Horace42
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Posts posted by Horace42
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Hamlet has your problem sussed out!
"To be or not to be....................and thus the native view of resolution is sicklied over by the pale cast of thought, and enterprise of great pith on moment with this regard their currents turn awry and lose the name of action."
Like me when I have urges to do something great, I sit down and think until it passes.
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I was not aware of a problem with Volockies until Nicknorman complained. See #1 (and 29 replies to date)
Personally, like Nick D # 538, I welcome their help.
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23 hours ago, Dacrylate Paints Ltd said:
Afternoon Troyg,
Have you carried this work out yet?
I have the perfect solution for a pitted hull if you are still on the lookout!
Best regards,
I would be interested in your solution for a pitted hull.
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Arthur, I sympathise with your predicament. Chewbacka in #17 has summed up my feelings. Bad neighbours could spell disaster when in a static home, and not much you can do about it, except move (probably at a serious loss in value).
Many of your gripes about mooring are 'see-able/hear-able' when looking for somewhere to moor - so pick one that suits (and like us, you probably do anyway).
Unfortunately we have to take a chance on noisy/smelly engines being run during unsociable hours - albeit a nuisance, but we have the option of moving on.
I wouldn't give up boating just for the reasons you give.
Notwithstanding, most of your the gripes are valid, but probably of less concern to us, because we are faced with the prospect of giving up boating ourselves due to various physical limitations that have crept up on us in our old age.
Handling a 15 ton boat itself, along with lock gates, paddles, lift/swing bridges, etc, (not helped by poor maintenance).
We have to recognise that it puts us at risk of serious harm in an accident due to our weakness when sudden calls for extra strength are required.
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50 minutes ago, Jerra said:
My friend who until he retired worked for the EA had the job of regularly sampling water from half the county and following up prosecutions invariably found the causes to be large scale incidents. He was however of the opinion that if everyone used bio/eco type washing up liquids it would be good for the rivers.
Good point. I like the idea of bio friendly washing up liquid (soap and shampoo as well) - for those who want to avoid making grey water in the first place - and when coupled to more hostile things like bleach, etc - if such a bio friendly thing is available - then helped with 'official guidance.
Somewhat along the lines of rules now to prevent discharging bilge water contaminated with oil and diesel into the canal.
It would certainly be a start in the right direction
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Lots of good advice already given. But look at it from the logistics angle. How many boats have you looked at? How long have you been looking?
How many more will you have to look at, and how long will it take to find another boat you like?
If the batteries are the only 'sticking' point here, then it is easily fixed by replacing them - a few minutes work (metaphorically), and you're as good as new -
and something you can leave until later.
It is all very well measuring the voltage - but the question is how long they hold their charge - which a lot depends on the load.
The basic test is to see if the engine bursts into life instantly when the start button is pushed - or does the engine struggle - or worse just an ominous click?
....and for fun, put the gearbox in drive to give some extra load for starting. Try it a few times in quick succession.
If the engine starts OK, you have a functional boat.
I appreciate this is a test for the starter battery, but very important because everything else falls into place, where the domestic batteries (how many?) are usually separate from
the starter battery, thus can be charged and kept going until it becomes a nuisance - especially if you have to run the engine whilst moored in order to watch TV at night.
That will be the time to replace them....as other boaters are likely to tell you.........
If however, the engine does not start, then you might have grounds for a reduction in price, albeit the seller will need to fit new batteries to get the boat running
- so you pay the full price, but at least you know the batteries are good.
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11 hours ago, Dr Bob said:
It still remains combustible but on ageing it starts forming gums which will start blocking injectors or maybe more waxing at low temps in very cold winters etc. Maybe Alan's experience of 5 years with farm type equipment is ok but.......then there is the addition of bio-diesel which shortens the shelf life and increases the chance of diesel bug. I'd be concerned about diesel over a couple of years old.
....interesting....is there a 'diesel conditioning' product available that can be used to boost old diesel?
