Mad Harold

My direct raw water cooled BMC 1500 had a hose conection on the cylinder head.A thoughtful previous owner had removed one of the blanking bolts and replaced it with a hose conection. Whenever I filled up with water,I used to put the hose on the cylinder head conection and flush the water jacket out. Usually got a few seconds of brown water and then it would run clear. Don't know if it was rust or mud,but the engine never overheated.

If you have even a small trickle charge solar panel,it needs a charge controller. I have a 10W solar panel and no charge controller untill going to the boat last summer to find the carbon monoxide alarm going off. After checking everything inside I checked the battery voltage,it read 16.4 volts! The battery had obviously been gassing setting the alarm off. Fitted a cheapie e bay controller (less than £10) and no further alarm.The controller also has two usb sockets so I can charge my phone and electric cig. Even when the battery is fully charged,without a controller the so

I'll bow to your experience there,Tony. My last narrowboat (BMC 1500) was direct raw water cooled and looked like a home made lash up. It didn't have a box next to the engine as this one has,and it is that box that I took to be a heat exchanger that threw me.

Yes,and it looks to be indirect raw water cooling.The box embossed Lancing could be the heat exchanger. Look carefully at the outdrive.Some will swing up when they hit the bottom,and others only come up sideways and so are prone to damage. If your cruising is mainly on canals then you really need the swing up type.

I note that you say we,in your post,so I assume you have a wife. Hope I am not being too cheeky,but I'm sure you know the only other excercise a gentleman should take.😫

Take a trip along the Huddersfield Narrow. (Only ) 42 locks from Aspley Wharf to the Standedge Tunnel.A distance of about 9 miles. That will keep you fit (to drop )

Quite likely you have a leaking window.if the mould has got into the ply then there is little you can do except dry it out and paint it.If it's surface mould Cillit Bang black mould remover is quite effective. May also be caused by poor ventilation.

Why would any boater want to buy a house by a canal? Surely we see enough of the blessed ditches when we are cruising.

Perhaps you need to fix your reverse gear.😝

Jeyes fluid ?

Fit a really big one,bigger than 10kw.If the boat gets too warm you can always turn it down. If it's too small you will be sitting there with a blanket around your shoulders like in an old folks home.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions! Know where you're coming from,I started a post defending a member,and the result was that member got even more abuse.