Steve Manc

G, thanks for the informed reply

Hi I am taking my narrowboat boat onto the Lancaster Canal for 17 days. I am considering increasing this. From the people who have taken their boats onto the Lancaster. How many days would you recommend on the canal to enjoy it to the full? If I end up there for 30 days is this too much? I enjoy hiking. Thanks

're when taking window out during painting your narrowboat. Has anyone stayed in their boat at the time of painting? What do you cover the window internal to stop dust etc getting in? Thanks

Matty, Reg Thanks for the helpful reply

Hi I have decided to take out the windows. I plan to stay on the boat whilst painting. The boat will be out of the water in a shed. I have purchased a roll of no nonsense hard floor covering from Screwfix that decorators use. I plan to put this over the inside of the windows to stop dust etc getting into the boat. The windows are channel glaze. What have other people done. Any advice welcome. Any tips 're getting rusted screws out. I will have to drill them out. Thanks

Rick What did you use to get where the disc grinder cannot reach? Last September I did the fore deck as you have. In the places it couldn't reached I used a 1 inch stripping knife to strip the paint. Purchased one this week, lost my other one, from Tool Station. Item number 28924 or 21904. One is 1 inch the other a 2 inch. Reg, David. 're not taking windows out. All comments taken on board. Thanks

Hi Greg I cannot comment on the scrabbler. See my post above 're the disc I used which are aggressive. If you are unable to find them locally contact wright hire Marple. You have to purchase a backing plate for them which cost £5 ish. In my case I had to remove the grinder disc guard and a backing plate lifts off to fit new backing plate. I recommend wearing gloves. I cought my hands twice with the disc in motion.

Can we discuss facts and not what people may think?

Hi Matt When a narrowboat owner ask you to paint their boat. The owner doesn't want to take out the boats windows. They have mould growth around the window frames. What advice to remove / kill it? In my case I have some paint blistering next to the frame seal and mouldy green growth. What advice would you give to kill the mould pre painting? Do I just chip away the rust bubble and apply rust inhibitor? Finally is it recommend to apply a frame sealer around the frame to prevent further ingress of water to the seal. Hopefully stopping further mould growth? Cheers I will finish stripping off the sand and paint today. It will have taken 10 disc which are 115mm to strip around 36 feet length by 50 inches ish wide. One thing to note the bare steel gets very hot whilst the sun is shining. This has prevented me from putting on rust inhibitor or primer until 5pm ish when the steel cooled down. Matt thanks for the further tips 're cloths. Hope this information is helpful

I will finish stripping off the sand and paint today. It will have taken 10 disc which are 115mm to strip around 36 feet length by 50 inches ish wide. One thing to note the bare steel gets very hot whilst the sun is shining. This has prevented me from putting on rust inhibitor or primer until 5pm ish when the steel cooled down. Matt thanks for the further tips 're cloths. Hope this information is helpful

Matt I am trying to follow John Bernard Ltd on YouTube method of painting my boat. He recommends cleaning the steel prior to priming with a solvent degreaser. I am struggling to find one. Been in Halfords this evening and one of the staff recommend using break cleaner! They did have a solvent but is spray form. I would like liquid. Thanks

What a day trying to hire a scabbler from Brandons Tool Hire. Initially I contact www.redina.co.uk . Their technical team were helpful sent me and Brandons list of tool codes which I needed to hire. Spoke to two Brandons shops and they didn't seem to know what they were. Thankfully I found a hire shop that sells a grit disc for my 4 1/2 inch grinder. It has taken off the paint and sand down to steel. Thanks for all comments

Matt Can you please tell me where you purchased your scabbler and other items required? My roof area that needs paint and sand removing is 4 feet wide x 36 feet long. Would one set of teeth do this? Do you strip narrowboat roofs for a living? Would you do mine? Based on the high peak canal. Cheers Steve

Hi I am in the process of removing the paint off the roof of my narrow boat. The paint has sand in it for anti slip. I have used a grinder with flap disc. I am getting around 3 feet by 1 feet out of one disc. The result is not very good. https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-zirconium-flap-disc-115mm-40-grit/4300g Has anyone used a needle gun to remove paint off the whole roof of their boat? Did it damage the steel? Does anyone know where I may hire a scabbler, in the Greater Manchester area, as shown by John Barnard in the following video. The scabbler is a around 4 minutes. Thanks

I did not purchase a plank last year. Booked to go onto the Lancaster Canal this summer. I have purchased the Lancaster Trust book which recommends boat users have a plank. Has anyone traveled the Lancaster the canal and used a plank? Does anyone have a plank, if so what length is it and why? I am thinking of purchasing a scaffolding board from B&Q and cut it down to six foot 6 inches. This website, posted above, recommend support every 1.2 to 1.5 meters / 3 feet 11 inches ish https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030113949 . We will used it in an emergency and not every day use so I will take the risk Thanks