hscott

I offer much thanks for that fact!!!!!!

Thank you both so much for your advice so far - much appreciated! I'd really love to do it - I estimate it would take 2-3 weeks to do it well, working every day - maybe this is an over-estimation, but I hope not an under-estimation! For a 56' boat, does anyone have any idea how much paint would be required? Sorry for the plethora of questions! As a weekend-only boater, am looking forward SO much to time in the summer to just be on the boat!!

Hi there - thank you for your quick response!!! There are areas that are flaky - namely the roof and handrails (which are solid and attached to the roof...) What would you reccommend with these bits?

Hello Wonder for any advice/pearls of wisdom/words of warning. We own a 12 year old ex-hire cruiser stern nb, 56' long. Bits of rust have recently started to become more visible than they were last year (to be expected!) and we're wanting to re-paint. It looks as though this boat (as I imagine is the case with many hire boats) has been re=painted with coat on top of coat to keep it looking good, without getting stripped down. We can't really afford the cost of professional preparation/painting, and being honest I love a challenge and would consider doing it myself (I am aware that TIME would be needed and that would be no problem as I have a long summer holiday this year) however I need advice/info before attempting to go down this route. What would anyone suggest? Is it necessary to strip ALL the paint off (if so, HOW would be the best way to go about this...) or just sand down the rusty bits, deal with the rust, build up the gaps and paint over the top of everything. Help! Many thanks,

HI there Grateful for any thoughts on what could be the matter with our boat... Running the engine all afternoon (3hours) as we have done on many previous occasions (boat was stationary). All of a sudden, we heard what sounded like a surge of power, and then a reduction of power, a surge again and then the engine cut out. We tried to re-start, but the engine although it was trying, it wouldn't turn over and ignite properly. Any ideas?

Hello! Anyone have any good contacts for supply of stern covers? Many thanks in advance for your time if you can help!

Was Mike Heywood not connected with Evans & Son at some point? Apologies if I'm stating the obvious...

Update for anyone who'd like it.... Engine totally serviced yesterday, and full inspection done - fortunately, she's been given a clean bill of health and everything seems in good working order - we've been incredibly lucky. Seems the stern gland doesn't need re-packing either, and the electrics haven't been damaged (Although I know that any problems may arise in 12mths), however the engineer seemed to think it's as sound as it can be given the near miss we've had. THank you all for your advice - what a week this has been - just about coming back down to earth and thanking our lucky stars that we found it when we did...

Thanks for that - we've taken advice from RCR who have been absolutely superb throughout, and we're having the starter motor (which ironically was brand new in August last year....) reconditioned, and the engine thoroughly serviced and looked at and dried out as much as we can. It's obviously a major priority for us this week...keep realising just how fortunate we've been....

Cheers, yeah - we've got an engineer coming tomorrow to change the oil until it's back to normal - we've been so lucky, we're not taking any chances so are being meticulous not to overlook anything....

Hello! T H A N K Y O U for the aqua vac suggestion! WEnt to ScrewFix (THANKYOU!!) in Burton on Trent today and it worked an absolute wonder!!! Having the engine looked at tomorrow for oil change, gearbox oil change and overhaul - seems we've been incredibly lucky that the damage isn't a lot worse...two convector heaters, the central heating on full pelt and a de-humidifier, and we have a floating sauna which is starting to dry out already....back out early tomorrow to continue. Thank you all for your kind suggestions and support!

Hello and thank you to everyone for your speedy and helpful replies - really really appreciate it. To answer a few things, RCR haven't fixed the problem yet, although we have ceased the leak and have been advised not to turn the engine over until we've got an engineer to fix the problem - this is in hand, as is the oil and gearbox oil change, starter motor repair and general service and repair of engine (and cleaning up of engine area...) It's not a springer hull, it's an Evans and Son hull fitted out by a family-run hire firm which we bought in 2006 - only 10 years old and in excellent condition with a good survey report. There is one hatch in the very rear cabin which allows access to the hull, however it's only on one side (as I said before) - no idea if there's anything obstructing the whole of the hull draining to this side, that's our main concern - think we might need to create further hatches to check. We have removed all the curtains, the mattresses and anything else that might retain moisture - spending the next few days with heaters and de-humidifier in the affected area, and trying to get hold of the aquavac thing this morning...we've also emptied the water tank as we're in the process of winterising too, so that's more or less empty. Thanks for all your advices - really really grateful....

