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Does your insurance require an anchor when on rivers? Paul M

I would urge you to look at the gas consumption of this heater and compare that to the ability of your chosen gas bottles/regulator to supply the heater. Remember on your BSS the examiner will run all LPG appliances at their maximum to evaluate the flames for an efficient flame picture. I have heard reports that 13/15kg bottles do not have sufficient "take off" of gas to run this heater and when run with any other appliances poor flames result. Paul M

There is no requirement , in private boats, for cables adjacent to fuel/gas lines to be in conduit, just "clear" of the pipes, unless wiring is double insulated when they may touch said pipes. (standard 3.3.2). Paul M

We have had an Old Dutch for 11 years and "blow back" is a problem in gusty swirling wind. To lessen the problem we have, above deck, a conventional 28" chimney (our roof collar is a cast solid fuel stove job) inside of which is a stainless flue pipe that locates inside the stove flue, the void between the two is stuffed with insulation, (the outside of the chimney is cold to touch when running) this has increased the draw no end and all but eliminated blow backs (this weeks exceptional winds gave some) and allows us to run the stove with the valve turned down to almost off and still have a blue flame with no yellow in the catalyst. I am going to give Has Beens' idea a go. Paul M

Looks like a Broom hull to me, they were prolific suppliers of hulls to various, mainly Broads based hire fleets. What engine is fitted? Perkins 4.107/4.108 were favoured in that era. Might be worth contacting a Broads based brokerage such as Norfolk Yacht Agency. I think I heard that Brooms has finished but may be wrong on that.

or Whilton?

Dad, Does your water heater take its inlet from the hot water out connection of the calorifier or is it fed from the cold water supply? Instantaneous water heater raise the water temp by a set amount, and using hot water in could result in scalding. It used to be a BSS fail point to have supply from a hot water source, but as it only harms the crew it is no longer (>2005) a fail point - private boats only. HTH Paul M

Mike, I agree 1.5 would be sufficient for a 10 amp @240v load, I only said 2.5 'cause that seems to be the norm. 12v earth bond? No BSS requirement but is the subject of a lot of disagreement between the 'lecky experts (Ex-a has been- SPURT - a drip under pressure) Arctic 3 core cable is indeed double insulated in BSS terms, but I would add additional protection. Conduit not required just a requirement to support clear of hazards 240v bond? see answer to 12v bond.

Note that there is no requirement to use multi strand cable, the use of twin and earth is not a failure point (private boats), BUT best practice says use multi strand. There is no BSS requirement for there to be fuses/circuit breakers or Residual current circuit breaker (AKA RCD). BUT best practice says use both. A lot of installations use a "garage" consumer unit from Screwfix (or similar) this comes with an rccb and a 6amp (lights) CB and a 10amp CB for sockets. Mike, most installations use 2.5mm 3 core flex "Arctic" cable. I think that the lack of a BSS requirement for fuses/CB's/RCCB reflects the diverse opinions within the marine industry on the subject of 'lectricity. Cable should be supported clear of anything that could cause damage, clear of fuel/gas pipes and protected from chafe when passing thru bulkheads, note there is no designated supporting distance, nor a distance from gas/fuel lines just clear of them. Note also that double insulated cable is regarded as being adequately protected from chafe where it is in good condition. Ref BSS Pt 3.2/3.3/3.4 Paul M

It was changed in the 2005 review which focussed on items that could cause fire, spread of fire, explosions and pollution . There many organisations and individuals who thought it was crazy but the AINA led review concluded that whilst ventilation was highly desirable it did not fit the review criteria (fire explosion etc). The reviews conclusion was that boat owners should take responsibility for their own (and people on board) safety. This is why the older 2002 standards are still applicable to hire boats, as the people hiring may not be aware of the risks. My own view, as an examiner who had had death on a boat I certified, was that it was a crock of sierra hotel india tango. Dont want to start a bss bash thread because its time to move on from 2005, just answering carlt's post Paul M

I think examiners have had a tech newsletter about breaches of the diverter lip, for securing purposes, and been told to accept it If Rob M is out there he could check and post. (sorry Rob) Paul M

Cant recommend any second hand dealers, but a friend uses mariner 15s on hire boats. Bullet proof, but must get the "Big foot" gearbox version. Mercury 15 is same engine but dont know if big foot gearbox is available on the merc. Mercs. used to be at a premium price over the mariners. Paul M

As the lesser spotted leak tweeker once said "don't talk torque to me" Re tightening compression fittings can I point to the instructions on the Wade fittings website @ www.wadefittings.com Paul M

Well...... I would do an installation to BS PD 5482Pt3, I would ask my insurance Co (in writing) if they are happy with the BSS lpg/appliance standards and if yes get a BSS cert. The current BSS Pt 7/8 are derived from the BS PD 5482 and an installation to the PD will exceed the BSS requirements. (if done correctly of course) If the Inns. Co. not happy with the BSS then ask which standard they require the installation to comply with (there's two, at least) Paul M.

