Flyboy

Last May we started down the Marple fight at about 9.30am. After doing the first three, a group of three volunteers arrived and asked if we would like a hand. An offer not to be refused as the paddles are very hard work on this flight. Two went ahead to set the locks and one stayed with the boat. After the last lock we all had tea an biscuits when another boat arrived to go up, the volunteers were only to happy to assist this boat back up. They said they only did it during the week starting at 10.30am. I cannot praise these guys any higher, they did it because they wanted to help others. I wonder how many of the 'moaners' actually do anything to help others on the waterways.

On the T&M between Etruria & Br.118 I recently noticed a sign next to a gap in hedge advertising 13kg. Propane at £17. There seemed to be quite a big depot there so maybe they refill cylinders & keep the price down.

ASAP used to do remote filter kits for BMC engines. http://www.asap-supplies.com/ http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/oil-cooler-adaptors

I've bought these from Midland Chandlers in the past.

The picture of the Kingfisher is stunning. There are some more fantastic pictures by Daniel Trim in his blog. http://500px.com/danieltrim

I've recently been told by one of the Harecastle tunnel keepers that CaRT want to cut costs so are going to close the tunnel for tunnel keepers lunch breaks. They are going to dock the tunnel keepers pay as a cost saving exercise. How much is that going to save? It will make for longer queue's, so perhaps they can spend the extra cash on some extra mooring rings. Anyone else heard about this proposal?

Tony's spot on but if you're worried about slackening the injector unions with the engine running you could try this. Remove the three pipes between the injector pump & injectors, clean them out, replace pipes, tighten the unions on the pump, tighten the injector unions finger tight, spin the engine until fuel appears, stop cranking & then tighten. When the engine starts keep it running to get up to a good temperature. The grey/white smoke is probably water in the fuel. The alternator light is a totally seperate issue. Listening to the youtube clip, I don't think you have any mechanical problem. Get the filter/ aglomerator fitted asap and check for water in it regularly.

If it's not bled properly as Ditchcrawler has said, it's not going to start. It looks like there is a bleed screw below the middle injector pipe, open this and operate the lift pump priming lever which is just below the throttle cable. Once you see clean fuel without bubbles try starting the engine.

Narrowcraft at Alvecote have it.

Terry Robertson who runs TR Boat handling is very well respected.

You need one of these. http://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/Products/Engineering/FuelSystem/CavFuelFilters/EA125.aspx

You need get a CAV fuel filter/aglomerator mounted close and below the tank outlet after the fuel cock. This will trap water before it gets into the engine filter and should be periodically checked for water via its drain nipple. Any Chandlery will stock one of these. You will need to clear the tank of water & crud. You may get most of the water out if you can get a pipe down to the bottom of the tank & pump it out.

The Gazelle has an amplifer box ( probably hiding in a cupboard), if this is not powered it will not work. Check if the light is on, also the red light on the rear of the aerial which is powered via the amp. box.

Moor up at Shobnal, 10minute walk to the centre.

I 'm in agreement with MTB. The op stated that the engine was restarted after the exhaust went underwater and ran for 2 hours before failing, any water in the exhaust would have been expelled in this time. My money's on water in the fuel.

You should have a filter/aglomerater close to tank outlet (probably low down on the swim). I suggest you check this for water. You may have water in the tank which got in the outlet pipe when the boat healed over.

Have you checked the voltage under load when cranking the engine? Check it at the battery and at the starter motor. The voltage should be above 10 volts on load, if lower I think you have a duff battery. Try jumping it from the domestic battery or other known good battery. I had a car once that started perfectly one morning, went to work and it would hardly turn the engine when I went to go home. The battery had expired and it was not cold weather. Similar symptons as your problem.

It used to be made by Bondaglass Voss in Beckenham Kent 0208 87780071 It might be made by someone else these days, suggest you give them a ring.

I am about to adjust the valve clearances on my Barrus Shire 45 (Yanmar TNV88 core) and want to know if the gasket can be re used. In the manual it looks like a moulded rubber thin section type and I'm concerned that it may break when I remove the rocker box. The gasket has a mind blowing price of £30!! so obvoiusly don't want to buy one if I won't need it. Any advice welcome. Thanks

Could be something simple like a badly fouled propeller, large build up of debris in front of the rudder etc. I would also check that your not pushing along something substantial under the bow below the waterline. Can you see lots of prop wash behind the stern? Is it less than normal? After checking the above I would check the drive train, prop. shaft coupling, gearbox clutches slipping (check oil level), it's also possible but unlikely that the prop. key has sheared and is slipping on the shaft taper.

Most hire boats carry enough fuel for 2 weeks cruising ( say 100hrs )

Anglowelsh include fuel in the price so you don't get any nasty shocks when you take the boat back.

We moored there 3 weeks ago and I asked a resident for the code, she said the local residents had been told by security not to give the security code to boaters. I can understand this as eventually it will get into the wrong hands eg. a property gets robbed, then the facility will be closed to casual boaters. I think Telford basin should be treated as an overnight stop only, so no need to go outside. Although you can only get 3 longish boats in there it is a very handy stop off place and we don't want to lose it. I urge anyone that has the security code not to give it to anyone else, and certainly do not put it on this forum.