MarkH2159
Patron
-
Posts
166 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by MarkH2159
-
-
This topic may have been highlighted before but I thought I would add my 2p worth on the subject of the price of Vetus spares.
My Bowthruster packed up last week and I nailed the fault down to the relay. Inspection showed that it had worn and the Positive in Pin was moving when the solenoids activated. A light tap to push the pin downwards made the thruster work but only until the opposite solenoid was used then the contacts moved back up out of place.
With the solenoid pack listed by Vetus at £241.74 I thought it was worth an attempt at a repair.
If not then I was considering replacing it with an Off Road Winch 12v Switching Relay unit rated at 500 Amps which would do exactly the same job and cost me nearer to £35
Anyway I successfully diagnosed the reason for the existing relay failure and repaired it. A basic design fault causes the central input pin to wear in its bakelite case mounting which eventally allows the positive contacts to float about a bit too much and it fails. A little bit of work cleaning contacts and resetting the pin in its casing with some Gorilla Epoxy and it was as good as new.
Whilst I had the access open I thought it would be a good idea to check the motor brushes and found them to be about 40% worn, good for a few years maybe but it could be worth getting a spare set just in case.
This is when I realised that the Vetus price of £291.61 for a set of 4 carbon brushes was just ridiculous.
A quick search of the brush specifications and sizes revealed an almost exact match available on Amazon at a more realistic £12.22 for 4. - Ordered immediately.
I have read elswhere that the cheaper brushes fit and work just as well, so how are Vetus able to justify a price that is 24x higher ????
Even if they do not last as long, I can change them 20x and still work out as a saving.
-
3
-
-
Diesel Outboard could be the better option.
-
The best tracker I have found is the Automile unit as available on Amazon.
Last month it was available at £49.99 including the 12 month data subscrition to 4G LTE networks.
Unfortunately for some reason it is now priced at £129 for the same package.
I am glad I got mine when I did.
As for answering the other questions....
Siting of unit with a view of the sky is difficult but not impossible - In or under cratch cover works.
Power consumption is minimal as low as 0.1 mah when it is in sleep mode, it awakes on movement or power interruption.
Internal battery can last up to a year depending on time set of interrogations.
It is easy to set up and I am fortunate to have a seperate battery to power it which also has a small solar panel trickle charging.
The unit works very well and can be set to give updates at 1 minute intervals or various other options up to 12 hours apart.
It reports its position directly in Google Maps so it is easy to see exactly where it is.
There are numerous settings for alerts, via sms, email etc and geo fencing can be set up to limit the areas of movement.
-
14 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
A 230v 100w cooker will draw 10 amps from the batteries via the inverter.
There are slow cookers with higher wattage so (for) example a 200w cooker will draw 20 amps.
Agreed, my meter actually shows an additional draw of 9.7 amps with the slow cooker on high setting.
I was interested to know where the figures stated, ie "20 amps plus in the first stage which will last about an hour provided you cooked the food in a pan and pour in hot...." came from.
Was the type and ratings of the slow cooker in question given?
-
3 hours ago, Detling said:
Will take 20plus amps in first phase which will last about an hour provided you cooked the food in a pan and pour in hot. Then will average 8 to amps per hour till you eat it. This can mean 60 ish amp hours. Quite a large power consumer. If by cruising you mean engine on not really a problem, we use it a lot but only on days we moved. Cook after breakfast into slow cooker switch on start engine and move off. If you have a largish solar array it will be fine in summer but you don't use them much in warm weather.
I am interested to know where you get your amperage figures from.
I regularly use a Slow Cooker on my boat which has a Stirling 1500w Inverter.
The power rating of my slow cooker is stated as 230-240v 50 Hz 92-100w
I can run the slow cooker any time and according to my meter it does not draw anywhere near the amperage figures you stated.
Generally it works well if I prepare the ingredients in the morning, throw it all straight in the slow cooker, no need for pre cooking or heating.
