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bmp

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Posts posted by bmp

  1. Mooring near home - or not?

    in General Boating

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, jonathanA said:

    I can’t comment on the marina but having recently moved our boat to that area, it’s lovely - a pleasure to cruise good selection of canal side pubs. As for cruising routes are you joking ? Liverpool link a day away, the rest of the L&L via Wigan or turn right and the bridgewater, Manchester, T&M, Weaver all a few days lazy cruising away....

     

    (why do think we moved there ) 

    Hi Jonathan 

    Probably with living near here I don’t appreciate what is on my doorstep !!

     

    Do you mind me asking where you keep your boat? Is there anywhere else around about you would recommend?

     

     

    35 minutes ago, sharpness said:

    It depends whether the boat is for fettling or for using. We live 15 mins walk from the boat & often take it out to go shopping in Gloucester, 2 hours away, rather than take the car, 20 mins. Sometimes we go the other way to the pub for lunch. I'm not a fettler, its much more fun to go boating.

    That sounds like a great way to do it. 

  2. Mooring near home - or not?

    in General Boating

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Neil2 said:

    It's a real danger..!  We met up with a couple last week who had a canalside house with a mooring at the bottom of the garden, the ultimate fantasy I said to my wife but she replied no way you would be constantly working on the thing and we'd never go anywhere - she's right I think..

    Haha. Yes. I know exactly what you mean. 

  3. Mooring near home - or not?

    in General Boating

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Neil2 said:

    We live in the Scottish Highlands so it's not a question we have to address... but talking to boat owners in England this seems to be a common dilemma, and not just for those who haven't yet got the time to really appreciate the canal network.

     

    If you are using the boat as a sort of second home, even just for short periods of time, then I think it has to be a significant distance from home so it does feel as though you are "getting away".  It needn't be a huge distance, for example when we lived in Kendal we moored at Skipton which is only 40 miles but crossing the watershed makes it feel much further away. 

     

    OTOH there's a lot to be said for having the boat close at hand if you are pushed for time, especially when it comes to "fettling".  The only problem is, I talk to folk who live very near their boats and they seem to spend a lot more time fettling than cruising...

     

    One factor is obviously the Leeds Liverpool is very different in character from the T&M and the Staffs & Worcs, with wide locks.  And you are not going to meet as many boaters on the L/L.  The stretch east of Scarisbrick is quite pleasant but I wouldn't choose it if I could only spend 2-3 days at a time on the boat.

     

    Only you can decide of course but I think I would leave the boat where it is.  

    Hi Neil

    Thanks for the reply. 

     

    I take your point about fettling v cruising. I could see that happening !!

     

  4. Mooring near home - or not?

    in General Boating

    Posted

    Evening everyone..

     

    I know this is probably impossible to answer but I am just looking to see what other people think.

     

    I am relatively new to boating having only got my boat at the end of August last year.  I bought it as an early retirement present to myself and hope to retire in the next year or 2. I am trying to reduce my days down to 4 days this year, 3 next year and not sure after that.... will have to see how it goes.

     

    My boat is currently moored in a marina in the Stafford area. At the moment I am only managing long weekends but hoping to get a week or 2 down there through the summer.

    I have been limited to 3 or 4 day journeys maximum but have loved just cruising up and down the Trent and Mersey between Stone and Rugely or down the Staffs and Worcester from Great Haywood to Penkridge.  Not very long journeys but good practice. 

     

    I live in Liverpool and the journey to the boat takes me anything from 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours or more. Not a difficult journey but can be a pain if the M6 gets busy !

     

    Scarisbrick Marina is only 20 / 25 minutes from where I live. If my boat was there I could just go there after work for a couple of hours if I wanted to just go and relax on the boat for a bit. 

    I have walked along that stretch of canal quite a few times and it is quite nice - but I have never cruised along that bit of canal to really see what it is like.  I know there is not as much choice of routes there.  

     

    My dilemma is this ...

     

    Would I be better moving my boat to Scarisbrick for the next year or 2 until I pack in work so that I can make more use of it and spend more time on it or do I keep it in the Stafford area and just get there when I can every few weeks?  

