RickS

Thanks for that Tony, very useful

Thanks everyone who replied, apologies for not posting sooner. I am immensely grateful for all the advice. The Leoch batteries, notwithstanding Loddon's praise for them, which I don't doubt, I have been turned off from by the way in which they are presented on that website - possibly an unfair appraisal. Because of my low knowledge of best charging practice, I think that for this purchase, my preference is for lead-acid batteries that I can check on and top up the electrolyte. That way, if I get it badly wrong I am not throwing away a fortune, jist possibly a small one. Basically, to treat them as consumables. Like Tony Brooks, I am uneasy about putting a sealed chemical reaction that is a battery in a boat - I personally do not have the precise knowledge of Tony, in my case it is mainly just an instinct. The problem is, most lead-acid batteries that I have looked at seemed to be described as 'sealed wet flooded' with no obvious way of topping up the distilled water. At the moment I have 3 Numax DC31MF 105Ah leisure batteries (which seemed to be sealed) and an unidentified starter battery. I have looked at other Numax batteries of 110Ah, which seem to be among the few I have found that are not 'sealed' Is this brand worth looking at seriously? Thanks again for all the comments and help

Thanks hilandnick. I didn't think of using a 2 instead of 'to' or running it all together! Buggered up this quote a bit! Thanks Matty. I did get that, but going to facebook it just seems to throw up an error message saying the content is not for everyone or it is deleted. Searching on Facebook didn't come up with anything either

Nothing on Facebook for Bow to Stern and Weedon Narrowboat Services. I'm stumped really, can't find contact details vai Google either. Anyone have either of these please?

Didn't think of Facebook, I will try that, thanks again

Have to say you have lost me there David, I have no idea what the C20 rate is I'm afraid. Seems a bit disingenuous of them to advertise them as 130Ah batteries doesn't it? Or do they assume that people who know about these things will, well . know about these things?

OK, will do, thanks David. The link to these particular batteries is https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/12v-130ah-leoch-adventurer-leisure-battery-sfl-130dt/

Thanks all. I am sorry I haven't thanked you before. I thought I had made a post asking Matty for details of Bow to Stern and Weedon Narrowboat Services, as I couldn't find them with Google, but it doesn't seem to be here. Maybe I am losing my marbles. I have looked at, and contacted, Four Counties and Run by the Sun. Thanks again, really appreciate all the advice I get on this forum

These were recommended to me and wondered if they were any good - Leoch Adventurer SFL sealed lead acid batteries 130Ah. I was going to post a link to the site where I have seen them but I think that might be against the rules. If not liked, could anyone recommend others please. Doesn't have to be 130Ah, and happy to top up water rather than maintenance free

Morning Can anyone recommend a good electrician / solar installer please? I am in a marina in the Daventry area on the GU. Thanks

Morning. at the moment I have old carpet covering the floor. It has seen better days and it's coming up. The plan is to lay thin (6mm?) ply panels on top, seal the joints, then lay adhesive vinyl planks. Under the carpet is plywood, but looks like shutter ply rather than discrete layers. My question is: should I seal the existing plywood floor before laying the thin plywood panels? I had thought to use Thompsons water seal, but wonder if this is actually necessary as I can't do the underside. As always, appreciate any advice or suggestions

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice - helpful as always. I am not sure whether the oak available is English or American but slightly surprised it wasn't mentioned more. Some interesting points to mull over before making a final choice

Morning (just) I suppose the title says it all. I have a choice of Ash or Sapele to have a cratch board made from but not sure of the relative advantages or disadvantages of either. I would appreciate anyone's thoughts please. Oh, and there is the possibility of Oak too 🙂 Thanks

Thanks Tracy. I'm sorry, but I think I have wasted your time somewhat. Just spoke to the yard where it is being done. They don't do shot-blasting and feel sure that there is bitumen on there at the moment - they think they did it last time. Intertuf it is going to be then! I wasn't planning on doing the base plate, but happy to do so if possible / convenient when out of the water. Thanks again

Thanks David. The service includes pressure washing, which I presume is not shot blasting 🙂 - so essentially my choice depends largely on what was applied before? (assuming I can't get it shot-blasted).

Thanks Tracy. Price difference is just under £100, so does not seem a lot compared to total job.

Morning I am having my boat blacked in the not too distant future, and have been given a choice of paints: Intertuf and Two Pot Epoxy. The price difference is not huge so wondered what would be the best choice. This is the first time I have had the boat blacked and have no idea about the choices. I have searched (probably not as much as i should have) but still not sure. Any help hugely appreciated as i have to fill in a consent form with my choice Thanks

Justin Green of J G Marine Services did the survey on my boat which I bought last year. He came recommended and was very professional. Took time to talk to me about the boat afterwards.

Thanks Loddon. As far as I can see (and this is only from earlier in the year, I didn't see the latest event) the water collects in large droplets on the underside of the slightly curved glass of the hatch before dropping. It's not a huge amount, but it was clearly enough recently to do some damage to the mattress. Where it gathers is slightly higher than the rest of the glass, and the drops get fatter until they fall. I am assuming condensation as I would have thought a leak would be more at the sides of the hatch. I am going to have to keep a close eye on it during rain i think.

Thanks again Tracy. I will try and dig out that old post I saw and see if it's what you are describing.

Thanks Tracy. I saw a photo of something similar in another thread that i now can't find (it might have been your post, I'm not sure). Sounds like a good idea and much neater than an acrylic sheet. If it turns out to just be condensation then I think I will try and make something like that.

Thanks for confidence boost blackrose. Hopefully it won't be a leak! Thanks Stilllearning, hopefully it won't come to that and I can solve it ? I agree, water can come in considerable distances from where it makes its presence felt. I might have to get a helper (daughter) to emulate continuous rain with a bucket! Thanks Mad Harold Thanks for that piece of advice. If it is a leak, that's good to know

Thanks Old Son. To be honest, I'm not 100% sure, but I thought considering the amount of rain that came down last week the damage to the mattress wasn't that bad so assumed it was condensation related. I thought if I solve that I can at least eliminate it as a cause, probably. There is some slight evidence of old damage to the ply ceiling around the hatch, but again, its not wet and isn't that bad. it only consists of the outer laminate of the play being a but tatty and slightly shredded (not sure how to describe it properly). I have looked outside and there is no obvious point of entry, but I know that water can, and does travel a long way sometimes, but no real evidence of a trail inside. My plan is to get the acrylic sheet seated better, then tip a bucket of water over the hatch and look for drips!

Thanks Bee. It's about 5mm thick and bowed away from the existing turnbuttons / turnbuckles (I've got all the lingo now!). I think it's going to be more of a problem flattening it again rather than it bowing in the middle, but we'll see. Thanks for suggestion about the strips - it may come to that

Reading various posts I gather that houdini hatches can be problematic regarding water ingress. I did have a small amount of condensation when I first bought the boat, which seemed to be solved by fitting the acrylic sheet that I found in a wardrobe. It has a strip of rubber(?) or some similar material which is compressed when fixed in by two, rather crude, swivelling wooden thingys. The problem is that the sheet has bowed, meaning that any water flows off to the side. When I went to the boat yesterday there had clearly been some water dropping onto the mattress below causing a pale ring - which i am reasonably happy I can deal with. I assume that the hot sun initially helped to bow the sheet, followed by the very wet weather causing the condensation, is the problem. I thought maybe four of the swivel fixings would help to restore the shape but had no idea what they may be called so Google couldn't help. Stupidly, I did not take a photo, nor did I bring one back to make others at home possibly. Does anyone know what these fixings are called - if, indeed, they have a name - and where I can buy some please?