Sir Nibble

Exactly so. The point was made that if proper anglers take their litter home then there are a lot of anglers who aren't "proper". You then listed a variety of baits left behind which are not an issue to anyone but a bonus feed for the wildlife. Quite correct. Jeb and I have mentioned baits COMMONLY left on the bankside as death traps for the wildlife, and you have pointed out that this is littering. You are right, it is littering, by anglers. I have been known to drown a worm or two in my time and the crap left behind by idle morons annoyed me then making me feel complicit in their oafish conduct. I quite understand that proper anglers such as yourself with a proper respect for the bankside enviroment and its occupants will feel similarly let down. I would be astonished if any angler of any experience has not encountered entanglements of hooked monofil hanging in bushes, half empty jagged bait tins and picnic litter left behind by anglers with less intelligence than their bait. That is not to tar all with the same brush, but rather to recognise that you probably hate such conduct more than boaters do.

Time and time again I meet hire boaters at Bradford on Avon lock just out of Hilperton and stuck with their first lock. I positively enjoy helping them through and sometimes when the wife is ashore I will hang around the lock windlass in hand for no better reason. I meet some really nice people and try to be a positive aspect of their waterway experience. It is quite unneccessary to buy the hamster a pint at the canal tavern but soggy fur is always to be welcomed!

Well I'm not so sure. Steve Pullinger's explanation looks quite credible to me, though I'm certainly no expert on tax. HMRC moves in mysterious ways.

Hurrah for the tatally gullible public! (It's a living).

I entirely agree. Hire boaters are on holiday, wreathed in smiles and ready to be happy. What's not to like?

Well that's true insofar as during bulk charge 5A going on running a load is 5A the battery won't get, but conversely once you get to absorbtion that's 5A extra from the alternator that the battery doesn't need to supply. If there are big loads to be applied I would sooner apply them with engine running. Apart from anything else, you should always turn off a load you're not using on charge or not.

If this is a problem area then it may be a reasonable theory that someone lives around there who gets their fuel supplies this way. Leave a jerrycan of fuel available with a couple of tins of brasso in it, the theif will stop stealing fuel when they no longer have an engine.

Mine are almost certainly in the same state, I don't KNOW because until things stop working I shan't check. No matter how stuffed the batteries, if your normal pattern of useage is unnaffected and you are not having to constantly run the engine to keep the lights on, you don't have a problem. I am an auto electrician by trade. If someone told me that I would offer them travelling directions.

So you could be done for low flying!

It is driven by a magnetic coupling. The motor spins a magnet, (in air) which turns the pump impeller (in water) the two separated by a plastic partition.

I have to disagree with Gibbo and John. I would go for the series resistor, especially given that this is a permanent magnet motor and the field density will be unaffected. You might want to consider the resistor pack used to speed control a car heater blower and even though it will not apparently work, it will give you 3 or 4 non working speeds to try out. I had the same problem and moved mine into the engine compartment.

Now they have proven themselves unworthy of your generosity. Problem is, that 'cos you don't know who it was you may well end up giving them some assistance in the future.