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huami

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Posts posted by huami

  1. After 4 years of cruising most of the canal network 6 months of the year, then returning to my home mooring at Whilton Marina in October I am now looking for another single-handed cruiser who might like to join forces and make life easier for both of us in the 2024 cruising season.
    Two boats going through locks are a lot easier to handle than one, and the same for swing and lift bridges. If anyone thinks this might make their life easier, let's chat.


  2. "UPDATED 20th June 2022"
    Retired Gay Guy with 45ft narrow boat seeks male companion to help on short and longer trips. Experience is not necessary, just a helping hand at the locks etc. You have your own sleeping quarters on board and there would be all facilities (
    Wi-Fi, shower, good food and no costs).

    Possibly nice for someone who would like to try Narrowboat life before taking the plunge themselves? Or just as a "No Cost" holiday in these financially tight times?

    You don't have to be gay but I would not be able to offer a place onboard for a lady (sorry girlz!). Any ages are welcome so if you are between jobs or semi retired everyone is welcome to enquire.  I have my own bedroom at the very back of the boat and there is adequate space at the front for an extra person with a double sized bed.

     

    I placed this information for the first time back at the beginning of the Covid Pandemic and feel it is now time to update things. I have been cruising now for more than 3 years usually setting off from my home base at Whilton Marina near Northampton in April or May and returning for the winter in September or early October.

    I have travelled down to and through London, River Wey, Basingstoke canal, River Lee, Kennet and Avon Canal, Bristol Chanel, Gloucester, Worcester, Birmingham, Manchester, Chester, Llangollen, Ripon, York, Lincoln Derby, etc, etc. etc.

    It is possible to cruise single handed but help is always welcome at locks and things like lift and swing bridges. For some time I have been "tagging along" with a family on another boat who do the same and also use Whilton as their home base but I feel it is the time to break free and go along at my own pace.

     

    Contact me if you would like any more details then we can chat on WhatsApp or Skype:

     

    Neil

    20200521_171520.jpg

    IMG_20220526_115621.jpg

    • Love 1
  3. ?️‍? Firstly, sorry for disappearing but I lost all my login information and I have also been busy on Twitter. My Twitter ID is @Neil_Huami so if anyone would like to say hello again it would be great to hear from you. I also plan on posting and chatting again on here very soon.
    At the moment I am still in Whilton Marina (Northamptonshire) but will be setting out again (hopefully!) on 1st April.
    I still have my offer open if anyone would like to join me on my travels (just get in touch).
    I hope that everyone is in good health and not going crazy from being so isolated?

    • Greenie 1
  4. 11 hours ago, The Happy Nomad said:

    Forum member @huami appears in that one. Well at least his boat does near the start, I presume its him on it.

     

     

    Screenshot_20201016-194236_Chrome.jpg

    Yes, definitely me! (moored next to my traveling companions "Slow-n-Easy").  I remember saying hello to the guyz from Foxes Afloat from my mooring about 80cm from the tow path as there was quite a substantial concrete ledge under the water. I love their video's, their humor and their their content is always very informative. 

    IMG_20200916_080701.jpg

  5. Hi everyone,
    Sorry I disappeared for a while but I have been out cruising. Since departing 29th May I have been to York, Torksey Lock, Lincoln, Ripon, Selby, Newark on Trent, Cowley, Shireoaks, Doncaster, Long Eaton, Nottingham, etc. etc.
    At the moment I am alone as my traveling companions have gone back home for a few weeks and won't be returning to their boat until the end of August, so I am moored up after moving the boat from the entrance to the Erewash canal to Sawley Marina. 
    Only a few days ago I had 6 new batteries fitted by Malone Electrical  who also installed new solar panels for my traveling companions.
    It certainly was the good answer to my "lack of storage space" and everything is now running 100%. The controller is also fitted with an equalizer to assure that all six batteries get an equal full charge every so often.
    Kindest regards to everyone who advised me.
    Have a lovely day,
    Neil

    IMG_20200810_132925.jpg

    • Greenie 1
    • Happy 1
  6. 3 hours ago, TheBiscuits said:

    Or 8pm if using engine or generator within earshot of other people (boats, houses etc)

     

    This might mean you need to start charging at 8am if you aren't cruising anywhere, but you seem to be travelling a lot so might not be necessary for you.

