LEO

Sorry to read of your friends problem beams..............when I started as a Surveyor 50 years ago, it was normal to take up floorboards and check areas, but now with fitted carpets, fitted furniture it is not possible and owners and vendors are unwilling to allow such invasive inspections. It's the same with boats and perhaps worse with floors carefully fitted. A prudent builder and owner would build in sub-floor inspection points which allows close inspections and drainage if a leak occurs............but if not the Surveyor has to work on 'hunches'.... suggesting cutting inspection points. However, a new tool appears on the job, which I have used with considerable effect...a borescope or endoscope, drill a small hole, feed it in and - hey presto...but get owners permission before drilling...............and you can get good quality pics or video......

Interesting replies, but to me it all looks slightly out of alignment, the bolt on the coupling, the label on the bearing...and the nuts on the packing seals are well screwed down...........the general condition of the steel work and presentation of this area is causing concern... it will be interesting to learn of the outcome.

It's the market, and the cost of steel, I just sold a 1998, 48 ft, nb. in 2 days to first interested party, purchased it in 2005 for £47K, sold 2024 for £46K, passed full survey.................it was valued at slightly more by the Surveyor.

Hope the Surveyor hasn't confused the drain hole in the well deck with something else...............Sorry this has been picked up and commented on before. The whole area does look a mess, and the rust to the bulkhead suggests repairs will be extensive, when more areas are opened up for investigation/repair.

Interesting detail about the pump running, My boat suffered from water in the bilge, it had a Shurflow pump, carefully installed with flexible piping as recommended. Leak tuned out to be a hairline crack on the input side of the casing, opened up and leaked each time the pump was operated. Difficult to spot, replaced pump with a Jabsco, fitted inside an ally foil cooking tray.

Hi I had a1.5 with a similar leak, I found by reducing the oil level in the sump - ie. not filling it to the 'full' marker on the dip stick it made the leak minimal, really the engine when operating, threw out oil until it was happy and then stopped. The 'happy' level for it was about the half way marker..

T This is a good question, does the water pump 'blip' at odd times?, can you see any leaking joints?, is the water pump dry? is the water pump installed correctly with flexible pipe between the pump and pipes............could condensation be causing problems, are there any leaks on the waste water system. It can take ages finding leaks, one time I had a gas fridge, an old paint drip on the external vent allowed water running off the roof to drain into the boat........took ages to find that leak.......good luck.

Interesting one, I used to get involved with the Wendover Canal Festival.........it like may others ran into problems over venues.........the need for for parking, near canals, input by volunteers and the real problem........insurance. Costs rose to crazy levels, the Wendover event lost the field by the canal, and like all these events a run of bad weather totally undermines profit...... sadly the popular Ricky Festival was cancelled last year.. It reflects canals in general, I am selling my boat and leaving he canals after 49 years of boating, things have changed, now the use as places to live have increased and dominated, the interest in canal history has gone, boaters......Hmmm perhaps that should be residents are not interested in supporting events to raise funds for restoration ( CRT are not really interested in increasing their liability in maintaining the network). It's a shame, but I don't think the canal related interest is there anymore...

Hi, Leo is still around, although in the process of selling my boat, yes, I did write the posting, a pal had a Dolphin 16 and we started boating in 1975. If you have one it must be one of the last to survive, His boat was called Puffin, I recall the headroom in the boat was the problem, seem to be built for 'midgets'. Will try to look out a picture of the first trip up the Thames from Wallingford to Newbridge and back in September 1975.

Sorry to read of your loss, I'm selling mine as I can't look after it. it's going to some really nice purchasers and a real Gardner enthusiast, I've enjoyed it for 19 years, the waterways have changed, time to go. All the best for the future for you. M

Hi Mark, I too am selling up, limited mobility from broken leg has made life difficult, I have agreed a sale, advertised a Tug Style Boat with 2 LW on the 'Duck', came under offer within 2 days of the advert appearing, , had lots of interest, slight hold up getting hold of a slipway and Surveyor (Vendor Survey is the way to go). The real attraction was the Gardner........... Your boat should be in high demand, if you want more info send me a PM..............bit nervous in case my purchasers see your boat,although the price range is different.............Bear in mind the advert in the 'Duck' cost £11.75, - brokers cost 5% +VAT.............also demand for bespoke 'Trads' south of Norton Junction is poor, where they really only want cheap 'Liveaboards' with a white painted interior........... and a 'BuzzBox' engine.......this advice was given by to me and has proved true. M PS. The Surveyor for the purchaser valued it more than the agreed price.............but I was happy.

