Jump to content

PaddingtonBear

Member
  • Posts

    1,661
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Posts posted by PaddingtonBear

  1. Nothing about unrealistic expectations Mike, all to do with poor communication and and not doing what was agreed. I realise all the pitfalls re. An old engine having previously spent the best part of £18000 on getting a 3 cyl Narional and Brunton box rebuilt. The situation is not yet critical by any means but won't get any better, all we really need in the short term (this year) is some idea of time scales so we can plan for next year.  This was all I asked of the previous contact. It is not only boat yards and engineers that have to plan, we all do to a greater or lesser extent. 

    Unlike Mr Fincher of this parish the engine will not have to come out (unless we adopt option 2)as the problem is a broken oil scraper ring leading to serious loss of oil due to it burning. I have a spare complete engine which was original to the boat and one way of sorting this would be for this to be checked over and refitted but I can't even find anyone to discuss this with let alone find a queue to join. I am reasonably competent with a spanner so could do all the donkey work (which was an option I had discussed briefly)but like most people I have considerable time pressures esp. just now as my Great Leader has bought a house in Sheffield which will require my attentions for some months. I also understand the pressures of self employment having been a bit of a 'superstar' welder and steel erector for many years but one thing I did learn in this time was not to believe my own hype which unfortunately many boatyards and engineers on the system seem to do. And yes I am also quite an expert on boatyard time having moored for nearly ten years at a boat yard in the West Midlands and having the previously mentioned National rebuilt by RN at Daventry. 

    Looks like a visit to Brinklow might be in the offing some time soon. At least you know it will be two or three years and it appears it will be done well. Strangely this is where the engine came from originally.

  2. Why oh why is it so very hard to get any sense and more importantly any response from so called engineers. I have contacted one in particular being the nearest I know to the moorings and despite a minimal initial response nearly five months ago and several follow up attempted contacts via a variety of media I am deafened by his silence. Any advice /recommendations Coventry ish

  3. Does anyone really think that people manning a visitor centre are really going to answer, to the question "What is it like round here",

    " Seriously crap and violent, Don't moor here if you value your boat"

    of course they will not, their job is to encourage boaters to stop.

    The worst places we have visited or stopped at btw are March and Banbury although I am fairly nervous by nature :-) we shall see what Walsall is like at Easter.

     

     

  4. If you are Cambridge based why not wander down to Midsommer Common and fry to find Fade to Scarlet and his partner on Willow. They'd have had every boating "experience" known to man, Except sinking, in a very short time and they can talk for England about them. They are both extremely articulate and would be very glad to help I am sure.

    • Greenie 1
  5. Our plans might be somewhat overwhelmed by repairs and maintenance which has been seriously neglected for the past 6 years. Some of this work is dependent on the availability of others; dry dock and an engine repairer in particular. Just hope that this neglect does not end up mirroring the sagas of the Owls and the Finchers :-)

  6. Personally I'd wait until you can get adequate quantities of the same oil. I doubt there would be a problem mixing two different brands, but you never know. Your engine probably cost in excess of £6,000 or £7,000 so why risk it for the sake of 20 quid?

    What a load of nonesense? And from a usually reliable source at that.

  7. Very few if any in that shape, the comparison ro a Morris 1000 or possibly a Beetle very accurate, often not very well maintained (because they go on and on) and mentally dear to repair properly when they do esp. in the case of Sprigers with the V hull.

  8. 2012 is most definately not a "recent" survey and in any event has no relevance to you as it was undertaken for another's benefit. Looks ok but again about 15% too dear although it is at least on the system. Can I ask why you like cruiser sterns? As they are the worst choice for a live aboard as you loose so much space not only with the deck but with the access steps as well.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.