silverlode

I know that my boat wouldn't be standing (floating?!) if it weren't for the engine bay bilge pump - canal water isn't the problem; rain is the bane of my life!! Sorted my leaky windows, just need to save up for a cover for the stern...

Ah, I see - well maybe it's just for emergencies? My boat passed its BSS, so not sure about that.

I know!! But there's no way I'm turning around and going the long way, back through all those tunnels!! Haha!

In that case, anyone nearby have a mop and bucket I could borrow? I can't afford to buy one at the moment. ?

Brilliant idea, thank you!! Nothing wrong with it.. just less time consuming with an Aquavac.

It's not enough to set off the pump, I just thought it would be better to dry it out completely.

Hello lovely people, I just wondered if anyone in the Sale - Castlefield area had an Aquavac I could borrow for a day or so? There's water in the engine bay (it's not increasing, I think it's from a particularly bad rainstorm a few weeks ago) and also there's a spot in the bilge. I've yet to find the source of that; possibly from VERY leaky windows.

I have decided to move my boat tomorrow and moor on the Rochdale canal for 2 weeks. If I feel unsafe, I'll just pop back onto the Bridgewater.

It's about £240 per month, mine's 49 foot. But that includes the license and is a residential mooring, which solves lots of problems.

Will do ?

Hmm, maybe I did just overfill it then?? But it was on the recommendation of a couple of different boat builders to keep it topped up! Can't see any pipe, but will have another look and take a photo when I'm next able to do so in daylight, and see what everyone thinks. Thanks for the advice, will attempt to drain it next week... will try and find an aquavac to borrow.

Looks identical except for the pipe - mine has none! How odd. Definitely going to do this! Just need to work out how to drain it.... :/ The problem seems to have sorted itself out... I still think it was the high winds that caused water to get where it shouldn't. Possibly through the exhaust?? I followed all the pipes and hoses in an effort to understand the engine a bit more, and that's all I could come up with.

Thing is, the coolant only spilled out when I took the lid off. OOH!! I've just realised what it might be... if it sucks it back in, perhaps it's sucking up the rainwater in the engine bay?! I'll have a look for the hose, and see where the end of it is. It'll definitely need draining if so. (Any help with draining coolant from a Vetus 414 much appreciated...)

Might try that! Aha, good thinking - I'll have a look tomorrow. Thought I should add - the engine was making an odd noise, or rather, was varying in pitch - sort of revving a little. Did the same thing both times I tried so I switched it off immediately. Does this shed any light?

No pipe from the cap... could it be on the side? I might not look tonight - windy and wet Everyone who knows what they're talking about have said it's a really good engine, so hopefully it just has a few quirks that I have to learn...

Mine's a 414

Hmm, ok thank you, I'll have a look for that tomorrow! I don't remember seeing it but I may have just overlooked it. So emptying the header tank may solve the overflow? I hope that's all it is. Aha! There are a couple of open ended hoses in the engine bay, coming from various places. There's about 2 inches of rainwater in the engine bay at the moment, so I wouldn't have noticed any amount of overflow. Unless it is coolant rather than rainwater... hmm. I'll find the right hose and do as you suggested, thank you!

I was wondering if I was overreacting about the colour, but the fact it has got fuller is a worry. I'd quite like to drain it and refill it with fresh coolant/water, as I've only recently bought the boat, so I've no idea when it was last changed/topped up. I don't know how to do this though, as it doesn't say in the manual! I know boats are sturdy but I do worry! It's very unsettling being bashed against the bank, didn't sleep a wink I'm not entirely sure what the plastic header tank is, but I'll have a look in daylight tomorrow, and do as you suggested. Thank you

I topped it up a couple of times recently as it looked a bit low. It was overflowing when I took the cap off (where the red arrow is on your photo.)

Water pump seems fine - coming on only when it should. No central heating, though there is a switch labelled 'ch pump' which I've always wondered about. Coolant similar height to canal I suppose? But it's hard to tell for sure. Boat got bashed about in the awful winds last night so I'm worried something happened...

Yes, internal. Steel box welded to inside of hull with 2 pipes running from it? One pipe high one pipe low down. V v new to engines, apologies if I sound stupid! I left the cap off and it's gone down very slightly (not overflowed - literally receeded a bit.)

I went to check the water/coolant levels in the engine before running it for a bit, but it was full to the point of overflowing with brown coloured water. Not oily. What does this mean? Where could the extra water have come from? Google & the manual were no help at all. Can I drain it? If so, how? It's a Vetus. Panicking a bit, thank you!!

Yes, which would mean I only have to pay a week or so to Peel after that 2 weeks.

Don't know about the price change, but I asked and they don't allow consecutive short term licenses - makes sense really or everyone would do it! Eek, scary!! . I've gone for a mooring at Castlefield marina, because despite being a bit pricey, it means I can moor anywhere on the canal as the platinum licence is included. Not ideal but it'll do for a bit, and I'll see how I feel when the locks open again Is it a really that much of a bad idea to moor on the bit of Rochdale canal I can get to?? I have a crt license and it seems silly to pay £40/week to Peel (I'm joining the marina in March).

That could be really handy... how much do you charge? I was only thinking of Aldi because although the quality might not be the best, it's extremely cheap. I know in the long run it makes sense to pay more for better quality coal, and I'd much rather support a local person/business, but right now I have very little money to spare. Just realised the Manchester 9 have been closed since the beginning of Jan, and will be shut until mid March! Doh!! Castlefield marina it is, then...