Ronalan
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Everything posted by Ronalan
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When we take our boat with the motorbike on the front to France, do we have to register the bike in France? How do we insure it for the roads without a French address?
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Ian has crewed with us twice now. A great help through lock flights on the Grand Union. He's good company and easy to keep, by just plying him with food and coffee! We highly recommend him especially if you are single handed.
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Today was our 2nd day of crew help from Ian who we met through this forum. A pleasant easy-going chappie. He helped crew last week from Cowroast through the Marsworth locks on the Grand Union. Today he met us near Leighton Buzzard to go to Milton Keynes. A long day made a lot easier with his help and company, especially as we're on a bit of a schedule now. He's very easy to keep, all he needs is coffee and food for his time! He even got a ride back to his car on the back of our Fazer 1000 motorbike, which we keep in the bow! We highly recommend him, especially if you are single handed.
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Thanks Richard
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Here goes...the technical specs.. We have a 175amp 3 stage smart alternator that solely charges the domestic batteries. Our solution has been to buy an isolator with a larger capacity of 300amps. The BSS guy, if making comparison with MOT testers (which my partner is) should only point out the fault then and not give a solution. If he's not responsible for testing/checking the load/pipe diameters etc, he shouldn't be telling us how to fix the fault. "Alternator main cable to be connected to outlet side of master switch" Then it's up to the customer to seek the correct advice and remedy before final inspection. This makes sure the fault is corrected appropriately.
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I knew this was going to get too technical for me! A Hella 6EK is the number on the new switch. Alan's gone to collect the new alternator so will have to get more technical later.
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I agree. It's seems the mistake was not having an isolator fit for the load. However as it was installed by the manufacturers we didn't query the load when asked to re-route the wiring by the BSS guy. Question now is.. how do we wire it safely when the new alternator turns up? 300amp fuse? Return wiring to original?
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Hi Richard The safety guy was SO insistent that the was the only way to do it. In hindsight Alan should have put the wire back after the visit. Major expense now, new alternator on order. Rona
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That's awful! So sorry to hear that, especially if it's another boater. We're supposed to be a caring community, us boaters. We're heading to Weedon for Christmas to a family owned mooring. Will spread the word.
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Thanks to insistence by our safety cert guy to wire the alternator through the master switch, we've spent the last day and a half without power! Fried switch,alternator is also buggered. Too much load for the switch,175amps+ going through a 100amp switch! Here's hoping the 3 month old batteries have survived. Hired a generator which the inverter wouldn't use, needed sine wave jenny. Emergency,my son dropped work to borrow father's caravan jenny and drive 80 miles to us last night. Have phoned the safety guy, Grrr! He'll take it up with the office. BOAT....
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Denham marina has one replacement glass window if we can get to them, but we're moving north now. I knew it was youths because.... Afterwards I heard voices shouting and saw lights outside. When I looked out there was someone with a torch further up and he was shouting to someone in the field beside. I shouted out ' what's going on out there'. He flashed his torch at me and ran off down the towpath! I thought maybe I frightened him off being only partly dressed at the time! Anyway it hasn't put us off. We've moved further up the canal now. Ours are removable glass portholes so not too much of a chore to replace, just annoying.
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We're at Boxmoor alongside the river Bulbourne. Moving on tomorrow thank goodness. We've been out visiting family all day. The police didn't seem interested of course but we have a crime number now.
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Thanks Ian will let you know. Yeah we really should report it when we return. Have been out all day from early. Was really angry at the time. So mindless. Thanks Ian will let you know.
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We had our bedroom window smashed in at 2am this morning by youths on the towpath, Hemel Hempstead. Showering us and the bed with toughened glass bits. Little tykes,drown them!
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Hmmm, think maybe a cat flap isn't such a good idea after reading your posts. She's too scared by people/bikes on the towpath to go out during the day and I don't want her to get into trouble if we aren't around. Last night she miaowed at me to come out with her (only cat owners will understand!) and walked several boats along with me until I turned round! Rona
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Love the other stories. We've only been on board for 2 months so no cat flap yet. I "have" to take her because she won't get off in a new spot until she's checked it out with me alongside to give her confidence! After that she comes and goes in short bursts all eve,telling us all about it each time. She still can't work out why the land keeps appearing on a different side of the boat. We have a canvas cover and skirt so hopefully she won't fall in the water! We had a dead (thankfully) shrew brought in, I think that shows she's happy? Not at 2am though!! J4424 I'm surprised such an old cat adapted so well. I was worried that at 9 mine was too old!
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Does anyone else have to take their cat for a walk? When we arrive in a new place I have to walk up the towpath with my cat, once it's dark. After that she spends the whole evening coming in and out. Not bad for a cat that had never even seen a boat 2 months ago!
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Ooops! Yesterday we ran aground in a short section between the Hatton Bridge locks. Came out of one lock to find there was hardly any water in the channel. Apologies to the boats on the cut above the lock who found themselves dropping fast as we tried to float our boat!
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Calling other beaders...Is there a network for us? The Arts and Crafts section seems quiet. I make semi precious bead jewellery which I sell to a couple of galleries, but would love to meet others for ideas on selling aboard.
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Thanks all,some good ideas there. We're going to Northampton for a family winter mooring so that's the worst months sorted.Meanwhile I'll look for teapots!
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We didnt intend to start this time of year but the 3 year old boat, which we bought in May, needed a lot of tlc before we could move aboard! I lived on narrowboats as a child until I was 5 then later on for 3 more years, but it's different when on residential moorings.We're lovin the freedom though.
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Hi Ian. Yes both my partner and I are keen bikers. He's adapted an engine crane to put a Fazer 1000 in the bow. Has caused lots of gongloozer questions! Rona Jenlyn..we're moving up to Apsley this week 'cos water is getting low! Must look out for pubs I think!
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As a 2 month newbie to cc on the grand union,is anybody in the Kings Langley area for social banter? Now winter is coming and we're all closed in cosy at night we're missing boating socialising.
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Thanks, but there's nothing doing at the moment in that section.Don't seem to be as many pubs canalside as we thought and can't afford too go often anyway!
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After frenetic months of activity, renting house, packing, sorting boat to cc, we've done it! We've been travelling 2 months now and loving it. However now winter is closing in we don't meet anyone when we moor up for a while and feeling bit isolated. Lots of friends have visited but they go home of course! Any ideas on how to meet up with other boaters for natters and laughs? Any other women feeling the same? We're going up The Grand Union, curently near Watford.
