Sparx

Uh? Who is Di?

Well, I have an answer to this query. Just in case someone is asking the same question. Yes there is volunteer help at the Marple locks flight. When I went through there were 5 volunteers on hand. Apparently from 10AM. "Most days". Its a great help if you're sailing solo.

In the first few days of September I plan to sail solo from Marple to Staleybridge and up to Diggle. I'm curious to know if there is any help at Marple locks, which I presume are still open for travel. I'm kinda hoping there might be help on hand. Otherwise, I'll knuckle down and just do it.

The original engine had a water temp gauge. Also I supplied the oil pressure gauge with matching sender. Later they claimed that they had supplied the kit themselves. If my car came back from the garage with no water and oil gauge I would be surprised. Ask any mechanic. How do you know if your engine is getting too hot or run out of oil?

I'm on the look out for some opinions. A year ago an organisation that we all know gave me a quote for an engine replacement. I accepted the quote for a pre-owned engine of the same model. After months of procrastination the work was finally carried out. When I came to start the engine I discovered that the engine temp gauge had not been connected and nor had the sender been transfered from the previous engine.the oil pressure gauge that I had supplied along with matching sender had not been installed. I immediately conveyed my dissatisfaction and they - not too promptly - came and made right. To my surprise I received an extra invoice for extra work to the tune of £350 (or thereabouts). I argued that they should have done all this at the same time as the engine replacement or, during the "bench testing". An engine should surely Always have basic instruments. They even claimed that They had bought new instruments. I argued each instance they threw at me. Never did they offer any compromise. Eventually the emails stopped. I assumed that they had seen the error of their ways and were going to leave it at that. Now a year later I have a demand for payment and the threat of debt collection. My premise has been that any engine, anywhere, should have temp and oil pressure indicators, if fitted by professionals. Am I being unreasonable?

Very important. I'm glad you pointed that out!

I had a snoop around the Ashton canal recently. I found the Strawberry Duck pub at lock 13. It looks like a maybe. I asked the pub management and they said there had been no problems with boats there, "for years." But then I suppose no boats have moored there for years.

Yes its worth a try. Its good to hear that there are possibilities out there. I usually try to keep ahead and stay squeaky clean.

Yes your guesses are all correct. The farm moorings are full.

Ok. That all sounds good. Cheers people.

Thanks for those ideas I will follow them up. I'm on the Macc. I'm happy enough where I am, its just to keep everyone happy.

So I have a dillema like this and I'm interested in any ideas that might be out there. The collective wisdom that abounds. I have a set of locks behind me, closed for maintenance. There is a permanent bankside CRT mooring place a few yards ahead. I'm in between the two, moored up with an engine problem. Looks like the mechanics are going to have the head off and do some investigative repairs. So there's no telling how long this will take. I have a plane ticket to fly overseas for a family visit and the CTR say I must find a winter mooring. ( but the nearest is eight miles away!). I can't go back. I can't go forward without pulling the boat along the towpath. Is there a way that the CRT will come to terms with this and let me sit out the winter right where I am? Does this sort of thing happen? Worst case scenario is, I have to catch my flight and leave my narrowboat moored up as is. So it makes me wonder if this sort of thing has happened in the past. Is there another way around this? Thanks guys!!

Thanks for the info!

I'm not saying it will save any work, but 4 hands are always better than 2. And I know what it's like jumping on and off a boat in the snow, and walking to and fro on the locks.

Hey. Is there anything moving on the Macclesfield Canal? I arrived in Congleton heading north and sailing solo. I want to do the locks up to Macclesfield this Saturday 16 December. Is there anyone doing the same thing? We could do it together. It's cold here. Snow all over the place but I'd like to get to Macclesfield.

Thanks. Thats something to go on.

Good morning. Im at Red Rock and heading towards the Wigan flight in the next week. I would like to know if there is any place to moor for 14 days while I gird my loins for the decent. Possibly even team up with another boat. Somewhere near the top lock where I can hang out for a short while.

Roof leaks a bit but mostly at the air vents. So if you sail slightly to one side you miss the most of it. No problem.

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s480/Phil_Stranex/20170311_085325-1_zpsz8d9vthc.jpg I thought this was interesting. An article in the Towpath Talk. I wonder which third of boaters they selected to take part in the survey.

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s480/Phil_Stranex/20170311_085325-1_zpsz8d9vthc.jpg I thought this was interesting. An article in the Towpath Talk. I wonder which third of boaters they selected to take part in the survey.

I'll let you know. I'm sailng through today. With raincoat.

There's no meter at Foulridge. Just a sticky tape that reads 'Out of order'.

Oh dear. There's no hot water for the shower at Foulridge moorings. :-(

I hope this works http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/Phil_Stranex/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160807_164648_zpse36ta0ez.jpg.html?filters[user]=145034108&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0 It a pic of the alternator. Difficult shot. The puzzling thing is that it Was working.

The alternator on my perkins 4108 engine used to work fine. Then I started to tidy up the wiring. The alternator has only 2 terminals wired back to the panel through a cable. At the panel that are both connected together! After fiddling around, the alternator now doesn't charge and the red light stays on permanently. Can any one tell me the correct way to wire this up? There is no name or markings on the alternator.