J R ALSOP

When I worked with a fleet of Lister LH150 gear boxes it was usually cured by either removing the control cable from gear shift, rev engine up then manually shift gear leaver by hand, if that doesn't shift it remove a bolt from gear box lid, take out centre bolt of piston housing, screw in longer bolt from gear box lid and tighten, that pushes lever in box to separate drive.

That "vent pipe" is meant to take water from a water-cooled manifold, and to be forced out through the outboard bearing.

Talking to a wide beam owner today, he has the boat 2 1/2 years, he has had enough, selling it to buy a narrowboat so he can go cruising.

Sorry about that, I should have known better as I have done 2 BSS examinations on her.

Anne is now lived on in Oxford on the canal agenda 21 [I think that was what they are called] moorings above Jerico. She is still unpowered.

Saw one of day boats at Harefield Marina for sale on Saturday.

It was moored in an earlier life at the end of Lisson Grove moorings in London.

I was was told off a few years ago for going along breasted up with another powered narrow boat, I was told you only move another boat by towing it astern.

I have done Runcorn Locks, like you say, bet not many of us.

That would have been the Robin Hood on the A54 Buxton Rd

Hatton for me in the early 60's before the trees and scrub took over

The best solution is fit a splash washer below the counter and use lots of grease ( not many people realise there is a grease nipple) and fill the void at the top with a good finger gull of grease to stop water collecting on the top of the bearing.

My heater a D4SWC has a filter insert inside the pipe union fitting where it goes onto the fuel pump under the top cover.

I got two bottles at Eturia last year, £19:00 each. only to boats, tradesman in van pays full price.

A fair bit of work for a bricky to do there, they could always look for the old ones!

Stick it on the main line and then see what happens.

I think that with all these new odd shaped boats that are appearing on our canals there is a opportunity for a new "I Spy" book of canal boats.

I thought I had the only one in existence, had it for twenty years, it still makes me laugh.

Worth it for the Bush engine, a DV36.

Just spent 15 days on Thames, only paid overnight mooring at Teddington Lock (Got a extra day for that), and £5 at Lechlade, rest was all free.

In Goring 300yds below lock on right hand side it said to put £10:00 in envelope and put it in letterbox which was attached to a large fenced off house, it said all monies went to charity. The site previously ( I thought) was a EA site.

Well I stopped at Tescos in Reading this morning at 0900, only two boats there a f/glass wide beam with a middle aged couple who could not make head nor tails of the the signs, lots of bits had been scratched off, so the left straight away, the other boat was just leaving having spent the night there, he thought as I have spent £80 in Tescos that was enough outlay. By which time Mr's A had returned after a 'sprint" shop and we left. It is a nice new jetty with plenty of length and rings.

Probably be cheaper to reinstall the lock off the Runcorn & Weston, might give the powers to be the nudge to reopen Runcorn locks.

Remember seeing it in 1964, but never saw it being used. had a day out from Brentford when I worked for Willow Wren.

Live in Hope, die in Castleton. Or where do flies go into the winter, through Dukinfield to Hyde.