Derek R.
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Posts posted by Derek R.
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The 'VERDA' - Brilliant! I was going to suggest a location of Felixstowe Ferry, I remember some strange craft there - one was the fuselage of a small passenger aircraft with floats attached. Only get to float on the highest tides, but pure ingenuity, strangely attractive.
Derek
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Not 'Hot' ash, but the ashes of a departed one. They were Gujurati's returning the 'soul' of their departed to the waters, two were unable to be resucitated and died, a third is critical (or was yesterday). None could speak English so one report states.
Derek
PS H & S Who the hell can guarantee safety? But then, what ever happened to common sense! Does everything have to be banned? Have we been so dumbed down by Nanny we get treated like brianless lemmings? Did someone say - Yes?
(Only a suggestion - Lemmings are not brainless. Vote for Lemmings. They know where they are going.)
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Ah yes! Steam powered subs. The Royal Navy had a fleet - K Class submarines. Read a book on them years ago. Never saw battle IIRC, and suffered some disastrous accidents with funnel seals not closing properly, and asphixiation. You couldn't make it up.
Derek
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Looks more like Roger to me than Keith. Roger usually took it around for Keith during the week.
I'm not familiar with either, and have only met Roger just the once at Braunston 2008, but isn't that Roger on Hyades Tiller in No.56?
Derek
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Satellite picture 7th Jan 2010
Ouchamps in the Loir et Cher region of France is at 09.00 today -11°C
St Albans, Herts. -3°C
Kincraig in the Spey Valley, Inverness-shire -17°C (though has gone down to -23°C overnight)
What was the Met. Office telling us last Summer - "expect a mild winter".
Derek
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Non de plumes are common enough, and privacy is the main reason - though in George Eliot's case it was of course to be accepted into a literary world dominated by men.
Wilkinson's characters may only be guessed at, unless a real boat name appears. Been a while since I read it.
Derek
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I use the name pete harrison although both of my names actually start with a capital letter - sorry !!!!
Don't apologise pete, the capital letter simply defines a legal entity. We use it out of force of habit, and because we are taught it is 'correct'. It is taught to be 'correct', as it allows us as legal entities to be administered under statute law. There are no discernable capital letters in the spoken word. Sorry - off topic!
Derek - answers to several names.
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Copy and paste from pdf's - computer says NO. But if you can be bothered to type in manually, Google translate might be able to help out.
Derek
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(snip)
A slightly different slant on this is that many engineers misdiagnose bore glazing when the real problem is one or more stuck or seized piston rings - the causes behind rings sticking in their grooves often being very similar to the causes of bore glaze. (snip)
Quite so, our PD2 spat oil just for that reason. Cleared the rings and clean again.
Derek
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No.50 looks like Mr Bray walking across the bridge.
No.52 might have Roger Alsop on Comet.
No.8 & 9 I read Aberystwyth
No.13 looks like X & X COMIC CUT BOAT Co.? Don't recognise that bit of Berko, unless it's around sewerage.
Who's that steering LYNX in No.61?
Nice album. Thanks for posting.
Derek
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Well, I have only just mastered how to drive the site - I'm not really au fait with all these clever forums (or is it fora), and this is very different from other email lists I am on. I like the ability to use pictures though.
One thing I find intimidating and makes me reluctant to post is the use of nicknames (not to mention emoticons). I have no idea who most people are, and the profiles do not always help. Why the need for everyone (OK, many members) to remain anonymous? Do you all have something to hide??
I see no reason not to give names, as I am happy to do
Hugh Potter
Quite agree! Forget emoticons, though I sometimes use them, there is no substitute for the English Language - or Swahili come to that: -
Watu wote wamezaliwa huru, hadhi na haki zao ni sawa. Wote wamejaliwa akili na dhamiri, hivyo yapasa watendeane kindugu. So there!
