Flyboy

Suggest you phone the East Midlands waterways office on 01827252000 ( John Pritchett)for clarification. Ian

You will have to partially drain the system down so the water level is below the thermostat. Ian

My Webasto is over 4 years old and runs with no noticable exhaust fumes. A smell of diesel or gas indicates a leak somewhere. Get it looked at asap. Your boat builder is talking through his stern gland. Ian

Now reopened.

Does the pump actually run? If it does not it could be seized, jammed by a foreign body or the fuse has blown. If it runs then it's probably a blockage after the pump.

Proper plumbers obviously do need to use them if there's a 75% failure rate. I suspect it's something to do with cost.

Just finished reading 'The Voyages of the Princess Matilda' and really enjoyed it, in fact I found it hard to put down once started. If you watched the BBC 4 series 'All at Sea' you'll like the book even more. Very well written by Shane Spall it's full of humour and anecdotes that most boaters will identify with. Did anyone meet Timothy Spall when he had a narrowboat on the Grand Union? He comes across as such a down to earth person. Ian

I've got 4 x 110a/hr Multicell 'Leisure/Marine' batteries that are now 4 1/2 years old and still performing well. Ian

Hi Steve, I would source an original part if I were you. Try Calcutt boats or RCR, they should have spares. Regards Ian

Hi Steve, the bolts appear to be wire locked. Just cut the wire,replace the gasket and re lock with soft iron wire. Not a specialist job. If you PM me I'll send you some stainless aircraft locking wire if your stuck.

Assuming you are not single handed, it can easily been done in two 8 hr. days.Day 1:- Tardebigge top top lock to Stoke prior. Day 2:- Stoke prior to Diglis. If you have a good crew you should clear Tardebigge in 4 hours.

Alex,this is the one fitted by Barrus (RG 5725): http://www.prestolite.com/pgs_products/specs.php?item_detail_id=19981&item=35215315&product=ALTERNATOR Ian

Do not connect the white connector. If you connect it the regulator will be bypassed and the alternator will deliver maximum output and won't last very long. This wire is only needed when a charge controller is used. I got this info from Barrus about four years ago when I asked whether it should be connected. The alternator is a Prestolite incidently. Ian

I think it says Glascote actually.

If you have later Shire 45 it will have an electric pump, so it will be easy to fit a Facet Posiflow one which is much better.Purolator, the makers claim a 6000hr life. I believe RCR stock these pumps. Make sure you ask for 8mm (5/16") fittings. If you fully fill your tank you may be able to get your engine running on gravity feed, most nb's have about half the tank above the injection pump.

Yes your scheme should work fine. 6mm cable is more than adequate, 2.5 should be fine. Do use stranded flexible cable and not solid domestic cable.

In sleep mode the fan is inoperative so it is quieter at night. The output is reduced to a third ie 8 amps max. You select sleep mode by a switch on the charger.

I can recommend Steel Developments too. I had badly bent all three blades and was charged £80 (18inch prop), it came back looking better than new and nicely balanced, it actually performed better than before.

Thanks for that Alex, most helpful. Ian

Alex (Steelaway), do you have the Unipart filter numbers for the Shire 45? I'm struggling to find a pattern air filter for this engine. Ian

David & Deborah Bixter are the new owners who operate Grantham Bridge Boat Services at Hillmorton (01788 578661). They also run the Willow Wren hire fleet at Rugby.

A smaller diameter prop. with a larger pitch does not nessessary mean more cavitation. One of our forum members, Billy Pownal was not happy with the revs. he needed to get a good cruising speed ( Barrus Shire 45/18x10 prop). He changed it for an 17x14 and used 200rpm less to get the same speed. An increased clearance between the prop. tips and counter reduces the risk of debris getting trapped and improves the flow through through the prop. reducing cavitation. A good rule of thumb is 2" on the pitch = 1" on the diameter. Propellor selection seems to be more of a black art than scientific IMHO.

I use this Draper strap wrench which is good for confined spaces. Barrus supply this strap with their engines. http://www.drapertoolbox.co.uk/draper-13771-12-square-drive-3824-63505

Barrus recommend 18x10 for the Shire 45 ( 2:1 gearbox). My choice would be 17x14 or 17x13 if I was buying a new prop. Your 18x12 should be fine but maybe it's not giving you enough clearance between the tips and the hull/skeg which may cause ringing. Do you have an anti cavitation plate under the weed hatch?