Radiomariner

Yes, the drain has to be at the bottom of the locker. (No more than an inch from the bottom.(In this case the bottom of the topless bottle. A drain line must be level or drop from the locker. No "upward" sections. The locker (Old large bottle, would have to be lifted high enough to allow the drain pipe to flow downward to a new location above the waterline. There is of course the possibility that smaller bottles might result in reducing the boat's draft at the bow and deeming all this to be un-necessary!

If, when the water tank is full the gas locker drain is underwater then the locker is not effectively drained. BSS failure. If keeping the locker "wet" change the drain into a vertical slot so that a significant portion of the drain remains above the waterline in all conditions. See my comment above, change drain hole into a vertical slot Clever idea, but still leaves the drain below water level

"No more than usual" is a bad answer as well. (I know this!)

Lister SR series can also do this. Usually attributed to a defect in the diesel injector pump. It thins out the oil reducing lubrication thus increasing engine wear, and the added risk of engine run-away (I never heard of crank case explosions on engines this size) I also add. If you top up oil to the mark when engine is cold it will be above the mark when hot.

Board? Living in B&B? Cos if you were BORED I guess you would know the Drill!

You should report the incident. Try sending details to the BSS. Far too many incidents like this go unreported. Once reported you may get a load of 'bothersome' questions but it's worth the hassle because in the end, it may save somebody's life. Edited to add; Even if the cause of the fire is something stupid you did yourself, (Like over-rated fuse) still report it there is a need to know. (Even the most intelligent of us have brilliant flashes of stupidity!)

Cloudless, moonless night mid Pacific on a tanker with only navigation lights showing, the display of stars is magnificent. You could see why the "milky way" was called that. I never counted "falling stars" but they were on continuous display I would say about thirty every minute. You have got to get a long way from light pollution sources to view stars to their best. Sometimes the starlight would be enhanced with sparkling florescence from the crests of waves. One night I recall seeing long florescent trails made by dolphins racing past the ship and cris-crossing in front of the bow. A real "I wish the folks at home could see this" moment. Since retiring I really do miss occasions like that

Sounds like three of us would be using that pipe best make it 12", and to help reduce the cost forget the bluddy canal!

I have seen a boat with an adapted mushroom vent. The mushroom top had been drilled so that the aerial support pole passed through (watertight fit). A handle attached to inside end of the pole allowed the aerial to be rotated without having to go outside. The cable run down inside the pole came out somewhere between the roof lining and roof and had enough slack to turn the antenna around more than 360 degrees. The top of the mushroom rotated with the aerial. When I saw it I thought it to be a brilliant idea, thought I might use it myself. However, I neglected to enquire how the rotating part was supported. It felt smooth like it was on a bearing race. After thinking about it for some time I decided it was too much effort for its worth and continue to pass the cable through a partly open window.

Thanks for the link D.Mack. B0atman I tried to give you a greenie but for some reason, not working. Edited to add: Greenie worked this time.

Dunno about Kielder water but having spent my early college years in Greenock I am convinced that there is sufficient rainfall on Greenock alone in a month, to supply the whole of SE England for a year!

With regard to spare fuel containers. Some previous posts as far as the BSS is concerned, are not correct BSS Guide section 5.3 refers. 5.3.1 More or less says that spare PETROL containers should be stowed in similar conditions as do LPG cylinders. This says nothing about diesel containers 5.3.2. lays out limitations on the carriage of PETROL being: - 2 x 10 ltr metal containers marked to conform with 1929 Petroleum Spirit Regulations or 2 x 5 ltr plastic containers marked to conform with 1982 petroleum spirit regulations or 1 portable petrol tank of suitable proprietary manufacture up to 27 ltr. (An existing proprietary make of portable petrol tank of up to 30 ltrs is acceptable) THE CARRIAGE OF SPARE DIESEL OR PARAFFIN IS NOT RESTRICTED BY VOLUME 5.3.3 ALL fuel containers must be in good condition. I thought that I might add : - 5.4.2. Outboard engines with integral petrol or LPG containers when stowed should be in similar conditions as to LPG bottles. Edited to add:- So the OP's petrol filled steel jerry cans are OK Provided their condition is good, have markings confirming 1929 regulations and stored in a suitably drained space/locker. If not, a BSS failure gets recorded. (Usually followed by an immediate pass when the owner removes the containers from the boat. )

Quite a few boat insurance policies contain (in the small print) a clause on the requirement for buoyancy aids to be worn by single handed boaters. Check yours out.

I think the issue if not using mobile phones in petrol pump forecourts is to do with intrinsic safety. I have yet to see an IS mobile phone. There must be some around but I suspect that the added expense of making a device IS would deem them to be too costly for the average purchaser.

