over, read up on petrol engine safety and then work my way through the glazing & painting (hull cabin and roof - might as well do it all at the same time and maintain as part of regular upkeep). Water in the fuel was the reason for the cut out sited by the guys who took the boat out with my partner. Glad to hear that it does not sound like a major problem. Not sure why the diesel engine was replaced with a petrol one? I've heard of this happening before through several boat owners I've met but have no idea why. To me it's like converting an electric hairdryer into a gas fuelled one, but then, I'm just a gal I wasn't sure if you used normal paintbrushes or there were ones especially for use with boat paint. I try out the ones you've linked yo as bristle loss is a pet hate of mine as a seasoned painter. The window is rubber mounted. I'll price up the part first and call a few local glaziers for quotes. Thanks again for taking the time to reply, Kev. I really appreciate it. Greenie coming your way Hi Bagdad Boatman! I came across a similar story on this forum whilst browsing which raised the question. I think that I need to read up on all aspects of boat safety and get up to speed. Why do boats with petrol engines pass BSC if they are so hazardous, yet you can be failed on relatively minor points? It doesn't make sense to me? Thank you for the paint recommendation. I'll price it up. I have an orbital sander and work clothes. Thank you for taking the time to reply and for your feedback. It is very much appreciated Hi Naughty Cal! She has indeed been painted before and is getting a little flaky in places, as we all do without regular care & attention She is a beautiful boat in great condition and a coat of paint (or 9) will restore her to her former glory. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it! PS. I've read a few of your posts and it is great to see such a passionate advocate of cruiser boats on here. I'm with you on that. I love my 'tupperware'

Hi All, In preparation for my first summer cruising I will be getting her engine checked, painting her and making small repairs before we set off. I have a few questions re this work and would be extremely grateful for any advice or pointers from this community. Engine Check ~ The engine cut out on the only time she has been out since we bought her last year. The guys who took her out on her first trip with my partner said it did not seem to be a major issue and just needed some minor repair work. The engine is petrol (converted from diesel). My main questions re the engine are: ~ Can anyone recommend any reputable mechanics in the Nottingham area to take a look and assess work required. ~ If we plan to cruise often and for long distances, would it be advisable to get a new engine to safeguard against the possibility of it cutting out again and landing us in sticky waters? Would this be an investment or waste of funds? ~ How much is a decent new engine, should the need arise for one and what ones are reliable / recommended? ~ What precautions need to be taken with petrol inboards? Painting The exterior requires painting. I am happy to do this myself with the help of my partner and a friend. I am a pretty good painter. I just need to know the following: ~ How do I prepare the surface and remove any loose paint? ~ How many coats are recommended? ~ What paint brands / brush types are best for my boat and where is the most cost effective place to buy them? ~ How long would this take with 3 people working say a 7 - 8 hour day on it? Replacing Front Window ~ One of the 2 front windows needs replacing. It is cracked but, not leaking but is in need of replacement. I don't have the skills to do it myself and don't know where to start on this one. ~ Where can I source the glass cut to fit? ~ Who could I contact re fittting? ~ Ideas on cost (rough estimate)? These are the obvious things that require attention. Is there anything else I should be checking / doing in preparation for summer cruising? (Apart from having anchor, life jacket etc on board and in good order) Apologies if any of these questions appear stupid. I am very new to boat maintenence and don't want to cut any corners on the work I do or get ripped off as a female who knows little about engines and glazing Thank you so much for any feedback that is forthcoming. I really appreciate it!

What a lovely post! Congratulations! Wishing you every happiness in your new life aboard

Apart from the mooring / licensing / boat hire issues a few points for you to consider ''First of all we know that it will be classed as a business venture, we are prepared for that we already have a sucessful business and careers between us.'' ~ Do you appreciate how much time a venture of this nature will take to start, develop and establish successfully? ~ Do you have the time to commit to doing so between you? ~ Do you have the flexibility in your current roles to take time out if need be (even if you hire workers these issues will likely arise)? ~ Have you negotiated specific business responsibilities between the 3 of you based on strengths? ''We mainly want the boat for our own pleasure, we can permit ourselves a bit of luxury in our busy lives, and have the finance available to buy a more than decent boat, maybe new, who knows.'' ~ Will the stress of the additional venture impact on your work life balance given that you have existing jobs? Also the money we get in through renting our respective Liverpool properties will more than cover licenses, permits, insurance, services, and crates of good champagne should we choose. ~ How do you know this when you do not know the costings involved? ~ Will you have a reserve fund available for emergencies or unaccounted for expenses that arise? As for the question asking if I would still phone the same company that has not been able to find me accomodation on the boats, the answer is yes. We want to be in that particular place, so we have to accept what they have available, and often arrange our visits to Liverpool to suit the availability of the yellow subs. ~ Think about this statement carefully. You have just reinforced the point that I made in my last two posts. The Yellow Submarine is your main competition. It is an established brand through connections, successful marketing and word of mouth. You arrange your plans to accommodate their availability. What makes you think that your target market won't also do this? Why would they come to you (as an imitation) of an already established popular brand? Being good in business, no matter how big or small is a process. It involves the ability to research & listen to your target market, find a niche in that market, plan a strategy within the applicable legislative guidelines, implement your business plan and continually review and refresh the business to keep it successful and of interest to it's target market. Then you can kick back and enjoy the champagne! People here have tried to offer advice to benefit you. Whether you choose to listen and benefit from it is totally your choice.

