whammy

Thanks John, ebay link very useful, gives me some idea of prices if I need to replace, as I have said before I am thinking of upgrading the 70 amp domestic alternator, I think it is being over worked, it runs quite hot and maybe not up to the job - its also nice to see an electrics post has not degenerated into all out war and has been quite simple in explanations.

I dont think they are connected, I have two isolator switches in the engine compartment one says engine and one says domestic, there is also two switches on my control panel inside the boat which both isolate either side by being switched up or down and there is a side to side switch that tells me how charged the both sides are, the engine side more or less stays at 14.3 and the domestic side obviously goes down as the power is used. As to johns question, the two Alternators sit either side of the front of the engine and I cant see that they are connected in anyway. I did start a thread some time ago about Alternators and a Sterling power product but we wont go there again - or should we ?><)(*&^%$£"!)(*&^%$£"!

The original alternator which started giving problems was a 80 amp model, the engineer that came out replaced it with the only one he had with him a Prestolite model but I noticed when he had gone it was only a 70 amp model, this now charges or is meant to charge 4 x 110ah leisure batteries, I have a seperate 80 amp alternator for the engine and bow thruster batteries, I assume that the 70 amp model is up to the job but have often thought that when it did go belly up I might upgrade the domestic alternator to something more beefy if that was not a no no to do but as I say I am a electrics numpty. With regards to the domestic alternator overheating - my boat has a crusier deck so as a huge area for the heat to dissapate but I have noticed that the domestic Alternator does get a lot hotter than the engine side Alternator. ANYWAY - STOP PRESS - things have now rectified themselves - since last night the domestic batteries are now charging normally and my AUX battery light now goes out when I start my engine (as is normal). So I have no idea what changed to bring things back to normal - very confusing this lecky stuff !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, thankyou for your replies, I would have thought if I had a wiring problem the replacement alternator would have gone straight away and not 7 to 8 months down the line but I know next to nothing about electrics, it is so difficult finding a marine electrician that knows what he is talking about specially when you are continually moving around as we are. Maybe I have just been unlucky or my Alternators are overworked as I am a live aboard and my only source of leckky juice is via the batteries/Aternator

Winter cruising is cool (FORGIVE THE PUN) - we have had two winters under our belts now as cont. cruisers. What other posters have said about having the waterways to yourself cannot be under estimated, If you dont like the ice then try the Llangollen for a winter cruise, hardly any boats and it does not freeze due to the constant flow of this canal. Keep the squirrel topped up and you will be as snug as a bug in a rugg.

Are all alternators interchangeable then or will I need specific type for my Isuzu 42 engine ???????????

My Alternator on the domestic battery side seems to be on its way out, batteries are not charging as they should and the red AUX light remains dimly lit (goes dimmer as the engine revs go up). Now the boat has gone past its 12 month warranty period, the engine has a 2 year warranty but appears the alternators are not covered. The Alternator in question was a replacement one fitted free of charge by my builder when the original one showed the exact same symptoms as above so this Alternator is only 7-8 months old - can anyone tell me if this replacement alternator should be covered for 12 months or did any warranty expire with the original 12 month warranty for the boat - hope this makes sense. Does anyone have a good website for replacement marine Alternators ?

We have been on web n walk for quite some time now, pay just under £20 a month - great value, we surf the net day and night and never get near the 2 gb fair usage limit, I am not sure but I think the limit is set to stop some users downloading stuff morning noon and night, we dont download much so for general surfing there does not seem to be a usage problem. The communication centre software that comes with web and walk has a usage monitor on it which tells you how much you have sent and received so you can see if you are getting near any limit. regards

Really helpfull information to the original posting ???????? LIKE WISE ??????, Bob I have sent you a p.m. re the subjectregards

I suppose it's just as well, I tend to spill a lot going round the bends But on the serious side I would be in agreement I have had a few hairy moments with other boats who's skippers were well and truly drunk and not in full charge of the boat, but its like everything else on the waterways who would police such a ban ?? have a nice (wet) day

If you go onto the excellent water explorer maps it shows the link in glorious techni colour, I have found these maps very useful, seem to be better than google maps and possibly newer but dont quote me on that http://www.waterexplorer.co.uk/gmaps/gmap....amp;PlaceId=425

Dont forget that the ribble link is not open every day and any passage has to be booked and if you wanted to go to Preston Marina you would have to organise this with B.W. It only opens one way when it is open i.e. UP or DOWN. regards

Stop at Nantwich, the waterpoint at Barbridge is very near the junction with the Middlewich Branch it is the slowest waterpoint we have come accross on the whole system, when I say slow I really mean SSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW, avoid it if you can.

Thanks Denis, have read the other site, still not any nearer knowing what has happened but with fish dying becuase of low oxygen levels it must have been serious. I am no scientist, does any one know what would be the cause or causes of such low oxygen levels in the water ???

