Mac of Cygnet

I have used Mr Tubby, which this link leads to, and was pleased with the results. However it doesn't last for ever (mine needs redoing now after 6 years) and I see that a shower tray kit now costs £30, which seems expensive to me. Mac

I presume M4.14 refers to the engine. Have you got a Vetus part No. for the filter? Inline Filters have a comprehensive cross-referencing facility. Mac

Just to add an up to date note to this topic. I drove Cygnet through Standedge Tunnel this morning, and despite saying a couple of years ago that I wouldn't like to drive through myself, found it not nearly so stressful as expected, not least because of Fred Carter's expert guidance. He is really quite a smooth operator. (I had already been towed through twice, and driven through by Fred last year). There is now no protection given to boats, and I used my own tunnel light, which was quite adequate. It took an hour and a half, with no more scrapes than one would aquire in any other long tunnel or indeed on a long lock flight. A 'shadow' drove along the parallel tunnel, meeting at the emergency adits, but we didn't stop at any point. The plan is to install a communications wire along the tunnel (like an induction loop in concert halls?), and allow boaters to navigate the tunnel themselves, without a chaperone or shadow, but I must say that Fred's guidance probably minimised any contact made, and gave me the confidence to drive at the speed I did. Mac BTW, a horseboat is to be legged through the tunnel this Saturday - I must say I don't envy them, given the extremely uneven nature of the unlined sections.

We hired the newly-built Rosie from Doug Moore back in the eighties - he was hiring her out to (what he thought were) prospective puchasers. We didn't know much about boat quality then, but the fit out was very high quality indeed, and she elicited much admiration all the way down to Castleford and back. Recently we saw her on (I think) the Leigh Branch - a bit worse for wear, but still a very attractive boat. At the time of hire I remember she was insured for rather more than our house. We called in at his former yard at Barnoldswick last year. They may be able to give you some info. Mac

Are these pests still a protected species? They apparently make good eating, according to someone who had eaten them in Canada. I'm surprised that enterprising foragers haven't latched onto them as a source of cheap food. They should be easy enough to trap.

I got an update on the 9th that Salter's Lode would re-open on Good Friday (10th). Did it? Mac

Cygnet was driven through last September by Fred, who normally drove the electric tug. Apart from one rather bad bump on what looked like a lump of metal sticking out of the wall, which I at the front door could see but Fred obviously didn't, there were few problems, apart from having to stop at all the adits, and then wait for the convoy behind to catch up. I would hope that individual boats, driven by the people who are used to the boat, wouldn't need to take so long. I was given much less protective covering than the previous year, and had to sign an extra discalaimer regarding possible damage. I did take the precaution of extra padding on my top front corners, but in the event this area wasn't touched. At the moment, it's a toss-up whether I go south via the Huddersfield Narrow or the Trent this year. Did BW give any indication whether advance bookings were filling - I normally leave it until just a few days before. Mac

Mrs Mac has just hauled about 15 binbags of mature Cannabis plants out of Todmorden guillotine lock. As I believe these have a certain recreational value, I was going to advertise them on the 'Sale and Wants' section of the forum, but the Mods are getting a bit sensitive these days.............. Ah, the police have arrived, I see. But there's plenty more downstream. In fact the canal is full of weed, if anyone's interested Mac

I always prefer the Huddersfield Narrow over the Rochdale, and I'm moored at the bottom of the latter (and at this very moment in Todmorden Library). Have you considered the Trent? That's an exciting (or boring, depending on conditions) alternative. Mac

These people have a very comprehensive online cross-referencing system for filters and are very helpful. I even got Vetus equivalents from them. Mac

You can get fire cement in sealant gun tubes - I've just finished a tube of it. I got it because it was all the local small DIY shop had. But I prefer to use the stuff in tubs. Mac

If you are talking about Fuel filter STM 3690 (see my post #7 above), then although it appears to have a plastic valve, this is just the outer bit, and the centre is metal, or should be, unless Kings Lock are selling you old stock. Unscrew it and see if it has a captive metal bolt in the centre. The oil filter, of course, has no drain valve, so this doen't apply. Mac

Are you talking about Vetus part STM 3690, which spins onto the engine? If so, then this claims to be equivalent, but it doesn't say whether it has a metal drain plug. I have got filters from these people, and they are very helpful, but were unaware of the requirement for a metal drain plug (I was ordering spares for my inline pre-filter). They will certainly be able to tell you if it has a metal plug. If not, it may be worth buying one anyway to see if the Vetus metal plug can be used. If you have a CAV type inline pre-filter, you can get metal plugs from any good boat yard or from ASAP Supplies, but if your CAV type filter base is non-standard, then Inline filters will sell you a replacement base (as will ASAP supplies, but more expensively). Inline filters also do an STM 0051 oil filter equivalent at much less than the Vetus one, too. As you may guess, I've just been through all this. Cheers Mac

Interesting that people jump in immediately when a French spelling mistake is made, but it is considered rude to correct English spelling mistakes of even the worst kind. Mac

You might find this clicky useful for your calculations, except that it's all metric, and you appear to be living in a more traditional imperial world. Cheers Mac

I just got mine done on Friday by Guy Holding, Of Portland Basin Marina. A very likeable chap with a sensible approach to 'unconventional' boats. Charged £110 including travel to Sowerby Bridge. But then everything's cheaper round here - beer, food, mooring....everything. Jan, in the boat next to me, was only charged £90 a few days ago by another local(ish) examiner, because he was doing 5 boats round here in one day, and combined the travelling. Mac

Have you any information on what this didease is? Mac

Rivers only licence covers the Fossdyke. New moorings were being constructed in Brayford Pool when I was there 18 months ago, but I don't know about visitor moorings yet, apart from the (very) limited ones at the entrance. Mac

I'm actually on the Rochdale/Calder & Hebble, and the main problem in the winter isn't the weather, but the frequency of stoppages and flooded rivers. I went over the L&L last summer. All hard work, though, with the locks on the former and Huddersfield, and swing bridges on the latter. The Aire & Calder locks are mechanised - a welcome relief. But all uncrowded. MAC

You should come up to Yorkshire if you want the water to yourself. I frequently don't see another moving boat all day outwith the summer months, and even then it's very unusual to wait for a lock. Mac