RufusR
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Posts posted by RufusR
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32 minutes ago, matty40s said:
4. You don't have to eat them
Vegan = not killing nor condoning the killing of any living creature . Not just the consumption of said critter ?
28 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:Then I think you will just have to accept that solar is not going to be very effective in your circumstances.
Current set up works ok for half the day but since I a, planning replacement with a bigger array was just looking at better low light solutions . Does anyone have any experience with either of these low light / partial shading technologies?
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2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
Move the boat.
Change moorings
Buy a chain saw
Buy an air rifle
Buy a generator
1. Not possible spent half my life looking for this very lovely mooring pigeons and trees accepted lol
2. Ditto
3. Not my trees unfortunately and at over 100 ft high diy tree fella not advised lol
4. I am a vegan
5. Got one but want to be greener see post 4
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Now looking at what solar panels to mount . Our mooring is under trees so is partial shady for half the day so looking at panels with good shade performance . Also we have a pigeon scourge so thinking these maybe good
https://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/jinko-305w-smart-panel
but also seen these
https://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/ja315w-bifacial-solar-panel
any thoughts about which would be best . I think the first ones may suit the conditions inc pigeon poo problem.
Any advise on any thing else ? Looking for about 1kw ish
cheers
Si
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Update : turns out I can’t fit trojans due to space / height restrictions for the watering system and without they are not practical to top up. After consulting someone in the know we are going for victron am sealed units as can fit 5 which will be more than enough power .
Now looking at what solars to add . See separate thread
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28 minutes ago, The Welsh Cruiser said:
Batteries will only accept what they can accept regardless of any technology fitted.
Personally, I never run my engine to charge my leisure battery. Wearing out a 5-8K lump to put a few amps into batteries doesn't make sense to me. Also, I don't like the vibration through the boat when it's running or listening to diesel engines, the low pitched drone is horrible to me. I have a little Kippor generator, think it's 700w that goes through a 20a battery charger, via the landline connection. Running this on the towpath rules out any vibration and the genny is quiet, I can barely hear it. It does around 4 hours on one litre of petrol. Less with a heavy load but most of the time there's only a few amps going in. I only need to run it from November until February because of a decent amount of solar. I run it on average every 2 days for 2 or 3 hours but that varies, depending on how much sun there is, I still get an amp or two on sunny winter days.
Yeah beginning to think the same only worry I have is storing Petrol on boat is lpg version better do you think or am I worrying about nothing ?
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2 hours ago, The Welsh Cruiser said:
Before you go out and buy a whole bunch of batteries you might want to consider, do you really need that many? I used to have 2 leisures, wrecked 3 sets of them due to not understanding how to maintain them. I have exceptionally low power use; around 30ah/ day. It took a good while to realise that I only need one.
I'd suggest a power audit and only buy batteries with a capacity of 3 times your daily usage. Buy any more; it's just a waste of money, and more awkward lugging/ fitting of heavy items.
Have separate 12v fridge and freezer I def need lots of capacity .
regards charging would it be better to have a generator and run it through my landline input and thus victron charger rather than raw alternator voltage ? The victron charger is very smart and manages batteries much better than raw alternator?
Dont really want want a genny but it would be no worse than running engines
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Li ion are mad expensive about a grand each so not an option for me plus they are not tolerant of direct alternator voltage so need an expensive dc dc converter as well , hence gel or Trojan agm wets as a choice unsure which is best and have got conflicting advise hence my question here
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7 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:
No, absolutely not, I am fastidious with oil changes as they are important. Shiney brass aint.
I always buy cheapish sealed leisure la batteries. I get a minimum of two years if fully off grid, a considerable time longer if a mix of off grid and plugged in. I buy the Brit marine ones which at present give stirling service. These are two and a half years old, the only reason I know they are still there is I cop a glimps of them when changing engine oil.
We are now living fully off grid and need to minimise engine run time as my work means we have limited time 8am to 8pm available hence want max depth of discharge without damage just in case and max cycles . Plus I am a bit of an eco warrior . Planning increase my solar from 330 watt to over 1 kw soon so need a battery bank that is synonymous with these goals
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My thoughts too though others wax lyrical about wets . I have them now and have to take ea h battery out of its housing individually to top up major ass ache I guess I am trying to see if trojans offer significant advantages over gels to make it worth it other than cost that is
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Hi all
we have just moved to a new mooring where there is no power hook up , it’s idyllic however so worth that. Looking to add more solar and upgrade my battery bank . Currently we have 4 x 135Ah wet batteries and they are at end of life . I am looking at the following options after taking a lot of advice , 5 x 120 Ah 12 v gel Batteries or 5 x similar rated Trojans wet batteries .
Which is best ? Advice please
Obv wets need topping up which is a pain in my boat as there is poor access to battery bank but they are cheaper . I am leaning towards the more expensive gels at present due to dod and low maintenance
Regards
Simon
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Like pubs or tranquility don’t like urban .
thats great thanks for reply dr Bob sounds like it’s doable ? worried about Brum though can we get through in a day I guess we don’t want to moor there if possible ?