    I have considered some of the other marinas in Cheshire etc but most of them take over an hour to get to anyway.

     

    Thanks for any thoughts or advice.

     

    BMP

     

     

  5. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

    One of those chip scoops some chippys use might fit.

     

    I would recommend a dedicated one for the job though!

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6iz1cXqCS6ygn7w1IH-y

     

    Simpler cheaper ones are available that look like a folded baking sheet without the handle, but I can't find a picture of one.

     

     

     

    That is a good idea. I literally have an inch or 2 below it. 

    Might suck as much oil out as possible first and then drain the last bit using something like that. 

  7. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, trackman said:

    My Beta JD3 has a PRM 150, & both get 10W40 mineral oil, currently some from Unipart. I have used other cheap CC grade varieties in the past.

     

    Beta recommend oil changes every 250 hours for the engine & 600 for the gearbox.

    Engine & box are now over 5,500 hours with no sign of trouble.

    That makes me feel better !!  

     

    I did my oil change on Friday and all went reasonably well. 

     

    The issue I had with the gearbox was not being able to get anything under the gearbox to catch the oil. There is a bulkhead directly below the gearbox and no way of getting anything under it.  I had to use the pump out (or suck out) option to get the old oil out. I would have preferred to drop it out of the drain but couldn't. 

     

    I then had the same issue as others on here have found .....  not being able to see where the new oil is on the dipstick as it was too clear to see. I eventually could make out where it is up to so hopefully I am ok with that. I will keep checking each time I use it over the next few weeks to double check.

     

    Thanks everyone for the help and advice in this thread.

     

  8. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

  12. Dispose of old oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    43 minutes ago, cheshire~rose said:

    Yes he takes used oil and get's it recycled properly. He is licensed to take it.

     

    Have a think whether you might need to top up your supply of stern grease or anything else as he is passing tp pick up the oil and, if you make contact with him this time, you will know where yu can get your oil from next time.

     

    This is a boat based business that offers a really useful service to boaters. I wish it were on our patch!

    Thanks...

    I will see what he has and stock up for next time.  Thanks again for the info.

  13. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, hider said:

    Cheapest engine oil, it will be all mineral. As temperature is not a big factor on a lightly stressed narrowboat with oil cooler, 10w/40 or 15w/40 is fine, even 20w/50 is usable.

    Should be changed when you do the engine, 750 hours sounds a lot, what does the book say?

    Thanks for that . I feel better just using the engine oil now.

    I have the engine manual and a copy of a sheet out of the gearbox manual. It says the bit about mineral oil 15/40 and every 750 hours.  

    I will do it each time I change the engine oil I think - especially if I am using the same oil anyway.

    Thanks for your help.

     

     

  14. Dispose of old oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    54 minutes ago, cheshire~rose said:

    You are on Swift's usual round:

     

    https://www.facebook.com/TheOilBoat/

     

    If you fancy supporting a boat based business then give him a call and find out when he will be in your area 

    Timing is good this weekend.  I have already bought my new oil.

     

    Is taking the old oil something that he is interested in? I will gladly use his services if he will take the old oil.

     

    I will keep a note of his facebook page for future use.  Thanks for that.

  15. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, catweasel said:

    Says on the literature that came with mine and on the website that PRM 150 should use mineral engine oil, not semi or synth.  I emailed them about this and they replied that it should only be mineral oil.  I use Comma 15/40 or similar mineral oil.

    Thanks..

     

    The engine oil I have is from Engine Plus and it is ...

    "Multigrade Diesel engine Oil API CC SAE 10W/40". -  I cant see anywhere if that is mineral oil or not. I know it is not 15/40

     

    Richard  (and others) have said to use the same as the engine oil.  

     

    I know I am being a bit thick here, but I really dont want to use the wrong stuff and damage the gearbox. 

