[Winding hole]

Thanks peoples for the very informative info. That answers all my concerns.

Paul

[Winding hole]

Thanks Mike

[Winding hole]

Thanks Jen, look after those wellies

 

Paul

[Winding hole]

Horace

Quite unbelievable the response to a very simple question.

In answer to your comment, if planning is required then planning I shall do and whilst having some knowledge of this section of canal ie, tunnel, winding hole and locks is it not reasonable to seek guidance from better informed folk?

Referring to Mrsmelly comment on my number of posts I must have missed part of the briefing as silly me I didn't realise that the comparison of 6000 odd posts against my 31 meant that a disregard of sensible dialogue became an entitlement.

End of question.

[Winding hole]

Machpoint005

I asked a simple non confrontational question which others had the capacity to answer in a constructive manner.

Your answer alas not fit that assessment.

Please give a little more thought should you choose to respond to similar mail.

Thank you to those who gave a sensible reply.

[Winding hole]

Thanks for the reply. Do I opt for the Yes,or No?

[Winding hole]

Hi all

Just a quick question.

Not having a Nicolsons handy for the Grand Union can anybody tell me if it is possible to turn a 63 ft boat in the winding hole immediately south of the southern Blisworth tunnel entrance or do I have to continue through two locks before turning.

Thanks

Paul

[Wet & Forget]

Thanks team, all very interesting and informative but it seems that like me nobody has actually had a shot with Wet & Forget.

 

I wait with baited breath just in case somebody out there has experience of the product on canvas and I guess would it need reproofing?

[Wet & Forget]

Has anybody any experience of using "Wet & Forget" mould cleaner particularly on canvas covers?

It boasts miracle cures on stone, wood and other materials and maybe canvas but I haven't read any reviews to confirm this.

Thanks

Paul

[Accurate location App]

To all who responded thank you very much.

 

I will work my way through the responses and then maybe come up with my location which with my navigation will come as a surprise.

[Accurate location App]

Hi peoples

 

Does anybody have knowledge of an App that would give an accurate location of your boat on the cut if you were to require immediate aero med, fire service etc assistance. Basically it would need to be an accurate Lat & Long that the emergency services could feed into their kit as "just north of Bridge 27" is meaningless to a co-ordinating Ops Room or Helicopter crew.

 

I'm sure that I should be aware of some programme but..................

 

Thanks.

[Victron inverter testing/repair - Northamptonshire]

Hi People's

 

Does anybody know of a service engineer/company for Victron Inverters in the Daventry - Northampton area of the G U in Northamptonshire.

 

Thanks

P

[Inverter/Charger/battery, alternator problem?]

Thank you so much people's for your very quick and knowledgable responses.

As best I can I will reply to your questions.

 

First I guess I should say that we use the boat throughout the summer as constant cruisers. The remainder of the year is on an as and when basis but quite regularly for three or four days at a time. The remainder of the time the boat is in a marina connected to shore power which is running through the inventor and is supposed to be trickle charging the batteries. Nothing on the boat is left on when we are not on board on a regular basis.

 

In answer to the following:

 

Paul C

I do have a Smartguage monitor which gives both battery voltage and percentage charge.

 

nicknorman

1.During running the batteries as you would expect are being charged from the alternator which in my case I believe to be 45 amp for the domestic and 110 for the leisure batteries. This is the factory set as delivered but I am at home right now and can't check the exact details but I believe this to be correct.

 

2. A good point, well made but as a result of previous problems the batteries have been over checked for several seasons and are when on board topped up every two or three days and certainly no greater than 7 days when on the boat(problem there).

The batteries are not way out expensive but are not low level range batteries based on my previous experiences. You get what you pay for.

 

Dave P

Charge when running shows around 14.2 on the Smartguage.

 

Only thing running overnight is the mains TV (240 volt) and only for a couple of hours at most and a very small fridge also 240v.

Batteries I feel are well attended and I am very aware of topping up.

I never let the batteries voltage fall below 12 volts even if that means running the engine after a short days cruise and on the Smartguage not below 50%

 

Alan de Enfield

 

On shutdown the batteries will show 14.2volts but once settled will show 12.5volts

 

So that is where I am at right now.

 

Thanks for your help chaps

 

Paul

[Inverter/Charger/battery, alternator problem?]

Details are that I have a Beta 43 HP engine with associated alternators for charging starter and deep cycle leisure batteries (4x110 batteries and one starter battery.)

 

The past seven years have always been fraught with battery issues and I now have a situation where the batteries are once again shot and will dry out at the drop of a hat. I have been replacing wet cell batteries every couple of years always with the same problem of dry cells leading to knackered batteries. On one occasion I did see a flicker of "overcharge" on the battery monitoring system but it has not repeated this indication.

 

The invertor is a Victron 2.5 inverter/charger which seems to do the business and at the end of a five hour cruise having settled will indicate around 12.5 volts which overnight will drop to around 12 volts.

 

Where do I start looking for the source of my problems? Inverter, charging system of the inverter, batteries, alternator. The starter battery is still the original from way back and is always unaffected.

