Philip Davies

Yes. CRT notice said they were reducing water level so that police could investigate. Caldon is the main feeder to the T & M summit so it would be a problem to completely close/dewater. I am concerned with "until further notice" as I need to get home to Cheddleton, next week. Cheers

CRT advised on 13/6 that the Caldon will be closed between locks 2 & 3 on Monday 17th June from 07.00 until further notice for "Police investigative works". Anyone know what this might be about? cheers

I use carpet tiles from B & Q. Had real problems getting them to stick until I used "no nails". They have now been up 2 seasons! Cheers

Hi Same problem. I am thinking of using "Stokboard" although it is very expensive. Any thoughts. Cheers

I recently saw a new Shire 50 at a boat fitter. It had a suction pump fitted to the gearbox plug similar to the engine oil extractor. One wonders if an after sales modification is available. Cheers

Thanks DaveR for info. Called BW this morning. No knowledge of problem in Clarence dock either. Told them about report in Boater's guide. Still showing as closed tonight!! Hopefully I shall get in when I arrive next Tuesday. Cheers

Hi I am currently on the Trent my way to Leeds and need to leave my boat there or nearby for 5 days next week, preferably with an electric hook up. The latest Boaters' Guide for the Aire & Calder says "dock is currently closed due to work within the dock area." Does anyone know what is going on? Are there any alternative sites east of Leeds? Thanks

Hi So what is the best type of battery for a bowthruster? Starter? Cheers

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have had some communication with Phil Spreight. He is concerned that I did not let the anti-slip dry sufficiently - only 3 days. If I cannot get the marks off, I may try a cream wash well before I start cruising next season. Cheers

Hi I have just repainted my roof with Craftmaster cream anti-slip paint. It went on very easily with a roller and looked fantastic straight out of the dock. Anti slip properties are excellent. However, I travel single handed and walk on the roof while working locks. Result; dirty shoe prints from the rubber soles of my size 11 boots. I have tried cleaning with mild flash and a scrubbing brush but have not been able to completely remove the marks. Any ideas? I used to have a dark blue roof that was sanded. Could not see the marks, but it got very hot. Cheers

Hi I have a 3.5KW travel power on a 45hp Barrus. I notice a drop in engine power when I turn the electric kettle on. I have used a 80A mastervolt successfully with it to put more into the domestic batteries. It is most useful running a Zanussi washer/dryer, while under way. To save the batteries, I usually start the engine when I want to use the microwave. A good piece of kit in my opinion. Cheers

Thanks Gibbo I sent them an email with the dimensions of the brushes. No response to date. I have tried another Vetus agent (French Marine). They say part number BP1132 for a 12v 55kgf has been superceeded by SET0126 which is a set of 8 carbon brushes of the right size. They will supply it for £158.91 inc VAT. My original enquiry to Kings Lock advised a part number BP261 for £150.28 for 4 brushes! The unit is actually three years old and the brushes are hardly worn. I thought I would get a spare set. But not at that price. I am confused by the part numbers. Any advice? I was at Kings Lock because I had run the thrusher without any guards. Bad mistake! It improved the flow but has damaged the gearing in the tail piece. I think some wood jammed it up. The main fuse blew last year and it started making a horrible noise. Motor seems undamaged. Anyway a complete tailpiece cost a staggering £484.05 plus £65.26 for the new 6 blade propellor. It will be fitted next month when the boat goes into dry dock. I shall also have 2 light bars welded vertically across each end of the tube! Cheers

Hi I Have been quoted £150 for a set of 4 brushes for my 55kgf bow thruster from a Vetus agent. This seems way over the top. Does anyone know a cheaper source. Cheers

Just came across this post. There is a Stuart Hodges in Market Drayton. He did my fitout three years ago. Very pleased. Cheers

In response to Bottle, I have just put my multi meter in DC current mode between the aerial plug outer (which I have previously proved had continuity to the roof and on which there is a 12v potential between it and the radio +ve feed). With the CD playing or with all the lights on (shows 35A draw on the ammeter connected to the shunt in the battery -ve lead) there is 0.00 amp draw, indicating that there is no stray current going through the hull via my rubber duck car aerial. As radio reception is excellent, I shall leave it as is. Thanks all for advice.

