KenK

That's the one where your covered for five years provided it doesn't break! Ken

Yes, then the police will shoot your dog, arrest you for keeping a dangerous animal, and the thief will sue you! Who said crime doesn't pay? Ken

Bit obvious but Nokia do a device called a CR-56 its a cradle which allows the connection of an aerial. Designed to go in a car so it should work in a boat. They should be able to advise about which aerial will fit it. Check out their website. Ken

All they mean is something similar to the early car mobile phones, they had a small external aerial usually stuck on the rear windscreen. Being in a boat tends to block the signal as does being low down on the canal the aerial improves your chances of getting a signal. Ken

Chris, I would also like Gibbo's comments. I've been looking at a number of websites related to the subject, their concensus seems to be that AGM batteries can be charged at similar rates to conventional batteries but Gell batteries have to be charged at a lower rate. The information I had from Beta marine also seems to support this view. Ken

Interesting, they came with the boat so I did not get a choice. Which batteries would you recommend for domestic use? Ken

Thanks for that, we have some adjustable ones on the boat so that's one thing they won't have to worry about. Anyone know if National Trust members get a discount on the licence fee? Ken

I have no idea, nor of course do you. They either did not see the poll or don't care enough about the issue to bother voting. People who start polls generally hope they will reflect their own opinions. I know a couple of boat owners who don't have licences however they never move their boats from the private marina, they believe they don't need a BW licence, I'm not sure if that is BW's opinion. Ken

Gibbo, OK so in that case what sort of voltage are we talking about. My batteries are Numax 110 Amp sealed deep cycle and I assume are simlar to most of the other manufactures batteries of this type. The controller allows me to adjust the output by changing a couple of dip switches but the maximum output is recommended for deep cycle. Using their graphs at 20 degrees C they quote 15V deep cycle, 14.6V conventional, and 14.4V Gell. Do those figures make sense? Ken

See the previous posts regarding the following. I spoke to a very helpful gentleman at Beta marine earlier with regard to the apparent anomally in the charging rate delivered by the Beta controller. It seems the manual is correct, the argument is that generally good quality maintenance free and deep cycle batteries have thicker plates and can therefore accept higher charging voltages than conventional batteries. I asked about gassing and subsequent water loss problems and was told the controller voltage reduces long before the battery could reach temperatures high enough to cause the problem. It seems that for the major part of the charging cycle the controller will output between 14.5-14.8 V. Ken

As only 86 members voted out of 3181 I would not draw too many conclusions from your poll. Ken

Thanks snibble, I'll let them know. If all goes well they are off on Sunday. We are going to do the first day with them as they haven't used the boat on the Kennet. Ken

Brummage, The EA key for the Nene / Ouse is available from:- The Environment Agency Anglian Region PO Box 322 Dept 201 Peterborough PE2 8YD or email navigation@environment-agency.gov.uk Ken

No they are keeping him in reserve to explain the red diesel fiasco, more his field, lots of oil but not many canals where he comes from. Ken

Spotted this on Narrowboat world. Reorganisation after Eugene's departure THE work done by Eugene Baston, External Relation Manager at British Waterways is being reorganised with his work being split amongst different people. Of most interest to boaters, complaints will be taken over by Jonathan Bryant, who is currently Head of Customer Service. Liz Horne who is currently administering complaints nationally (as maternity cover) will report to him. Media Relations & Corporate Affairs will be in the hands of Ed Fox, currently Corporate Affairs Manager for British Waterways in London, who will recruit a new team as there are some vacancies! User group relations will be handled by Jonathan Bryant, working closely the Marketing & Customer Service Director, Simon Salem, except in the area of inland marine trade relations which Sally Ash will look after. Remarks Simon: "I want to put on record our appreciation for all Eugene has done for us in his nine years here. His dedication has been exemplary and his enthusiasm amazing! We shall miss him." Well now we know who to complain to. Ken

Any chandlers for the BW key. You might need a handcuff key for some locks again a chandlers can supply. Enjoy your boating Ken

Hi Tom and Sophie, Both alternators output 14.6V I checked them a while ago with a Fluke meter. At the moment I'm hobbling about as I've damaged my foot. When it sorts itself out I'm going to take a DC clamp meter along and measure the output at various engine speeds. I'm also going to check the battery wiring as I don't see the need for a seperate isolator for the inverter as well as the domestic and engine ones. The inlaws are taking the boat out in a weeks time so it will have to wait until they return. thanks Ken