Then as I set off the slow cooker wil be on its high setting (100w) for say 4 or 5 hours then I reduce it to low setting to find the food perfectly cooked by the time I moor up for the night.
Apart from the odd stir there is nothing to do.
-
I researched small washing machines suitable for my NB have just fitted one of these in the wardrobe behind the bathroom where the shower plumbing just happens to be perfect for supply and waste...
https://m.costway.co.uk/2-in-1-free-standing-compact-automatic-washing-machine.html
It is compact, fairly lightweight, fully automatic, has a drain pump and only consumes 240 watts.
A bonus is that water level and consumption can be selected and a full wash takes 40 minutes.
-
If you go for Solar then get as much as you can reasonably afford or accommodate on your boat.
Self installation is quite easy and there are plenty of YouTube how tos that you can follow.
500w is a minimum especially if you have no other means of power when cruising other than the alternators of course. Also plan for expansion, get an MPPT Solar controller that has adequate capacity for more panels should you decide to increase panel wattage.
As for TV they are not all so power hungry, as has been suggested you could go for a 12v TV.
I run a Phillips 24" Smart TV which is 240v but only draws around 3 amps from my batteries through the inverter.
As for wasing machines, i have just fitted one of these...
It is very compact, lightweight and fully automatic with a decent drain pump and spin speed.
Best of all it only consumes 280 watts and takes 40 minutes to do a full cycle.
-
Over the past month I have added several heavy items to my narrowboat including a Washing Machine (20 Kg) and Solar Panels (50 Kg)
The boat originally had a fair amount of extra ballast in the starboard side of the engine compartment to balance it transversely but now the weight of the Solar Panels has taken over that duty.
I have removed 18 paving blocks from the engine room and need to dispose of them properly.
Any suggestions where I may do this?
Currently moored at Rugby heading south one day soon.
-
1
-
-
On 17/03/2021 at 16:14, robtheplod said:
If you need to go for narrower panels so you can walk up one side, these fit nicely on one side:
Agreed, thumbs up for the slimmer panels from Craig Solar.
Ordered my 3 x 180w panels online and was able to go and pick them up directly from Craig.
Apart from very reasonable pricing and good quality panels, Craig has been very helpful with design of installation and I can highly recommend dealing with him.
Currently in the process of installing the 3 panels set off to one side so I can walk past them without any issues.
-
I have used this product for both sealant and adhesive, perfect for vents too.
Everbuild Stixall Extreme Power https://g.co/kgs/kAEvz2
-
Have to ask...
How come the boat sits so shallow in the water?
How come there is so much oil, diesel, etc in a marina to have such an efffect on paint?
-
2 hours ago, StephenA said:
That's the real problem - it's convincing the police, if they pull you over, that it is essential. If they decide it isn't then you are up shit creek.
Hence the 'problem with the boat' idea.
Having travelled the country for legitimate reasons on several occasions this past month I can safely say that, despite the apparent paranoia, there is little chance of the Police being involved.
Even knowing that they can and probably have tracked my vehicle with ANPR cameras, I still have no worries about being stopped and asked.
The most important thing is to follow the distancing rules and not engage with anyone unless absolutely necessary.
Travelling legitimately to check on a boat for a reasonable period of time is not going to raise any issues.
On the other hand if there is a real issue with the boat and something serious happens, it has to be considered worth it.
-
Far too many different misguided interpretations on the very loose 'essential travel guidelines'
I have noticed much more traffic on the roads these past few weeks, surely not all are 'essential or work' but then again they maybe.
The real answer -
Up to you, I would travel with caution and if asked say it is to respond to a problem with the boat (make something up)
The main thing is to avoid any contact with others outside your self appointed 'bubble' just as if you were at the supermarket.
Any problems, just say Dominic Cummings told you it was ok.
-
1
-
1
-
-
2 minutes ago, JamesWoolcock said:
I wouldn't get a small casserole on with that.
Its bloody huge.
