Tracy D'arth

What, PEELing paint?

Are Kuranda still Kacola agents out in Whaley Bridge?

Isn't that a steel hull with GRP top? An old David Piper from the late '60s - early '70s?

Lots of boaters leave their craft for extended periods out on the cut without any problems. It depends on how adverse you are to trusting the rest of the world. Now that Ventnor is part of the Aquavista Group, can they not find you short time space by appointment in other marinas in their group? Other marina groups do.

I have seen many oil burners, Reflex and Bubble etc. that are exactly as yours seems to be. I have seen more ripped out in disgust than installed and working properly. The best advice I got from the various makers was to run them on kerosene rather than diesel, the same advice applies to Eberspaecher Mukinis and Webastos. The other thing that seems to work is long tall chimneys, the increase in draught makes them burn hotter. I know of one that has an extra tee and tap on the fuel line that he can dip into a jar of paraffin occasionally which burns off the gunge before it solidifies and blocks the various small holes and tubes.

Before you waste anymore money, go over the hull with a ball pein hammer with particular attention to the water line where they rust and the extreme bottom fold of the hull which gets worn away. Be particularly observant on the area just behind the rear bulkhead where the door is, the lifting stop will go there and I have seen them crush because they are thin. Give it a good thump, like you were breaking ice, if it dents or sounds dull it is paper thin and you need to sort it before you sink. It will only have been about 4 or 6 mm thick to start with and your insurance will demand that it is 4mm ALL OVER for comprehensive cover. Check the stern where the rudder hits the transom, they frequently wear through. Has it already been overplated? What engine? Need that information at least to assess how you can proceed. Bilge pumps will not stop it sinking no matter how many. Once the battery is flat, down it goes. Without being nasty I would doubt that such a boat is worth spending the transport costs to Ireland.

OK, but is there an electrical connection bus bar to hull?

Ha Ha. Your signature says it all! Don't want you getting lost in Cheshire.

I would doubt that there will be a warranty in any case, mostly sold through ebay I expect.

Down the T&M surely?

Which boat yard? Middlewich narrowboats is non existent and Andersons will not allow, they have their own pump out only. King's Lock has no facility at all.

I have seen one that stopped working because the heat caused the internal plastic fuel pipe to crimp closed on a bend. Its pretty poor pipe.

Grit blast is the right way, can you get a portable blasting guy in? Otherwise you are in for a right long slog to clean back a baseplate. Whatever you do, it will be better on the boat than in a tin!

Last time I was in Minworth, all the facilities were nailed up. The lack of any sort of facilities on the western end of the T&M is disgraceful. No Elsan or pump out places, no skips, till you get to Anderton. Last decent showers at the tunnel or Red Bull which C&RT are selling off so that will go too. Anyone moored in Middlewich has a long way to go before the loo can be emptied or the bin dumped.

Is there a negative heavy lead to the engine block ( not the alternator) from the starter battery? From your description I doubt that it is connected.