 

Bit poor on detail I'm afraid as not being into all these wiggly amp things I am uncertain of what detail is required.

 

Any thoughts?

[PRM 150 Gerabox]

Thanks Richard and Nick

 

I feel better now

 

Paul

[PRM 150 Gerabox]

Good evening sailors

 

Would anybody be able to advise if they know of any time limit for running the Prm150 in reverse. I was in a position this evening (would be when it was more than a tad wet) of dragging a boat off the bank after his rudder failed on high power taking him up the bank and finishing up like a ice breaker.

 

I know what you are thinking "to late now" but if I have exceeded some limit then I can possibly carry out remedial inspections or whatever is required.

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[I Pad Boat Log]

Great response team. Thanks for all your interest and associated leads.

 

Paul

[I Pad Boat Log]

Thanks for your prompt replies Caprifool & Psycloud. With your info I will take a look and hopefully will sort an acceptable recording table/log.

 

Have a good year chaps

 

Thanks

Paul

[I Pad Boat Log]

Hi all

 

Does anybody have a lead on any ipad compatible boat logs for recording trips, maintenance, expenses etc.

 

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[Am I doing the right thing??]

Very,very fond memories of Rosemary. We had the first week of our honeymoon on her and she was our first Narrow boat experience. Good luck and enjoy her

 

Paul

[Gas Leak]

<i> I vented the hull and checked for the source of the leak</i>

Hi,

Interested to know how you vented the cabin bilge

Maybe I could suggest that you just get our more and take the item for what it is worth. Oh that we were all so smart - no maybe not

 

Isn't there such a thing as an over-pressure device that will cut off the supply if excess pressure comes down the line? Or am I imagining it?

 

You are not imagining it as there is such a thing and we have no had one fitted

 

If I was leaving my boat unattended for any length of time then yes I agree, but as a liveaboard it really isn't very practical (neither is a gas explosion I grant you!) How many liveaboards actually turn off their gas, either at the the bottle or at a tap in the locker at night or everytime they finish boiling the kettle? Not many.

 

 

 

 

 

Can I ask how old this particular regulator was? I think the general lifespan is about 10 years after (before?) which they should be replaced.

 

 

 

 

No FFDs on that cooker then?

 

7 years

[Gas Leak]

Somethink to think about

 

I recently returned to the boat to find it smelling VERY strongly of gas. The only item in the boat which is gas powered is the cooker. Having turned off the gas at the cylinders I vented the hull and checked for the source of the leak. The two 13KG gas bottles are housed in vented lockers in the semi trad stern area and on inspection the regulator between the cylinders had failed and was sounding like a boiling kettle. The regulator failure had allowed gas into the cooker at gas bottle pressure which was more than the gas cooker taps could handle, hence the leaks into the boat via the gas cooker.

 

The implications are self explanitary and had this happened in winter when we have our wood burner/multifuel stove going or been asleep the results would have been very different.

 

I offer this report purely as food for thought as failures happen but...............

[West Mills Swing Bridge, Newbury]

Use a windlass to wind down the barriers, then the box beside the bridge has (i think) a locked door which gives access to the electrickery, if you are travelling downstream towards Newbury take a stern rope off first and moor up, the river flows a bit there in the wetter months and its better to be safe than sorry!

 

Paul

 

 

Many thanks GSer

 

The BW key opens the little door in the green box, this houses the buttons for the bridge.

 

I have a photo which shows the bridge open

(you can also see the green box and one of the windlass operated barriers)

 

 

 

Many thanks Scotty - great pic

 

Keep hold of your windlass. At one of the other bridges along there, someone off a cruiser that was going the other way pinched the windlass that Pingu had put down while she operated the bridge for me.

 

Thanks Keeping up - sorry to hear of the windlass

[West Mills Swing Bridge, Newbury]

Hi Peoples

 

Seeking guidance on the operation of West Mills swing bridge on the K & A @ Newbury. Is the operation manual, hydraulic or electric or maybe a little of each. On walking past we could only locate a windlass winder but I 'm told a BW key is used - for what?

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[Safe Mooring in Birmingham]

Hi

I endorse the point about mooring near the Sea Life Centre for Central Birmingham - close to Brindleyplace which is full of bars, restaurants etc. You are very close to Symphony Hall and th NIA; if you want to explore the city centre it's only a few mins walk away.

I don't know your cruising schedule or speed but an early start from B'ham should have you at the top of the 21 by late lunch/ early afternoon if you keep going and the flight itself isn't too hard a job. Once at the bottom it's not far to Compton if you're heading toward Stourport (Limekiln Chandlers and the Oddfellows Arms are there) or heading north on the Staffs and Worcs then there's the Fox and Anchor at Coven not too far away from the bottom of the flight. Brewood on the Shroppie is another option - or if you're exhausted, Oxley Marine close to Autherley Junction, may be able to provide overnight safe moorings. I'm familiar with most of the BCN, PM me if I can help further.

Cheers

Dave

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the replys and thanks Dave for the offer of further information. We will consider our options and may well be intouch in the near future.