dave moore

Hi The builders are indeed Heartwood Narrowboats based now at Stone on the T&M. They hav website which I think is www.heartwoodnarrowboats.co.uk Paul and Maria are the parents. I can dig out other info if necessary - I'm their signwriter/decorative painter. Cheers Dave

Hi all It's all my fault! Les and Jill came on a painting weekend with me and were discussing a proposed new build for themselves. I suggested Graham as the shell builder (he's a mate, OK) and they took it form there. I didn't know just how high spec the fit would be, but as someone in regular contact with the project I can say, hand on heart, that it was way above most fit outs and took one hell of a long time. Therein lies the above average overall cost, no profiteering by any of those involved. So far as I know no one has a new Ferrari on their drive!!! Cheers Dave

Hi all Just to support the original post. I've broken ice on many occasions tho' have yet to encounter any flak from moored boaters. I can't see any real risk to steel hulled boats from breaking ice, nor to their precious blacking, but we live in more timid times boating wise than in the 60s when I started. I'll stop now, I feel a grumpy rant coming on!! A final aside...I've just been to the boat, frozen in on the Waterfront near Dudley, and noticed a heron sat forlornly on the ice. He was there yesterday too. Any suggestions for artificial food? Frozen fish??? Seriously..suggestions welcome! Cheers Dave

Hi all I've kept the Epping on Resolute going since the cut froze earlier this week, just to maintain warmth in the cabin (not living on board). I'm burning Furnacite from my local coalman which he tells me is Welsh anthracite..lasts brilliantly and makes little ash, no more than a pan a day. I'm charged £10 25 a bag which lasts over a week...no complaints there! Cheers Dave

Hi all I have a 1940 J3 in Resolute. A solid shaft wasn't an option, due to the different height of the output shaft and stern tube. We got round the problem with a Cardan shaft and a stern tube mounted on a bulkhead (steel) between the back cabin and engine room...thus, the output shaft is in line with the front half coupling, the shaft drops down for 3" or so to the stern tube where a thrust bearing aligns it with the rear end works. Our bearers have settled with time and relocation has been necessary. For specialst advice, I recommend Dick Goble the Kelvin Guru...pm me for contact details. Cheers Dave

Hi all Norton Canes Boatbuilders, without a doubt! We sideslipped Resolute in Feb 2000 and Graham and Tony (who built the shell) didn't bother to lookfor weeps. There's confidence for you!! Happy festivities to you both and one and all. Cheers Dave

Hi I'm by no means an expert on Dudley tunnel, tho' I've navigated it several times since the early 60s. I don't think anyone is being needlessly obstructive - the headroom is extremely low in places and the confined nature would render a powered passage unsafe. Last w/end I took Resolute thro' Gosty Hill tunnel, not far away. It's not dissimilar to Dudley with regard to headroom (variable) and width. The 500 yds took around 20 mins at a snail's pace...I would hate to do the 3172 yards of Dudley under my own power, assuming that I could clear the height gauges, which is doubtful. The Trust have decades of operating experience and are right, IMHO, to offer only towed passage to qualifying boats. Cheers Dave

Hi all Mawkish sentimentality, I know, but later today I'll put a small tree on the tug deck, modestly decorated and wired to and behind the 18" wooden stand that carries the headlamp. I first did this a couple of years ago with the baot on the Waterfront moorings above Delph Locks. This area is fequented by a mix of loxcal office workers, revellers and shoppers at nearby Merry Hill (Hell) Centre. They had rresolutely ignored the boat (couldn't resist the pun) until I added the tree...subsequently, itattracted rather more attention. I may even add a picture later. Cheers Dave

Hi all Thanks for your interest and replies....I think I understand now! Speaking to another boating friend yesterday, he too had a call there last year. I'll have a look soon for masts around each end and report back. Dave

Hi Oozels St loop is best accessed at the crossroads with the Sea life Centre..turn left from Gas St, right from Wolverhampton or straight ahead from Farmers Bridge. Sherborne Wharf control most of the moorings and run trip boats from there. The contact is Earle Wightman and the phone No 0121 455 6163. The stretch between the junction and the start of Sherborne Wharf, about 150 yards is private on the right and public to the left. As has already been said, lots of security bods around and CCTV too. If leaving the boat for a while, I'd try Earle for a temporary mooring Cheers Dave

Hi again Thanks WJM. It may not be relevant but there are several communications mast sited on the adjacent Turner's Hill, one of the highest points in the area. That would only be half a mile or so from the tunnel area. Cheers Dave