Hi Pete Yes, with the aerial disconnected, there is continuity between the aerial outer and the hull. The car radio case is -ve so there is a path back to the batteries via the hull earthing. I have not had a chance to check the current flow through this route as suggested by Bottle. (away from the boat until next week) I have an ammeter shunt in the main -ve lead to the domestic batteries so can measure the total system load. I am concerned that the aerial earthing is providing a -ve path for other fittings than just the radio, leading to stray dc currents in the hull and possible corrosion. As alan_fincher posted, many boats have the same "rubber duck" type aerials as mine. Regards

Hi all. I have tried a search but nothing jumped out. My boat is fitted with a Pioneer 12v car radio/DVD player, using a short wand aerial that I got from Halfords. Works brilliantly. However, I have just checked the earthing situation. The aerial has bonded to the roof. The radio case is -ve, hence there is a path from the aerial through the roof back to the engine bay, where the battery negative is bonded to the hull. The radio has a permanent +ve feed to keep the memories alive. Is this a problem? Is there a better FM aerial I could use? My boat has been in the water for 2 years now. Despite having an isolation transformer on the shore line, there appears to be substantial sacrifice from the anodes. Could this stray DC current through the aerial be the cause? Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers

Hi I too have a Barrus 45HP. My problem is that I hardly get a reading on the temperature gauge. The engine runs very well and the calorified water gets very hot. So hot, that it pops the overload protection on the immersion heater in the calorifier. (I have had to turn this up to almost the highest setting to stop this) I keep meaning to look at it but I have a cruiser stern with the engine tight against the bulkhead. This makes it almost impossible to get to the sender (and very difficult to change belts) According to the manual, as well as a gauge on the delux panel, there is an overheating warning light. These connect to a water sender and a water switch on the engine block. It appears that if the water switch closes (earths) a buzzer sounds in conjunction with the warning light. I presume that I can test the gauge by earthing the lead to the water sender. Should this give a full scale reading? Is there a way to test intermediate readings? Is there any way to test the sender insitu? It would be probably easier to replace it that remove and test. I should have got this sorted while it was still under warranty. Thanks

I use a Revo Pico FM/DAB with both mains and 12v inputs that charge an internal battery. Also has MP3 input. It's also showerproof. Very pleased. Currently £100 from Amazon. Amazon Cheers

Damn Bought the Infinite system. In the process of fitting. Shall advise when completed.

IWA news says that the fuel duty will not be applied until November 2008, giving two more summers of tax free boating

Gary - I checked with ESP and they do an external GSM aerial INF-GSMANT for their Infinite system.. I then got in touch with Brewtime who can supply for £15.86 inc VAT. I think I shall order a system next week. I shall report back after I fit it. Regards

I got mine in Homebase. The Bondi Bifold is only 1775mm high. It sits on a 110mm high Castone tray. The added advantage is that the door folds inwards. Cheers

Gary - do you think there is anything intrinsically wrong with wireless systems? Or are they just an expensive gimmick? I do like the idea of having a connection to the boat while I am away. No nasty surprises when you walk back along the towpath. Cheers

I intend to cruise extensively this summer, leaving the boat for a few days every couple of weeks, to return home to cut the grass, etc. I therefore feel that an alarm system might give me some comfort that all was well. I googled wireless alarms and came up with the ESP Infinite System This system allows up to 32 wireless detectors to creat alerts that can activate sirens and also, using a GSM module, send out SMS text alerts to up to 3 numbers. It can be armed or disarmed via a key fob, similar to a car. So it would seem, that one could lock up the boat, then arm the system from outside, such there were no exit/entry delays. On returning, one would disarm before opening the door. As well as security detectors, they produce acoustic window breaking, smoke, gas and flood, thereby covering all boating perils. All are wireless. One can also call the unit and listen to what is happening. You could have a conversation with the thief! There is also an automation unit the allows up to ten devices to be switched on/off by sending the control panel a SMS text message. I have checked various websites and Brewtime seemed to be the cheapest. But cheap, it is not. I am thinking of getting a control panel, GSM dialer, 3 x Passive Infra Red motion detectors, 2 x magnetic door switches, 2 x acoustic glass breaking detectors, 2 x key fobs, 2 x smoke, a gas detector, a flood detector and a sounder module (to set off external siren and strobe). Total £825!!! The other disadvantage is that the control panel and external sounder module are mains driven, with battery backup. I cannot find any reference to what current they might draw while monitoring. There is no problem on my home mooring as there is shore power. When out and about, I would need to rely on my 2000/12 Mastervolt inverter, running off 4 x 120AH domestic batteries. How long might these last? I appreciate that the inverter draws current just being switched on! I also found a Daitem system that is both wireless and mains free. It is even more expensive and does not have such an extensive range of available detectors. Does anyone have any experience of the Infinite system or any advice? Spending £800 to protect an £70,000 boat does not seem to much, does it? Cheers