The Wind Lass

This is a great idea, simple and effective

I’m back for more good advice… my calorifier started leaking. It was obviously really old and likely had seen some freezes over the winter before I bought the boat. I hired someone to install a new one. Looks like they may have dropped it on install or at least scratched the outside. Will scratches be a problem? Also, they gave me one that was at least 30% larger than the old one, even though I said, like for like. Will this cause issues? Thanks for any friendly advice.

Ah, ok. It’s 1996 but the new engine will be fewer HP than the old, so ok there.

Many boats have old Perkins engines in them. My boat was built in the 90s and the hull is good quality, thick steel deemed excellent by the surveyor. I plan to take good care of the hill so this little boat might be around in 20 years. Though not sure I’ll be the owner. Hopefully all of us posters here will last that long…

Thank you!

That’s interesting info and something to keep in mind. Do you mean there are engineers at New Mills Marina?

The 4107 is the previous model so even more difficult to get parts. Plus every gasket is leaking oil. I would be very grateful if you could find out his name. That is the area I’ll be near.

There’s a Perkins 4107 in there now. I’m thinking about a Beta replacement but am open to other possibilities

Richard, thanks for the recommendation. I think that won’t be possible as I’ll now be up in the Peak District, so about a weeks drive away. Know anyone near there? I did budget a substantial sum to replace the engine. Surveyor gave me an estimate.

The tut, tut, tut is the sound a Lister makes (at least to me). Current engine is Perkins. It’s in really bad shape and I knew that when I bought the boat. I’m interested in a new, reliable engine. Assumably one made in Asia but Im open to possibilities. Issue at hand is finding someone skilled and willing.

Edit: the boat will be near Manchester/Sheffield It’s not the repairable type…doesn’t go tut, tut, tut. Should have been retired when it was taken out of a lorry 30 years ago. 😕

Any recommendations for someone to fit a new engine in a narrowboat near to Derby?

Also, when you run your engine there is nothing between diesel exhaust and your living quarters except for a thin, leaky, single paned window (unless your exhaust from above in which case your get exhaust in your face as you cruise). You are going to smell some engine/exhaust smells no matter how well you maintain your engine. Some people may have gotten used to the smell over the years, also as we age our sense of smell dulls. I just can't see a way that it isn't a factor. I really wish I could easily and reliably access HVO bc I think the smell is less.

I know this is a really old thread but how could you not have a diesel smell? There's a tractor engine running and separated from your living quarters by a thin piece of plywood. If you don't smell diesel/oil/etc. then your nose might not be functioning well. The smell really settles into my hair. Same smell as when I used to spend the day on my Massey. It's not the very best smell but I'm resolved that no matter what I do in life a diesel engine will likely be part of it.

True, and that's a good point about the radiators. I'm going to investigate a bit, but I'm reading about safety issues with the backboilers and so am doubtful about wanting to keep it. But also want to make sure I can remove it completely as it looks like there have been cases of empty/sealed backboilers exploding when there's a fire in the box.

There is a calorifier but the backboiler is not connected to it. Good point about the pump, but at this point I don't think I want to bother to get the system working. But I would like to preserve the rads for another possible use (maybe diesel heat?). I'll check the stove to see if the back boiler is integral, if not, maybe I can remove it?

We just bought the boat and have not been able to get it to work at all. None of the radiators heat up. Suspiciously there is an on/off button for the boiler but as far as I can tell it only turns the pump off. The pump is new and does run. We bought the boat from a boatyard and they had it working at some point. Surveyor looked at it and didn't note any problems but also didn't run it. I haven't bled it, only noted that the coolant looked neat. Is there a way to disable the back boiler? We really don't need it.

We have a small boat (40ft) that was fitted with a back boiler (on a multi fuel) with 4 radiators. We expected to be roasting with this set up....however, the radiators don't heat up but coolant spews from the header tank when the fire is hot. The coolant looks like it hasn't been cut with water, am thinking that could be the problem. All radiators are open. Any thoughts/advice? And, yes we keep the pump on when the fire is lit.

Evening, I'm looking for a reliable boat insurance company to insure a live aboard narrowboat. Which have been easy to work with, responsive, etc? Thank you for any input.

That’s ok. I found this through google search so anybody else who reads archived threads for info might hopefully be persuaded against dumping piss in the canal. Archives are timeless.

Can you provide the reference of the "university" study that stated drinking urine is safer than tap water? I think you are trying to say that tap water contains contaminants that urine does not. Depends on what the person has been ingesting. Urine is the waste product filtered out of your blood by your kidneys. By the time it hits the air and has gone through your urethra and touched your bits, it is not sterile. Please just follow the rules and don't pour urine into the canal or on the tow path. If everyone did this we'd all just be floating in a giant toilet, which would make us, well... https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/go-boating/a-guide-to-boating/living-on-a-boat/what-toilet-waste-disposal-options

Would a GRP top generate less internal condensation?

I was wondering about a vapour barrier. I wonder if there would be an easy way to spot what insulation and/or vapour barrier is underneath (without doing damage to someone else's boat). Thank you for the information about the polystyrene interaction with PVC.

That all makes sense, thank you. I guess I'm wondering about buying a used boat. I'm wondering if spray foam was used in most older boats (I kind of doubt it). How would you check if there has been internal moisture damage to the hull?

Have you ever come across the term insultation?