Radiomariner

That was exactly my point. The gland area still had water droplets. The stern tube was bone dry. Because of the water droplets I assumed the photo was taken shortly after it was "doused" Overheated stern tubes was one of our biggest nightmares at sea because if you couldn't fix it the next step was to call the tugs!

I have been looking at the OP's original photo. I notice that there are splashes of water in the stern gland yet the tube seems o be dry and appears discoloured. The OP did say it was stern tube that was heating not gland, and from the picture I assume that is so. It sounds very much to me like old hardened packing has wedged between shaft and tube, or the shaft has bent as others have suggested. A bent shaft (or perhaps a damaged stern tube) would in my opinion cause a notable amount of vibration and noise (especially as there is a plummer block). The OP did not mention this, so my guess is old packing down the tube. (Or some foreign object getting in there during maintenance

Yes I was referring to BS 8511. I was wrong to link it with any European Directive. The point I was wanting to make was that anyone fitting a stove 'for financial reward' really must fit to the standard if he wishes to stay in business. The DIY boater should also do so if he wants to stay alive and burn his fuel efficiently. In my haste to make the point I unthinkingly put RCD into my post

The flame should be blue. It's my guess the examiner was so 'amazed' at finding one working properly with a nice pure blue flame. (There is usually a bit of yellowish flame where the flame touches the spark element and/or the flame failure bulb.

Not BSS requirements. Nowt to do with BSS, other than that they recommend that solid fuel stoves be fitted to new British Standards. There is no examination check for this. The "new" standards for solid fuel stoves came out a couple of years ago. I recall reading the first draft, which made fitting a solid fuel stove on a narrow boat near impossible. The consultations included BMF, Boating Associations, MCA Stove manufacturers, BSS. A lot more than "a person who lives in a house". It took over two years from first to final draft, and I know that BSS played a big part in making it more acceptable. The "Standard" is just that, a standard, and MUST be applied to boats required to meet the RCD requirements. The BSS Examination for solid fuel stoves is limited to "Unintended openings" (cracks in glass or flue, burner door seal damaged etc.), and for the possibility/signs of heat damage to surroundings. Although I sympathise with boaters who seem to think that some of the BSS checks are pointless (whereas on another boat the same checks may be quite relevant), I must insist that the BSS is not the draconian organisation as some on this forum claim. To the OP. I think you have good advice in some of the earlier posts. Edited to add: - Of course if the stove manufacturer says that a double skinned or insulated flue be fitted, if you do not do so then any warranties may well be invalidated, and if the worst happens insurers may not pay out any claims. edited to insert missing word 'not'

Mike the Boilerman and Alan Fincher are both on the correct side of this issue. Most fridges are flue-less, but as some people are unhappy about that manufacturers may provide an optional flue kit. This must not be modified. A correctly burning flame produces some CO2 but not a lot of CO. However a badly burning flame produces a more significant amount of CO. A modified flue may restrict the air flow to the flame which then will burn inefficiently and produce CO as well as not operating the fridge efficiently. Manufacturers will not accept responsibility for a modified flue. Neither should a BSS examiner

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Should be stowed under same conditions as a gas bottle. Throw a fag end into a petrol tank and the fag would probably go out, not enough oxygen in the vapour mix in the can. To do a good job hold the fag about a foot above the can ant take a good drag! Again edited to add: "Kids don't do this at home"!

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Yes. I recall similar instruction. As a general rule in flammable petrochemicals, the lower the flashpoint (temp at which fuel vaporises) the higher the auto-ignition point. Diesel is more likely to ignite on a hot exhaust than petrol. Petrol would flash to a vapour possibly igniting when encountering a flame or spark. Diesel contacting a hot exhaust at a temperature above auto ignition temperature would simply ignite without flashing off. I have first hand experience. i survived a VLCC engine room fire where an overflow from a diesel tank splashed on to a steam pipe. The whole port side of the engine room was burnt out. (Roughly equivalent in size to five story block of flats). Because we lost the engine we later drifted ashore, but that's another story. (Fully laden, aprox. 300,000 tonnes of light Arabian crude and not a drop spilt)

