AllanO

Thanks for the sympathy. My boat alarm is a Nautilarm. I have door/hatch and motion sensors with an audible alarm. I get a text message when a sensor is triggered. The break-in was at 4 in the morning and I did not pick up the text until later. The alarm may not stop the actual forced entry but once triggered hopefully may persuade the perpetrators to leave.

Just to let members know that there is someone on the Kennet and Avon again who is breaking into boats. My boat was broken into last night on the moorings at Wootton Rivers. Only one small can of beer taken but significant damage caused by the forced entry. I don't leave anything on significant value on the boat when I am not on it. The boat is alarmed and I think this may have frightened the intruder off. I have informed the police. A few years ago there were a number of break-ins on this stretch of canal. The offender was caught and spent some time inside. I wonder whether it is the same individual on the prowl again. Anyone else had this problem in this area recently? Don't really know how to stop this happening.

I think you may be right. The two filters are mounted side by side. The primary/water separator has a cartridge type filter, the secondary a replaceable element. The relacements are specific Barrus parts but I may have fitted them incorrectly. No obvious fuel leak from the Filters though. I think I need to go back to the beginning and refit all the elements. Can't get to the boat till next weekend though.

Richard I have tried this. First time fuel appeared from two injectors but the engine would not fire. On subsequent attemps no fuel was visible from any injector. i suppose I may have a mechanical blockage but it seems strange this is affecting all the injectors. Allan

Tone Thanks for this. I have already done a lot of what has been suggeated in the thread but I think i need to have another look at the lift pump connections. There is fuel getting to the pump but not out the other end. It seems as if there is an air lock in the pump itself. There does not seem to be much pressure on the lift pump plunger and it seems as if this may be where the air is although there is no air coming out the injector feeds when I work the lift pump. This is not a particularly easy engine to work on and I may be loosening the wrong connections.

I have just serviced the Barrus Shanks 35 engine on my boat with oil and filter changes and am now unable to start the engine.The engine turns freely but will not fire. I think that the problem is due to an air lock. There is fuel appearing from the bleed screws on the fuel filters but nome from the feeds to the injectors on the engine on either manual pumping or on cranking the engine. i have loosened a connection on the pump and there is fuel there but none appears to be exiting the pump. i cannot identify a bleed screw on the pump. The engine is an 03-35 model. Is anyone familiar with this engine type and does anyone know how I can bleed the fuel pump without completely dismantling it. The engine was running perfectly immediately before I serviced it! It ran for a minute immediately following filter change before stopping.The main fuel tank is full and the isolation tap is open! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help. I will check on the model and hopefully get the part and fix it.

The 16.9 volts was measured today when it was wet and overcast with not a lot of output from the panel. The voltmeter works correctly for other applications. Apologies for my ignorance but isn't the regulator integral to the alternator and if faulty will require a new alternator? Is there any way the solar panel could have damaged the alternator? Its peak output is only 34W and it seems to be wired up correctly.

My narrow boat is fitted with a Barrus Shanks 35HP engine with twin 110A and 40A alternators connected to 3x 110ah domestic and a starter battery respectively. Recently the charging warning alarm and light on the engine control panel have been activating on start up and staying on for more than an hour despite bursts of high revs to excite the alternators. The battery state/charge gauge on the electrical panel says that both alternators are charging and battery voltage is close to 100% after a few miles of cruising. I have noticed that two of the domestic batteries have been bubbling small amounts of electrolyte whilst the engine is running. I also have a Solara 120M solar panel connected via a Sunsaver Duo charge controller to both the starter and domestic batteries. This functions well when moored but when the engine is running the status LED flashes red indicating an error. At tick over the battery voltage on the starter battery is 13.1 and the domestics 13.0 volts. At increased revs this rises to 14.4 and 16.9 volts. Is this simply a case of a defunct domestic alternator that is overcharging and needs replacing or is it possible that I have some sort of conflict with the solar charging system? The flashing red LED error is consistent with alternator overcharging. Any advice gratefully received.

I am moored between Hungerford and Pewsey. Don't want to say precisely where in case it tempts fate to srtike a third time. According to the local police there have also been some other incidents in Pewsey although the M O was different.

Similar problems on the K & A. Just discovered a break in on my boat for the second time in a year. Side hatch forced and alarm sensor smashed but nothing taken. Probably scared off by the alarm siren. More expense to repair the damage though. Difficult to know what more I can do to stop this. Man traps or similar deterrents are tempting.

Unfortunately, but in the current climate, not surprisingly, my boatbuilder has informed me that they have entered into an agreement with their creditors. Any claim that I have will be unsecured and I think that I will have to pay for any repairs myself. I do not know whether the whole boat needs repainting or just the apparently defective areas. Can anyone recommend any boat painters that cover the central K & A that can do the work and will give me an honest opinion?

I have tried unsuccessfully so far to speak to the builders about this. I either get an answering machine or a promise from the girl that answers the phone that someone will ring back. I am still waiting. Can anyone recommend a local surveyor that will be able to give an opinion on the problem and provide a report on the quality of the painting? I am obviously prepared to pay for this. The boat is moored on the K and A between Pewsey and Hungerford. Thanks

Thanks for this Phil. The paint is made by HMG. I didn't make any specific painting requests apart from colour, Dark Brunswick Green. The shell was not grit blasted prior to painting. I think it just had standard primer, undercoat and topcoat. Don't know how many coats. I am trying to seak to the builders but it is difficult to pin them down. I will keep trying.

My 14 month old narrowboat purchased fully fitted from a 'reputable' builder in Cheshire has developed multiple areas of irregularity on the paint surface on the cabin sides and hand rails. If I scrape the areas, rust appears under the paint. I suspect the original paint job was done incorrectly and the problem is likely to spread and deteriorate. Is this something that I should expect on a boat of this age 'professionally' finished? Before I contact the builders has anyone any advice on how I should deal with this?