andy4502

engine oil checked on dipstick is fine and normal, no issues there. Coolant doesnt really need that much topping up so cant see what the F is going on really unless its head gasket

Hi hive mind, Have a 1990's 3 cyl diesel (either vetus or thorny 3DM - not sure). Over last few trips have had occasional white smoke bursts with strange running (speeding up). It was due to go for service/clean bay/and bottom engine gasket),.....however......on trip today vast white smoke, engine runs high and out of control, took a while for engine stop to work. On restarting still smoking if try to use high revs. Got back to marina on low tickover etc. Question is - do you think its worth trying this: KALIMEX LTD ST5501 Coolant Leak Repair my logic is - do the easiest thing first - what do you reckon?

Ok - for those who are fascinated by poo we have an update...... Still wouldn’t pump out - was slightly more able to poke.. pumped out from down toilet bowl! (Essential to get capacity for wife wee wee) looked at tank under bed, pipe which is obviously to allow air in when pumped?? This has come of external fitting, probably due to movement of internal structure when boat was moved in January (see history and time line in original post) still won’t pump out so plan now is to replace/relocate pipe and check or try to find out where the valves are in the system. Tank is HUGE and therefore have some time to resolve this, will add pics when can omg poo on narrowboats is sooo much fun, not

hull survey showed pitting on base but no issue on sides, new plate has been joined in a number of welds and has good sacrificial edge - trust the bloke who did it and he knows what he is doing (Tim Carter on GU near Northampton)

thanks to all for replies - not tampons will see if we can find inspection hatch - good idea dont understand the 'flowing hose' response dont want to get into the benefits of pump out/porta etc - not the issue at the moment dont know type of steel so concerned about super chemical attack!! might be worth attacking through the toilet (pump out or wang around - good idea) more ideas/comments welcome poo comrades

drop through - hoping the plan i have in place will fix - but not sure what to do if it doesnt!! thank you for commenting on my poo btw

i got a 6mm hull (not sides) overplated for 4k - so i think you could get the work done elsewhere and more reasonably/good quality - pm me for details of who i used (you would need to pay for lorry/lift to workplace). My boat was not as critically low as yours but i decided (like others have commented) that at least i know all about the boat and i like her

Hi Hive mind We have a 1993 ex hire (Cambrian Cruisers, Mon and Brec) 45ft boat Seren-y-dwr, we have owned her for 4 years and had no issues with the pump out. We took her out of the water in Jan this year for work to be done to the hull - overplating. This meant that we didnt use her again until July - we had a pump out before she was lifted. We then cruised for a couple of months down to Tewkesbury where we are now moored. When we tried pumping in Aug some stuff came out but it then seemed to block and wouldnt full pump out. We have tried again today and she is blocked - seems to between the tank and the extraction point. The reason i think this is, no smell in boat, no water/poo in bilge. So we started with a poky stick (as you do) - there is obviously a bend in the pipe about 2ft down - so went and bought a proper groovy pipe unblocker - gets about 5ft down then hits an obstruction we cant get through. So strokey beard time - got a drain unblocker - put it down - got a bit further with the pipe but still not through. Current position: have put more chemical unblocker down and hope it sorts prob before we come back bog is pretty full but not coming out the presentation end (the seat :)) We need this sorted as the wifes need for a wee every 10 seconds will restrict our cruising somewhat anyone got any thoughts/ideas? thanks

We are on electric hook up, we normally leave all the windows open and have no heating on.

Hi all we are at the boat but obviously will be leaving to return home for the lockdown (I am a paramedic and will have to work). Previously I have never ‘winterised’ the boat as I have continued to use it through the winter (3 years). what do people think we should do in prep to leave her for a month (and who knows how much longer?) . We are in a marina at Tewkesbury and the boat will be monitored thanks

Hi - i can see you have had a vast number of answers on this so you may already have made a decision. I cant comment on the cost as i paid nearly as much (with all the money i have spent on it) on a similar boat. Buy it - if you are really stressed you can get it overplated for about 4k and you may not need to do this for a while

Born in 1993 on the Mon and brec - not the wife - the boat :

Dear all, in true and fantastic canalworld.net tradition this has turned into a multifaceted strokey beard discussion about all sorts of things that are not quite relevant to my initial question I will pm him to find out the cunning plan and thank you all for your entertaining but quite barking comments

Hi Hive mind So if i went mad and decided to convert my old boat (which probably needs a new engine soon) to electric - who would people recommend i talked to and what would be a rough cost (compared to an engine replacement)?

