richardf

I think it has recently reurned from some extensive work at Brinklow Boats - I have a feeling that it was an under cloth conversion.

I've got a reciprocating saw that you are welcome to borrow - its 240V though. Would do the job a treat R

TW marine do something they call the Trad Engine Silencer - basically it's an expansion box rather than a silencer. I used one as my engine had a straight through exhaust and it certainly took all the harshness out. It is designed so as not to increase the back pressure. It was about £180 from memory, so much more expensive than some of the other suggestions. TW are a very helpful bunch who do know their subject, it would be worth giving them a call.

We were in Stourbridge Basin on Saturday night and were told that the site of last years breach had developed a serious leak and was being closed (this is between Stourton Lock and Wordsley Junc. We noticed that the level had dropped about 9 inches. On arrival back at Stourport yesterday we noticed a hand written note saying that the Stourbridge Canal was closed and this has now been confirmed on the Waterscape site. Hopefully it is not too srious but will be very unpopular news when factored in with the closing of the Shroppie. Associated Regional Office: BW West Midlands On 6th September 2009 British Waterways received reports that water levels were dropping on the Stourbridge Canal between Wordsley Junction and Stourton Locks. Upon investigation British Waterways staff discovered water leaking from the toe of the embankment at the location where the canal breached last year. As a precautionary measure stop blanks were installed at Wordsley Junction and the canal was closed pending further engineering investigations. The site was visited this morning and the canal levels have dropped by approximately 300mm (1ft) overnight. Initial investigations indicate that there is a leak in the top 300mm. British Waterways therefore decided to drop the canal level by a further 150mm to facilitate a repair. Local boating and business customers in the area have been made aware They are stating it will be closed until the 11th at the moment Edit: Sorry about the speling in the title!

A firm to beware of - www.thememoryfoammattressfirm.co.uk They advertise 24 hour delivery, but when you chase them up, they state it could be 30 days as it mentions in the small print. I have recently used them and they were just shocking.

I would have no hesitation in recommending CTS - they build fantastic boats and really know their trade. Dennis Cooper is a fine boatbuilder and his son Matthew is carrying on the family tradition!

Is it still 'engines off' in the locks on the River Wey - never did agree with that one! Apparently it was done in the name of safety!

The other day I was travelling with a colleague and we were talking about canals (or I was!) and mentioned that lots of working boats had an elm bottom. He was very surprised to hear that, as apparently our office (an old watermill) had elm windows which were rotten. I had never really considered this before, but what advantages did elm have over other woods - or was it just very abundant at the time? Why not oak for example?

We have recently started mooring in Stourport (which we love), but both on the way down the S & W and also all the local boaters in Stourport all seem to have said 'don't moor overnight in Kiddermister' or 'leave someone on board if you are shopping' We must admit that it didn't seem that bad; maybe it's just local legend that has been built up over time. Has anybody actually had any bad experiences there?

Sorry, what do you mean by 'a restrictor'

I used to be on the committe of the HCC in the early 90s and we were talking about that project then! I think that BW are your landlords in which case I have a horrible feeling that they will have an input into the spec - they certainly did at the boatyard on the Glos & Sharpness that we used to have a connection with. There, it was a case of 'put it all right or we will condemn it and have it disconnected'

I have just hold of a beautiful old brass pressure gauge - it's been tested on an air supply and works perfectly and is pretty accurate. I want to use it as my engine oil pressure gauge as currently I have a tiddly little automotive style one that is not easily visible. It will be fitted on the engine room wall facing the steerer. My question is this - when I have fitted it, should I allow oil to run up the pipework to the gauge (by bleeding out the air) or just rely on the air within the gauge and the pipework compressing as the oil pressure rises. If I allow oil to flow upto the gauge, I guess it will simply run back when the engine is switched off! Non retrun valve? Has anyone tackled this problem - I would be grateful for some tips Thanks Richard

How many of us shut one of the gates in a narrow lock and make that big step across to the other side? I know I do it!

I live about 100 yards fro here, so should probably explain. 'The Ocean' is quite a well known spot locally, the canal widens our considerably and is currently (before dredging!) covered in water lillies - I'm told that many years ago there was boat building activity there - it is adjacent to the railway where the canal has been culverted and hence is not being dealt with it this particulat stage of the restoration. This link will explain more http://www.stroudwater.co.uk/cpsn/section%202c.html

There's one on ebay at the moment Item No. 170360393092 And no, it's not me selling it!!

http://www.dogholidaysafloat.co.uk/

I recently bought a Kelvin P4 from them and although I've yet to have it running, I got the impression that all the engineering was of the highest quality. I believe that FMC Stafford has an engine supplied by them. I would say they are a good, honest company (I am speaking soley as a customer here)

Slightly off topic - but does anyone know how the cast iron bridges on the Northern Oxford Canal were transported (when the canal has some of its loops removed) - there must have been some pretty big pieces involved.

We were in Coventry Basin on Sunday - we were really impressed with the place, although the only shop open was the tattoo parlour! I was chatting to a guy who had been there for several days without any problems.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/canal-narrowboat-tra...%3A3%7C294%3A50 I've just fallen upon this on ebay, know nothing more about it, but if it's genuine, there are not many of these about!

I work for a company that makes cast iron range cookers. A few years ago we had a customer who put a tin of condensed milk in the oven to warm up - the problem was that forgot to pierce the can - and then they forgot it was in there! The resulting explosion moved a 300KG cooker about a foot from the wall, luckily nobody was standing in front of the oven door when it burst open and destroyed the adjacent kitchen cupboard. But the worst bit by far was the mess....... the kitchen was covered in the stuff.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to lag the top and bottom part of a vertically mounted silencer - I have just bought a huge one from TW, they supplied me with a insulating 'blanket' - but it's going to look ugly.

In the past I have used twin faced blockboard - that is still available - go to www.severnply.com, that will give you a start.

Having just reopened after a revamp, I saw on local TV (BBC SW) this morning that it is in grave danger of shutting this year as it is simply not getting enough visitors. Can't find anything online yet - does anybody know more about this?