"Thick as mince"! If you ever tasted my mother-in-law's (may she rest in peace) mince which was still runny even after the potato's were thoroughly mashed in you would know this to be a very poor metaphor I'm still keeping a lookout for QSS when doing boat examinations.

i dont think it makes much difference to the above tale, but I understand that the BSS Cert. was valid until June 2014

I quite often fly "one of those" It is amazing how many people do not observe properly and mistake it for a standard UK red ensign. For a while last year I thought it may come to be in vogue again after over 300 years of disuse. One person who noticed the difference asked "What Flag is that" when I replied "Caledonian" he nodded wisely and then added "Your English is very good, there is not a trace of Russian accent" I then told him that when my country was occupied my native language was forbidden in my part of Caledonia and we had to learn English at school. He nodded wisely and said no more.

The BSS data is that Alfie (Previously Carp Diem) has a beam 0f 2.08m

Yes. BSS are very aware of risks of all gas appliances on boats with petrol on board. There are extra exam checks that are applicable only to petrol powered boats.

SWMBO, a natural "Spoonerist" got very red faced when she asked for a couple of castrated nuts at the Screwfix counter

Working for Reward. To pay someone to install a gas appliance, that person MUST be Gas Safe registered, to work on boats. Might seem like a "jobs for the boys" issue, but in addition to the possibility that the fitter may be better and safer than "Bob, the friend of a friend" he is also covered with adequate insurance (A condition for registration), so if things go 'bang' you have a good chance of any claims you make actually being paid. Gas Safe installers are instructed not to install anything on boats unless the manufacturer says that it is suitable for that purpose. Some years ago Electrolux and some others I believe, withdrew the claim 'suitable for boats' That is the reason the boat yard would not fit your, (the OP's) appliance BSS view is more "If its fitted, lets make sure it is as safe as possible". It will be accounted for in the ventilation calculations, the examiner will inspect the flame to ensure it is burning properly (nice blue flame) and that it is not in danger if igniting any nearby inflammables. It gets a bit more involved if there is petrol on the boat, where without room sealing or flame traps they may very well not be permitted Another poster, enquired to effect, when unflued devices such as cookers are permitted, why is such a fuss made of the small flame of a gas fridge. Firstly there is no objection, but there is considerable concern when fitted on petrol engine boats. Secondly, Cookers are designed for use with people in attendance, whereas the fridge is on 24/7 often for many days with nobody on board the vessel. The latter being a much greater risk.

Alfie 512331 as such passed a BSS Examination in 2013. It was then on EA Anglian Rivers. The exam report number was BSSER-245694/13 and is valid until 15/5/2017. If you are having trouble re-licensing, the BSS number as well as the C&RT No. (512331) and the EA No. (N091452) may help. Edited to add registration Numbers

When we had a coal burning room heater with back-boiler (Parkray) in our home, SWMBO had a small spray bottle with a vinegar and water mix, that seemed to work pretty well on the glass. Spraying on to the cloth seemed to work better than on to the glass.

Back on the old days when much of my life was spent looking after Radio Station batteries, charging individual cells was not only possible but practical. I often 'rescued' a single sulphated cell this way. Then each cell in a battery of 6 cells were connected to the next by a lead bus on the battery top. Most of the batteries I see these days have the connecting bus inside the carcase. If anyone knows how to charge an individual cell, in this type of battery, in the fashion cuthound describes, please let me know, and I will try it. Edited for punctuation.

I thought that also. The hull would have to have been cleaned. Unless the "private moorings" had facilities for lifting from the water it would have to move on the waterway without a licence to a suitable location. It then occurred to me that the river may be tidal at that place and hull cleaning done at low tide.

Here are the simple FACTS.:- A narrow boat is being taken out of the water by C&RT for reasons unknown Boat owner rightly upset, becomes abusive. Policeman appointed to "keep the Peace, does just that, despite a continuous tirade of accusations and abuse from the owner and his 'cronies' possibly joined by some by-standers. That is it. Everything else is outside the remit or intention of the clip, which was to discredit the policeman. (Which has in effect the opposite effect, discrediting the owner and highlighting the policeman's toleration to ignorant and oafish behaviour.) . The dispute on the removal of the vessel, will be settled by law, (Appeal perhaps)