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Thames ring In two weeks is doable I know a few who did it in that but it is 12 hour days apparently , you really need 3 weeks to do it reasonably ( my in-laws took 6 weeks a couple years ago ) it’s a bit of stretch for us I honk in 2 weeks
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Hello all not been here for a while , busy and all that . Been living aboard for 4 years now but unfortunately can still only get in 1 x2week cruise a year on top on lots of little weekend excursions away from mooring due to work commitments etc roll on retirement . This year my idea is to do the Warwick ring . We will be starting at Leighton Buzzard though so plan is to leg it to Braunston do the ring and leg it back in 2 weeks is this possible without 6 am starts ( we are on holiday ) at a reasonable pace ! and what do folks recommend as good mooring spots on the Ring ?
all advice gratefully received
many thanks in advance
R
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Yes a bit but it’s not the main toxic content and co2 detectors are more expensive again Than co detectors as they use IR sensors which are expensive so roughly 10 x the cost for co2 . Nox (no and no2 ) is main toxic content of diesel fumes . Diesel was pushed as a wonder fuel a few years ago as it was very low I’m carbon emissions ie co and co2 , now it is evil due to no and no2 emissions .
Best solutions on sis don’t breath the fumes in . If you have an exhaust leak fix it , don’t moor with exhaust tight against the bank if you are gonna run the engines and ventilate well if you smell fumes . There isn’t any domestic cost gas detection for these gases .
We we just installed a small system in a lab for diesel fumes and the cost was a tad under £10k so not for narrow boats
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Sorry late to this ! I am sales manager at an industrial gas detector company . For diesel fumes you need to target Nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide primarily but I doubt there are consumer priced detectors for these available . There are industrial detectors available mainly for automotive plants and test facilities but the price of a those systems will frit you to death . In the 1000,s £ i think you maybe able to get a portable meter but again do t expect the super cheap price of domestic CO monitors
hope this helps
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White mist forms when sulphur from fuel cakes on the glass when burning at low temperatures. I am reliably informed their is no way to remove it by cleaning and my trying everything mentioned without success seems to bear this out . I am told it may burn off in time . Well stove is lit for first time this autumn today so will see. Thanks for all the suggestions . Tried them all except babies and squirrels. Dont need it clean that bad lol
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Sorry for late reply . Boat yard told me 18 x12 will be over propped particularly as we are running a large domestic alternator he recommended 16 x14 . Will keep taking advice got time before we dock the boat again
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Hi Rick
thanks . Is it a complete cooker or just the oven ? I need just. Oven grill as we have a separate hob and built in work tops . If so do you have the dimensions could well be interested if it fits will pm for pics
many thanks
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Any one have any tips for cleaning white mist from stove gass ? Tried lots nothing working , would really like to a pose replacing glass . Like my fires winter cosy glow too much to do nothing though lol
anyone got. Magic idea / cleaning product ?
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Every year I budget next years maintenace spend as best I can , this year we fixed rust and repainted the gunnels , blacked and fixed prop (see separate thread ) as outlined in that thread I am told prop really needs replacing asap so that is added to list for next year . Which means the other thing on the list the cooker is a strain on finances . Our current oven is a belling and quite frankly it is in need of replacement soonest . The grill has been condemned as it is faulty so cannot be used . The oven is ok for now . If we do a straight swap for a new belling the same it seems to becoming in at over 600 quid .
question is what other brands do standalone ovens that are as good or at least almost as good as belling for less and where do you get them , lpg of course .
Many thanks
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3 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:
Did you get mine.......I am a dinosaur
Yeah got thanks won't post info only
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7 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:
Hi
Direct from crowther. Give them a ring a proper old fashioned company with no cows droppings, they have a website. My bro in law sent me a comprehensive email about his findings of his axiom. I was going to post it on here as a genuine user guide by someone who actualy has owned one rather than the usual crap spoken by people who have never owned one but I havnt a clue how to post it lol. If you wanta read send me your email address and I will send you his email over in its entirety.
Thanks email sent
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30 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:
You are correct. I have that engine and gearbox set up and a n 18 by 12. I have had it on short boats of 57 foot exactly the same and on this 68 footer and my previous 70 footer all the same and all worked fine. Crowther are good my bro in law has just bought one last year and I use crowther. Bro inlaw did buy and use axiom for a couple of years cos he has loads of money and likes wasting it
Good to hear I appear to be on right track . Where do you get crowther props ? From them direct or do they sell through chandlers etc ? Out of interest why did your bro il take off axiom ? Doubt I will ever buy one at the price they are but interested in what they are really like .
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2 minutes ago, Albion said:
For a proper cure for prop singing issues take a look at this thread from post 20 onwards. Also shows pictures of the work done on another member's boat and his satisfaction with the result.
https://canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/85747-prop-song/&tab=comments#comment-1912907
Roger
Hi Roger
thats good info thanks . If I have to replace prop as suggested is there such a thing as an anti sing prop as the yard suggest ? Rather than having to file off edges of new prop ?
Pump out cards at chandlers
in General Boating
Posted · Edited by RufusR
Hey all
usually we call CART MK to order pump out cards for Marsworth pump out and usually they take eons to arrive (good ole cart ) this time when we called to order the lady on the phone was quite offish as if it was all too much trouble and she grumpily stated “ You know you can get these at any chandlers you know “ oh we thought that’s good do willow bridge and midland chandlers do them ? Yes of course she said . Off we went and phoned both to be told neither knew whet we were on about and no they don’t . So does anyone who which chandlers on grand union stocks these or was the cart lady just trying to get rid of us as we were interrupting her painting her nails ?
S