[Taking boat to ashwood marina kingswinsford]

There are various canal route planners on the net.

 

http://canalplan.eu/index.html

 

https://www.waterways.org.uk/boating/route_planning/introduction_to_route_planning

 

for example.

 

Not know you exact location in Dudley - so estimate is about 11 hrs 31 locks.

[Trip to Salthouse Dock, Liverpool]

This might be useful

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/refresh/media/thumbnail/8100-information-guide-liverpool-link-2015.pdf

 

Note that you appear to have to book passage and follow extra rules.

 

This might make it tricky with a hire boat, timing wise.

[Steel vs GRP]

Horses for courses.

 

For living on, on the canal - steel for sure. grp too light in the wind, prone to damage

 

For narrow canals, steel, except if you have only a small amount of cash, then grp OK for holidays

 

For rivers, grp, although steel is also possible

 

For sea, grp, steel tends to be only big boats

 

There is so much I don't know where to start;

 

Grp's with petrol outboard - not good on the canal - no petrol available

 

etc.

[Erewash canal]

Moor in the ilkeston or cotmanhay areas or around pastures lock, one up from Sandiacre.

 

As a former resident of Ilkeston (including Cotmanhay) I have to agree with this advice.

[Types of exhaust silencer]

didn't take more than a minute to find this

 

http://vibratec.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/fpr-fpd_e.pdf

 

Yes but it still does not explain what it stands for.

 

I think its a TLA that is now so engrained into specialist producers that it's meaning has been forgotten.

 

(TLA = Three letter acronym)

 

Here's another

 

http://www.novaleisure.com/store/product/ea-030.aspx

 

and again

 

http://www.chandlerydirect.com/chandlery-store-uk/info_MME310.html

 

but what the f does it mean?

 

I think it has to do with the specification of the connections..

 

Or maybe how much attenuation it gives..

 

Still can't find a real answer.

[BSS possible problems]

IMO, if there is no connection, it should pass.

 

They are supposed to inspect as they find them.

 

With no connection it cannot be a safety issue.

 

Back cabin stove? just take it out for the day.

[Advice for newbies]

Fly into Manchester. Get a (pre-booked) taxi to take you to Middlewich. Then go from there up the Llangollen.

[What is suitable and what isn't....]

The container was built here at Willowbridge Marina and I spoke to the guy building re: low bridges and he said that he had measured this carefully and made templates etc so there shouldn't be any issues I wondered how far it had got since it left Willowbriddge

 

So, the owner thinks that the water under bridges contains no debris and that precise steering is possible in cross winds.

 

If I were CRT chief civil engineer, I think I would want to get rid of this boat from the system before it did any damage. It has sort of bridge guards on it but they leave the strong corners of the box exposed.

[Jabsco par-max 4 leak]

Depends on if you can get bits and how used you are to doing things like this.

 

http://www.xylemflowcontrol.com/files/0753_31xxx_wps.pdf

 

The manual appears to show they should not be too tricky to fix, note it talks about a service kit, but this may not fix it if the body is cracked.

 

(leaks are often the connections and not the pump itself - have you checked?)

[bought historic boat going to replate overplate]

A lot of people are making a lot of assumptions about this boat. Kevin, I suggest you get it out of the water and surveyed and take a lot of pictures, and then get advice based on that.

[What is suitable and what isn't....]

Porto K'abeen is horrible, tasteless.

 

Is it allowed on that canal, given it's air draft?

 

The other boat is looks OK, but is probably going nowhere.

 

I really don't understand why??? for either of them.

[What's the Problem with fenders down while cruising?]

We use fenders only when mooring, and only bank side.

 

We get them from locks where they have been pulled off but the lock sides.

[Just brought a widebeam riveted house boat advise needed..]

1. Get it surveyed - you will need to do this for insurance (probably - if you want comprehensive)

2. I am not convinced from the picture it is anything like 100 years old

[Living on 30 ft boats posible?]

It is possible to live in boatman's cabin which is only about 8 ft long. Really it just depends on what facilities you really thing you need.

[primer/undercoate]

I would recommend that you choose a make, we used to use Johnstones Weathergaurd, and use their primer, their undercoat and their gloss so that it is all compatible. Primer is designed to go onto bare wood, hence the name.

[Which hire company?]

I'd go with Kate in preference to Black Prince.

[Anyone got a Bilge Alarm?]

We already have a float switch in the bilge pump, so dead easy.

 

Don't you want to put it on a separate switch. Isn't one of the reasons the boat might sink a failure of the bilge pump switch?

[Is it possible to search the forums for specific keywords]

.. and click on Google to be offered other search options.

 

took me a few goes to find that.. not obvious Mr Google.

[Little black box on my tv cable?]

You need to get one that is rated for the current your new tv will draw.

 

This one, for example, is very small BUT only rated at 2 amps.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEOK-Converter-Adjustable-Voltage-Regulator/dp/B00IID9ROQ

[Lincoln warning lights.]

It was green when I was in Lincoln earlier this year. The flow was about 2-3 mph and an up-coming boat almost stopped before the bridge before increasing revs and going through very slowly.

[Shrewsbury Canal Locks]

Depends on if the locks had been re-built afterwards I think.

 

This is possible for a canal that was working from 1797 to 1944.

 

You can't have another (normal) gate without having an indent for it (at least on one side)

 

A vertical gate would need indents both sides.

 

I doubt these would be difficult to spot indents in the walls of an old lock chamber.

[Narrowboat steering - rudder only?]

If your narrowboat does not steer well in reverse it may be an idea to extend the rudder. We added 2" on the advice of v.experienced boat mechanic and it made a significant difference.

[Washing posser]

Deep shower tray. Do your washing daily at the same time as you shower.

 

Nothing extra to carry on your boat.

 

Bucket and pre-soak for dirtier things.

[Is this ok]

 

 

What type of offer are you supposed to make (don't want to be rude) looks the asking price so i am not sure

 

Offer only what it is worth to you.

 

The 3.06 mark means that it has been surveyed recently - you can draw from that what you want BUT 3.06 is probably OK for this boat since it was maybe only 4 to start with esp. if it refers to the side.

 

If you want it to live on then I would have thought it was too small and has no permanent bed. If you want it for holidays / part time living then maybe it is fine.

[How to theft-proof solar panels?]

Second nut tightened and glued to first one. Bolt head and nuts filed round.