JollyWonker

Tony, get a life. The world is bigger than your keyboard. I'm sure you won't but try to be your online-self in the real world and gauge the response. My one hour (cumulative) interaction on this page in the last day has given me more grief than I've had in a longer period than I care to remember. You can enjoy your plastic throne dude, just don't push people down to elevate yourself because many will let you do it.

Agh, bloody email notifications! Unsubscribed now but tricky to resist your response. Dig deep and scroll-up. Was this an outburst from a child or a retort to a series of thinly-veiled disrespectful tangents? There's nothing to accept; and if you think professionally knowing lots about a boat is a badge of honour within the wider discipline of Engineering you need to dip your toe into a bigger fish bowl to find some perspective. Respect isn't earned or demanded, it can only be lost and it didn't take you and a few of your follow keyboard warriors to lose mine in record time. But well done, you've carved a sense of authority for yourself; just wish others didn't hold you in such regard and reverence because it's undeserved. Jollywonker out.

Well said - I can't appreciate what you've said because this wouldn't happen in my life but if you say that's how it is I'll certainly understand. Don't think this is for me. Just a passing thought - it only seems to be a few, not the platfrom. Thanks again.

Thanks so much @Mike Todd for the offer!! Its massively appreciated but with work, toddler and dogs I think the best we could possibly hope for is midday Wednesday. Thank you though, so much. Biggest thing is now we need to get her safe as she's more isolated than I would like, just because life has got in the way over the past few months. i'll be putting calls into mechanics first thing tomorrow with the hope of finding one who doesn't operate on canal-time and but if I can't get somebody out in a couple of days pulling her up will likely be the quicker option. To most of the posters here, thanks again and if you happen to pass there'll be more booze on board than you can shark a stick at

Thanks Captain - I didn’t intend to be blunt and I do appreciate the advice. Learning credentials or questioning authority on gaskets wasn’t on my mind but suffice to say I was there when the work was undertaken and I’m confident the fault is as reported. We’re going up to stay on her on Tuesday with a truck load of beer to pray to the boating gods for a generous passer! Thanks again guys

RIghto, not going to defend my post. I'm a chartered Engineer and not stupid by any stretch, although ironically deal with almost every discipline other than engines until we picked her up in the summer. A mechanic based in the local marina spent a few hours getting her going, gave his findings and I'm happy with the diagnosis. The confusion, I think is because I want her craned out for blacking, so perhaps I lead the conversation into a direction where towing was a sensible solution. I'll call the mechanics Monday, and around others to check availability. Thanks for all the advice.

Thanks for all the advice guys. In response to some of the questions - Its a BMC 1.8. it originally drew water from the tank but bleeding didn't fix things for long (twice in a few weeks). Called a mechanic from the marina who was super helpful, changed the fuel filter and got her running but air is drawing in around the head gasket. I know it an be done in the water but for some reason towing her to get crained out was suggested but I'll call again on Monday and maybe check availability of others who'll take it out in the water. Don't think its the hugest job if no peripheral damage and I could take to CB for skimming etc.

Hey guys - thanks for replying. I was intentionally vague because I’m not with her and didn’t want to draw attention to it if needed - looking to get to the marina on Wharf lane, which has a dry dock. We also need other blacking and some upgrades and the mechanics who checked it out have suggested I get it to them So you think the best option is wait by the boat and hitchhike? Cash, cuddles and beer are in abundance and happy to pay

Heys guys - I was hoping I could ask for some advice or perhaps somebody might be in a position to help us if you’re in the area. We have a 70ft narrow boat with a blown head gasket about 1m from the Stratford-upon-Avon canal kings wood junction. We need to get to dry dock, which is about half hour tow (no locks) before a flight of locks which I’ve been told are pretty close so I could pull it through with some effort! I‘m more than happy to pay whatever it takes (plus imagine the boat karma!) for either a tow to the bottom of the flight, support from a fellow boater to get it all the way or finding a professional boat-moving service of sorts. The tow would maybe an hour, and i’m guessing a full day for the full move. Im quite desperate to do this asap..any support or advice you could offer would be massively appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks again, this has been amazing - more info than I could have hoped for. Two days still it all starts.. can’t wait.

Perfect. Makes sense - it’ll be fine. Thanks loads for this

You’ve all been super helpful, thanks so much for taking the time to help. It’s reassuring that these issues aren’t as widespread as I thought and it’s put my mind at ease. Just looking forward to our fist cruise next week

I can leave my house for a few days or a week but it’s normally only a matter of hours. Perhaps I am coming across as paranoid. (Almost) worst case I lose a window and some mess is made. As long as whoever breaks in isn’t a total dick and smashes it all up I can deal with that. Ah, that’s a super good point!! Need to get on that first thing. You’re awesome.

I’m not paranoid. Do you own a home which you’ve left unlocked for going on a year? I know my village and the calculated risk. Everybody on our street has a shotgun (in the tweed-wearing sense) but I’ve not collected our boat yet so I can’t calculate the risk, hence the reason I’ve asked for support from those in the know. My mistake on the plates, I was thinking of Ali as i can powder coat them to blend in and you couldn’t tell it wasn’t steel you get the grinder out..and in that case it’s too late anyway as the sides are 4mm. and I’m not talking about a ‘bat-phone’ here..it’s a means of me knowing what’s going on for piece of mind and having the opportunity to address the situation, albeit remotely. yeah, nice one. Thanks for that.

Nope. Just had it done March so all should be well. A secondary main switch would be no different than a radiator value or cooker isolator switch and tantamount to one of the 6 or 8 trips you’d have in a fuze box. It’s just another isolation switch, makes itnsafer if anything. Also viewed quite a few boats with recent BSS and the electric setups are mental (including ours)