frahkn

i have a dictionary Martin?????

I've read a couple of "Catweasel's" books, which I think were self published, and thought they were interesting/funny. They were, essentially, collections of 'stories you would tell your friends'.

We met Harnser at bridge 80 on the Macc but didn't realise it was a fellow forum member. Belatedly, "hello". Frank.

Chewbacka, Thanks for your succinct explanation. I'm not sure of the size of the leak, I can't get in a position to see it. Judging by the mark the blowout is making on a partition, it's fairly small. Frank.

Psycloud, I have discovered a hole in my exhaust also, although not a big one, (I've posted separately about this) but I was thinking that my air filter would/should prevent this getting into the engine. Judging by your experience this is not the case.

My exhaust comprises a 10 inch steel tube from the engine, 18 inches of flexible tube which joins the engine exhaust to a vertically positioned hospital silencer, then an exhaust pipe which exits through the roof. The flexible portion is made of stainless-steel 'weave' presumably over a rubber interior pipe (it's just like the flexible plumbing fittings or some tap tails only bigger in diameter). The flexible part has developed a leak, can anyone let me know of a source for a replacement? Also how can I make a temporary repair in the meantime? Thanks. Frank.

The, admittedly small, blow out is onto a wooden partition about 3 inches from the pipe. Unfortunately the deposit does look a bit glossy (but it is not running down the vertical surface). On other hand, when wiped up it is much blacker than merely oil and clearly has a lot of carbon in it. Due to inaccessibility, the leak may have been going on undiscovered for some considerable time. Frank.

Alvecoat diagnosed valve stem seals or piston rings and are willing/eager to look at the engine this winter. Because of the access issue, I imagine they will argue (not unreasonably) that they should take it down to the piston rings while they are at it, to avoid repeating whatever bulkhead dismantling is involved. I think this is, in principle, sensible but - given the likely cost - have a great urge to avoid or at least delay it. On the other hand, it won't get cheaper so perhaps it's best done this winter. Frank.

Sorry, I'm back. I will do a separate topic about this later today but want to mention it here as it was covered in passing earlier. I have discovered the cause of the oil in my air filter. The engine exhaust is linked to the hospital silencer by a flexible tube about 18" long. This is covered on the outside with a plaited steel mesh (not unlike some type of tap tails and other flexible plumbing fittings but larger obviously). This has developed a leak and is allowing some oily vapour/material to escape. The hole is only a few inches from the air filter intake - my brand new air filter is already a bit dirty as a result. Surely this must have some impact on my smoke problem? Frank.

This shows how boats do vary. I rarely need more than 1200 rpm and use less about 50% of the time (rivers excluded) to achieve my, admittedly gentle, rate of progress. This is with a Beta 43 in a deep drafted 70' tug weighing more than 23 tons. Frank.

I typically get through about 1.25 litres per hour at about 1100 rpm. I do use more in shallow water, the boat draws 31" so is quite deep.

We feed our golden retriever Eden kibble with a little cooked chicken and have done since she was ten weeks old. The choice was on the advice of our daughter but I have since noticed that she doesn't feed it to her own dogs! Our dog is happy with Eden but would eat almost anything, she likes a carrot or a banana as a daily treat. Dog food advertising is aimed at people, the dogs have more common sense.

As far as the complainers are concerned, they notice sound more than speed. My engine is very quiet and I am rarely moaned at even when I have a lapse am probably am going too fast. Frank.

OK, last word on this before you all get bored with the issue (if it's not already too late)! The injector cleaner was added to the tank (Bizzard's method probably would have been better but I added it to the tank). The result remains uncertain - the smoke is less but still present - also, it continues to get less after an hour or so under load. My wife maintains that, even at constant revs, the smoke production isn't continuous but comes in bursts of ten seconds or so with similar length gaps. I'm inclined to take Tony's advice and wait for it to go away or get worse but stop worrying in the meantime. Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Frank.

