David Mack
Patron
-
Posts
20,358 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
6
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by David Mack
-
-
this is something im having to seriously consider for next winter.
I spent a winter hooked up to shore power and using a 2kw electric heater. it warmed the main cabin up ok, but a lot of the time I truggled to get above 5 degrees during the coldest part of winter.
the electricity bill came to around £600 for 6 months. I was using 24 units of electricity a day. I wouldnt say i had it toasty warm in the boat, but it was manageable.
I think you might be better investing in some more insulation. A boat isn't a big space to keep warm and if its costing you that much, most of the heat must be going straight out through the sides and roof.
David
-
Is there a website like the one for filters that give you belt equivilents?
You shouldn't need one. If its a standard v-belt it will have a number on it - typically A or B (depending on whether it is A-section or B-section) followed by a number which represents the circumference in inches. There are similar systems for other belt types.
There are several websites giving details of what's available - see for example Bearing Boys - but you probably have a local supplier who will quicker than mail order - check yellow pages.
David
-
Suggest that you disconnect from internet and delete temp internet files & cookies etc through Windows control panel. Will help your machine run more smoothly. Do that once a week as a routine.
I use ccleaner to remove temp internet files, cookies, browsing history and the like. Its free, its good, and I have seen it recommended in a number of places over the years. There's also a version you can run from a USB stick, which you don't need admin rights to install.
Another trick I found that solved a virus problem for me is rkill. This won't remove a virus infection but it will stop many virus processes running as long as the computer is left on, so that you can then at least get on with the task of virus removal unhindered. It can be downloaded via another computer and run from a USB stick if the virus won't let you download directly.
Malwarebytes and Superantispyware free versions are both good at shifting viruses, but I found you have to run both to be sure of getting rid of everything.
David
David
-
It's actually going pass over the canal twice in about 1/2 mile. About 100 yards north and 300 yards south of Woodend lock just before the sharp bend. It will cross the the canal with only 3 & 5 feet clearance so will completly sever the canal for boats.
I raised this with HS2 through a FOI request. They can't (or won't) actually give the headroom clearance to be provided, but they have given reassurance that adequate headroom will be provided.
FOI correspondence is here.
David
-
Hello All
I am in need of photos of pram hoods especially widebeam versions.
Here's the economy version:
David
-
I'm sorry to have to disappoint Canalchef, but Tims image of light being bent through a plano convex lens is correct, and that light from either direction will produce the same focal point on the opposite side of the lens at the same distance given the same lens dimensions.
Indeed, the focal length is the same, whichever way you use the lens, but that is not the whole story.
If the dome side faces the light source the all light rays pass through or very close to the focal point, whereas if the flat side faces the source, the focal length is still the same, but less of the light passes through it, as illustrated below (from here). So with the dome up, more heat is concentrated at the focal point, and thus the risk of fire is higher.
David
-
I'll answer from my perspective, having also just acquired an unconverted ex working boat, with no gas installed, (and only minimal electrics).
Installation of gas would involve finding some way of creating a compliant gas locker, to house LPG cylinders with all the standard requirements of the BSS being met.
Whilst this could theoretically be achieved by converting part of the forward locker area to a gas locker, this would entail a lot of damage to the original structure of the boat, including cutting holes through the hull itself to provide the required vents.
I know Sarah wishes to leave Chertsey as original as possible, and we feel the same about Sickle.
We have a freestanding gas locker in Fulbourne, inside the hold. It is screwed down to stop it moving. The base of the locker is above water level and it has a flexible drain hose leading to a skin fitting in the hull. So the only modification to the original boat is the drain hole. This arrangement has passed BSS inspections a number of times.
That said, we abandoned the gas fridge and are now electric. To avoid the flat battery problem we have a relay control so the fridge is only powered when the engine is running. This is fine for boating, but does leave us with an absence of cooling if you don't do a reasonable number of hours boating each day, such as when we are at rallies.
David
-
Since then I've been many times on the Thames without being challenged despite not having a name on the bow. As long as you display the Visitor licence number they give you, you should be fine. Here's a tip, don't use the glue they have on the paper, you'll never ever get it off again. Use Blu-tack or Sellotape instead.
If you are a vistor to the Thames your boat name (for EA licencing purposes) IS the visitor number, and not the name you may choose to call the boat by. It is only craft that are permanently based on the Thames that have to have a unique name in 6 inch letters on either side of the bow and on the stern.
The unique name requirement is why you come across boats with names like "Kingfisher 276".
In practice, for narrowboats, most Thames lockies seem perfectly happy with a legible name somewhere on the cabin side.