Hi all am not new to boating (have had boat 3 1/2 years) but am new from July on the Avon and have got a marina slot At Tewkesbury we have had a great summer but this is the first flood (we went out before the storm but moored up before storm Alex arrived) any advice on time for river to become navigable again and what the flow rates are (engine was only 21HP when new 30 years ago!) and the likely time warning we get for flood conditions? i want to keep using the boat through winter as I did on the mon and brec if possible any advice or tips welcome, I am on the email alert system but can’t get the text warnings to work

Hi both - I had thought of this (how to fit/shaft length etc). I would not be using it to replace the engine - just as a 'get you out of jail free' card - that must be the reason so many yogurt pots have them surely? (and i am looking at engine replacement but reluctant to do this until the engine finally dies)

Hi Hive mind - question for you : I am currently moored at Tewkesbury (for the next 12 months) and therefore need to get up - against the flow!! - of the Avon and Severn. While my old and tired engine can just about do this, I do get worried about what happens if i break down. Breaking down and my engine are not unconnected and this stresses me as i really dont want to have to use my anchor and wait for help. So - what do people think about an outboard as an emergency get you home engine? Also what HP would i need to creep home (10 ton 45 ft V hull narrowboat) thoughts? oh - and i could potentially use it to assist my rather tired 3cylinder 21HP (in 1993 so likely to be somewhat less now) in pushing against the flow. Boat was originally build and therefore engine'd for the Mon and Brec

PS yes it’s scruffy- have been boating more days than not since the end of lockdown and it was blacked just before I went out - the locks in the Stratford are bloody tight when at low water - hence scrapes Brilliant

Hi all, I have 3 fender mounting points along my 45ft boat, I have fenders tied on with rope at the moment but am considering (advice please) using shackles or other quick release metal - can I have your thought please hive mind :)

Ditch - 'drop out' - sometimes stays in gear but output reduces, on other occasions it goes into neutral but with the engine running at the revs selected. Does that make sense? Old - Engine bay is clean as as part of the work we commissioned on the back of the survey - they cleaned it (and serviced engine, heater, electrics etc). New exhaust came about as old one blew on first trip out So in total this is what we have had done: Replated area at stern which was down to 3.5 mm, elsewhere all was 8mm++. New skeg (previous rusted). Engine bay clean and engine service New batteries (leisure and starter) Heating service - Ersbacher (cant spell it) Black to gunnels and new blacking Paint boat one colour but well - looks fab Every other niggle or issue in survey report (did a full and complete survey) New exhaust new pipes for swim tank/engine alternator fix to charge start battery (there are two alternators and the small one for the start battery was not working) Clean and repaint internal water tank fix shower (new pump) fix and new gas pipe and regulator quite a lot when you look at it - and I am sure there was more than that!! Have done about 150 hours of engine use this summer - and seen the mon and brec at its most beautiful - the pubs are good too!!

So, just to summarise the position so far for my little brain: Check lever on side of gearbox for travel and adjust check oil and ensure is correctly filled with the right oil (some debate but need to know exact gearbox) if none of this works I am doomed to 'Bring out another thousand' (BOAT) and get a replacement gearbox and I will do the course Thank you all very much - any further thoughts please add

I wonder if it is worth doing a full replacement of engine/gearbox etc as it is likely the engine is in a similar state? would this be a cheaper in the long run approach and how much!! We really like the boat layout etc and have brought her fully back to life and would like to keep her for many years to come - thoughts?

rose - thanks, depressing but hey ho that's the way it goes I suppose. Will obviously check oil and other advice first - well done on knowing the type of box!! How much is a replacement? I definitely get loss/drop out of drive - yes there is the leaf issue which was bad last couple of days, but this was a clear drop out of drive not just leaves.

thanks - in answer to your question 'does it do this in reverse as well' - yes in terms of taking time to drop into gear - not in terms of dropping off power - however this is probably as I don't run in high revs in reverse for a long (minutes) time and therefore it probably would.

ok - thanks StephenA and Bee - that is a good place to start and I will let you all know. If it is 'tired' which is what I suspect (boat sat around for a couple of years not moving) then what would a gearbox rebuild cost? Also - what would people recommend in terms of me learning this stuff - do a course, or just try to do it with help from here and you tube?