Have been notified by B.W. Stoppage email service that the shroppy has been closed between Audlem and Tyrely becuase of a serious pollution incident, does anyone know what the incident is. Just being nosey.

SUN ?????????? Please explain, I have a vague memory of what it is but a very dm and distance memory ??????

Thought I would add my tuppence worth, to be clear from the start I have no prejudices of boat types or what they are made of mind you I have been accused of treating my boat (60 FT narrowboat) as if it was made of glass when I refused to squeeze through a gap that would possibly damage my paintwork on a overhanging tree - but thats another story. My views are based on my experiences on the Lancaster canal, we came up on the Ribble link about 6 weeks ago and have been bottom to top and spoken to narrow boat and cruiser boaters - like every where else moorings are likes hens teeth and are much sought after. As I can see the few marinas on the canal all cater for cruisers in a big way simply becuase when they were built I should imagine there were not a lot of the larger narrowboats on the canal, if you have anything over 40 foot and made of steel I dont think the grp boys would like you crashing around in very tight spaces anyway. I would think the new Marina at Brock has identified a gap in the market and I should imagine they will fill up pretty quickly if you wished to be based on the Lancaster and want a narrowboat simpy becuase the other marinas are not big enough for anything over 40 foot, the one at tewitfield being built does not look any larger - too noisy as well. Online mooring on the Lancaster is pretty poor as well - if you stray out of the visitor moorings in the towns and villages you soon find that the tow path side is very shallow, some visitor moorings themselves are not the deepest either when we went to Tewitfield we had no option but to just turn round and go back its just such a shame - some of the countrys best scenery from canalside and no where to moor - still I digress, the online mooring makes it even more reason why this marina may have gone the narrowboat route - gap in the market ???? Anyway to sign off and go sightly It is amazing that millions of pounds were spent on the Ribble link to open it up to the rest of the system and in my opinion the facilities for narrowboats have not been catered for - maybe we are not welcome after all.LOL.

My advice is fit the diesel central heating, we have the squirrel and webasto ch. The Squirrel gets put to bed in about late March early April, after that if the temp gets a bit low we have the central heating on for a few hours. If you have both it gives you that flexibility. regards

Hi Shaggy, congratulations, will pm you later for the details

ROUTE HOME & LENGTH I suppose I'm still clinging onto the idea of 'home' as a place (I suppose this may go over time) - so want to have the security that I will be able to get back to Glasson Dock (Lancaster) on a 60ft boat, everybody says this is ok, from my maps there appear to be two routes to get there, can anyone provide any insight into this. Where will I find it difficult/impossible? Spooky - Shaggy - have replied to your pm though I had not seen the above bit re Glasson, we are at present just north of Galgate which as we all know is where the Glasson arm starts, we have not taken the boat down the arm yet as the wife is on a go slow, being on the Lancaster canal with no locks has made her lazy. We did cycle down the arm (on the tow path) a few weeks ago, you get a great view at the top of Glasson - you can see the tip of Blackpool tower to the left and the tip of scafell to the right - not sure which one would be preferable to be on top of - I suppose its easier to get to the top of Blackpool tower but the scenery might not be as good.

Hi, Welcome to the forum, I thought I would add my tuppence worth to this thread as I fit a few of the criteria re your plans. For the last 18 months I have been cont. cruising the system, I have a 60 foot Aqualine Manhattan cruiser stern boat with most of the offered extras added, I bought it from new from the NBC at Hanbury Wharf. As it was to be a live aboard we thought we should have all the mod cons to make life on board as comfortable as possible, I know some people say some of the upgrades are not necessary but if you have the money go for it. I can recommend the NBC and the Aqualine range, the workmanship on the steelwork and the wood work is superb, we still have people asking us if the boat is brand new and thats after going through over 650 locks so far. As for the winter conditions - no problems - the squirrel stove keeps us very warm (too warm sometimes - its a strange concept sitting with the doors wide open in the middle of the winter), the diesel central heating is handy for the autumn evenings. You can still cruise the system in the winter if you plan carefully around the stoppages, we spent last winter on the Llangollen and Shropshire union canals. Internet access is a breeze with the T mobile web and walk as long as you are not expecting broadband speeds everywhere. Sorry cant help with being a single hander, cant really see what relevance the length of boat has with being single handed I should imagine it is just as hard with a 40 footer as with a 60 footer, I stand to be corrected on that one, Canal boat magazine has done some articles about being single crewed and the fella that has gone single handed round the system on NB Frilford also writes in the mag so it is possible. If you have any questions about living with a Aqualine you can PM me, I will be happy to help if I can. GOOD LUCK -

Reference the Hand and Dagger pub, we had lunch there today and the food was excellent, best bit of Gammon I have had for a long time and the Sweet Chilli Chicken was excellent according to her in doors, definately not two for a tenner food.