NB Willawaw

Potable water is far too valuable for washing boats with. We spend so much time filling our water tank in the course of a week, it really made us conscious of how much water we wasted when we lived ashore. We just use a mop in the cut or wash using a bucket of hot and car wash stuff and then rinse with cut-water. Best Regards Mark NB Willawaw Sutton Bridge, Culham, R.Thames

Liam, I got off my butt and went and retrieved my proper gearbox book, which is more up to date than the old Newage info that I gave last night. I have a PRM 150 Gearbox which I think is made by Newage and the book says 15W40 which is freely available engine oil. Depending on which gearbox size you have, the capacity is 800ml to 1.5 litres. Best Regards Mark

When you tighten the stuffing box, you should always turn the prop shaft by hand afterwards to make sure that it is not too tight. Have you tried this ? How old is the stuffing/packing in the gland ?

Theres been a lot of discussion on this in the last couple of weeks. I work from the boat, but use slow speed dial-up on a mobile, which is not ideal but its free for me because the company picks up the bill. The concensus seems to be: 3G will probably be the answer when its finished - the coverage is too sporadic at the moment unless you spend a lot of time in a good spot. GPRS is better coverage wise but the speeds are more aligned to a slow terrestrial dial up than broadband. We have discussed having GPRS with Onspeed compression but that didn't come out too well in the field reports. Satellite broadband works but is blo*dy expensive.

Hydronic 10 (I think from memory - too lazy to go and find the book !)

We tend to cruise one in three days on average, so the engine/calorifier does its bit. Failing that we use an Eberspacher through our calorifier. Best Regards Mark

Re Newage Gearbox, Esso Extra 20W/30, Delvac 920, Rotella 20/20W, Energol DD20W, Duckhams Multigrade Q20/50, castro CR20. Sorry can't help with the Perkins.

I'm a little bit disappointed that there haven't been many views on paint. Thanks to Noah and Daniel for your contributions. Perhaps painting is not something that happens too often. There seems to be a lot of competitors out there; Craftmaster, International, Blakes, Rylards, etc. I just thought there would be more views than there appears to be on the pro/cons, experiences with different brands, etc . Incidentally, I thought Masons had been sold to Akso Nobels and had disappeared from the canal scene, but I heard that my Masons Midnight Blue is still available from chandlers so I will probably buy some now in a small quantity for touch-ups etc in case its not available when I need it in anger.

I've just looked at the first photo that you posted of the inside of the bare boat and compared it with your latest cosy photo with the lights on - theres certainly a big difference. You must be pleased with the progress. I don't think I could do it - well done.

Here on the Thames, they do the lot. Work the paddles with an overgrown steering wheel and open the gates. It took quite a lot of getting used to, for us to just stand holding the ropes. Best Regards Mark and Sonia NB Willawaw Tadpole Bridge, River Thames - downstream

I've just had a thought for a new thread ! What is the strangest thing you keep in your engine 'ole ? I think that belongs in the virtual pub !!!

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but I presume that you are moving from a shore abode to a boat ? If so, a lot of stuff will have to go ! Its amazing how much "stuff" we accumulate and I believe that there is a direct correlation between how much space we have and how much we allow ourselves to possess. We have no spare space in our engine 'ole (trad) and we keep all our outside bits like water hose, pots of paint, spare ropes, tools, anchor chain, solid fuel etc in the bow locker and under the seats in the cratch (under lock and key). The good thing is you won't need that patio furniture, pasting table, ladders, etc. from the shed, anymore !!! Widebeam boats have a bit of room over the swims, but I have never thought they were that roomy. Most boats that I have seen just keep some spare lube oil for the stern gland, the odd spanner, a dipstick for the fuel tank and a cloth in there. I would guess that the main concern is ensuring that nothing can vibrate loose from its place and make contact with drive belts or prop shaft while in motion. Good luck with the new build. Best Regards Mark P.S isn't Tarifa a point in the Straits of Gibraltar ?