Momac

Is anyone going from Torksey to West Stockwith today? I did hear it might be busy and wish to time arrival to avoid others.... if possible. Naturally enough it is usual for everyone to turn up at the same time !

Cromwell at 14.30 pm on 1st July seems okay but could be between 13.30pm and probably 17.30 . I would go at 13.30 if there is plenty of fresh on . If not much fresh on go at 16.00. On 2nd July my post #9 applies if you are going all the way to Goole. Could leave it half an hour later from Gainsborough and go faster when you meet the tide. Must phone Goole Ocean Lock the day before travel to book your pen up off the Ouse.

Having done it twice in a cruiser I would have said a narrowboat is the better choice for this journey due to the better protected prop and all of the debris in the river. Steel definitely better than GRP. I expect the main issue would be arriving at Selby and having enough power to turn and be facing upstream and into the flow. Im my cruiser I recall being asked to let the narrowboats go in first as I had 170hp at my disposal. But thankfully did not need to use all but a few of those horses. My memory of Selby lock is a bit hazy but think it's possibly wins the prize for most tricky entry with Keadby on the Trent being a close second . All subject to opinions of course - others may think differently.

Torksey to Gainsborough - yes an hour and a half at 6 knots. Fishermen and narrowboats may well slow your pace as they did for mr today - presently on the pontoon at Gainsborough. Setting off from Gainsborough. Be prepared to go steady at first due to debris on the river and speed up later. I have done 23 knots below Gainsborough and would not attempt faster until below Keadby . 10 knots around the sharper bends. 5 knots passing West Stockwith . Below Keadby perhaps go a bit faster.

Regardless of lock keeping hours there is no emergency rescue service provided by C&RT or their lock keepers . The lock keeping hours are available on the C&RT website.

On 2 July Go from Torksey at the crack of dawn - as early as you can. Wait at Gainsborough on the pontoon. Depart from Gainsborough at 2.5Hrs before HW Hull and you will meet the tide on the way down the Trent.

I stopped ar Dunham bridge last year for the first time , with another boat. No problem. don't recall traffic noise issues . By the way I am on the pontoon in the cut at Torksey now !

The generator wasn't from Aldi it was from Screwfix. I accept the Honda generators have the best reputation but I only expect to use the generator a few times a year . At £280 it was a bit of a gamble but considerably cheaper than the lower powered Honda EU10i . I have fitted a new fuel pipe which cost a whole pound (and which i could probably have bought for less but the motorcycle garage was conveniently located) . That seems to have fixed the fault although not tested yet for more than a few minutes running. I notified Screwfix about the fault due to the health and safety aspect . It was out of warranty. However Screwfix have credited my account with £30 as a gesture. Quite happy with that as we are in need of a few bits for the house such as a curtain pole and some led bulbs which they sell at a reasonable price.

I appreciate most boats on the canals are 57 to 60ft narrowboats. Some of the comments are clearly from full size narrowboat owners who dislike, and wish to deter, every other sort of boat. I don't see any suggestions that narrowboats should pay more because there are so many of them an increase will result in a good boost in C&RT income. While at the same time a deterrent to full size narrowboats may decrease their numbers . At the same time charging less for smaller boats will have a small reduction in income as there are so few of them . There may be a resulting increase in numbers of smaller boats. The combined reduction in numbers of full sized narrowboats and increase in numbers of smaller craft therefore potentially reducing congestion at moorings.

After removing several screws including the rubber feet off the base of the generator I have removed one section of the plastic cover. The fuel hose attached to the fuel tank outlet was split. As I loosened the cover some petrol emerged from the split . The fuel tap remains attached to the cover so moving the cover off the generator placed further strain on the hose . I am sure the hose was split already and my removal of the cover has simply extended the split . I intend to fit a longer piece of hose as a replacement . There is motorcycle/scooter sales showroom just down the road from the office. I intend to try there for some fuel hose and may get a small fuel filter at the same time. Hopefully a cheap fix.

A friend bought that smaller impax generator and surprising it does work okay at powering the battery charger and much easier to lift and store away compared to the more powerful generator . The bigger generator results in more amps from the battery charger. However I wish I had bought the smaller one.