No, I don't know the language, but translated: -
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Derek
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I do not think most modern engines will suffer from glazing, for the reasons mentioned about modern oil and fuel formulation, as well as build tolerance and greater technical advances. But to categorically state that such a phenomena as bore glazing does not, or cannot exist, flies in the face of those who have not only had experienced it first hand (I'm one) and have alleviated it with nothing more than honing, and the fact that Morris's have provided a formulated product to inhibit glazing which they even describe in their published documentation, and which should point to the fact that such a phenomenum not only exists, but found to be necessary to take action to remove or avoid it.
In my case the PD3 had new liners and valves along with all major bearings, and had run for less than 75hrs. Single handed working through locks leaves the engine a long time on tickover. During a year of not going anywhere particular, whenever the engine was started and run for any amount of time - even short blasts along the pound - oil spats covered the roof, and oil accumulated around the chimney base, and atop the silencer within the engine'ole. I'd have to build a 'rag' dam around the chimney base to contain that which ran down inside the pipe.
Removing the heads and barrels and visual inspection showed clear cross hatching with a very smooth surface. Nothing that could easily be seen as 'glaze', yet it was there. How do I know? By taking them to an expert in engineering who examined them and said he'd put them on the machine and hone them - there was a build up of glaze. With nothing more done - pistons and rings all previously renewed - the now comparatively rough feeling barrels were refitted and the engine run up. Since then I have had no more oil dribbling across the roof, and no more oil spats on the roof. Same grade oil - as recommended by the manufacturer - SAE 20-30. Nothing else done save a honing of the bores.
It's hard to get a big engine designed fifty years ago working enough to bed things in properly on the cut. I'd be screamed at by all and sundry for washing the bank away. I can only do my best, and I speak as I find.
Derek
PS Speaking of oil 'specs', I was specifically told to avoid modern high spec oils for older engines, and to use the most basic and cheapest available. Similar concerns affect the Vintage Motorcycle fraternity, and Morris's produce a complete range of monograde oils that whilst are improved overall from the 1930's equivalent, are better suited to the engineering standards and tolerances of the design.
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As Tim states, glazed bores are bores which have had a chemical build up through lack of heat which prevents the rings from sealing against them. The symptoms will be excessive smoking and oil consumption. Glazed bores are nothing to do with how old or new an engine is, but how much work it has to do. Diesel engines do not like slow running, light loads at or near tickover - so that bu**ers most of us up. They need to be worked, so that lovely big three or four pot monster is never going to get the work out it needs to keep clear of glazing. Air cooled engines do not have the same temperature controls as water cooled as Andrew states, and can run too cool and glazing will occur. Along with the excessive oil consumption, roof mounted exhaust pipes will give an excellent demonstration of an oil spitter, along with attractive patterns of black dribble from the base joint and across the roof.
I came out of Blisworth on my first trip, plastered in soot from no cutter, and flecked with black oil everywhere - "What do you look like?" - "glazed bores my dearest".
Diesels are happiest running at constant RPM well into their torque band, under constant load - ships at Sea; generating sets; pumps.
I was advised not to use high grade oils as are currently available in an old engine, their build tolerances were not designed for thin slippery oils. A Petter engineer now retired whom I once contacted, advised me that they used to take an egg cup full of VIM and sprinkle it into the intake with the air cleaner off while the engine ran on tickover. Scoured them out nicely he said. I cannot help but wonder how much of the VIM got into the circulatory system. He didn't think there was a problem - but I would advise against such steps and say - don't do it.
Products that claim to decoke an engine from a toothpaste tube are equally suspect. Glazed bores are remedied only by removing the bores and having them parallel honed on the bench. After such treatment it may feel like a very rough surface, but put it together and run it up, give it some work. Just replacing rings alone is a waste of time - the rings will not be the problem unless they are past their service limit (or broken of course), you will achieve nothing but frustration that way.
