frahkn

Hi, I plan this trip, probably in late March. I would prefer to split each way into two days, rather than rushing to do them in one. I have the boating association's map "River Trent (Non Tidal)" but it says little about moorings, either on the way or in Newark. I have experience of rivers but not the Trent and I'm a bit cautious. Could anyone suggest moorings in Newark and on the way down and back. Also, are they likely to be busy in late March? A note of decent pubs (dog friendly if possible) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Frank.

It's been a long time since a post on here has left me cleaning wine from my keyboard - thanks Dave, have a greenie.

Please don't take this as a criticism, implied or otherwise, but I would be interested to know how very 'different' paint jobs affect price or (more likely), interest in the boat. Was it your impression that the external appearance of the boat either enhanced or depressed the final offer which you had to make? Absolutely agree about Steve and Dominic - when I bought my boat in 2013 they were very helpful and professional. Before the exchange they were clearly working for their client but afterwards they could not have assisted me more.

I have an acoustically housed Beta, it also has a hospital silencer exiting through the roof (deck-head). It is extremely quiet - other boaters have commented on this - from 20 feet away you absolutely cannot hear it. However it is about 15 feet forward of the propeller and is at one side of the boat, rather than in the centre. Its positioning causes some problems but of course you may not have this difficulty. This is in a 70 foot boat.

Dave 1, I didn't know that Orion were still in business, everybody I spoke to said they had ceased trading. Could you tell me more about them? I bought a 70' Orion "tug" style narrowboat (built in 2003) last year and would like to know more about its history etc. Actually you may have done some work on the boat - your name and number were amongst the folder of documents which came with it. Thanks. Edit:- Sorry, just realised how old the post is (although I thought Orion had gone before 2009 also).

I feel that tales of theft or vandalism are not helpful - rather they only function to worry people. One-off thefts or acts of vandalism can occur anywhere and there is nothing to be done about these except to take common sense precautions.

The now defunct but I understand, entirely reputable, Orion Boatbuilders, in 2003.

Thanks everybody, I'll ask at some of the suggested yards. Below is the exact quote from the survey report. This sounds bad (at least to my ears) but the argument that the boat has lasted nearly 12 years is also in point. I think it would worry my insurers though. "A single bottom plate seam weld was identified at approximately 30 feet from the bow. This was not properly finished. There was no weld penetration to the lower edge and no back-welding. A significant depth of unfinished material was evident in the seam when viewed from below the vessel."

When I bought my boat (it was then 10 years old) the survey mentioned that one of the welds in the bottom plate was not "full penetration". The recommendation was that at the first re-blacking I should get it re-welded. The surveyor said that it would be a straight forward (if not very pleasant) job. I plan to get it blacked early next year and have approached two yards to see if I can organise the two jobs at the same time. While both were happy to do the blacking, one would not tackle the welding while the second did not refuse but clearly did not want the job - in fact they tried to talk me out of having it done at all. They pointed out that the boat had survived nearly 12 years without a problem. First, what is the consensus of opinion here? Second, can anyone suggest someone who would be willing to do the job? I am moored at Willington but plan to do the London ring (via the Oxford and Grand Union) next year, so could manage a wide range of locations. Thanks. Frank.

I mentioned on this forum (sometime in the autumn of last year) that I had been unable to turn my 70' boat at the winding hole immediately south of Harecastle tunnel. One or two people responded that I could have turned with more effort but the tunnel keeper told me the hole was only 65' max. In the event I reversed to Longport but I still don't know what to believe about the winding hole. At the time I was new to 70' boats so perhaps it was my lack of skill.

I used to be a part owner in the ex ownerships boat 'Honeystreet'. The name is in large letters on the semi trad sides, it is spelled correctly but the decoration is different on each side. In the eleven years that I was an owner, no other owner mentioned this to me nor I to them. I've often wondered how many ever noticed it.

Yes, I'm in exactly the same position. It's my first renewal so I don't know how soon to expect the renewal notice.

When our boat was craned out at Rugby Boatsales it was 23 tonnes. This is for a 70' "tug" style narrowboat with a draft of 29". Dominic was a bit surprised by the weight (he would have expected less), I didn't have a clue either way. As the car always seems fuller going to the boat than comming back, I can only assume that it's a good bit more than this now! Frank.

Thanks Springy, System 4-50 and Flyboy, this is exactly what I needed. Frank.

The boat will be due for its BSS in the spring - its first under my ownership. Can anybody tell me where I can get a copy of the up to date regulations? I am happy to pay for these if necessary but I would prefer an electronic copy to a paper one. I did download a set from this forum earlier this year but they were not the new rules with the additional gas requirements etc. Also, my marina has a BSS inspector but does not object if I pick another, are there any recommendations in the Sawley/Willington area? Thanks. Frank.

Speaking only from my experience, my previous marina was happy to swap calor bottles with no regard to size. My gas locker can hold only 1 13kg bottle but holds 2 3.9kg bottles as well. Therefore I need to make the occasional odd swop.

I declare 60/40 in summer and 80/20 in winter, other things being equal. Ventnor were happy with 80/20. We had phoned ahead to check if they supply diesel to non-moorers - again they had no problem with this.

I just want to thank the folk at Ventnor marina (at Calcut). I recently went in for diesel and (not knowing the marina at all) made a pig's ear of manouvering in a strong wind and fetched up pinned against the side. The marina staff rescued the situation, sold me the diesel and offered me a free night's mooring (including electricity). I am not connected with the marina in any way but I was impressed by how helpful and pleasant everone was. Frank.

One of the bottom paddles was broken and tapped off but the other was fine and emptied the lock. A newby coming to the lock from the Birmingham end might have taken the notice seriously and not continued their journey - the situation was far from clear.

Just came up the locks from the S&W - after I went through the top lock I saw a notice saying the flight was closed! It isn't, I got through no problem. Also I can't see the closure on CaRT's website.

OK - here is an update. I got a footpump with a pressure gauge. Also noticed that the accumulator says "20 psi" on its label. The water pump is 30 psi and 11 litres per min. With the power on but no tap running the gauge showed 45 psi; with the power off it showed the same; when a tap was opened the pressure declined to nil! I then pumped it up to 20 psi and turned the power back on. Opening and closing a tap, the pump comes on at about 20 psi, the goes off but comes back on in a series of short stutters right up to 45 psi. So I have the situation where the cut in pressure seems to be 20 psi but the pump then goes off and come back on at higher pressures. Overall the repressurisation has reduced, but not eliminated the stutter and I think it is this stutter which is causing the overheating of the connection. Any solutions or ideas for further tests? I am stumped. Thanks.