Berty

Built in 1927, in Holland. Does that make it a luxemotor-style modern boat? What difference would that make? Cheers, Berty

It's a Luxemotor Dutch Barge. So, theoretically seaworthy? Maybe... No idea if this particular vessel is seaworthy, and frankly the prospect of sailing it down the coast terrifies me! What would the correct preparation involve? Separate (clean) diesel tank maybe? Out of interest, how would one go about doing this? Would you need a pilot? Any qualifications (VHF radio?) Probably a bit off topic for this forum, but I'm curious... Cheers, Berty

Hi, I may need to move a barge from Yorkshire to Bristol. I'd hate to have to do it by road, but Jim Shead's site makes it look like it's not possible to get all the way down south on the waterways. Can anyone tell me any different? Cheers, Berty

My neighbour had her boat surveyed and reblacked there prior to purchase. What did you want to know? Cheers, Berty

Got a vague memory of someone telling me it would be alright to fill the boiler with clean sand, and run it that way. Then you have no worries about it overheating and exploding. If you do want to run a short loop just to give it something to do, I'd want to put a pressure relief valve and expansion tank in there too (assuming a sealed system). Cheers, Berty

Yep! I was with eclipse (when I had a land line). Their "unlimited" service was massively throttled at peak hours, and not very fast out of peak hours. They never said what capacity they considered fair use, and I was on the cheapest tarrif so it was what I expected. It was *definitely* subject to limits, and *definitely* advertised as an "unlimited" service! The opening poster in this thread described the download rate limits imposed on them when they went over a 3GB policy. This in a service advertised as unlimited. It's like having an all you can eat buffet, in which someone watches how much you are eating, and when they decide you've had enough, they come along and only let you eat one mouthful of food every 5 minutes! Sorry, I did warn you it was rant Cheer, Berty

Rant: How do they get away with advertising unlimited broadband, then stick you with a fair usage policy? Either it is unlimited, or it isn't! I'm heartened by the mention of t mobile though, cos they've offered me a 10 pounds per month contract with 3gb limit. It sounds like their handling of the limit is eminently reasonable. Cheers, Berty

As it happens, I've just had a cratch made to fit my boat. I haven't had the bill yet so don't know exactly how much it'll cost....! I doubt it will be low budget but it is top quality I opted for opening windows (on lift-off hinges). Even with the windows taken out, I don't think I'm going to attempt to get a 13kg gas bottle through there. I think it would fit, but I would be too worried about damaging the cratch. Since the whole thing is removable, I have the option of swinging the bottle round, or simply taking the cratch down in order to change the bottles. Mine was made by a carpenter in South-west London, who I would happily recommend for this kind of work. (He also made my doors and hatch.) If you want photos of the cratch (without cover, as I haven't had that made yet), I'll take some tomorrow and post them. Cheers, Berty

Hi, I agree with arnot, but I'd add that it sounds like you don't have proper RCD protection on your invertor circuit. You can test this by buying a plug-in tester, which will also warn you of things like reverse polarity, which can be handy when you plug into to an unknown shore supply, which will properly test the RCD. Note that using the test button on the RCD does not constitute a proper test. (Rather than buying a plug in tester, it is possible to construct an appropriate test plug yourself, but I'll leave it someone else to tell you how. Getting it wrong is dangerous, and I'm not confident in being able to give clear enough instructions as to it's safe construction!) If you don't have proper protection for your invertor circuit, you risk electrocuting yourselves or someone else in the event of a fault! Cheers, Berty

It's partly correct. None of the phone compainies *support* Linux, which means that they don't supply any software or help in getting the connection set up and working. Calling their customer support line will yield no help whatsoever. As with most things Linux, if you know how to do it, it can absolutely be done. So the question is, how familiar are you with Linux systems? Cheers, Berty

For what it's worth, that's the only method acceptable for commercial boats on the Thames. Overplating is not allowed, it must be re-plated. I know this because there's a git moored over there using a pneumatic drill (all day long, in weather too hot to close doors in) to remove his concrete ballast so that the replating can be done. He wouldn't bother to do that if he could get away with overplating. Cheers, (Deaf) Berty

Sorry, I must not have been clear in my quoting. I am indeed talking about how to wire up two new panels for the first time - in series or in parallel. Cheers, Berty