Rather than run a main engine to generate, it might be best to invest in a super quiet diesel genny, permanently mounted in soundproof box and on rubber mounts. We had a PAZ1 on the foredeck of the Dutchman in a metal box, with 'pepper pot' exhaust - what a racket! I lined the box with carpet underlay glued on, and put a Mini absorption silencer in place of the 'pepper pot' - it whispered after that.
One of my pet hates: Tied up away from everyone, shut the noisy donkey off and enjoying a brew. Along comes another boat, ties up within a length of me, plonks a petrol genny on the back or the bank, and runs it up for the tele. They don't run too well under water them little portables.
It's 'Im.
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Two and a half long days in good conditions.
Currently - some time in March/April. Snow this week and sub-zero temps, probably continuing next week. Possibly milder at the months end, but more Arctic blasts for February. And that's not the Met Office nor Seaweed. WeatherAction.
Derek
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Don't forget the prison at Millbank, which 'exported' many souls to Australia, wearing their uniforms with the three letters P.O.M. on - Prisoner Of Millbank, which subsequently gave rise to the name of 'Pom's' or 'Pommies'.
There is another theory to the nick-name relating Sunburnt red faces being much like a Pomegranate, but generally refuted.
Derek
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But thanks anyway Rupert - always a bit of a warren are forums for finding something you want - and can't!
I've just lost a boxed set of VHS's in a house that is much worse!!
Derek
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In a land before railways and half decent roads (not many would have been fitted into an average stage coach, and with shackles the added weight an added burden) and so the likely-hood is real. When the Aylesbury canal was opened in 1815, one of the noted 'new' cargoes were emmigrants leaving for the promised New World.
Derek
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Reminds me of the story that the 'Terry Thomas' of the TV antiques world told about the ladies working in a parachute factory during WWII. One would collect small scraps of the silk used, sewing them together to make ladies knickers and embroidering on them a Messerschmitt in flames with the caption "These come down without a fight!"
How did I get here? Oh yes - fighter planes . . .
Derek
I think the Coca-Cola idea is brilliant! Any plans on BASS, Mackeson or Guinness? There are some attractive beer labels around.
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Typically, after having done some tidying up of files after a new PC and deleting a fistful that no-one has asked about - along comes a query!!
There was recently a move made to incorporate minimum standards for stove installation by BSS that would have effectively prevented any solid fuel stove being fitted in a narrow boat without it being eight feet wide and with a chimney six feet tall. Much representation to the powers that be was put, and the standards as suggested withdrawn for boats with 'historic' conotations, more detail I have not to hand now.
The fear is that heat from the fire would set pyrolysis in action, smouldering and igniting wood work behind tiling amongst other things. The trigger for all this proposed improved standards activity was a disastrous fire aboard, which took the life of one person. There is documentation on the whole sad event, along with a few others so I won't expand on that. But with regard to traditional back cabins, they were mostly built with some form of fire proofing around the stove in the form of asbestos and tin. Three or four inches might be the smallest air gap (and there would have been an air gap, ignore museum mock-ups) and if you consider the minimal to non-existent recording of fires in traditional back cabins of the working boats throughout their lives, there doesn't ever seem to have been a problem. Carbon monoxide poisoning was greater, and drowning greater than that. It is with modern-day boats and stove fitting that any real problem has arisen with sub-standard and unsafe practices - and no-one can stop people placing flammable items too close to a fire!
A range shelf would be covered in tin originally, and a couple of inches air gap beneath. Nowadays a half inch thick fireproof material would be the preferred material, with maybe a layer of tin atop that. Around the back and side, a similar arrangement - but always with an air gap. Is there a minimum air gap? Probably for safetys sake, and I would suggest you speak to a surveyor or acredited boat builder/fitter for more comment.
Derek
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In answer to the first question - Roses and Castles!
On table cupboard flaps a dog or a horse might be preferred, and I've seen some clever scumble work imitating dark wood borders to a twisted rag panel. Some Black Country boats had geometric pattern in lieu of roses, but by and large the 'old' cabins and their Number One's would have been very particular about maintaining and perfecting the 'norm' rather than branch out on radical changes.
