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KenK

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Everything posted by KenK

  1. We did the entire length from Liverpool to Leeds in 2017 and from Skipton to Leeds this year. We didn't as I recall find the locks in poor condition, after the Wigan flight the locks are fairly spread out until you eventually reach Bingley. Skipton to Bingley is all about swing bridges eighteen in all, Bingley on is a good mix of locks and swing bridges until you reach Leeds. Mooring did seem sometimes to be a problem, we would find a well mown stretch of grass with straight sections of pilings but the depth of water was rarely enough to get into the bank. It is an interesting canal the views through the Pennines are spectacular. We did a trip on the Settle to Carlisle railway, really good day out and Saltaire is definitely worth a visit. I do think when hiring the temptation is to do too much boating at the expense of taking the time to explore, do your research and enjoy. Ken
  2. I do not understand how the flame going out stops your fuel flowing, I do have a temperature sensing device which trips the control unit in the event of overheating of the water, my system has a boiler to supply hot water for central heating but there is no flame detection device except if I notice it is not burning. If I turn the control knob on and depress the lever on the end and the shutoff valve in the supply line is open fuel starts to flow and continues to flow it does not matter that I fail to light the diesel it still keeps flowing. As long as the outlet into the burner is open and there is fuel flowing into the control unit then it will continue to enter the burner, eventually the fuel in the burner will cover the inlet hole and at some point the unburnt fuel in the burner will create enough back pressure to reduce the flow to a point which allows the float to turn off the fuel. To achieve a constant even burn the system must allow the control unit to operate without the fuel supply opening and closing. The fuel flows through the control unit and the position of the control knob determines how much fuel enters the burner, too much fuel and the flame burns yellow too little and the fire goes out because the back pressure caused by the position of the control knob does indeed then cause the float to stop the fuel flow. Ken
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  6. Do they? Given the extremely basic control system for a Refleks stove how on earth does a supply on demand work? I suspect only if you have a tank supplying fuel via gravity to the stove, the supply tank could be topped up as required by a remote supply. These stoves were originally designed for fishing vessels and similar working craft so that could make sense. Not usual on a narrowboat but it could be done if required. My stove is fed via a filter and no pump is required . Ken
  7. There are a couple possibly three different types of control unit. Mine has a knob on the top and a for the want of a better description a switch on the end which allow the fuel to flow, the max / min screws are also accessible without removing the cover plate. Once the knob and switch are operated the fuel continues to flow, the rate depends on how far the knob is rotated. You can reduce the total flow using the maximum screw but as long as the two controls are operating fuel continues to flow. As far as I can tell the float switch only seems to operate once the two top controls are closed. Of course that is on my version of the control box other versions may be different. I still think the OP needs to provide more information so that informed help can be offered. So often questions are asked without any real sensible information regarding their particular proposed installation / problem. Ken
  8. Yes, I know, but they have a limited operation. I replaced the original tank for a smaller one expecting to have to increase the flow rate but in fact I had to reduce it because the new tank had a better flow rate. The adjustments only just cope with the improved flow and even now I get a bright yellow flame for a few minutes until it settles down. Flow rate is important and if you get it wrong the adjustments will not cope. Ken
  9. The OP did not include a great deal of information regarding the distance between the fuel supply and the proposed position of the new stove nor the height of the tank in relation to the stove. I have a Refleks on my boat, the stove is fitted to the left side next to the front doors and the supply tank on the well deck. The tank holds 40 ltrs, is fitted with a lockable filler cap and a breather tube and made of stainless steel. The control unit for the stove is fairly simple but achieving a clean burn can be difficult, you need enough flow but not too much. Too low and the stove will not work too high and even turning the controls to a minimum will still result in a very yellow flame. Forget any kind of pump system, the stove must be gravity fed. A separate tank has a number of advantages and it does not need to be very large as the stove uses very little fuel per hour. Ken
  10. I suspect we'll never really know what actually caused this problem, I tend to agree with my friend who works as an industrial chemist in the coating industry. The cold and damp conditions when the blacking was applied almost certainly prevented it from adhering correctly to the steel hull and possibly the hotter summer than normal also had an effect. The one positive was the return of the cost of the work without a problem, if only all companies worked the same way. Ken
  11. Scraping the boat with the tools shown removed every trace of remaining blacking and the white deposit without any great effort, just as well as I did it myself. Ken
