robkg

Respect!

Hi all, Interesting thread, I finished my second fit out of a 70' narrowboat a couple of months ago which took me two and a half years from receipt of shell. I thought that was a long time until I started to read this thread. It is my belief that if at all possible you should have the shell on dry land, with a mains electricity supply and a workshop close by. My first fit out was carried out partly in the garden and partly in a marina and my rate of progress was markedly different in the two locations. For the second one I made a self imposed rule that the boat was not going to be moved onto water until it was finished. I think that one of the biggest mistakes people (including myself) make when estimating the amount of time that they think it is going to take, is not including the time taken to aquire all the materials and equipment. P.S. My latest fitout is going to be reviewed in Novembers issue of Waterways World Rob

Hi all, I am about to embark on the restoration of very dilapidated Lister JP3. Can any of you suggest somewhere I can obtain inexpensive spares? e.g. pistons, rings, injectors etc. Thanks Rob

Am I alone in suggesting Roger Fuller as he does not appear on any other shortlists? I have had two shells from him and have not seen anything to beat either of them. I believe there is a bit of a double standard when people throw scorn on 'washer' rivets. There must be hundreds of examples on any replica narrowboat of artificial details to give the appearence of an original boat. e.g. recessed panels, steel cants, trad. slides, decorative layout. If dummy rivets are not acceptable then anything less than a genuinely riveted iron hull is also not kosher. Artificial decorative features is not a new phenomenen in narrowboats: how long have boatbuilders been graining back cabins to make cheap wood look like oak? Rob

Hi all, This is our boat "Grace" This is the first time I have tried to post a photo so I hope it has worked. Rob

Well done Paul, As I have a court case pending in a few weeks time for what sounds like very similar problems, your outcome sets a powerful precedent. With respect to my claim, is it acceptable, ethical and legal for me to submit extracts from this thread to the court to provide further supporting material? I can offer further info to this debate. My heater, installed by myself, purchased from a main dealer, has persistantly failed to function correctly from new. My unique(?) situation is that I know exactly what fuel the heater has been running on throughout its life as I obtained it directly from the same major fuel distributor on three seperate occasions. The distributor has provided me with the full specifications of the fuel. Furthermore they have also stated that they have supplied identical fuel to two or more inland marinas. The fuel (which is sold legally as red diesel) meets or exceeds BS 2869 Classes A2 and D. The heater supplier has persisted in blaming my installation for the heater problems without having seen it. However another authorised supplier of the same units has seen it and has confirmed to me in writing that the installation is satisfactory. (Having done well in the awards at the IWA National can't hurt in confirming my competence to carry out such an installation either.)

I like the idea of swapping the diesel and water labels over, but I think a better idea would be to swap the diesel and pump out ones round. You can then look forward to the day some toe-rag tries to syphon the fuel out, and a bonus of a free pump out!

Hi all, My installed a self pump out system (home made) on my last boat which I used on a number of occasions. I never knowingly held anyone up I never discharged into the cut I never caused a spillage I was entirely motivated to self pump out by the desire to save money. Please do not fall into the trap of calling for a ban on this activity because of some irresponsible individuals, it is a lazy way of solving a problem, used all too often. My new boat (just finishing the fit out) is also equiped with self pump out facility! Rob

Can anyone help. I am shortly going to finish the fitout of my 70' narrowboat which is currently on dry land and I am looking for a permanent mooring between Gloucester and Birmingham. My requirements are: Good security. e.g. non towpath side with locked land access or offline (boatyard) Preferably rural Somewhere to leave a car Last but not least, for £1500 or less. I am not interested in facilities such as a hookup, shower/toilet block etc. and certainly don't want to pay more for them. I am currently registered to receive BW tender offerings but to date nothing suitable has come up (and I thoroughly dislike the closed tender system). Do such moorings exist?

Please can anyone help me? I am at the end of my tether with my Webasto Thermotop C. I will give details of my sorry story in due course but as I am about to take legal action against the supplier I would prefer not to yet. I would welcome support from others who have experienced Red Diesel problems, but being new to this forum I am not sure how I go about exchanging contact details.