frahkn

I'm sure it seemed clear to you - you knew what you intended to get across - but I promise you that it was far from clear to me.

They fitted some panels and an MPPT controller for me about 5 years ago. I've had no problems with the installation. The guy plays bass guitar but I don't hold that against him.

I read your original post, found it too ambiguous to get any clear meaning from. Surely this is your failure to communicate your meaning not a problem with my reading? I'm not complaining, write as you wish, but I imagine that you did wish to say something that others could understand.

I agree with MtB and would also stress that even certainty about what boat you want very often does not survive when practically looking at boats. I heard this before I started searching but did not believe it - I thought I was firm in my expectations - my eventual boat is not much like my 'ideal' boat. Seeing this boat completely changed my mind.

Likewise, we spent a night there last year with no difficulty. There were some fishermen but we fitted in and everybody was fine. There is a very good Indian restaurant as you walking town.

Thanks, that would explain why I can't see it.

Leicester is fine, if Castle Gardens are full there are now new moorings on the off side a few hundred yards later. But I have moored on the towpath side, on the mile, without problems. If you are not tense about things you will be OK. Leicester is no worse than most other city mooring.

Just a quick one. Where on the engine is the sender for the temperature gauge? Had a quick look but couldn't find it. Thanks.

There are a few wide beams in Alvecote marina, don't know their history but folks seem content spending holiday time on them.

That looks like what I want. I'd need the data cable and software so not cheap but it would do exactly the job I require.

Sellafield will never be decommissioned, at least with current technology. They don't even know what is in the early ponds, let alone have any idea how to decommission it. Some years ago I was taken round the site by the chief engineer, I've never seen a scouser so worried. I think you are too pessimistic about fusion, ITER is expensive but it is good research.

You may remember last year it started smoking. I said that I had fixed it (following advice on here) but it reoccured and anyway the yard had flagged it up during some earlier work last year. So I got them to look at it and they had to take off 7 thou, which seems a lot to me (and suggests that the next skim will be the last). It's a Beta 43 like (I think) yours. The problem is that they seem obsessed about ventilation but have disconnected my 'bilge blower' which previously cooled the alternators and presumably, the engine to some extent. I would just like to apply the experimental method to their concept of ventilation.

I have owned the boat for five years but it is fifteen years old - could this have happened before my ownership? I ask because I have had no evidence of overheating during my ownership - surely there should have been some?

Yes but it never gets above 80%, seldom that high, so it may be inaccurate. Also, the engine never uses any water or oil between services. The yard don't seem worried about thermostats, skin cooling arrangements etc, only ventilation (remember it is a cocooned engine) but have disconnected my blower and installed a small vent instead. I have questioned this but they are adamant so I want to see for myself.

My cylinder head was taken off and skimmed this winter, quite a lot had to be taken off due to heat distortion. The yard have put in extra ventilation but also removed a bilge blower which was formerly used. I want to get some idea of the temperatures with the new ventilation and see if reinstating the blower will help or (as the yard say) hinder the process.

No, I have an IRT but the engine is cocooned and I want the ambient temperature while running. It was mentioned in an earlier thread but not (I think) very long ago. There are examples on line but they seem rather complex and predominantly for industrial applications.

There was recently a thread on this but I can't find it. I want to measure the ambient temperature around my cocooned engine so need something wireless. Can anyone recommend something simple but fairly accurate. I don't need anything complicated or with too many bells and whistles.

I arranged to be present and in fact arrived half an hour early. However the surveyor was even earlier and was well on with the survey by the time I turned up.

We have a third tap which supplies drinking water via a filter. I usually use it (after all, I paid for it) but it also drips on the work surface so my wife always uses the ordinary, unfiltered water. Neither of us have ever had a problem. At home, the kitchen cw tap is direct mains but the bathroom cw tap is from the cw tank in the loft, again we don't treat and have had no problems.

Yes, the fitter replaced the melted mess with an AGM battery without even asking my opinion. Well done him. Should last well given that its predecessor lasted five years (at least) while I did my best to destroy it!

When I had a share in a boat I kept a set at home and sometimes took relevant ones to the boat when on it. The set on the boat soon became a mixture of pristine volumes and very tatty ones. Now I have my own boat I thought that was all behind me. Instead I buy more Nicholson's then ever. My Daughter uses the boat for a few weeks each year, 'borrows' my home set to plan journey's and god only knows what she does with the ones she uses while on the boat. I replace 2 or 3 a year.

Doesn't it just! I'm getting worried because it keeps making an ass out of me.

As promised, the solution to at least part of the problem. Unfortunately it shows up my lack of attention to detail and willingness to assume without the facts. As it turns out, the starter and the domestic batteries are connected and are charged when on shore power. My domestic batteries are easy to access (under the back cabin floor) and are maintenance-free. My starter battery is in a box under the bed and is difficult to get at. I had assumed it was also maintenance-free - certainly it had not been touched in the five years that I have owned the boat. In fact I have never even looked at it. It turns out that it was a standard lead acid battery which, having survived this treatment for far longer than I deserved, eventually boiled dry. I know that many (most) of you will think "surely if he had battery problems he would have at least looked at the battery" - well no, I didn't, I made some assumptions. As often will be the case, these were wrong and I have learned something. Alas learning something from the previous problem doesn't seem to prepare me for the next one!

Alternatively; each day becomes a much bigger percentage of your remaining life. Just saying. Is that glass half empty?

Don't know but Sodastream charge my more than £18 for 1kg of CO2 (not including the canister).