Hi coming from the south, lock 34 Meaford due to close 05/12 to 21/12/11 lock 32 Meaford 21/11to 09/12/11 and lock 39 stoke flight 07/11 to 25/11/11. these are in west midlands area so contact Fazley office for the gen. Harecastle tunnel on winter hours so need to book 48 hrs notice for passage on Mondays, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays. Red bull office for tunnel bookings. HTH Paul M

Mark, dont get fixated with which No (on the valve) your boiler runs on. With these drip feed fires the quality of the flame is the thing that determines the efficiency of the fires and the quality of the flame is determined by the draw your flue system can deliver. A blue flame with little yellow in the tips and no yellow in the catalyst is the most efficient and with a good flue should be achievable over a range of settings. The key to a good draw is the above deck part of the flue, we use a "narrowboat" roof collar and chimney, cruising one is 12" and static is 28" both are twin wall with the void between the walls stuffed with as much fibreglass insulation as I can get in. I think that kuranda are able to set up control valves on a rig, it does sound as if the hi and low settings are out. As a matter of interest you should not a need a pump if you have a fuel head of 2 1/2 feet. We use a pump, (cant remember the make its the german interrupter pump that midland sell) as our diesel tank is below the level of the fire, it does one pump stroke every 25 secs (ish) We have found our old dutch OD4 to be ultra reliable, in 10 years the valve has remained untouched. I keep a spare window on board and a spare thermocouple. If you have trouble with inconsistent fuel feed then the short pipe from the valve to the scraper tube may be blocked with a lump of carbon, the scraper tube can be removed in situ and the pipe removed for blowing out. If the scraper is loose and the seal is shot then just wind some PTFE tape around to create a new seal. Hope this helps Paul M

I would ring Calcutt boats and ask what is the maximum permanent "down" angle for the model, (as opposed to the intermittent angle) as a supplier of marine engines this is info they should have to hand. Paul M

the LPWS engines have a v small spring that connects the stop lever to the fuel rack if this spring stretches then the fuel rack does not return fully to the run position, as you crank the motor the vibration returns the rack eventually and the engine runs fine. the spring is accessed via the front of the engine. A friend had this very prob. 2 yards told him a new motor was required, a call to listers put him on to this known problem , once access was sorted it was a 1/2 hr job and he found a spring in his tool box Paul M

I know that its been touched on previously but I would like to reiterate the first rate service that DIPERK give. I ordered a water pump and hoses at 2pm on Thurs. and they were delivered at 10am this morning. knowledgable staff on the phone who WILL phone you back when they say they will. Usual disclaimers Paul M 3HD46

last I saw it was at otherton marina on the staffs&worcs, might be worth a phone call Paul M

yep i use Diperk as well, you will need the engine No which is on the right side of the engine block. Paul M

oops, sorry about that. In my defence, Ive spent the last 3 months focused on the hire boat standards (2002 ECP's) and BS PD 5482pt 3 2005, there could be a campaign to allow non room sealed fridges to be inserted into the BS PD, as are non room sealed instantaneous water heaters. Paul M

Mike, always good to have some sense injected into the topic. FYI I understand that a co detector/alarm for marine use is close to availability, along with fitting/location instructions. On the subject of flueing lpg fridges into the accommodation spaces, although the majority of the unflued fridges have a low heat input rating, (0.2kw?) and thus attract a small increase in fixed ventilation, as you know many of these fridges suffer with a poor flame picture due to insects, corrosion in the pipework of the flue pipe. I remember electrolux saying that fridge flues should not be extended beyond the length supplied in their kit as condensation can occur in the pipe and cause the extended pipe to deteriorate. Of course the room sealed fridge is no longer available so will we see a campaign to allow the non room sealed version to be fitted, as occurred with instantaneous water heaters. Paul M

ok 7.1.1- I did say IF in a compliant cyl locker, where in that standard is a location specified? 7.2 - 7.5 where in here does it specify a location for that locker? As far as I can see 7.5.1 is the only standard that specifies where an opening into a cyl locker cannot be, and we are not discussing openings in the specified places. Paul M