David
-
Yes I know there are lots of old boats with props under their back cabins, i dont care how many times its been done or why and how long some have lasted, its just plain wrong.
Ever since there have been propellor driven boats, there have been rigidly mounted engines, with rigid shafts between the stern tube and the back of the gearbox (or back of the clutch for the likes of Bolinder semis which don't have a gearbox), all carefully lined up once the boat is afloat. Most don't have UJs or roller bearings or anything of that ilk - if you're lucky you might get a crude rubber coupling which accommodates a small degree of misalignment as the hull flexes under varying loading conditions. Its simple and it works.
And its not 'plain wrong'. Its just not the only way of doing it!
David
-
When I started boating in 1982 you could purchase a Tunnel Mug which was a coffee cup with a 'Tunnel' through the base of it, there were several designs describing a number of different tunnels.
I did not buy any at the time as I thought that they were a bit expensive and, being new to boating, a bit naff.
I kind of regret buying any now as, as it turns out, look like they could now be a collectors item.
Does anyone recall them or even still possess one?
Tim
I have one like the one pictured in Paul H's link which I bought on Ebay for next to nothing a few years ago. Its in regular use.
David
-
A number of years ago, Michael Stimpson set up an insurance scheme for historic boats. This is now run by Towergate. Its worth giving them a call to see what they would charge - their online quote system only works for boats up to 20 years old. Basic info is here.
David
-
There's an ad on Craigslist for a National 2DM engine and Brunton gearbox. The same ad also appears on 1classifieds.co.uk.
Its a scam. The advertiser claims the engine, advertised in London, is in Montrose in Scotland. He turned down my offer of cash on collection and asked for a bank transfer. And he offered to arrange transport for a little more money.
The address he gave doesn't exist. The phone number he gave doesn't exist.
A bit of googling has turned up a very unhappy Dutch man who paid £1720 to someone using the same address (but a different name) and then heard no more.
So don't be taken in!
David
-
So who ever put those braces in either didn't anticipate the amount of material that would be chucked in it or couldn't measure 6'10" with a stick of said length.
And why would they? This boat was built for the BCN where the quoted lock widths were (I think) 7' 2", and where boats up to about 9' beam were used on the lock free run from the Cannock pits to customers along the Wolverhampton level.
David
-
Curiosity drives me to ask this question:
Does anyone know whats the longest section of the network where you can continuously go down hill (and obviously up) through locks?
Some time ago on another waterways forum I posed the question: What is the longest distance you can travel on UK non tidal waters travelling through locks only in an uphill direction, and not retracing your steps at any point of the journey.
My own researches led me to believe that the longest route was from Eastham Lock, via the MSC, Pomona Lock, Bridgewater Canal, T&M, Middlewich Branch, Shroppie Main Line, 'hampton 21, Wyrley and Essington and Daw End branch, terminating in the Hay Head Arm (Longwood Junction), a distance which CanalPlan gives as 150 miles 6.25 furlongs (excluding the Hay Head Arm).
But another contributor to the forum identified a longer route which involved starting off below sea level on the Middle Level and ending up at Foxton top.
Titford Pools, via Tipton, and Perry Bar, to Hempholme lock on the Driffield Navigation:
199 miles, 4¾ flg and 75 locks
Or for more locks, via Farmers Bridge flight instead:
191 miles, 5½ flg and 78 locks
You could increase the distance by heading around the old line loops.
...and we have done the journey BTW also!!
Mike
But that involves the sea. If you are going to allow that you might as well skip Hemholme and carry on down the Humber Estaury and then you can keep going for thousands of miles!
(and I bet you haven't done that in a narrowboat!)
David
-
Hi All,
I wonder if anyone can recommend the most effective / economical way of powering 2 laptops whilst on board?
Currently, we have an Adverc 600w inverter,which soon drains the otherwise healthy domestic batteries. SWMBO is a digital artist, using Photoshop CS5, and when she is mid flow, she is reluctant to shut her 'puter down. Any advice will be gratefully received!
Many thanks,
Rob n Heather.
Take the laptop and its mains charger to the pub with you. In my experience most seem to be quite happy to let you plug a laptop in as long as you buy a beer or two.
David
-
... the tank has vents in the hull sides ...
<snip>
I guess I didn't make it clear that the tank is under the floor of the boat ...
How does that work then??
David
-
I've recently swapped the pump out toilet in our boat for a cassette but am wondering what to do to prevent the (integral) tank from rusting.
