Nev

Thanks David and others... Even the china ones look like copper....I think the brass strip idea is best. I only need about half a dozen, I expect brass is easy to work to get the bend and to drill etc. A nice little bit of 'hand made' in the engine room. Nev

Thanks for your replies, some of you keep some strange hours.... Best option so far is from Rebotco, I could use them or open them up and drill and shape the open end, if that makes sense. the other links are for the type that hold the pipe off the surface which would not match and not be practical, but thanks anyway... keep trying? Kind regards Nev

My recently acquired boat has an engine room with copper pipe runs holding the cables. I have added some cable runs and want to put them into copper piping to keep it looking the same. The pipes are held with brass not copper saddles, and for the life of me I can't find 15mm brass saddles. Plenty of copper saddles and cast brass pipe clips but those that hold the pipe proud, I want the strap type that hold the pipe flat to the surface. Any guidance on supplier would be very welcome, Thanks nev

I have done this run quite a few times from Fradley.... it is one of our options. I have to agree leaving the river section going towards Willington I don't enjoy the A38 much at all. But it is not long intrusion and as soon as you leave it at Barton Turns it is quite idyllic, into Burton as well as I find the locals friendly as they seem to use the canal to its fullest. I recall Neil having to overnight by the A38 when bringing Chertsey up to Stretton to miss the stoppages last year, maybe that has coloured his impression? I don't think we should ever give the developers the green light to destroy one area of green just because it's slightly less nice than other areas. The number of brownfield sites as JP117 suggests are abundant and should be the first target. Truth is developers hold the government to ransom not building unless there is sale-able houses.....for big profit. I think it is time the government built houses again - remember council houses, built for those who could not afford to buy. Are we not there again and regardless if it is developers or councils doing the building there will still be houses for people who want them and jobs for people to build them. The finances would be no different to student loans, money up front from the government and paid back over a long period. It's not like quantitative easing is stopping the flow of money, just need directing better? Sorry if this is a bit of a rant. I still think the area should be left alone for me to boat thru and cycle through to get to my boat. Nev NB percy

I thought the process was now neighbourhood plans.... influenced by the local residents. They should have the decision making influence between brownfield sites and green wedge. It might be this has been the case in BOT. I cruise this route a bit and agree it would be a real sad day to loose the green space, especially if there are brownfierld sites within BOT that could be developed first. I guess it is down to the residents via the politicians as to what they get ? I fear the worst however..... Nev

When I was bringing Percy back from Braunston to Fradley early December I passed this boat. As I drew close the curtains were opened and a rather sleepy looking gent gave a wave. Not my idea of canal accommodation but it appeared to be someones home. Nev NB Percy and Waterlily atm

All good advice.....Callisto the coal boat could not pass thru yesterday as the Trent was still well up. Give us a toot as you pass the Hunts lock moornings. We are Percy fourth boat down. Alrewas is not a bad place at all to sit out the Trent dropping Take care Nev

This is the exact same fit our boat has and it was a new BSS compliant install about 5 years ago. Never been commented on on x2 BSS examinations so unless there is a physical damage to the pipe it would be as safe as the rest of the boat in my opinion. Kind regards Nev

That is my approach on Percy....just gotta watch the frosts on the Paloma, another reason to spend more time on board

Thanks for all the replies. Picked up Percy yesterday and the only thing I forgot and is not on the boat is the anti vandal key ! Might be the ice that stops me not the lack of a key . Take care Nev

Can't recall if any of the Atherstone flight or the Glascote locks need an anti vandal key. Can anyone advise ? Many thanks Nev

Plenty of ice at Hilmorton today... In fact in patches on the north Oxford until a few miles before Sutton stop lock. Knocked some blacking off Percy who is coming home to fradley with us. Nev

Hi Jenny You could try http://www.tollhouseboatsales.com/ Tony has contacts with Streethay who do a lot of boat moving, Good luck, Nev Ps my 50 footer will be for sale soon...and is in the Midlands . See http://nevsblogaroony.blogspot.co.uk/

Any chance of a link to the blog..... Nev.....(another Derby lad)

My link This might give a good 3" squeeze ? Nev NB Waterlily

It's Tony Redshaws boat Percy. Some may know it, we love it. Hopefully be our last boat on our ownerships journey. Have a look here for the details.... NB Percy click me At last I can now get excited.... Nev

