Welshmally

Thank you both: yes, I think that it's coming in by the handrail: it will require a closer inspection before she decides what to do

My daughter is looking to re-felt/repair her roof: it's a wooden top which is largely sound but has an annoying leak. The current material is some sort of felt - any advice on materials would be very helpful. We suspect that the leak is at the edge where it meets the wooded rail - would ordinary sealant be acceptable as an interim measure? Many thanks

Great information - many thanks!

Hello everyone, We have to replace both starter and leisure batteries - not after anything fancy and something mid-range as far as budget goes. The starter is a priority - the engine is a Petter PH2. Recommendations for brands and (if possible) a supplier local to Oxford. Many thanks

I'll leave that to the engineer! I have worked on 4 stroke motorcycle engines for years, but marine diesels are a new venture to me

Ha! I meant did it help with noise reduction? ? Glad you didn't fall off it!

Thanks Tony. Finding neutral is somewhat hit and miss - it needs a bit of a knack, but otherwise the gearbox works fine. You may well be right regarding a cable (I have no experience of these things, so I bow to your superior knowledge!)

Interesting: possibly worth investigating...... Thanks for the tip

Excellent. Did it work and I don't suppose you have any photos.......?

Hi bod, yes, we'd thought about this - it is definitely an option, so I'd be interested to see what other people had done with the PH2. The throttle would be easy enough I think but the gear stick might be a bit of a challenge - it's a very long travel from forwards to reverse

Thanks for the tips so far: it's a PH2 with a starting crank like this - can this a) be removed and blanked and b) is this a good idea? I can't see my daughter cranking it successfully and the tower gets in the way. So far, she has stated 1st time every time I had envisaged building a metal platform over the top, leaving the sides open, and then fixing a sound attenuating board under the platform. This would leave enough space for air flow, and also it would be hinged to allow access for maintenance. Getting the crank tower out of the way would make life much easier I was amazed at how much reduction in the noise level was even by pulling the hatch closed and leaving the doors open. Closing 1 door helps even further but both would block access to controls

No relation.....

Thanks Dave, yes, air flow is an absolute priority. Ear plugs are a good alternative to sound attenuation!

Morning all, My daughter has a 46' wooden topped narrowboat, with a 2 cylinder air-cooled Petter engine. Mechanically it is sound and the plan is to give it a good service when she arrives in Oxford in August. It starts first time every time. The problem is the noise - it's a traditional stern with the controls inside the engine room and with no water jacket, the noise level is significant (hard on a long day cruising). We're after some options with regard to making the access through the stern much easier, and to reduce the noise when she's under way - at the moment she needs to keep at least 1 door open to maintain access to the controls. The exhaust is through the stern. What options are possible with regard to building some sort of shroud/gantry (which still permits a good air flow) which will also incorporate steps into the stern compartment? I was thinking along the lines of a steel platform with a wooden cover which can be removed for maintenance - any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated Thanks

Hmmm. Not sure if I have the skills to do this sort of work yet.......?