PaulJ

Ive noticed a few boats recently where the bulk of the the exhaust and silencer are mounted on the outside of the boat. OK, admittedly its not the most beautiful install but if you are on a tight budget its a sensible way to to get round any potential exhaust leaks.

Was at Northbrpok lock last time I saw it in October. Be suprised if its managed to get back.

Just found that as I approached Bratch locks. Not quite so clear of ice and maybe 1/2 thick for a couple of hundred yards. Reckon it will be gone by morning.

Im just heading down the Staffs and Worc towards Stourton Junction and theres only a few patches of ice here and there. So at least here (Awbridge at the mo) the answer to this post is incredibly, this afternoon!

Theyre not as far as I know. Ive repaired and fitted a fair few and never seen or heard of ice damage. There must be thousands of them in use around the country,both inland and on the coast where they bounce about a bit. They dont like being dropped or rammed by a forklift much though. The concrete mix they use on them is also mixed with glass strands to give it more strength.

You should try a pipe stat to control it all-works a treat.

I use the same make to heat the hot water in my calorifier from the back boiler (failed coil in calorifier) when Im stationary and off shore power. I use a BA 12-20 45kw which about does it. Its the heat differential /area which makes it work so whereas you wont go too big if you go too small it will take ages. At a guess I would use at least the next size up. Other thing you need to consider is that they have small passages in them so some sort of filter to stop blocking it and be prepared to flush it out every now and again unless your systems are immaculate. I just use one of those inline Y filters so I can easily check whats collecting when I remember.

I passed a couple on the Lee (under bridges) that were being painted on Friday. One was stripped to bare steel and the other all masked off awaiting another top coat presumably.

I have a theory that any stationary occupied boats cause damage to their own blacking. Everytime an occupant moves the boat obviously rocks and this causes it to rub on the ice. So any passing boat actually helps..😀

Its ages since I had to unstick one but I seem to remember successfully managing to close the flap/turn knob thing on top by using a coathanger wire I think. (on a very full cassette). Sure I would have remembered if I had to plunge my hands into a full cassette to sort it. Its the turny knob on top that turns 90 degrees which prevents the cassette sliding out with the flap open which is linked to the flap by a quadrant.Or something. Fairly easy to work out if you have a spare empty cassette to try it on first.

I did wonder that myself.Looked like it had been just taken out of the water as was to me on the pic where they are craning it. Thought it would have had a gleaming black freshly epoxied bottom- after all its not really in the best location for getting blacking done in the future.

Spelling has never been my strong point. I am pretty good at eating them though 😀

Not a bad idea.. Could try one of the engine tinkerers - Someone like RLWP/Primrose Engineering or Tony Redshaw might have something.

It may well be in a pond. You cant see from the canal and my altitude without a periscope. I must admit the thought had not occured to me at the time that someone would not only crane a boat out but dig a pond for it too..😀 For anyone else interested- I contacted Berkeley earlier today. Not easy as no one answers the phones and there is no email addy for them. To my surprise they actually phoned me back from the enquiry I made using their form. Chap humoured my questions about Pavo and told me it was for the use of the residents-with some mention of conference room /wine tasting etc. Asked him straight out if it was going to sell Pitsas etc which he said no to with a fairly curt 'Now you know' Still not sure we were talking about the same thing..😀

Well found, you have sharp eyes- seen it now labelled on the site plan. And yet their blurb only says- 'The piazza is home to a new Community Hub, nursery, and café and features a new piece of public art, ‘The Next Step’, inspired by pupils from nearby Alperton Community School. A historic narrowboat, originally built in 1935 for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company, has also been restored and permanently located at Grand Union, where it will serve as a unique reminder of the area’s rich history.' Bit confusing as it doent say its going to be actually serving pizzas (which Im skeptical about) which you would have thought as they have gone to all that trouble, would have advertised it as such. Its really not a good story. And I asked on here because I thought someone may know the facts.

Im actually still none the wiser but its not a pizza shack 😀 Whatever it is or isnt now -its alarmed anyhow and a strobe light was flashing on it as I passed this morning so an alarmed ornament at least. Found this on Facebook by a company called Rise Media who posted the following - Berkeley Group: PAVO 🛥️ How often do you get to document a 200 mile boat journey? Berkeley Group have acquired a historic narrowboat called PAVO, and are returning it to its original home at their new canalside development, Grand Union. We produced a 10 minute film following its journey from Nantwich to Alperton, along with interviews exploring the Berkeley Group's commitment to placemaking and heritage.

Just found this- looks like its set in a pond.. https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/developments/london/alperton/grand-union Pics of this boat could now overtake the one on the Oxford Canal 😀

Cheers-will have a read..

Well I thought of many things -even wondered if it was owned by a security guard and used for onsite accomodation- but Pizza didnt come into any of them.. Heres another view of it.

Its on a massive new ongoing housing development. Very pristine, which is what got my interest. I suppose as ornaments/sculptures go its probably not that expensive in the scheme of things but it cant be that surely. I wondered if it was maybe something like a community classroom or something like. I did think the Paddington Arm was up a bit at the mo with all the rain..😀

I havent been on the Paddington Arm since April/May (I think) and sure this wasnt there then so done fairly recentish.Obviously lifted out here for a very good reason but what?

Cant you get a fixed price to take the guesswork out? Its not hard to work out how long any trip is going to take- you are not looking for minute accuracy-just to the nearest day or half day..

I would give either Ray at bargemovers.com or Tuckeys at MJT cranes a shout. Ray will know where all the local cranes are to get your boat on and off and Tuckeys will bring their own. Otherwise its March at the earliest..

Done exactly the same on my Sabb and it works fine- main reason for doing so was the flow of cooling water is so minimal I wanted as much heat going through the calorifier as I could get.

Would think alcohol/illness is probably the worse one. Can think of at least ten people straight off that I have known that have died either on or next to their boats and none involved locks. So by that theory its not doing locks thats the most dangerous.