The tank is very shallow but presumably extends a long way along the boat. I haven't yet blocked off the hole in the floor so have cleaned and dried the tank as much as i can but it will be impossible to get it fully dry due to its size.
I was thinking of pouring something down there to stop the tank/hull sides rusting from the inside. I have so far thought of using some kind of oil which will sit ontop of any water or antifreeze/central heating agents (eg Fernox) which will mix with any water.
Any idea would be best?
Cheers
With the shortage of storage space on most boats, wouldn't it be better to bite the bullet and remove the tank, and create some lockers or drawers or whatever in its place?
David
-
Isn't that exactly what I said?
Tony
I was just clarifying that the engine cooling water goes one way, but the domestic water goes the opposite.
David
-
Currently travelling about but wondered where best to get some paint from, needs to match the exterior of the boat, bs 20c40 gloss midnight/duchess blue. Only after 1 litre to touch up the boat sides.
Is this available at say b & q or something like that?
Dulux Trade centre have made up 20c40 for me - its the colour of my doors at home. Other brands of trade paint outlets should be able to do the same.
David
-
Also - just noticed using this -
http://www.calor.co.uk/customer-services/faqs/general-cylinder-queries/cylinder-exchange-policy/
It appears that you would/may have to start a new rental agreement for the 6kg ones as it looks as if you can't exchange a 13kg for one - in reality I don't ever remember having problems swapping between sizes....that was a few years ago mind...
My local camping shop happily changed an ancient calor butane bottle for a smaller one which was easier to take camping (by car). Although the price was virtually the same for half the quantity of gas.
David
-
There was a fleet of day hire boats about this size. I remember seeing them on the T&M in the mid/late 1980s. When the fleet was sold off, about five of them were moved in convoy by two people in a long chain at an incredibly slow pace. IIRC I first encountered them at Colwich with three in the lock and two waiting above.....
Last time I saw one of them it was privately owned and on the River Soar....
I think you may have Brian Dominic's Rumpus in mind.
David
-
My understanding is that the flow should go to the top of the coil in your cylinder and return from the bottom. This should prevent thermo syphonic action being caused by the water in the cylinder. Then a non return valve should be fitted on the flow pipe as close as possible to the cylinder; once again to prevent thermo syphoning back to the engine.
Tony
The hot engine cooling water should enter the coil at the top, and leave, somewhat cooler at the bottom. The domestic water should enter at the bottom and be drawn off at the top.
David
-
There is a British Standard for the installation of stoves on boats. So far as I know it is only recommended practice for new boats at this time but if you need to replace a stove in an older boat you might well consider following the recommendations. They largely refer to air gaps between the stove and the wall and materials used for the wall in the immediate area.
A common cause of fires in older boats is that the tiles surrounding the stove are simply stuck onto plywood and if they get hot enough this can ignite. Out of site; out of mind etc etc.
The standard is BS8511
There's an article on the new standard in the May edition of Waterways World, which dropped through the letter box yesterday.
David
-
I'm also unconvinced of the need to get to Birmingham from London any quicker than is possible now.
But its not (primarily) about speed. Its about capacity. In that respect the use of the 'S' in the 'HS2' branding is unhelpful to the case for the new line.
As others have said, WCML is effectively full, so new capacity is needed. Providing additional capacity on the existing route is more expensive, takes longer, and disrupts the existing train services, so a new separate alignment is better. Once you have reached this position, then it makes sense for the new line to take the best route for today's needs (not those of 150 years ago), and for the services on the new line to operate at higher speeds to maximise the benefits of the new service.
Once the new line is open, London-Birmingham traffic can be removed from the existing route, freeing up capacity for more stopping trains serving intermediate destinations, and for (slower) freight services.
Yes there are things still to be sorted - the HS1/HS2 link should be sorted, not because there will be much of a case for running through services from the continent to Birmingham and beyond, but to provide a decent connection between the international services into St Pancras and the onward connection within the UK. That way the rail system maximises its competitive position in comparison to the airlines.
And since all the stopping services into St Pancras already run into the Thameslink tunnels, how about diverting the longer distance Midland Main Line services into Euston, and using the domestic platforms at St Pancras for HS2?
David
broad beam link south to north
in General Boating
Posted
Why? I believe the summit was built for wide boats, just the locks at either end were built narrow. When the Foxton incline was built (for up to 14 ft wide boats) the intention was that a wide boat route at Watford would also be built. So any future widening scheme will only be the realisation of earlier plans.
Much like the Warwick & Birmingham and Warwick & Napton Canals, which were built with wid(ish) channel and bridges, with the narrow locks replaced by 14 ft wide locks in the 1930s.
David