OK. I do not normally like to comment when the OP starts by hinting at "Bad Driving". There are numerous possible causes for such incidents. Until the enquiry nobody should be pointing fingers. I have no experience of cross channel operations. However I do know that about 18 years ago, quite a large oil tanker (unladen) got into difficulties in Dover harbour bumping into what I suspect may be the same point. It was unusual for a vessel of that size to enter Dover harbour, it was in aid of some form of public "open day" The results of the enquiry seems to be eluding my memory, possibly because the same vessel was involved in an incident (Engine Room flooding) just a few days later, which was widely reported within the fleet. (How not to clear a blocked sea valve). I have however been in and out of Dover harbour as a passenger about a dozen times, and it strikes me that it is inevitable that this will happen from time to time. I also observed intensive dependence on use of bow thrusters. Too much reliability on these can be a mistake. It just takes a large piece of flotsam to reduce their effect or even bring them to an instant halt. I believe, stand by tugs are always available for the event of any mechanical or human failure, but can they get into the needed position in time?. Sod's Law says 'probably not'. I don't think that a100% safe form of transport exists. (Even using 'shanks pony' I once walked into a lamp-post! I look forward to reading the MAIB report

I do recall on one occasion in sympathy letting a group of cyclist's cross over my aft deck (and of the boat sharing) because there was a queue of boats in both directions. The cyclists were extremely grateful. Apart from those ramblers demonstrations I have never encountered folks in wheelchairs needing to use the bridge. Cyclists on the far side needing to cross I should imagine would be fit enough to dismount, cross over the gate, swing the bridge and walk back for their bike. I personally am quite content with the present situation but get pissed off with people who "demand their rights" particularly when it is in conflict with the "rights" of others! Common sense, calm, and courtesy should prevail. Temper, foul language and spiteful action never resolve anything!

I am not really changing argument but wish to point out that i think that most locations where towpath changes sides there is a bridge (for the horses. Wouldn't like to see a horse cross a lock gate!) Edited to add: - I just remembered tow path does not change sides at Fenny.

Until recently I used to pass through this lock on a regular basis. As I recall a few years back it was normal practice to leave the bridge open to navigation. There was a dispute with ramblers association and a lock was fitted so that it would normally left open to bridge traffic. The lock, opened with a BW key was difficult to manage. One needed to hold the key turned in the lock while at the same time lifting the heavy bolt.and push the bridge at the same time. SWMBO could not do it by herself, and people, although capable but unfamiliar with the way it operated, struggled! This is a salient point because a good proportion of boaters using the lock were hirers from Wyvern, many only just becoming familiar with locking but encountering a swing bridge/lock combination! I understand that James Griffin of Wyvern Shipping offered to fund an overhead footbridge to satisfy the ramblers but this was rejected. Without the lock the bridge operation is easier and SWMBO can manage it (She is now 72 years of age) I have normally found the locals there to be pleasant and helpfull. The only trouble we had was when a man (note the absence of the prefix Gentle-) Swore at SWMBO. We were going down the lock, and SWMBO opened the top gate paddles then went straight to the bridge and swung it open. This man, sitting with a pint outside the Red Lion shouted at her falling her a stupid f*****g C**t saying she was doing it all wrong she is supposed to wait until the gates were open before swinging the bridge. When she went back to open the gates he got up and swung the gate back. I had seen the bridge open and SWMBO and the wife of the boat behind us opening the gates. I had turned round to indicate to the boat behind to go ahead. I I turned back in time to see the bridge shut but I think the other boater was concentrating on the gap between my boat and the far side gate. He was unable to avoid hitting the bridge but with much reverse revs and choking engine smoke, he lightly nudged it. The unsavoury character slinked off back to his pint and never offered to help SWMBO swing the bridge back again. Poor SWMBO then got chastised from the steerer of the other boat for shutting the bridge again. when she protested that she ,he went on telling her that she should have dropped the bolt so it would not swing back. It took intervention from the other steerers wife who had seen what happened to get his apology. He then asked to cross my deck and strode towards our unsavoury character, who picked up his pint glass and entered the pub. A shout then, to say that the bottom gates were opening, put an end to any probable violence. We worked both boats together in an unusually practiced and efficient manner from there all the way to Stoke Breurne, during which time he never stopped seething. (We went on through the tunnel and we never saw thim again. That was about 18 months ago when I moved to new moorings and I have never been back by boat since. SWMBO is a Glasgow girl and she has heard all the "language" before, but even in Glasgow the blokes clean up their language when there are women present. She was quite upset

I take it you are talking "Water Hoses". No issues with BSS. Examiners might however comment if their condition looked poor.