Hi all I've just spent the weekend boating around the BCN with a friend who had seen little of the system. (I know some of it well from childhood). We were passing Netherton Tunnel on Saturday lunchtime, about half way through (say seven eights of a mile in) and at its deepest point, which I reckon is between 250 - 300' underground when I received a call from my wife. To say we were surprised is an understatement! I wasn't aware that a signal was available in such circumstances... and a strong clear one too (I'm on Vodafone, incidentally). Have any other forum users had similar experiences in any other tunnels....and is there a techie out there who can offer an explanation? I've a vague memory of reading of someone having a similar experience in Netherton back in the 90s, but I can't recall details. Cheers Dave

Hi Certainly blue seconds which don't absorb water like others..you could approach a brick manufacturer directly. Steel billet is far heavier but will do the job effectively. My friend Stuart at Barnowl Narrowboats ballasted his own recently with a mix of both. PM me for a phone No, I don't have costings to hand. Cheers Dave

Hi all When it's worn out...you can cut it into strips and turn it into a proper mop! Cheers Dave

Hi John According to Colin, my scientist friend, it made no difference whether the glass was installed curved or flat side up...it would still act as a focusing lens. My physics days are well behind me so I can't comment on the accuracy of this statement, but this was a guy who designed satellites in his day job and produced an excellent set of offset controls for his DM2. He was well respected at the yard as a problem solver. Should ther be a "D" in pigeon? Dave

Hi all The triangular section rectangular prisms available from Midland Chandlers cast an amazing amount of light inside and are not a potential fire hazard at all. Bedded in with silicon they hardly disturb the look of the roof (from the outside) at all. If that sounds confusing, visualise a glass Toblerone bar! The "Bull eye" glass can indeed be a fire hazard and I had a narrow escape years ago on Resolute...scorch marks on the tube below which could have developed well into a fire...the solution, proposed by another boater at Norton Canes ( a retired scientist and engineer) was to cut a circle of "frosted" acrylic sheet similar to bathroom window glass and attach it with silicon. The theory behind this is that the perspex acts as a diffuser and the bull eye is unable to focus. No problems since! Cheers Dave

Hi I'd recommend an electric Dual Action sander (DA) which spins an eccentric 6" diameter abrasive disc. This will key the paint and provide a flat surface to paint on, The discs come in a variety of grits...80 is quite coarse for bad bits, then you could go to 120 or180, then 320. Coach painters then go to 500 or even 1000 grit...it depends on the quality of the finish you are trying to achieve. All of the major power tool makers have one in their range. Mine, by Bosch is brilliant and only cost me £150. If I can help further, pm me Cheers Dave

Hi all I caught bits of this while washing up. I was surprised to learn that the "barge" in question weighed 35 tons, according to the steerer! More arty farty than watery, methinks...but I'd be interested to see the finished production. Cheers Dave

Hi all Martin is right, such a deviant tiller angle means a bend beneath the surface caused unintentionally, possibly by hitting the rudder in a lock while going astern maybe...certainly not the norm. I'd personally feel less than comfortable with a skew tiller..and we've both been doing it for a while! Cheers Dave

Hi I remember Malcolm having Lion in the 60s, he had a twin cylinder Fowler in at the time. Nice little tug. Cheers Dave

Hi all Many other Hudson owners have reported heavy steering. Maybe the size of the "flight plate" in front of the rudder stock, needs increasing..I recall a similar problem with the Black Country Narrow Boat tugs, After a day on the footboard, I'd had enough! Certainly the tiller should fall readily to hand when on the footboard..ours, on a modern tug style boat will clear narrow locks hard over, but that's down to the length of the counter to stern bulkhead (3' 4'' on Resolute) Cheers Dave

Hi all We used a couple of prisms set into the roof to augment the portholes. They are quite small, about 12 x5 inches, don't intrude on the external roof appearance and cast a hell of a lot of light internally. Also painted the saloon panels rather than timber and used maple for the roof and under gunnel lining. Cheers Dave

Hi all Southern Strat wasn't a problem 2 years ago with Resolute, and she's built to 6'11"..neither was Hurleston several years ago...so go for it, I'd say. Paul Aldridge achieved notoriety on an early Waterworld when he got Uranus jammed, she's a wide old girl with a well deck, so liitle can be done to ease her. I was there in 64 for the opening Festival...lock 44 was certainly the sticking point! I recall gangs heaving on ropes along with land rovers and tractors adding extra "thrutch" Those were the days! Cheers Dave

Malcolm...most passing boats would have no idea what a "snatch" is...this is 2008 after all! Seroiusly, I hope someone offers one soon Cheers Dave

Hi Neil I know it doesn't bend easily, but Norton Canes bows aren't formed from planks but substatntial sheets of steel with a double curve from the bow and another top to bottom. I'm not a builder personally, but I've seen dozens of their boats being built (and own Resolute too). I can only add that the process is long winded and exacting, the result superb. Martin was with me at the w/end and liked the result! Cheers Dave