Dropacog

Hell all you knowledgeable canal folk! I wonder if anyone can help me with a query about Lockgate refleks stove I have? It's not working very well with my eberspecher - actually, t'other way round. My "eber" expert tells me that the problems with the eber could be cured if the Lockgate could be "T'd" in to the 22mm circuit... ...question I have is whether this would impair the Lockgate's working?!! Any ideas?!! Thanks as ever in anticipation. David.

Any clues to the name, number or website of this firm in Bristol? Sounds like a good product... Cheers, David

Brilliant advice all round! I really, really appreciate it. The power of this forum is awesome! Thanks again, David. Boatbodger - Just to clarify on your top tips, was the need to open the nearest rad. etc. obviated by the pump that you then fitted? Cheers, David.

Hello All - My 60 foot narrowboat has a Refleks stove with a water coil running through it; it throws out a lot of heat itself - but the water doesn't seem to circulate around the central heating circuit to feed the radiators in the other parts of the boat. I am wondering if an electric pump located somewhere along the water pipes might help? Any thoughts folks? If I'm right in a water pump, what sort of spec. would you suggest. Cheers! David.

Yey! I feel safe again. Thanks EVERYONE!!!!

I have a really odd question. The missus asked me about a year ago and I pooh-poohed her for raising it. But then I thought that I couldn't answer it myself. So I really need to resolve it!!! The question: If we're moored up on our steel-hulled narrow boat, using steel mooring pins tied to usual rope (nylon?), could the boat be struck by lightning in an electrical storm - and what could be the effects on the occupants?!!! Thanks!

I have a really odd question. The missus asked me about a year ago and I pooh-poohed her for raising it. But then I thought that I couldn't answer it myself. So I really need to resolve it!!! The question: If we're moored up on our steel-hulled narrow boat, using steel mooring pins tied to usual rope (nylon?), could the boat be struck by lightning in an electrical storm - and what could be the effects on the occupants?!!! Thanks!

I need to replace the batteries on my boat. The boat is quite consumptive of electric but this is manageable. I have at the moment 4 x 220 amp-hours gel batteries. But I don't think these are the best option for me. Any ideas guys? Cheers, David.

As ever, thanks for your replies! I have to say, I too am a little bit guarded about controlling 20 tonnes of steel with a button or two; that said, you could apply that sort of reasoning to any piece of modern machinery! David

I think it was Lee; I certainly remember that he was on the local Midlands news...

Hello Folks and Happy New Year. Has anyone ever come across or can you recall the name of the bloke (in the Midlands I think) who constructed a simple remote control steering gadget for a narrow boat? Idea being that you could control the boat remotely when (say) you're in a lock? Now for me, I'd rather do it the proper way, but an elderly canal-user has asked if I can remember details - and I can't! All the best, David.

... first off, as a newbie to this site, can I say what a cracking resource this is proving to be! All very much dependent on the input of like-minded canal'thusiasts of course so well done to all who participate! I wished I'd discovered this a couple of years ago! To my (next) question: Can anyone either (a) confirm; or ( dispel this little myth: when I first got my boat - which has a Tecma macerator toilet and pump-out holding tank - I was told by someone that using paper forms a crust (for want of a better word) of paper in the bottom of the tank which builds up and can seriously reduce the holding capacity of the tank. Is this true!? Or is it (as I suspect) a myth! The person in question disposes of their 'used' paper seperately - i.e. continental style! Yuk! Best, David

Thanks both for your tips. Best regards, David

A related question folks: my bathroom basin and kitchen drink drain so slowly it's unreal. Any ideas as to how I can improve things? (Or what, perhaps, is the cause of said slow draining?) Any tips gratefully received!!! Thanks, David

I have a Stowe Hill boat, 3 years old now and very (very) complex in terms of the electrical make-up of things. There's no gas, it's all electric and I really want to get some holistic advice about what I can do to make the boat batteries last longer and the electrical side generally more efficient. I think I need to consider everything from solar panels, swapping out the 240v fridge, more batteries etc. etc. My question to you kind folk is: can anyone recommend a decent marine electrical engineer who would be prepared to consult on such a proposal?! All the best and thanks, David.