     

    Just remember that the longer you leave your batteries discharged, the more damage is caused.

    I'm thanking everyone for their contributions but I'm now even more confused than I was before I posted my question.

     

    The solution... , I have decided to get the professionals in (a marine electrician). I will keep everyone informed how things turn out ...

     

    Thanks

    Neil

  7. Hi WotEver,

    I read your reply with interest and also discussed it with a friend who seems to know a lot more than me (I'm not the most technical person!). 

    You gave me lots to think about and I am very pleased that you took the time to explain to me.

    Whatever the outcome, I have decided to buy 5 new batteries as I think this will certainly help, and as a friend explained to me if you have a lot of clothes then you should invest in some good storage.

     

    Thanks again for your very comprehensive explanation.

     

    Have a great day

     

    Neil

  8. 4 minutes ago, blackrose said:

    Could it just be the nature of the charge controller? I know virtually nothing about solar but my battery charger goes onto float too early in the cycle so I just trick the charger by switching it off and back on again when it first goes onto float with say 6 amps going in and then it will go onto float again when it has just 1 or 2 amps going in. There are no settings I can change to make it go onto float later in the cycle. I think it's controlled by some sort of timer.

     

    Is it possible to do the same thing and trick a solar charge controller to go onto float later in the cycle by switching it off and back on when it first goes onto float?

    Hi Blackrose,

    An interesting thought. I have someone advising me at the moment and he also mentioned that if he switched it off for a short while it may reset it'self.

     

    Thanks for the suggestion

    Neil

  9. 4 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

    Your batteries have gone into float before they are charged unless you have a load on. I wouldn't want to see more than 3 amps at 14.4 volts to show the batteries are charged. Sorry I don't know how to change the settings.

    Hi Brian ....  From what you say "Your batteries have gone into float before they are charged" then should I get in touch with an electrician or the guy that installed the solar?

     

    Thanks for your comments

    Neil

  10. 41 minutes ago, dmr said:

    There are some "rules" suggesting you should have only enough batteries such that they become 50% discharged over your required period till recharge, but I have never subscribed to these.

    In general more batteries give you more flexibility, you can possibly get through a cloudy day till the next sunny day, or only run your engine every second or third day in winter.

    But....

    Batteries MUST be absolutely full charged once every few days, or at least once a week. If you only have a small alternator this will mean a very long engine run. Out of high summer when you have less solar you might need to run the engine more to help the solar to get the batteries charged.

    If you don't fully charge the batteries, or have a problem/mis-calculation and let them go totally flat, then you have a bigger bill buying replacements.

     

    Most liveaboards like to have 4 batteries, some like six, any more and it swings towards more "serious" styles of battery.

     

    ...............Dave

    Hi Dave,

    Very interesting reading and philosophy.

    I will certainly take everything on board of your knowledge.

     

    I love this site as it has many views and opinions from many people with different levels of knowledge.

     

    Thanks for your reply

    Have a nice day

    Neil

  11. 51 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

    Hi Neil!!!

     

    Having more batteries does mean you can build up more reserves. We've got 4 x leisure and 1 x starter. What type of batteries do you have - any markings on them?

    Hi Rob,

    Thanks for the reaction. I just took a photo and I seem to have two of these:-

     

    Thanks again

    Neil

     

    Battery 01.jpg

    43 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

    Yes. Think of batteries as a simple fuel tank. Bigger fuel tank more fuel. Size needed to compare though as the capacity of each battery varies. Just remember that come winter solar is as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

    Hi, and thanks for your reply (amazing that I was on the right track!). Winters I am planning to return to Whilton Marina and will use shoreline most of the time.

     

    Thanks,

    Neil

    • Greenie 1
  12. Hi Everyone,

    This is a question from someone who is not the most technical person around so if anyone can give me some basics (keep it simple please!) it would be great to hear from you.