I have a small rechargeable battery powered drill/screw driver from Aldi that cost £20 . It seems well made and has been useful for light duties . Also recommend Aldi's small battery charger which cost about £14 and is good to help revive (lead acid) batteries . However a lot of these things are available once a year and not necessarily in the shop at the point you might want to buy. I looked at a small dry powder fire extinguisher in Aldi and decided against.

It was £280, which is cheap . http://www.screwfix.com/p/impax-imdy1500lbi-1200w-inverter-generator-230v/15761?kpid=15761&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CP_k1-_vy9QCFe2d7Qodui0Flw&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CM-G6u_vy9QCFesg0wodtm0Dkg Disappointing this has happened at under two years old. When its running it appears to be okay so I am hopeful of a repair.

Looks like the plastic case will come off after removing a few screws (says he hopefully). ..... But not tonight.

The generator was taken off the boat as soon as possible and is now at home standing outside and well away from the house . It is going nowhere near the boat until fixed. Added a small amount more fuel and it is peeing out. Fuel tap or pipe between tank and fuel tap could be the source of the leak.

Petrol generator - Impax 1500 from Screwfix , suitcase type, has been okay almost two years old with very occasional use. Now past its one year warranty. This weekend used it a few hours . As the weather was quite hot the generator probably got a bit hotter than usual . I let it stand to cool after being used, and put it on my boat. Later smelled petrol and found the generator was leaking petrol - quite a significant leak. I have since run up the generator for a few minutes and no leak when running but starts to leak petrol a few minutes after stopping. I tried leaving filler cap in the open vent position and the fuel tap switched off - still some petrol vapour and escaping petrol appears under the generator. Side panel removal doesn't reveal anything obvious. I am thinking the engine got too hot and has damaged/melted a fuel pipe? Or could it be the float valve in the carburettor has stuck ? Any thoughts welcome.

I have just returned home after visiting Newark by boat for the music festival. There are some bins in Newark but far and rew between given the number of people at the music festival. We have brought our own rubbish home . However others had abandoned their rubbish where they had sat at the side of the river. I find this practice offensive but it doe s demonstrate whet will happen if inadequate facilities are provided. If the C&RT remove the bins people will probably leave their rubbish wherever they feel inclined .

Though not cratch cover as such my canvas on my last boat was replaced after about 8 years old. As has been said it was the stitching that failed, although the windows had also faded.It may be worth trying one of the canvas cleaning products such as Renovo, Fenwicks or Autoglym . I recently used a steam cleaner on my canvas which , with help from some detergent and a little scrubbing has done an acceptably good job. If re-proofing try Fabsil Gold (rather than the ordinary Fabsil) . More expensive but longer lasting - my canvas has remained waterproof since treated over a year ago ,despite later cleaning.

I had in mind something more like this https://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/item/7413/holt-racing-burgee .

Under low power the tendency to wander is not unusual for a single engined sterndrive boat . You will eventually learn how to correct it instinctively. When it is safe to do so try leaving the steering alone and the boat may correct itself........ but not always. A little wind indicator flag on the bow - or even a ribbon attached to the rail- may be a good investment in order to see which way the wind may be taking the bow - all the weight is near the stern so the wind may easily catch hold of the bow.

Burton Waters have done and arch chop on a S34 . Enquire about experience with the modification on the Sealine forum - a response can't be guaranteed but wortha try.

Are these same engines not used in narrowboats ? Is there not equal risk in buying an old narrowboat?

So what caused the engine oil to be lost ?

This mornings thoughts.... If a sterndrive boat overheats , particularly on a canal, it may be something picked up on the cooling water intake. Something like a plastic bag. . Stopping the engine and the obstruction can fall off. All then all returns to normal. Carrying on with the overheating engine may have cooked the oil and caused other damage . Have the cooling system checked . And, as a minimum , the raw water pump impeller should be renewed as it too will have overheated and may be damaged. The raw water pump should remain cool with the engine running. Perhaps the fuel leakage is a separate matter.

The engine being out of oil is perhaps more concerning than the diesel leak. If the oil has leaked from the oil filter its an easy fix. If not - has the correct grade of oil been used ? Sounds like the overheating could be a false reading - a faulty sender ?