My boat is an Orion built 'tug style' which sits low in the water and so the 'back deck to propellor' distance is perhaps less. Anyway the prop can be reached if you lie on the counter with your legs on the coal box. So far, the only thing we couldn't shift was a sleeping bag but the RCR guy sorted that after an hour or so. Frank.

As far as I know they were standard on Orion boats as well. Certainly mine has one. Frank.

Yes, I turned at the society 'shop' after the tunnel in a 70' boat last year. You have to reverse if you want to complete the last few hundred yards to the current end.

Well, horses for courses, you like what you like. I much prefer the Shropie, the locks are mostly in attractive settings, Nantwich and Market Drayton are pleasant and useful towns and the long cuttings are unique on the system. But of course it is the longer route. The first time I did heartbreak hill two of us went from Longport to Middlewich in a (summer) day and it almost killed me! Perhaps that early experience has permanently coloured my view. Frank.

Welcome to the forum. I would take the right at Middlewich and go down the Shropie, the series of locks up to Harecastle are not called 'heartbreak hill' without reason and might be off-putting for a single hander. I plan to go from Marple via Preston Brook and the Shropie but I think it will be a bit earlier than the 21st. But feel free to PM me nearer the date in case our trip times coincide, the wife and I would be glad to help if we can. Frank.

If I don't get this sorted and end up with Alvecoat stripping the engine down this winter, I know when I'll need the throne. I'll need to be sitting there when Lawrence hands me the bill! But still, I might fix it yet with help from the forum. I work slowly, that must be why I have only managed 500 posts in ten years. Frank.

I have found the breather tube, as Tony said it starts in a 'box' on the top of the rocker cover just in front of the oil filler plug. A tube comes out of the 'box' and goes down behind the smaller alternator, towards the sump. Due to access problems I cannot see, let alone touch, the end of the tube so don't know how I might check for a blockage. I have a remote inspection camera but naturally, it's at home! On a more cheerful note, I bought some injector cleaner and will pop it in when I start this morning. Hopefully this will solve the problem. Pity my 500th post should be such a dull one! Frank.

Cuthound, Indeed, a 2003 Orion tug and one of, as far as I can trace, only 11 remaining Orion full length boats on the system. I tried to lean more about her but with no luck. I approached my purchase much like your-self, in particular we wanted a 57' boat similar to our old 'owenerships' boat. I can't offer any logical explanation of why we ended up with Twisted Reach. I'd like to say that Dominic talked us into it but he didn't - he was in France when we made the offer. Frank.

Cuthound, Thanks for getting the photo up. As you can see, access is a nightmare, the oil lift-pump is below the silencer and the gearbox extends into the next compartment and is under the bed in the back cabin. Imagine when the starter motor needs replacing, Nick has already suggested (not entirely in jest) that it would be quicker to cut a hole in the hull to do the work. The position of the engine is only one of the nuttier aspects (the floor tiles are another) of what is otherwise a really nice boat (IMHO). Tony, The 'Travelpower' is in fact the larger of the two alternators fitted as standard by Beta. I would like a travelpower but doubt it would work well in the bath! We apparently 'need' to keep the bath - even though we would have to moor permanently on a water point to use it. Thank for your suggestion, as promised I will investigate the missing breather pipe further, tomorrow. Frank.

Thanks Tony for going to the trouble to reply so fully. I really do have a Beta engine; it's a 2001 Beta 43, engine no. 1A0159, WOC no. K11271. I am not surprised at your doubts given the gormlessness of some of my questions, but that is one of the certainties to which I am clinging. I'll have another look for the breather tube and get back to the forum later. I have tried to upload photos in the past without success (I get a "folder full" or similar message) but there is a photo of my engine, and its surprising location, on Alvecoat marina's web site. It's in their tweets and is titled "thats what we call a macerator" or something like. Is there anything useful to be deduced from the fact, confirmed again this morning, that with the engine under load, the smoke becomes much less after an hour or so running? Frank.