Hello Discovered on New YEar's Eve that our boat has suffered a leaky stern gland which has resulted in the engine becoming submerged, and water leaking into the boat trhough the gap near teh pipe leading to the calorifier. Water had also been coming through the exhaust pipe which added to the volume inside the boat. The wonderful people at RCR came to our aid and helped us get the water out of the inside of the boat, and then the engine, and miraculously, the engine started - we were amazed and very very grateful for this major bonus.... However, our big concern is that there is water lying inside the hull which although we have drained by using a battery operated pump, there still lies about an inch of water on the side that is visible, and goodness knows what down the middle and other side of the hull. We've only had this boat (cruiser stern) for just over a year, and so aren't fully familiar with its layout, so are unsure about what exactly lies beneath the floorboards. Does anyone at all have any experience of floodings of this sort, and in particular of draining/drying out hulls? How on earth do we manage it? THank you to anyone who can help us...

Hi there We did the Caldon last month, stopped at Milton (beyond the Foxley pub and the moorings marked on the Pearson canal companion - the other side of the bridge at Milton) the first night; at Consall Forge (dining at the Black Lion at night - beware, no mobile phone reception!); decided to turn at Consall as we were warned how shallow and narrow the canal was to the entrance to Froghall Tunnel and we decided we'd just appreciate the scenery at Consall! We stopped at the Boat Inn in Cheddleton for a lunchtime pint and then at Denford for dinner - the Holly Bush - excellent food. Sadly, we didn't make it down the Leek Branch, but another time. We moored safely on Saturday night outside the Toby Carvery at Festival Park - although I know of people who have had trouble here. We have moored the other side of the road bridge twice, although I think I preferred the CCTV on offer at the Carvery! Hope your trip is good - very jealous, would love to still be out!

Thank you to all - Sandpiper is now topped up with anti-freeze, drained of water and about to get a serious dose of brasso and wax from me! Thanks again for advice and help

Hi there I wonder if anyone could please tell me about any courses/tuition that they may know of for signwriting courses. I've been painting "Roses & Castles" for many years, and have a real interest in learning the art of signwriting (I studied graphic design many years ago at art college). I'm very much of the opinion that the best way to learn a skill is to learn from those already doing it (if that makes sense!) and so should be really grateful if anyone can point me in the direction of someone who may be interested to help me. With thanks in advance to anyone who responds

Many thanks for your replies and help - much appreciated! Will absorb all this information, and if I may, possibly return to ask for more advice! Your experience is much appreciated! Thank you again!

Not as sad as driving an hour to marina after work at 4pm and sitting on our boat in the dark (saved hassle!) for an hour, before returning to the big smoke to purchase groceries from Tesco!!! Now THAT'S sad.....

Hello there First winter we've had our boat, and I'd really appreciate advice on winterising. What's essential to do? I'm thirsty to learn so any advice is very much appreciated! Thank you!

Many many thanks for all the replies! Really appreciate the friendly and detailed and helpful comments I think, with my ratehr limited knowledge in this area (and my chronic fear of breaking our new boat and/or blowing myself, and the rest of the Trent and Mersey up...) I shall seek advice from a Marine Engineer on this one! Just wondered if it was going to be a massive sum of money or something tha was manageable - we'd love to be able to get power hooked up asap so that we can go and enjoy being on the boat without having to worry about flattening batteries or running the engine disturbing others! Thanks to everyone again - anyone with contacts in the Midalands/Derbyshire/Staffordshire area that may be able to help with this, I'd be glad to hear! Thanks again

HI there Just picked up our new boat, an ex-hire boat, and would appreciate any information from more experienced boat owners as to how to go about enabling us to take advantage of the on land mains power. The boat isn't as yet fitted out with equipment to do this, and so would be really pleased to hear from anyone as to how to go about it, costs/times/logistics involved, etc... Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi and thank you all for your detailed responses - really grateful! Hope nobody thought I was "dissing" Birmingham - love travelling through city centres, its just we'll be doing it early/mid November, and we acknowledge its very different travelling in winter to blazing tropical July temperatures....although with the recent unsettled weather, you never know, we may be feeling the heat come November! We're travelling from Wootten Wowen towards Fazeley - if anyone has any suggestions (i.e. via Knowle locks or via Lapworth flight) then we'd love to hear them! Again, thanks for the responses so far - nice to hear all your experiences

Hi there Wonder if anyone could give any advice on where to/not to moor going through/towards Birmingham, overnight? We did this route in the summer of 2005, but we're going to be doing it next month and so wonder if anyone has any suggestions - seems an age since we were in the area! I think we stayed in Catherine De Barnes one night, and specifically wonder if anyone has any info about Minworth? We want to get in and out of Birmingham city in one day - leaving as early as we can as we're conscious of the light fading earlier than in summer!!! Any suggestions, gratefully received! Thanks

Hi there Have you considered seeing if the local Tesco does Home Shopping? I know of a few people who have arranged this for when they've been hiring boats/cottages, and it seems to be a great energy (and money) saving option. Have a great trip!

I can imagine! What part of the Thames were you on? We did Oxford to Brentford and then down to Limehouse last July.