The cheaper one was only about £60 cheaper, ie. about 10% of the price. Based on the string sizing tool on the outback website (http://www.outbackpower.com/resources/string_sizing_tool/) the FX80 has plenty of spare capacity for adding additional panels, whereas the FX60 would be maxed out at three panels. In practice, I admit I will probably only ever add one more panel, as size contraints become a major factor. On the other hand, should the technology take a sudden leap forward and provide panels with double the power density, the FX80 will still cope. Paying the extra 10% seemed worthwhile to me. I think the panels in series would have an open circuit voltage of 67V. Is this the value I would use for voltage drop calculations? Would 10mm^2 cable be suitable? (The cable run is approximately 8 to 10m, there and back.) Cheers, Berty The specs say 150V (open circuit). Just thinking about it, does volt drop even matter? Does it actually translate to lost power - ie. through cable heating? Or, can I assume that as long as the voltage to the controller is above 15V, I'll be able to charge my 12V batteries without problems. Obviously I'm trying to minimise the losses in the system, but I'm probably going to have to route the cables (in conduit) between the T&G and insulation on the roof so space is definitely limited. Cheers, Berty That is indeed what I was talking about! Just done the calculation based on the data in the tables here: http://www.csedistributors.co.uk/cable/voltage-drop.htm of 4.4mV per amp per meter, for 10mm^2 cable, for a 10m run, at 410W (=6.2A @67V) gives a voltage drop of just under 0.3V. That's only 0.4% which seems like it would be fine! Unless I got my sums wrong Cheers, Berty

I've rigged up a mounting system using KeeKlamp tube and fittings (it's normally used to make hand rails). I can orient the panels in any dimension, and also move them back and forth along the length of the boat (to a small degree) to help avoid one of the panels shadowing the other. The mounts are bolted directly to the roof. All but four brackets are demountable in case of low bridges or high vandals! It's hard to describe the precise setup, but I can post a picture tomorrow if anyone's interested? I now need to wire the panels in (2x 205W panels, Outback FlexMAX 80 controller). I'm wondering what size cable to use? I'm reasonably happy to connect the panels in series to reduce the effects of voltage drop, if that's necessary... Does anyone have any advice on that? Cheers, Berty

Not sure if this is the right place for this. I have no connection with IWAC. I got sent this press release via a friend-of-a-friend in the civil service. Cheers, Berty From: IWAC (IWAC) Sent: 23 April 2009 12:15 To: IWAC (IWAC) Subject: [Press Release]: Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC) - New Members Required Please find attached a press release regarding the recruitment of new Members to the Inland Waterways Advisory Council by Defra and the Scottish Government. The text of the press release is also given below:- PRESS RELEASE: Thursday 23rd April 2009 INLAND WATERWAYS ADVISORY COUNCIL New Members Required The Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC) needs new members to replace those whose terms finish at the end of this year. The UK Government and Scottish Government are seeking people who believe that the inland waterways are for everyone, are an important part of Britain’s heritage and must play an important role in our future. As a member of IWAC you would be responsible for providing strategic advice to Ministers in the UK Government and Scottish Government, to navigation authorities and to other bodies. This can be on a range of matters including how the inland waterways across England and Wales, along with the canals in Scotland, can deliver greater public benefit and be made available to all sections of the community. Candidates for these posts should have a personal interest in inland waterways and have the ability to use their experience to benefit the work of IWAC. The Scottish Government will appoint one new member who must demonstrate a special knowledge of canals in Scotland. They will have skills and knowledge relevant to inland waterways in one or more of the following areas: · heritage · business and tourism · volunteering and community engagement · environmental sciences · freight and other transport · investment planning and regeneration · inland waterways in Wales · Scotland’s canals either as a user or from another perspective IWAC meets four times a year, at least two of which are at inland waterway locations across the country. Members typically spend around 12 and 20 days on IWAC business. Expenses, including loss of remunerative time at rates set centrally, are met, though service is unpaid. The posts provide an opportunity to contribute to, and to influence, inland waterway policy. IWAC members take part in project groups and are able to widen and develop their skills and knowledge on a whole range of issues affecting inland waterways, for example in climate change and policies on sustainability. All initial appointments will be for three years. An information pack is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/appointments/index.htm For the Scottish appointment only, please e-mail scotlandscanals-appts@scotland.gsi.gov.uk for an information pack, or telephone 0131-244-0575. If you would like further information about IWAC, please visit our website at http://www.iwac.org.uk, email its Policy Advisor John Manning at iwac@iwac.gsi.gov.uk or call 020 7253 1745 during office hours. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 12 noon, 18 May 2009. These appointments will be governed by the principle of public appointment based on merit with independent assessment and transparency of process. Candidates may come from a wide range of background and experience although the successful candidates will need to have a proven track record in at least one of the areas outlined above. The UK Government and devolved administrations are committed to improving the diversity of their public bodies and welcome applications irrespective of race, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, religious beliefs or similar philosophical belief, age, gender re-assignment or community background. Candidates would be particularly welcome from under-represented groups, for example, women, people with disabilities and members from Black and Minority Ethnic communities. Notes for Editors 1) IWAC is sponsored by the UK Government (Defra) and the Scottish Government. It provides advice to: · the UK Government on matters relating to all inland waterways in England & Wales, and · the Scottish Government on matters relating to canals in Scotland. In addition, IWAC advises navigation authorities and other interested bodies. Diana Wray Office Manager