Great Idea! I'll PM you

Hi Again, As you plan to use the boat 'very sporadically' for yourselves and hope to rent / sub let, this would still be viewed as a commercial enterprise as money would be changing hands. Most mooring contracts that I have come across in my personal experience will not allow sub letting. Should, however, the location of your choice permit this there are many implications of sub letting to be considered including costings, book keeping, relevant insurance, registering with HMRC, marketing & advertising to let people know who you are etc This is where a business course would help you, which is why I suggested it. The marina may wish to have a copy of a business plan if they are to grant you commercial standing. If you are self funding and not taking out a bank loan, you will not have to put a business plan together to apply for a loan. But how do you know if you can afford to self finance if you have done no costings or projections which also allow for a buffer for unexpected expenses? Buying a boat is as serious and involved, if not more so than buying a house in my own personal experience and not to be entered into without adequate research and planning. The Yellow Submarine is in high demand because the part owner is well connected in Liverpool which creates an automatic advantage as the nightlife, hospitality and fashion industry in Liverpool is very much supported / revolves around local celebrities, footballers & wags. I am sure that both wags and wannabe wags have stayed at the boat for this reason. This is the point that I was making. My advice would be to plan and do as much research as possible before going ahead. A good place to start would be to research your potential location and cost it. The Albert Dock is a highly sought after location with only 32 berths. The Albert Dock does not currently have any available moorings. http://berthsearch.co.uk/MarinaDetail.asp?src=ML&M_ID=4

Thanks again! Yes my boat is a cruiser so all should be well in terms of navigating narrow locks. I need to make sure the engine is tip top though as if it fails us on tricky water, we would be in trouble and have an altogether different adventure! I think that I will do my best to get a boat to come along to share trickier parts of the journey, just to be on the safe side. Great idea! Thanks. I have patience and I'm willing to put in the hard work and safety measures needed to build my confidence and skills in a way that does not compromise my safety or the safety of others and allows me to enjoy my learning. Thank you again for your reply. Great advice! I really appreciate it

Great advice! Very much appreciated Grace & Favour. I will put the RYA course on my to do list. Thank you for taking the time to reply

Hi, I'm not sure if you are native of Liverpool (I am) or have researched your target market or looked into the business potential of this idea thoroughly enough to make its success viable? The Yellow Submarine is a business venture partly owned by an ex Brookside actor Philip Olivier who had a lot of money to 'sink' into this investment and is very well connected with local actors, footballers and wags which will inevitably create a revenue 'stream' (Ahem, puns were not intentional, they just flowed naturally into this thread. I will stop all further watery references...) and is the reason why rooms in the Yellow Submarine are priced at £149 per night, from Monday to Thursday, and £299 and £350 from Friday to Sunday. Both 'The Joker' and 'The Yellow Submarine' have had extensive media coverage and have been featured on TV programmes like 'Four in a Bed'. In all honesty as someone with a decent business head on them, I would advise you to rethink your ideas. The market that you are planning to go into in the location that you are looking at is already saturated. It would be like trying to launch a new cola drink - you would be competing against the market leaders Coca Cola & Pepsi. Therefore are at a disadvantage from the outset. Most successful business models flourish as a result of finding a niche in the market rather than replicating what is already out there. This advice may seem harsh, but could save you a lot of time, heartache and cash in the long term. Have you considered a business course? This allows you to follow business ideas through from conception and test them out through research and marketing before investing time and money in a business with little viability. I think that you are looking for advice in the wrong place too and would be better advised to do a business course or seek an entrepreneurial mentor. Asking for advice on here about setting up a floating hotel is like asking a F1 driver for advice on how to pimp up an F1 motor car as opposed to driving techniques and skills needed to use the car for it's original purpose. Does that make sense? This is a very friendly community but I do not think that your question is targeting a group of people with any interest in your venture. The best of luck in whatever you decide Toodle Pip!

Great Advice! Thank you, nicknorman! Do you think it may be advisable to elicit the help of a more experienced crew member on trickier waters that you have highlighted if I am able to do this? Also would the RYA training be of help for this in your opinion? I have heard very mixed reviews on it. Maybe picking up a RYA instructor to guide us through the tidal waters may add to our experience and act as a safety measure? Thank you so much again for taking the time to reply!

Hi All! I am in the process of planning my first summer cruising. In preparation I am getting the engine fully checked over and any work done in advance. I'm also arranging to go out on several short journeys to get the hang of steering, locks and boat etiquette. (I am a complete novice). From what I gather from the forum's experienced users, the only way to learn is to actually get out and do it, balls up on occasion and learn from it (I have been watching the Prunella Scales & Timothy West series on More 4 and see that ballsing up is not just the preserve of novices) The GB summer is very short and I am hoping to make the most of it I would love to travel from Nottingham to Cambridgeshire and explore Cambridgeshire over the summer while I consider mooring options for the winter. I know this is ambitious for my first summer, but feel that a summer cruising and becoming familiar with locks and different waterways will to build my confidence and skills and allow me an insight into the reality of continual cruising which is an option I am considering for the future. I think that there is a route planner that I could use to plan my trip, but am unable to locate it. If anyone could point this out that would be great. Does anyone recommend using a checklist of any kind? Some boaters I have met have made up their own which they follow prior to setting off. Are there any supplies other than fuel, food & drink, basic first aid and tool kit that are a must have? I will be planning regular stops and some will be unplanned due to weather conditions, no doubt. If there are any points of interest / stops that are recommended along the way I would love to hear about them along with any hints & tips that I may have overlooked as a novice. Many thanks in advance for all replies!