I've got a 5 gal drum full of diesel about 15 years old......
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On 18/05/2019 at 21:46, ihatework said:
I’m currently sat in my caravan listening to an engine running on the opposite bank whilst the owner is in their friends boat. It’s 9.45pm. They obviously can’t hear it but I can. What would you do?
Strangely it’s just been switched off. Thanks if you are online!
They probably can hear it. They are just not bothered by it.....!
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12 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:
Could they?
A problem I've found with with relying on marina electricity is it tends to trip and go off when you need it most. All is fine until the first night when 100 boats all dip to zub-zero temperatures inside, and their electric heaters turn on and the marine supply overloads and trips out. Staff re-set it in the morning and no-one realises they had no frost protection that particularly cold night.
From what you say I am inclined to agree....perhaps not. Probably a logistics problem the marina could not cope with...but I was thinking along the lines of a special arrangement.
Alternatively, in this mobile phone control age, consider some sort of remote sensor, camera and switching device....backed up by someone local able to visit the boat if called in to deal with emergencies.
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7 hours ago, WotEver said:
Thanks for the link. But I was curious about what it might cost for a narrowboat.
Has anybody had it done?
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21 hours ago, Phoenix_V said:
One thing to bear in mind is the possibility of pipes/tanks that are not fully drained freezing is much higher if the boat is out of water
leaving heaters on is expensive and unreliable (as Naughty Cal will confirm). The water remains just above freezing a few inches below the surface and helps the boat not to cool too much. We always used to just partly drain the system on the higher pipes and water heater but not the tank pump and low down pipes and had no problems - leaving the boat overwinter in water.
I completely drain my boat and put antifreeze in the engine and central heating system. I run a dehumidifier and a trickle-charger, both on a timer - and leave a couple of lights on ( a 'lived-in' look to tow path users). l have an EOG mooring so electric power failure would not go unnoticed.
A marina could provide this for the OP.
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5 hours ago, sans allumette said:
Bear in mind that you do not necessarily need to have your boat painted to get your desired outcome; you could have it vinyl wrapped.
Example here: Wrapping
Their website: HERE
I hear tell the advantage of wrap over paint is you can incorporate (actual) photos, as well as see computerised impressions of the end result too. I think, but I could be wrong, that a wrap is removeable. This could be useful if you decided to sell the boat.
Some vinyl wrap artists work on a mobile basis, which is handy for a 16-ton boat ?
Usual disclaimer. I picked the example at random from a Google search and have no relationship, financial or otherwise with "itsawrapuk".
Just had a look at the links. Amazing !
What sort of cost ??.
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A boat pulled in and moored close behind us.... they said it was because they had tried to moor a number of times, but because it was shallow, they couldn't get in close enough.
Their logic was that as our boat was tight to the bank it was likely to be deep enough for them as well.
Another time, a boat pulled in, used our mooring pin temporarily until they hammered their's in. Then unloaded a noisy smelly generator. Hopped back on board to watch TV (noisy as well.)
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2 hours ago, Murflynn said:
there are so many silly restrictions with many of the policies where you have to answer 100 questions and at least one of them will immediately eliminate you. Like - for a trailer boat, the boat cannot be left on the water overnight, even though I only wanted TPI !
I did the quiz for at least 5 proposals and gave up, then came across Basic Boat who don't ask any questions, they just tell you about a few reasonable limitations and that is that.
There would be an underlying policy document - from which there is an assumption you compy with all the terms - leaving lots of wriggle room to avoid paying out.....
What would be useful here, is for victims of claims rejected by 'clever' clauses to tell us.
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5 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:
I would doubt that the non-boating public (the 350,000,000 that walk the canal towpaths every year) wouldn't 'care a fig' whether a 72 foot or a 70 foot long boat, or a 14 foot beam or a 13' 11" beam can pass thru' the locks.
I would even suggest that the majority of them asked what size a NB is, would have no idea.