    On a decent weather day my Solar (2 x 175 watt) will show it has filled the batteries by about 2pm. I have 2 x 12-volt leisure batteries.

     

    My thinking is that if I ditch these two batteries and buy 5 new 12-volt batteries (I have been told I have space for 5) then the solar (or my engine) can keep working, pumping in power until they are all full, giving me far more reserve storage.

    Am I thinking this right? (Or not understanding this good?).

     

    I have a Victron Inverter (Phoenix Multiplus 12-volt 1600 Va – 70 Amp, and a Smart Solar App that I took these screen shots from.

     

    Any help or advice would be most appreciated.

     

    Thanks,

    Neil

    Solar 01.jpg

    Solar 02.jpg

    Inverter 01.jpg

  13. Retired Gay Guy with 45ft narrow boat seeks male companion to help on short and longer trips. Experience is not necessary, just a helping hand at the locks etc. You have your own sleeping quarters on board and there would be all facilities (WiFi, shower, good food and no costs).

    Possibly nice for someone who would like to try Narrowboat life before taking the plunge themselves? Or just as a "No Cost" holiday in these financially tight times?

     

    Contact me if you would like more details:

    Neil

    20200318_120154.jpg

  14. 1 minute ago, cuthound said:

    Hi Neil,

     

    Saw you go past my house & boat on the Coventry canal a couple of weeks ago.

     

    I couldn't get outside quick enough to shout "hello" before you had  disappeared  under the bridge.

     

    Perhaps next time you pass we can say hello.

    WoW!

    That would be great.

    So you live in an beautiful location on the canal.

     

    I look forward to hearing you shout hello Neil ...

     

    Have a lovely day

    Neil

  15. 51 minutes ago, haggis said:

    Brian, don't be naughty :-). You are just hoping that Neils fenders come off and you get some more to add to your collection! Neil, just for info, fenders are usually just used for protecting the side of the boat when you are moored and leaving them down when you are cruising or locking can cause damage to your paintwork or the boat being jammed in a lock.

    Glad you are enjoying your boat, Neil. 

     

    haggis

    Thanks Haggis,

     

    As I always say "I'm learning as I go along" and I didn't know that (but I do now). 

    As for "damage to your paintwork"  .. Ohh I manage that without any help!

     

    Anyway, thanks for your constructive comments and I wish you a lovely day.

     

    Neil

  16. Hi Restlessnomad,

    Nice to see you again and I'm sure you must also be looking forward to the future after our confinement.

    Your profile name comes across as someone who just likes to move at your pace and possibly without any specific destination (?) 

     

    After buying the boat at least I had plenty of time to do all the things I wanted to do before setting off.

     

    Have a great day,

    Neil

     

     

    This photo was taken in the middle of a torrential rain storm on the Trent.

    IMG-20200618-WA0000.jpg

    • Greenie 1
  17. Hi Jen,

    Your profile picture reminds me of my hair when I look in the mirror.

    21 weeks since I had a haircut (but think of the money I have saved!).

    34 locks were quite an initiation and then to realize that you have to turn around and do it all again!

    It certainly is a beautiful stretch of canal and I'm sure once a few boats start moving again the weed problem will get better.

     

    Have a great day,

    Neil

    IMG_20200621_112423.jpg

    • Happy 1
  18. Hi Kevin,

    Lovely to read your reply and Yes, Yorkshire … where I was born hundreds of years ago in Scarborough. Unfortunately, they haven’t dug a canal to Scarborough yet but who knows?

    I thought it funny when you said “At the moment there is a problem with Selby lock having silted up, so you might not get out to York” … Hey, I have just swam through millions of litres of slimy green “Ambrosia Creamed Rice pudding” here in the Chesterfield canal. Four times cleaning the propeller in the weed hatch and lots of reverse thrust blow backs to be able to proceed another few meters. It’s amazing how nature reclaims the waterways within a few weeks.

    Have fun and I look forward to saying hello sometime.

    Neil

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