BWM

Tony suggested you check this area a fair few posts back.

Some fresh fuel should do the trick, if it's been happy running for 40 minutes. I use the premium grade as it doesn't seem to go off as quickly. A quick clean of the plug may be useful too, if it's been running rough.

Twenty odd years ago, a small cruiser was served with notices and eventually dragged off the towpath mooring it was on, where it stayed for a few weeks. A 'perspective buyer', (tea leaf?), had a look inside one day and found thousands of dead flies and the remains of its unfortunate owner, a loner, who had worked on the nearby trading estate. Obviously no one had told the section 8 yard at Hanwell about this policy, there was a merry go round of semi derelict craft seized and taken there, only to be bought cheaply by the occupiers of the Toll House at Cowley, and returned to within spitting distance of whence they were seized!

What looks like the air filter is very dusty and if so, could be plugged. Another thought is , has the fuel tank got an air vent that can be closed off - is this shut?

Before we moved, our local timber yard was fantastic. They cut and machined the tongue and groove for the replacement cratch and associated woodwork for the hold structure (all cut fromold growthpitch pine), along with supplying quality plywood, etc. For anyone in the West London area, they are called Warrens and are in West Drayton.

Another bonus of a craft 68 - 69 foot is availability of moorings, as quite a few more are offered just below 70'.

Should be fine, these are the ones I mentioned. https://www.powertoolsdirect.com/silverline-633967-whitworth-spanner-set-8pce-1-8-9-16in-each-1-5024763029677?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtamlBhD3ARIsAARoaEy-E5lm3-h-HiBI9TduEPonxbYVDBkWy8RaNbB-e7En8rWIOn2Ltd4aAvbGEALw_wcB They are up to the job, and the only issue I've had with them is the wrap they come in - they tend to fall out into inconvenient spaces!

Silverline do a basic set, but Facebook market can throw up some decent lots.

Dry and coat with Owatrol, it's excellent at stopping further corrosion. Not sure I'd fill the void though as it would be useful to keep an eye on the tube.

Dead batteries have a scrap value so you shouldn't have any problem getting rid of them. Last time I changed ours, I bought some Trojans via ebay and the seller delivered and carried them in to us. You may as well keep using the remaining batteries until you can shop around comfortably, they may last a few months.

Quite, there is absolutely no reason to flag up someone's religion in a conversation like this unless the inner bigot has been roused. It's far from unusual for folks on that side London to be Jewish anyway.

I bought a couple of lengths of solid brass rod from ebay and swapped the bits over from the broken ones.

Another entitled coward on the loose.

Blackthorn at Ringstead is worth a visit as they have hardstanding, access for cranes and accommodate wide craft. If you visit, ask where the water level is in flood - you'll be surprised! Totally impractical to CC on the Nene on a boat of those dimensions and it comes under the Environment agency so the CRT 14 day limit and slow enforcement will not apply.

For those who have problems with leaking chain oil, just empty the reservoir when finished along with the fuel. Apart from leaking, chain oil goes off relatively quickly and turns into a nasty, thick grease.

Exactly that, you don't even need to scrape it off.

You can buy self adhesive square cable holders, they have two small slots to allow a cable tie to hold the cable/pipe. A pack holding dozens cost next to nothing from screwfix or the like.