[Where are all the boaters?]

Given the abhorrent weather over the early part of the year, and with the dire forecast for easter, I'm not surprised there was little traffic.  The interesting comparison with the K&A would be just how many boats moved on there.

[Fings wot have been lobbed at me]

Whenever we returned to Earlswood through Brandwood Tunnel, I would move to the front cockpit, turn off the tunnel light and wait with a primed catapult. The scrotes would peer into the tunnel but could not judge how far away we were and as they leant in I would release mint imperials from the catapult. They would disappear and not bombard us. 

Maybe they were grateful for the sweeties!

[Integrated water tank internal outlet pipe replacement]

My boat has a 1/2" BSP socket welded into the top of the tank, into which is screwed a 1/2" BSP x 15mm connector with stop in the connector opened out so that a piece of 15mm Hep2o can be fed through as a dip pipe that picks up from the mid/front tank which means you have a catch area where any sediment settles. This also has the advantage of a water pump mounted level with the top of the tank, so in the event of a possible fault with internal pipework does not result in a tankful of water syphonong into the boat.

[Why oh Why don't CRT]

2 hours ago, frangar said:

Under BW this used to be standard in some parts of the BCN….mind you they sometimes got the mix wrong and it dissolved your hull instead of protecting it…..sadly CRT aren’t as caring…..

Not that they took action themselves, but took advantage of well meaning industrial units who did the job for them. I recall admiring the clear water between Ashted Locks 3 and 4 until I reakise it was produced by an overflowing drain from a canalside plating factory.

[Cloudy diesel and longevity of diesel]

could you be overdosing the fuel treatment?

The only fuel problem I've ever had was after using a treatment. When calculating the dosage rate for small volumes it is too easy to be heavy handed.

[Pop riveting windows]

Over 35 years, the pop rivets securing my windows have worked witout any troubles. 

[Problems with payments]

In all my time self employed, I only ever issued hand written invoices, never sent any statements, and never used expensive accounting packages. I accepted cheques, cash and bank transfers. on 2 occasions when I did not get paid, I used the small claims court to good effect.

I've never paid up front for work, and if my contractor is not VAT regd, then I've bought materials myself rather than pay him to get them.

You have to do an awful lot of work if you have little 'cost of sales' (materials etc) to breach the vat threshold.

[Problems with payments]

Grow old quicker and get your bus pass, then it's free😃

[Central heating 12 volt Pumps]

No, If the flow is matched to the load, then that is efficient. However, with an uncontrolled heat source, that need not matter.

[Central heating 12 volt Pumps]

Whilst you may have 28mm connections on the back boiler, your pump needs to be matched to the available heat capacity and the radiator output, so a smaller pump will be more than adequate. What rating is your back boiler?

[Water level low]

Did it ever go away?

[Samsung Galaxy tablet]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab A that I did not use for some months, and when I tried to recommission it, I had exactly the same problem, to the point that I ordered another tablet. Within an hour, I got some life back in the Galaxy and fortunately was able to cancel the replacement.

One tip I would give is that when you have finished your session, hold the off button until you get the power off message. They seem to consume a fair bit of power doing nothing if the display just goes off.

["The Canal Map of Britain" at 8pm tonight on Channel 5]

2 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

I'm sure the fact that over 15,000 people live on Narrow Boats would come as a surprise to C&RT.

It probably will, as while sitting at home "working", you don't really get to know what's really happening in the outside world.

[Water tank full but not full]

Even if the filler is 1 1/2", if you are filling with a 1/2" hose, the breather is more than adequate. 

When the taps on the Thames, before the ridiculous modifications, used 1" hose with a decent pressure, the 15mm breather plus the area round the filler did not cause a problem.

What connection do you have between the filler and the tank?

 

[BSS Info]

If you consult your boat records on the CaRT website, it will tell you the details.

I.I.R.C. examiners no loger issue a paper cert, just on line by email.

[Fitting an Aga/Rayburn through the doors?!]

21 hours ago, agg221 said:

 I haven't rebuilt it yet but that should be less of a filthy job. I will use new rockwool slab throughout.

 

Alec

The filthiest part of re-assembly will be your language!

[Water point speed]

Have you checked the range of your flowmeter? They are not all ranging.

 

[Land Slip - Easenhall Cutting, Brinklow, Oxford Canal]

This canal, along with the Shroppie, has a long history of such landslips. I pretty sure that all canals with high cuttings suffer the same. I do wonder as I pass these along the Shroppie, how the unchecked growth of some very large trees is affecting the stability of the cutting, when you see the crazy angles that they are leaning. I just hope they will never fall as I pass.

[Engine stalling after one hour]

Another place to check is the flexible hose to the engine. If they are of a certain age, then the pipe under the ferrule may be split and allowing air to be pulled in. A quick check is to remove the hose and see if the tails can be twisted in the ferrules. If they can, that could be your problem. I have had similar on my Perkins 4108M.

With the inreasing vegetable content of fuel, it is searching out the nitrile content in hoses and filter seals. I used to work with oil boilers and cookers and this became a significant cause of failure in appliances.

[HS2 and the Grand Union]

5 minutes ago, matty40s said:

The white elephant continues its monstrous construction to save 2 minutes on a journey from stations not in the centre of either city at each end.

 

 

 

Not just about faster trains, but to provide greater capacity to the transport network which is sorely needed, especially when personal transport options are being seriously curtailed and punitively charged.

[Morse c33 gear Cable]

I.I.R.C. The throw can also be adjusted with the position that the nipple is screwed onto the cable ends, and also there are 2 positions where the outer can be clamped.

[Diesel]

Spot checks are quite common in busy urban areas, often targetting minicabs😉

[Willeymoor Lock Pub]

We ate there last summer, and has been said, they standard pub meals at a standard price. With limited moorings, and in the middle of nowhere, they don't exactly have a large catchment for clientele. 

On many canals, there is little 'fine dining' for the same reasons, and a lot of boaters aren't exactly big spenders, but like to occupy the convenient moorings.

Since Covid, there has been a big change in catering outlets, and the fabled'cost of living crisis' hasn't helped. 

[Adjustment of vent at back of diesel stove.]

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

The cowell on my Dickinson looks similar to this 

This is a swedish cowl. It offers downdraught protection without too much obstruction as caused by an H cowl.

I have a 750mm piece of 4" stainless flue pipe which fits into the flue pipe protruding through the collar. This is then ru n inside a standard 6" boat chimney, and one of these 4" swedish cowls is fitted to the 4" pipe. THis makes the outside chimney double skinned and maintains a good flue temperature and draw.

[Things that amaze me]

4 hours ago, Jon57 said:

Penny pinching. 😕

No, it is a public service to free up the trolley park.