I think future sales potential is worth considering. If you make the boat too individualistic it could be a problem if you want to sell in the future. That narrowboat Pheonix is a case in point, very different and still on the market two years on.Ken The one that always catches my eye when looking at the ads is Narrowcraft, never used them but I like the idea of a 10% deposit and the rest on completion. Tends to imply they have a great deal of confidence in their product.We looked at New Boat Co when we were boat hunting, basic boat seemed good value but once you start adding extras the price soon goes up. Bought one advertised on Apolloduck in the end.Good huntingKen

Hey John if you need a job try Alvechurch, that's pretty much the attitude of their management team. You may not notice the difference but to hire a car you have to have passed a test and hold a licence with a boat pay your money and off you go. Ken

Hi Noodles, Well given the list of faults it is clear that you have a case and a good one. If the boat has a list that could make it unsafe under certain conditions and it could be the most difficult to solve depending on the cause. Leaks around the windows could cause rust in the hull and of course the staining to the trim. The other problems whilst more minor still should not be present on a new boat. You said in one of your posts "the boat came over with two others", does that mean the were built outside the UK, if so were they built within the EU? Also do you know whether the seller buys the boats and then sells them or did he act as an agent for the builder, if it's the latter you have a case against the builder assuming he is still trading. Whilst your description of the sellers attitude is disapointing it not unsurprising. I assume if they purchased the boats from the builder and sold them on they hoped for a good profit, all the problems eat into their profit and no one likes that. However when things go wrong that's when the reputable companies pull out the stops and put things right. It sounds from what you said as if you are being fobbed off in the hope you will give up and get the faults fixed yourself. So what to do, remember this is only an opinion I'm not a member of the legal profession. 1 Write a formal letter detailing all the faults, enclose photographs which help to identify the damage. In the letter say eaxctly what you want done to resolve the problem and set a deadline both for a response, the start date of the repairs and a deadline for completion. Also insist that the seller pays for an independant survey, you choose the surveyor, when the repairs are complete and that if anything else is found on the survey that will also be resolved. Within the letter clearly state that if you have not received a satisfactory reply by the respone date you will comence legal action. Send the letter by recorded delivery. I know you have written before but this is a first step in a formal procedure, so ignore any previous correspondance and start from scratch. The next step depends on the response. 2 If the response is positive arrange a date convienent for you both but within your original start date to start the work. The problem here is that you have to be seen to be reasonable, if things don't work out as they should you do not want the seller to have a good reason why he could not carry out the work. If he argues that he is too busy or does not have the space to do the work within your time frame suggest he contracts the work to another builder. Remember be fair but firm and record all your dealings in writing, if you receive or make a telephone call write down what was said and send the seller a copy, tell him you are recording the conversation and that you will send him a copy ask him to do the same. Clearly you can't know how things will go but if you do everything correctly you retain a strong case. 3 If the response is negative, go to a solicitor and start legal action, take all your correspondance photographs etc., any advertising, brochures etc. which persuaded you to buy the boat in the first place, get a survey done. Then sue him for every penny, you need to decide if you want to reject the boat, the survey should help you here. If your lucky as soon as you involve a solicitor his attitude may change but if it does deal with him through the solicitor, that should keep him on the straight and narrow. OK that's my two pennyworth, I'm sure you will get lots of other advice and comment. Good luck and don't let it get you down, it will be worth the effort I'm sure. Ken

Hi Noodles, A couple of questions, first what exactly is wrong with the boat and second does the seller himself or his company have the ability to put things right without involving another builder? Ken

The young couple with three young children whose hire boat got caught on the cill in Bath a couple of weeks ago wouldn't agree with you John. They were shown a twenty minute video and that was on a take it or leave it basis. I know that's true because we had the same a few years ago when we hired from Hilperton. I was talking to the chap who runs Foxhangers hire boats about that and he mentioned it all changing next year, unfortunately three boats returned in quick succession so I couldn't get any details. Anyone know what he meant. Ken

Noodles, Welcome to the forum. There have been similar cases some of them have become very acrimonious. Whilst many on here will have opinions I don’t know of any lawyers. I suppose the obvious is do you have a written contract with the seller, if you do what does it say? Normally in these cases as you say you deal with him not the original builder, do you know the business relationship between the seller and the builder? I would suggest writing formally to the seller, explain your position and state that you expect a written response within a reasonable period of time, I would suggest fourteen days. I don’t know what your relationship is like at this point but unless it has already gone downhill try to be polite and businesslike. Depending on the response or lack of it you will be able to take it further. The various legal protections apply to boats as with everything else but it can be difficult enforcing them. Take photographs of any damage and make sure you keep any and all paperwork. Did you have a survey done when you bought the boat, if so what does it say? Good luck and I hope it is easily resolved. Ken