Jump to content

Rainyday

Member
  • Posts

    17
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Female
  • Location
    LONDON
  • Boat Name
    Sherwood

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

Rainyday's Achievements

Explorer

Explorer (2/12)

1

Reputation

  1. No it doesn't have finrads. Have just been reading up https://www.canalboat.co.uk/canal-boats/maintenance/how-to-make-sure-your-narrowboat-is-heating-up-properly-1-4822255 some great advice here. So what you advise and this person also advises is to have an isolator on the calorifier. You know, I might even already have this but it's not turned. Will check when back there tomorrow. I hear the canal has frozen over Thank you for your help!
  2. Yes there's a grimy tube that's barely transparent anymore so it's hard to see but possible with effort. That's the one I top up now and then. Should the level be up top when the system's hot?
  3. ah I see. I wonder. The system does seem to make some sucking noises when it's really hot so wouldn't want to risk pressurising it too much. (I take this as a sign the system needs topping up) And someone experienced told me that he's not sure why the gravity system works (as the calorifier is on the floor rather than up high) but it does so perhaps best not to interfere with it. The pipes are maybe 8m long and do release some heat but not a whole lot.
  4. Ah someone else has this issue! I thought it was my bad refuelling skills! So much smoke and fumes come in when I refuel, especially if it's freezing and not wanting to get going... ok, definitely gonna buy this longer chimney and see if it helps this.
  5. This wouldn't be necessary as by the time the fire has guzzled enough fuel and the and calorifier is hot enough, so is the rest of the boat! :-D
  6. Thank you for clearing that up (no pun intended). Seems a bit strange - it will just fill with ash and become less and less effective with age then? Other boaters I know give their stove a full clean each year. If mine doesn't have a way to do this then perhaps eve cleaning the flue will just serve to clog the stove up further!? Thanks! Will take my rubber hammer up there!
  7. Hi, I have a lovely morso swift to heat up my 52ft narrowboat. It has a gravity fed back boiler system, no radiators, it just has a pipe that runs along the boat passing the bed and heating water in the calorifier. The system is older but the stove was brand new, replacing a morso squirrel 2 years ago. Problem is, It struggles to heat the boat from cold and to keep the boat warm. I guess because the cold water in the calorifier is making it work hard. I'm running my engine to heat the water and help it out. (Once the boat is warm it seems to do well). Is there anything else I can do? Other boat friends have said I need to clean behind the baffle plate but I don't think it has a baffle plate..! Could be mistaken!? Does anyone know how to remove them if there is one or how to clean soot build up if there isn't one? I could only get out soot as far as my hand could reach. (Photo and video of the insides attached) Also, my chimney above the roof is quite short. I'm looking at getting a taller replacement chimney but this one seems so well stuck on and I'm scared of yanking too much and doing damage to the chimney/stove installation. Any tricks besides resorting to an angle grinder? Appreciate any advice! Many thanks, Rachel
  8. Thanks, I'll check those out. I have friends who live in the area so their address could possibly work if they're checking maybe ? Good idea - I'll phone some in the direction I'm heading ?
  9. Is there some kind of agreement for narrowboaters to be able to use local recycling centres? The boat is not anywhere near my home address and I've got a tonne of things to dispose of, old flooring, old bathroom etc. I'll need to hire a van or if very local can do trips in my teeny car. Any advice? (I'm in Croxley Green, nw London), thanks!
  10. Thanks so much for all of your excellent tips. Really helps my motivation too! I hadn't thought about lifting the ballast but after today's visit to the boat, glad the rust is drying but it's clear just how damp the blocks are so I will do as you suggest and put something rubbery underneath ? I'll also try moving them around. next thing on the shoppinglist: crowbar. The project just keeps growing. ?
  11. I will check under other parts of the floor and make some holes for ventilation (is that a good idea or fuels rust!?) but this is the part where floors were damp, from bathroom and back to heating system. The rest is dry and hopefully doesn't need this attention. Boat built in 1994 by a good builder but there was a lot of condensation and past leaks without much maintenance.
  12. Deciding the layout for my 52ft semi trad I'm renovating. If it can be avoided is it best not to sleep in same space/room as the wood burner. Obviously will have a cm detector. But in general, fumeswise? Wanting to live a long life! Sorry if a silly question but I'm new to sleeping on the boat. Love my wood burner. Just wonder why so many layouts but the bed on the far end of the boat. Thanks!
  13. Hi, looking for advice please! First boat. I've managed to lift the soggy half of the floor and the unbelievably heavy waste tank. Before putting down marine ply (as the ballast are damp so I want to put good stuff over) I should probably treat the rusty floor. The hull had a good survey last year albeit just tested from the exterior. How do I stop rust in its tracks? Best and simplest way please! Which is the brand that you spray/paint over and it hardens the rust without you needing to remove it first? If you could give me a stepped process and links to a UK store would be unbelievably helpful. Trying to do this outside the hours of my day job! And would like to move in next month ? Thanks! PS. I heard fertan was good but downside you have to wash away with water. Pps. Prefer non-toxic option if possible
  14. Thanks! Good to get the advice of experienced boaters! If the consensus is that cassettes aren't too inconvenient, I'm leaning towards that also. Could do with the floor space in what's going to be my walk in wardrobe/garage too
  15. Yes it's an L shaped one. The toilet sits on top of the tank. Not a macerator, just goes straight down ? The other picture is inside the cabinet below the basin, showing the pump out pipe connection.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.