I can understand the comment made by a painter that something different would be a change from the everyday, but perhaps he felt his abilities were not being put to the test! Others might be proud of their own style, and wished to perpetuate it as a trade mark. Bill Hodgson, who was responsible for the Knobsticks style of realistic roses couled, and di paint everything under the Sun. It is said the rooms of his house were images of a tropical rain forest with plants, trees and wildlife all over the walls - he wouldn't stop painting!
More recently some have branched out from the traditional with other scenes, especially on table flaps and bed'ole flaps. The butty Brighton has a picture of Brighton Pier on the bed flap, my mate's bed flap has a couple of humourous scenes of boating antics. But the 'traditional' roses and castles, whilst representing a tradition in itself, also give rise to thoughts of solidarity and natural beauty that are an everlasting desirous state. Long may it continue (with a little deviation for those inclined).
We visited a furniture cave local to us a few days ago, and got chatting to one of the proprietors. In there, was a black wood sideboard of no particular interest, and it had had its many and various panels painted in lurid purples and pinks - and poorly at that. I said it was a shame it had been desecrated like that, and the chap said "Oh it will probably be attractive to canal dwellers" . . .
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Just watched both episodes too. Escapades of three men making themselves look fairly foolish. Griff Rhys Jones comes off worst, Dara O'Briain seems too full of himself, and Rory McGrath is the anchor man. Too light hearted for an educational or historically interesting program, it fell very short on the humour most of the way through. Jones's attempts at understanding, and certainly controlling 45M's Bolinder, or steering it are lamentable - was it all for the 'craic'? Why the nonsense with the amphibian? Did enjoy Dara's chat on Arran in Gaelic - can't understand the tongue, but lovely sound. A taste of Ireland, and not enough.
There was a series some years ago with a scraggley bearded writer chap, he ventured on 45M along the Grand Canal, and turned the whole series into a history of canal, boat, fauna and flora, with social interludes along the way. I'll dig it out tomorrow - find his name.
Derek.
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I viewed an ex-motor torpedo boat back in the late seventies. That had twin English Electric engines in, monsters - six inch diameter exhausts. They didn't run however, as both had been left to rust solid - no-one could afford the fuel apart from everything else. It was on a mud berth, the vendor had spent huge amounts of money in carpentry within with intent to live aboard. I fancy someone wanted it 'moved', and the project had become a millstone.
Derek
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I seem to recall some folk calling the years following 2000 as 'O' one, 'O' two and so on, and only the likes of Harry Patch would have asked "Which Century?"
We could shorten draught to aught (or aft) - then we'd all be looking back'ards . . .
I'll get me coat.
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Here's the positive reply from the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust:
"Dear Mr Reynolds,
Thank you so much for your kind interest and knowledgeable observations. I have taken these on board and will amend this document accordingly. Also, I am copying this to Fabian Hiscock, one of our Trustee's who I hope will peruse your comments and make his observations as well. As with all our documentation these are living documents and open to amendment as and when necessary.
I would be great if you could come down to the Canal Centre at some point, preferably when the weather is a bit better, and maybe go for a boat ride on one of our narrow boats.
Best wishes and a happy new year,
Mike"
Michael Coleman - Education Programme Leader Rickmansworth Waterways Trust
Batchworth Lock Canal Centre
99 Church Street
Rickmansworth
Hertfordshire
WD3 1JJ
Phone: 01923 778382
Email: enquiries@rwt.org.uk
Website: www.rwt.org.uk
Deaths at Watermead Park
in General Boating
Posted
The Telegraph report says ashes. Telegraph.
Reporters often get things wrong, ashes or ducks, tragic all the same.
There are some Hindu's in Southall who offer items to the Gods by scattering them on the waters of the canal. Their reasoning is that all water eventually makes it to the sea, and so the offering is valid. I guess the lake will have an overflow which may enter a brook, and so on.
Very sad.