     

     

     

  17. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, RLWP said:

    Just use whatever engine oil you have

     

    You will get a lot more oil out if you take out the drain plug than by sticking a suction tube down the dipstick hole

     

    Richard

    Hi Richard

     

    Thanks. Will be dropping it out of the drain plug - hopefully. 

     

     

  19. Dispose of old oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    Afternoon everyone..

     

    Just a quick question...

     

    I know I can get rid of my old engine oil in the local council recycling centre but I was just thinking about how to do this.

     

    Do they have somewhere to pour the old oil into or do you have to leave it there in containers?

     

    Sorry if that is a stupid question !!

     

    BMP

     

     

     

  20. PRM 150 Gearbox Oil

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    Afternoon everyone.

     

    Just preparing to change the oil in my gearbox. 

     

    It is a PRM150 and has done about 600 hours. I have read on here to do it about every 750 hours. I am planning to do an engine oil change this weekend and thought I may as well do the gearbox as well. ( for info .... Engine is a Canaline 42)

     

    My question is about which oil to use in the gearbox.

     

    I have read quite a few previous topics on this and there are conflicting posts and I am not sure which is correct.  

     

    Some people have said to just use the same oil as the engine  -  "Engine Oil API CC 10w/40"

     

    and others have said to use ...  mineral 15W40 oil (not synthetic).

     

    I have got a manual for the engine so no issues with that, and I know how to do the oil change for the gearbox - just need some guidance on the type of oil to use.

     

    Thanks in advance for any help.

     

    BMP

     

     

  21. Flat roll up hose pipe?

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    1 minute ago, reg said:

    OK gone for the 75ft one. 

    Wasn't sure if length was expanded length or not, now know its the expanded length so real length is 25ft.

    Thanks

    Yes it is the expanded length. 

    It shrinks down to quite a small size too so very handy for storage.

    Just in case you hadn’t noticed the supplied ends are the screw type rather than the push on ones. 

    I know you can get adapters but I thought I would just mention it. 

    • Greenie 1

  22. Flat roll up hose pipe?

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, reg said:

    Thanks seems to have good write ups. What would be a good length for a 57ft boat. 50ft? 40ft? (Higher? Lower? Good game). 

    I got the 50 foot one. My boat is 52 foot and it stretches to the end from the water tap which is a good 5 or 6 feet from the boat. 

    Not sure if would reach 57 foot. 

     

  23. Flat roll up hose pipe?

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, reg said:

    Any recommendations on a good make of the expandable hose pipes currently in the market for one but need one that doesn't take up much room. 

     

    My current old style 15 year old  hose pipe has taken up residence in my bedroom and seems to be permanently in the way. It seems to resent loosing it's old locker to a new spare battery set up. 

    I got got this last September and so far so good. Stores into a small bundle and never tangles. Pressure is good through it too. 

    Only time will tell if it is any good long term. 

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0785JVT1S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

     

     

  24. 12V Wiring - New USB Charger

    in Boat Equipment

    Posted

    36 minutes ago, cuthound said:

    My boat has a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket next to the hatch (trad rear end).

     

    It is useful for powering a 12 volt pump to drain antifreeze and gearbox oil, so I plug one of these in it to allow phone charging when cruising.

     

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/252690390585?chn=ps&var=551635917227&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-134428-41853-0%2F2%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fi%252F252690390585%253Fchn%253Dps%2526var%253D551635917227%26itemid%3D551635917227_252690390585%26targetid%3D520571362289%26device%3Dm%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D1007147%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D1669190774%26adgroupid%3D67214016400%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-520571362289%26abcId%3D1139366%26merchantid%3D115148351%26gclid%3DCj0KCQjws5HlBRDIARIsAOomqA0qPDvZzHgi8EK2WIMU_8-AbNXTEC9NeKAvqm5WV-2BtbXV_JIcSrIaAp1IEALw_wcB%26srcrot%3D710-134428-41853-0%26rvr_id%3D1920481078493%26rvr_ts%3De2bfc4d71690a4cc5dc3e2f1ffebe422

     

    Gives me the best of both worlds.

    Thanks for that. 

    That will be a good option too. I have plenty of space back there too. 

     

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