  12. Hopefully these attached photographs will show the state of the problem both above and below the waterline. One shows blacking fallen off above the waterline during the summer, you can see it is lifting even more on the left hand side. The second one shows the side of the boat after power washing above the waterline the blacking is still there below it has gone. The other a close up of the blacking at the waterline showing both types of damage Ken
  13. In November 2017 my boat was blacked inside a covered dry dock by a company who not only run their own hire fleet but also offer all aspects of maintenance for private boats. We had left the boat there on a winter mooring and it made sense to have the blacking done whilst it was there, we collected the boat at the end of March 2018 and set off for our seasons cruising. A few weeks into our cruise I noticed a patch of blacking missing near the front of the boat above the waterline. Investigation showed the blacking had separated from the hull leaving clean metal behind and that the blacking in the area around the hole was lifting away from the metal. I scraped the area until I had blacking fixed to the hull and sealed the area with fresh blacking, we carry a tin for patching as required. Over the next few weeks various areas of blacking also decided to part company with the hull, lifting away leaving clean metal behind. It was beginning to look as if the blacking had never actually been attached to the hull but just held in place by surrounding blacking which was attached. This process continued throughout the summer, obviously we could only see what was happening above the waterline, so the concern was what about the blacking we could not see. We decided the only sensible solution was to arrange to take the boat out of the water when we finished cruising. The boat came out in October 2018 and after power washing the slime away it was clear that no blacking remained below the waterline, just the metal hull covered by a white powder, which came away easily with the application of a scraper. Fortunately any rust was just light surface and easily dealt with by scraping and a Vactan application, the boat was then reblacked. The owner of the dry dock wasn't able to shed any light on why the blacking had failed in such a short period of time he had never seen a boat come in with all the blacking missing below the waterline. I spoke to a friend who works in the paint industry to obtain his take, if any, on the cause and he responded "it is always the preparation or incompatible products which cause this type of problem". Well the product used was standard bitumen which we had always requested each time the boat was blacked and which had previously lasted at least three years. He suggested that the most likely reason was the temperature and / or the dampness of the hull when the blacking was applied, also given we are talking about a boat, possibly it was returned to the water before the new blacking had completely dried. Normally I would not disclose the name of the company who did the job but in this case I am prepared to do it because of their response when I wrote to them with my complaint, enclosing lots of photographs taken during the summer and in the dry dock. Snaygill Boats director contacted me and asked for a few days to allow him to investigate what had gone wrong as his employee who had done the job was on holiday, obviously I agreed to that as it is only reasonable. He came back to me a few days later and said that unfortunately his employee could not give any reason why the blacking had failed but then requested my bank account details. The money I paid for the blacking was refunded the next day, it is nice to deal with a company who are prepared to take responsibility when things go wrong and do their best to put things right. We all make mistakes, it is how the mistake is address which separates the good from the bad. Finally if you do decide to black your boat or have it done for you try and do it when the weather is nice and warm, I can't guarantee you won't have problems but I suspect it will be less likely. Ken
  14. Given the less than enormous amount of CRT mooring around Manchester and that you had contemplated moving a boat by road have you considered locating somewhere on land to keep the boat whilst turning it into a future liveaboard. That might prove cheaper and if the boat is level and stable make measurements more accurate. If it is on a hardstanding you will not need to pay for a license and storage of fitting out material might prove easier. Ken
  15. KenK

    Eco Fan

    I bought one from Aldi for £12.00, it sits on top of a Lockgate Reflex diesel stove and there is no doubt it does make a difference. I mounted a thermocouple about twenty feet from the stove and checked the temperature every half hour, yes I know but there was nothing on the TV and the weather was foul. The temperature readings stabilised after two / three hours, then I put the fan on the stove and the temperature rose by roughly three degrees over the next hour. I wouldn't pay the silly prices for an Eco fan but for £12.00 it was a good buy. Ken
  16. The cut is generally filled with nice polite people who are delighted to help each other. Might I humbly suggest that you forget the idea of a boat and consider the purchase of a motorhome, road rage is normal and probably would suite your personality! Ken
  17. Over the last two years we have cruised virtually all of the connected system on a 60 ft narrowboat, including bits that claim to be 57 ft maximum. Some locks can be a bit fiddly but were there is a will there is usually a way. A friend of ours has done the Huddersfield narrow on a 60 ft boat although that was more to prove a point than anything else and she certainly will not do it again. I would suggest you think more about the living accommodation rather than the ability to carry motor bikes. You can't legally use a motor bike on a towpath and often reaching a road can be a trek. Oh and the North East has without doubt the best maintained canals and rivers on the entire system. Whatever you decide to do enjoy. Ken