At 30cm tall and 18 cm square the actual footprint is less than most regular fans and certainly not 'huge'
Which kind of fan do you have where you can put it on a Refleks 2000 with a small casserole?
Tip = Take fan off to put Casserole on and vice versa.
-
You might consider one of these direct on the hotplate.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomersun-Designed-Friendly-Circulation-Fireplace/dp/B08DCXV9RK
I just bought one as I find the 'whirling fan' type a bit cheap and nasty looking.
Hopefully I can soon find out how well it works.
-
2 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:
So what are the Foxes Afloat going to do now? As continuous cruisers, they can't compost properly, and they have made a big play of going over to a composting toilet. Are they gonna rip it out and put in a Thetford?
No doubt they will have some fantastic expensive plan and take great delight in making a few more mindless videos to tell us all about it.
.....more enemas maybe !
-
1
-
-
2 hours ago, kalees said:
This might be worth watching. He works in tech and this video is right up to date.
That Netgear router is one of the most expensive but it is very capable.
However I believe location to be the most important factor and then antenna efficiency another key.
The most basic 4G router can achieve up to 150 Mbps which is more than adequate for the average user who will rarely see greater that 50 mbps over their 4G network.
-
I have 4 x 110 Ah Lead Acid domestic batteries which are wired in parallel through an isolator switch.
They are charged by a 70 Ah alternator and the boat has an Adverc charge management monitor fitted.
The battery bank supplies 12v to the boat domestic systems.
They are also connected at 12v to a Stirling Marine Combi Inverter Charger giving 240v 1600w from batteries or 12v 65A battery charging when on shoreline.
I am considering changing to a hybrid inverter which is rated at 240v 2400w from 24v with 50A solar mppt input and 40A battery charging capability.
Question is - How do I connect the four batteries to provide a balanced 24v to/from the new inverter charger and also keep the 12v systems, alternator, adverc, etc balanced across all batteries and with the correct isolation switches?
Thanks in advance.
-
50 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
GENERAL FORUM RULES & GUIDELINES
- It is not permitted to use CWDF to engage in or promote illegal activities
Hence my original post being a straightforward question with no suggestion of promoting anything illegal.
"Anyway, before I accept his offer of payment in several hundred litres of red diesel I need to know if I can actually use it in my boat without getting caught up in some legal wrangle with the team working for Her Majesty."
-
Nice idea which i am also very interested in.
I have a idea to put in a folding single of similar design, but not with the topbox arrangement as i would like the window to stay usable.
However i would like the single to have the possibility to be able to be extended out to 4ft or so when down, with the extra 'mattress' section also being stowed away when not in use.
Time to do some sketching and find a decent boat fitter to make the space i have work.
-
2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
How astute of you.
With shutdown are you likely to use 1000 litres before 1/4/22 ?
Well between boat heating, decent sized generator etc, I will have a go, the rest might have to be 'given away' to friends.
-
14 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
I don't know, but as a guess you need to contact HMRC and make a voluntary payment of the difference paid and the difference due.
From 2022 you cannot use any form of "Red diesel" unless you have separate tanks for domestic and propulsion use.
Budget 2020 changes to the tax treatment of red diesel
3.13 At Budget 2020, the government announced that it would remove the entitlement to use red diesel from April 2022, except for agriculture (as well as forestry, horticulture and pisciculture), rail and for non-commercial heating (including domestic heating).
3.14 This means that from April 2022, all businesses that have lost their entitlement to use red diesel will need to use white diesel instead or switch to cleaner alternatives. More information is provided in Chapter 5 on how these changes will be implemented. Organisations and individuals using white diesel will need to pay the standard 20% VAT rate, instead of the reduced 5% rate of VAT that red diesel supplies of up to 2,300 litres are subject to. VAT-registered businesses will be able to reclaim the VAT paid on the fuel purchased for use in their businesses.