Yes, and probably a boat stuck in a lock would add a bit of interest and excitement to their walk along the canal....
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I am guessing about the cause. What if the boat was going up, but for whatever reason, at about half full, changed their minds, and decided to empty the lock to back out, or maybe if single-handed, open the gates to share it with a following boat. And then not realising it, the bow was caught on the cill........the lock rapidly refilled hoping to 'cure' the problem - but not with any success.
... although it does not explain how the lock became almost full with a completely submerged boat....
PS. Sorry. Did not see the previous comments along these lines. I started writing yesterday -
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...... 2 days is a bit ambitious .... but possible at 12 hours per day.
Personally it would take me a week or more.
But if a 14 or 15 hour day is necessary to meet a strict timetable, would there be restrictions on using manned locks on the Severn and Avon?
...or can you travel all night if need be.
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27 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said:
Would your insurers not pick up the bill anyway?
Mind you perhaps not if your boat is wider than the (amended) published dimensions
...and also if the boat, due to old age, got unknowingly wider - that the insurance company could say was due to lack lack of proper maintenance....
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Perhaps the hull go punctured by hitting some underwater debris (eg. stolen motorbike??) - and just sank.
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From a different direction on this; is it possible for a boat to gradually get 'wider' due to old age - thus unwittingly at risk of entering a lock that became had become 'thinner' due to old age - and got stuck on the fateful day.
.... just a thought......
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3 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:
My insurance says I am covered for :
Section B - Liabilities to Third Parties
Claims by Third Parties and Passengers
If by reason of interest in the Craft the Insured shall become liable to pay and shall pay any sum or sums in respect of any liability,
claim, demand, damages and/or expenses arising from or occasioned by any of the following matters or things during the currency of
this Policy, that is to say:Loss or damage to any harbour, dock (graving or otherwise), slipway, way, gridiron, pontoon, pier, quay, jetty, stage, buoy, telegraph
cable or other fixed or moveable thing whatsoever, or to any goods or property in or on the same howsoever caused:So I would guess this is probably an 'industry standard' clause so C&RT should be able to recover the costs.
My bold emphasis in your comment above. This could be read to mean the boat owner pays - ie, CRT are not protected by the Third Party cover of the policy - which surely defeats the whole object of compulsory third party insurance.
PS. CRT might be covered by the policy. The insurance company pays out - and then chases you for the costs involved.
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As an aside issue - who will end up paying for the salvage work ?
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Being an electromechanical engineer none of the items on the list cause me concern. Given time I could 'fix' them if I could get the appropriate spare parts - and being retired with a well equipped workshop and working for myself a no charge - it could be a bargain - and a valuable boat when finished.
If you can do this yourself, then it might be a bargain for you.
But since you ask the question I guess you are not able to do this yourself - then you are heading for paying someone else a lot of money for an unknown amount of time to carry out repairs for you.
As others have said - don't buy it.
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1 hour ago, Mike the Boilerman said:
On reflection this is most curious.
As CRT didn't know the boat had been sold, did you happen to buy it on the day the old licence expired? Just wondering how it all works with their new rule of licences not being transferred when ownership changes. This rule sort of implies only the owner can purchase a licence.
My cynical view is who cares if the boat is not yours .... they have got your money - it is your problem, not theirs
First volockie irritation of the year.
in General Boating
Posted
Yes, there have been threads about volly problems, but this one struck me as trying to convert us to dislike volly's.
Your are right about me not doing much boating. Regretably, but it's a pastime, not a life style.
But over many years in that short trips, I have not met many volockies that were officious - perhaps it's me - I just let then get on with it - and carry on doing what I do anyway.
On a positive note the 'officiousness' of a volockie is helpful with 'sequence' at staicase locks - Bratch, Foxton, Grindley and especially comes into play when boat passage has to be 'rationed' at busy times.
Otherwise if you were going the 'wrong' way you could be stuck there all day waiting your turn.