  18. The original B38 circa 2006 would have had a 40 amp alternator charging the starter battery and a 70 amp alternator charging the domestic, the 70 amp was later changed for a 100 amp alternator. Do you know if you have the Beta external regulator or not? If you do this sends the 12 V to excite the alternator and is a common cause of the alternator failing to charge the batteries. If the alternator is faulty you can buy a replacement directly from Iscra for about half the price that Beta charge. Ken
  19. I had my boat blacked last November supposedly in a heated dry dock. I've just done it again. The blacking fell off in patches, all over the sides above the waterline throughout the summer and when we took it out of the water all of the blacking below the waterline had gone leaving a thin white powder coating, below that it was bare metal. It is likely that the boat was blacked when it was damp and this caused the lack of adhesion. I have complained to the company concerned and sent a variety of photographs showing the condition of the boat, I wonder what their response will be! Ken
  20. My wife and I hired a boat on the Midi from just below Montpellier to Negra in 2016, a one way trip. Your photograph brought back memories of that trip, especially passing through those locks. The keepers don't mess around, once the next chamber was half empty they opened the gates, high speed locking. I don't know whether it is the shape of the lock chamber but it didn't throw the boat around. A wonderful canal and if you think hire boaters provide entertainment on the UK canals you haven't seen anything until you visit the Midi. Ken
  21. Greenham Lock Marina and Frouds Bridge Marina both on the K&A, neither require a license. Ken
  22. We went down to Limehouse earlier this month and indeed passed the lock and carried on until we could see anything heading upstream, naturally boats appeared from both directions. Oh the fun of being the slowest boat on the river when you are trying to turn across. Eventually we made the crossing and turning into Limehouse was a doddle, in my humble opinion the easiest and safest way to enter the dock. Lot more expensive than the last time we were there free for the first night then £27.50. Not as bad as St. Kats. dock but still a lot of money for a crap mooring along side a wall. Ken
  23. ,We had our boat painted at Aston Marina about six years ago, full repaint using Craftmaster paint, after about 15 months we noticed micro blisters appearing all over the boat. We talked to the Marina operator at that time and they asked Phil Speight to come and inspect the problem. Phil diagnosed the issue as follows, the boat had been stripped back to bare metal and then cleaned with solvents, due to the cold weather even though the boat was in a shed the solvents had not completely evaporated before the first primer coat was applied, hence trapping solvent under the paint. Once the boat was exposed to the sun all the horizontal surfaces become rather warm, this cause the solvent to expand and push through the paint causing the blisters. Aston took full responsibility and completely repainted the boat taking it back, as previously, to bare metal. The person who originally had made the mistake had moved on and our boat was repainted by Nigel, I have to say that even after 5 years we still receive compliments. Mistakes happen but it is how the mistake is dealt with that matters and without question Aston dealt with it in a fashion which can only be described as excellent, even blacking the boat for free whilst it was being repainted. I understand that Aston is now under different management and Nigel now operates as an independent boat painter at the marina. I would have no hesitation recommending him if you are looking at a quality job. Hand painted and you can still use it as a mirror. Ken
  24. I must be in the minority as to date I have not had a problem with a volunteer. Mind you I drive and my dearly beloved deals with the lock, she is an ex school teacher and has many years experience dealing with children, volunteers are a piece of cake. We passed through Hillmorton just before the restrictions and there were only volunteers on the lower lock but no problems with them, helpful and I was always in control, sensible contact and clear understanding between us. I was a little surprised to find volunteers working the Trent locks and indeed had a long conversation with the lock keeper at Cromwell (CRT) who was very firmly convinced that they should never be allowed to operate the tidal locks, something I agree with. The volunteers on the Trent locks didn't cause me any problems but what would they be like in adverse weather conditions. CRT need to think carefully about the use of volunteers on the rivers. In the main I am happy to see volunteers, the vast majority are cheerful, helpful and an asset to the waterways, as in life there is always the odd one! Ken
  25. Our insurer did not request any special conditions when I spoke to them last year but I did speak to someone who uses the same company and they had to pay extra this year to cross the Wash. I assumed if we didn't make it we wouldn't be claiming anyway so I didn't bother asking. I have had more bouncing around on a canal than we did last Sunday, we just ran the boat as normal and absolutely no problems. Thanks to Scholar Gypsy for all the information you posted made it much easier to plan the trip. Ken
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