Top bloke for doing so much, this is how we should all work.....pay it forward. Interesting description of how you achieved the recovery. Nev NB Waterlily

Just back from a day long survey on a boat we have put an offer in for. As others have said be there when they take it out, take lots of photo's (great to remind yourself 5 years on) and work with the surveyor. This is a great time to undertand the boat, its strenghts and weakness but make sure you get in into perspective. The 10mmbase plate on the boat we had surveyed was down to 8.5mm in a couple of places, its 21 years old and will see me out for sure... I am a little older than 21 ! We have asked for a boat safety to come with the boat. Maybe a little contentious but I think a qualified surveyor with lots of history, will be quite picky, we will use the report to give comfort but also a list of things to be aware of....and plan for change over the period of ownership of the boat. Anything really bad, is either a walk away call or negotiation, delends on how you are buying the boat. Enjoy.... its the start of something great, like most large purchases there will be a few doubt, let your instinct and the survey report guide you . Good luck, Nev NB Waterlily

Confidence inspiring... Best thing I can put to this forum. Just been been back in and found what must be the relay ... Small black box attached to the battery box. Pushed the connectors off and on, started the engine now getting 13.7 v via the Smartgauge. Next job is to remake all the connectors on the relay and allow the solar to trickle charge the batteries back up. Top fellas all of you, good job you are not in the pub otherwise it would be a large round of drinks. More learning done, never stops in my case ! Thanks again Nev Edited to say I have run out of greenies for the day... Back tomorrow

Thank you for all of your very quick and helpful replies. Sorry my initial post was short on detail. Yes it is a single 55amp alternator. Here is the embarrassing bit, not sure how the split charging is handled. I fitted the Smartgauge but the previous owner fitted the Adverc system. What and where should I be looking for the relay as the logic you describe seems to fit the problem. I'll head for the engine hole again to trace all connectors .... Thanks Nev

Hi, Help needed again from you good people. We came aboard yesterday to 100% batteries as reported from the Smartgauge. Ran the engine and the inverter whilst we vacuumed up. The vac is a dyson and whilst running did take the batteries down to 80% then an evening with lights pumps telly for a bit saw the Smartgauge at 76% as we went to bed. Today we have cruised for about an hour an a half... We usually put 10% back on the Smartgauge for every hour we cruise. However the green light constantly flashed and we got nothing back into the batteries. On checking the volts with and without the engine running it is clear the stater is getting a charge and the domestics not. The domestics are reporting about 12.4v both with and without the engine running. The starter is showing about 14.4 v with the engine running and 13.4v without the engine running. All info taken from the Smartgauge I fear we have damaged the charging circuit by drawing too much off the batteries via the inverter to run the vacume cleaner. It is a fairly new alternator replaced a few months ago when we go a charging alarm sound on the way back from Kinver. any advice greatfully received? Thanks Nev NB Waterlily

Thanks Iain, more valuable advice, Take care Nev

Many thanks for all of your very helpful comments and an apology for not doing a good enough search to find out others have had similar problems. It would seem these stoves are great for regular use but suffer from use as we do weekends and breaks aboard. So what to do.... I think I am confident enough to do the job of replacing the top, but I think I'll do it in stages so I know if there are other bits that will take the cost past what I'd like to pay out to recondition the stove. Big thanks to Sir Nibble, I'll follow the instructions and hopefully save me some time and swear words ! I'll leave it for this winter as I'd like to be aboard in some comfort. I'll rely on the CO alarm above the fire but feel confident it is safe to use. Great forum with such a depth of knowledge, many thanks again, safe boating Kind regards Nev NB Waterlily My Waterlily Blog

Hi, Was on the boat over the weekend and after lighting the fire there was a crack sound and the top of the Squirrel looked like this.. The Co alarm is directly above the fire and we did not get any alarms at all. I have seen replacement top covers at Midland Chandlers, without taking it apart (I may need help on that one....) is the cover part of the combustion chamber or is it decorative covering the back boiler etc? My plan is to use some fire cement to tidy it up and black it in. Boat safety time coming up, will this be a fail ? Thanks in advance, Nev

You really have trust in the person taking the photo..... far too tempting to drop the lid