3.15 The government does not propose changing any of the existing fuel duty reliefs which give specific sectors 100% relief on their fuel duty costs, even where these relate to the use of fuel by sectors which will no longer be entitled to use red diesel. Commercial boats undertaking journeys within the limits of a port or at sea, including ferries and fishing boats, will therefore remain entitled to the Marine Voyages Relief, whilst the General Lighthouse Authorities and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will continue to benefit from full relief from fuel duty, even when they switch to using white diesel from 1 April 2022. They will, however, need to pay the standard 20% VAT rate that applies to white diesel.
3.16 To ensure that businesses using red diesel to generate electricity for supply through a licensed supplier can continue to reclaim the fuel duty, less any carbon price support payment due, once they have to use white diesel, the government proposes to amend the qualifying fuel definition accordingly.
3.17 The government also proposes that in remote areas benefitting from the rural fuel relief, the 5ppl discount will apply to all sales of white diesel, regardless of use.
3.18 The government recognises that these changes to the tax treatment of red diesel may affect some public sector bodies, such as local councils and the military, and will therefore engage with them closely as part of this consultation. While the changes are also designed to incentivise greater energy efficiency and the switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives in the public sector, the Treasury will discuss any spending pressures that arise in the public sector as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review scheduled for later this year. As set out in the policy costing document published alongside Budget 2020, the red diesel costing accounts for an increase in the overall resource spending envelope of £150 million per annum to account for the fact that part of the costs of the policy will fall upon the public sector. Budget changes to the tax treatme
Introduction of changes
5.2 The government proposes to prohibit the use of red diesel in sectors that will lose their entitlement from 1 April 2022. The fuel used in breach of this prohibition will be liable for forfeiture, penalties and an offence may have been committed.
5.3 All rebated fuels, including red diesel, are supplied to users through a controlled supply chain, where there is oversight of both wholesale and retail suppliers. HMRC approve suppliers under the Registered Dealers in Controlled Oil (RDCO) scheme before the RDCO can supply rebated fuels, unless they only supply fuel in small pre-packaged containers of 20 litres or less.
5.4 HMRC will only grant approval where the applicant is assessed as being a fit and proper person to supply controlled oil. Approved suppliers are required to take reasonable steps to make sure that their customer is properly entitled to receive the fuel they are supplying.
5.5 These RDCOs will therefore be required to ensure that they do not supply more red diesel fuel before 1 April 2022 to sectors losing their entitlement than the RDCO has reason to believe may be used up by that date.
5.6 The government would welcome views on whether there are users of red diesel that will have already purchased fuel now that they do not expect to have used up by April 2022. In particular, the government would welcome views on how frequently static electricity generators providing back-up power to buildings are refuelled.
Last time I checked it was February 2021 so none of this applies...yet.
-
1 minute ago, Tony Brooks said:
There is or was a chap who brought red diesel to your boat in cans and filled your boat from them. As I understand it he charged the non-propulsion rate and I understand HMRC had confirmed this was legal. I am sure there is a topic on here somewhere abut it/him.
Good info thanks @Tony Brooks
I know of a few 'farm based' moorings where the farmers do the same, making a few pence on a litre.
Technically I am owed about £300 at mates rates from this guy, but he has offered me up to 1000 litres of Red instead - not a bad price !!
-
3 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
I don't know, but as a guess you need to contact HMRC and make a voluntary payment of the difference paid and the difference due.
Oh yes, contacting HMRC is an excellent idea ????
Perhaps they would like to know more about the income tax that I have not paid since 1987, even if it is all legal and above board.
Inboard disaster on the K&a
in Boat Building & Maintenance
Posted
correct. To go from inboard to outboard is not really going to be cost effective, particularly if the transom needs adjustment or structural modification to take the weight and other forces.
The OP might be better off considering a recon replacement for his existing inboard if it is too far gone to repair economically.
I have had/used diesel outboards on ships boats before and the cheapo chinese type proved quite efficient and very reliable. Takes two guys to lift one but then again once on the boat it stays put.
https://www.vanguardelifeboat.com/products/diesel-outboard-engine/