I cheerfully agree, progs quite reasonable....

As said, C4 at 4.00pm weekdays - living of the waterways..............bound to get things 'rocking' - taking over from 'Bargain Brits in the Sun'....

I used to have one of those 'special' spanners shown in the illustration, purchased it from 'Snap On', made life a lot easier when I had a 1.5. Good luck, I recall the nuts were 5/8 AF........

Hi, The Gardner 2LW (March1957) in my nb. was like many other 2LW's exported to South Africa, to work in various jobs in the gold mines. 'Digging' round and with the help of the Gardner website I have details of the original order when lots of them were exported to power small Hunslet rail traction engines, order dated 1956/57. It was probably repatriated about 1998,and again like many rebuilt by Walshes. Attached is a pic of the small Hunslet engines and the restored engine. It was probably and early restoration, not highly polished and it gives great service. I had this picture made into a computerised jig saw puzzle, brill if you like puzzles......Happy Days.

Hi, just read the Wendover Arm has been closed by inserting stop planks, closing off the length from Little Tring Bridge to the winding hole, apparently water is draining into the fields at this point. CRT have required the investigation. So winding is limited to the feeder.............and remember the fun that caused at the Festivals........ No indication how long this stoppage will last.

Also good for conservatory roofs. Use it conjunction with a Karcher extending lance, can reach up to soffitts on houses.

There is interest in the canal at the old workshops, the owners of the Manager's house have just emailed me, they are delighted with the picture, want to buy it and will make a generous donation to charity, good news, My wife is delighted as well, a bit more 'junk' cleared from the garage.

Thanks, an excellent set of pictures, I wonder if the original forge remains, good seeing the gates made..........wonder where all the templates for gate sizes for all locks on the GU went?................I did see a small railway cart loaded with sheet metal has been retained, but I doubt if ever a boat will moor again......the Pub has reverted to it's original name and is under the Oakman Inns badge. The Cowroast PH name is shelved, it's now the Artisan.................check dress codes before you cross the threshold........

I have moored at Cowroast for many years (30+), as have many others, some of us used to organise charity auctions, they were renowned - buy the stuff one year, store it, resell it next year (for the same amount).............well it was for charity!. About 7 years ago I bought a framed (20"x 15") print of a boat passing the Manager's house and Workshops at Bulbourne, it was a Springer, the picture was taken about about 1986..... good quality picture. It cost £2............... The redevelopment started - sell it to the Developers I thought..........Covid came......I broke my leg, I had a new knee......the picture gathered dust in the garage. So in 'TYOL 2024'the development is finished, the Manager's house has sold for about £1million+ my wife wanted to visit Tring Garden Centre at Bulbourne ( a short walk from the canal - best value restaurant on the summit). I thought, I wonder if those peeps who bought the Manager's house might like........... I called, no answer to video door bell.....another door bell.....somebody came, I had interrupted a Zoom Call............no real interest in the picture. my wife might want it - 'How much?' - a fiver for canal related charity.............I had left full contact details......... I left the picture.......not heard anything. Actually, the conversion of Bulbourne Yard looked brilliant, a place to live brilliant, interest in canals history from the inhabitants............................................................ ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So at Bulbourne, the pub has changed, the last time any recognition of history emerged there was when filming of an episode of 'Call the Midwife' was filmed there............ We traveled on to Cowroast, another Boater's stopover.............here the 'modernisation' of canalside pubs, in this case the Cowroast (now the Artisan) continues, but unless CRT have left you with any money and you have very (£60 a head for a meal) deep pockets AVOID............... again canal or local history ZERO...............the basic dream is to develop it into a Night club..........so scurry on dear Boater.......North or South...........history is disappearing.......

Hi, I have a Kabola Old Dutch, good little stoves, that 'nut' needs really careful adjustment, so that the flap is just closed, be careful as the nut is the counterweight. The fires are sensitive to 'down draughts' and can blow out. which is annoying. Take care when cleaning the bottom of the burner pot as mine developed a pin prick hole, and replacement pots are expensive and in very short supply. they like burning for long periods, I think mine burnt continuously for just 3 weeks once.

Like others I don't like that rigid connector and instructions normally want a flexible connection twix pump and pipework (as others have suggested) Also I like to mount the pump in an ally cooking tray, it catches water from leaks and make the search for same easier.