John C

Had exactly the same happen with the LED's in my kitchen at home, the faint afterglow would diminsh after about half an hour. An electrical check showed no problems. These LED's where bought off Ebay really cheap, since then I have bought more expensive (from Screwfix) that do not "afterglow". I know of a couple of other installations that did the same, better quality LED's stopped it. So it could just be cheap LED's. Do the electrically learned here think this to be so?

Many years ago, (late 80's early 90's?) a guy I worked was researching into hull design for narrow channels, that is narrowboats on canals. I assisted in some measurement of the bow wave. Alvechurch lent us two boats, one with and one without the modified bow. The method of measurement was rather crude but OK for a first look, the "eco" hull gave worse results than the "non-eco" bow. We saw the evidence of improved fuel consumption, why that should be, as far as I can remember, was never discovered. I think the bulbous style of bow is called "Ostec". John

Many thanks for the replies, , still waiting to hear the good (and Bad) about Walker boat services!. It will be a back to bare metal paint job, windows etc removed, regular inspections of the work invited. What I like about these people is that they say there will be no hidden extra charges, this I believe from the very thorough inspection they did unlike some of the little more than casual glances other yards considered adequate.

I'm looking at having my boat painted, I've got quotes from several painters and the one I favour at the moment is Walker boat services at Aynho, Not the cheapest but there work looks good. Anyone any opinoins on them? So far I have heard nothing but good. John

Rubish, this guy is not an "inventor". Seems to me he just takes an existing idea/product and uses it in a slightly different way. something we all do to a greater or lesser degree. I've taken it off series record.

Many thanks for all the replies, useful info. We will see what the weather is like, a nice day and Curdworth, miserable then we will give Star City a go.

This years summer trip will take in the B and F. We will start at the Gas street end and cruise down Farmers Bridge and so on. My question is this, how far would we need to go to get to safe overnight moorings? Not looking for fantastic views, just somewhere the local idiots wont bother us. Thanks

Theres a bridge at Yarnton thats low, lower than Wedding bridge ever was, same applies to Nell, unless there is a lot of rain.

Thanks all for the advice, inline fuses it is.

Now I have access to 240 volts (shore power) I am going to use a battery charger. I have a suitable charger, a large machine mart unit. What I need to know is what protection should I put between the batteries and charger? I have had a look at the BSS requirements and it seems in line fuses would be OK, am I right? Thanks

Interesting to read the OP's fuel costs for heating, is that is just space heating and not hot water? Same as what it costs, give or take a few pence, for me to heat my house and hot water (3 bed semi) . Fuel is coal. I guess it shows the difference between a well insulated house and a narrowboat that cannot be anywhere near as well insulated. I also guess it shows that the cost of living on the water versus on the land is not much different.

So, to get things straight, is this the result of trying to pump to much down the elsan or some poor soul who needs to see a doctor with a bad case of the trots?

Not doing too well here am I, finger trouble and not too good with the search either. Still looks a lovely engine though. John

Just found this on Ebay,looks lovely. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221292541617?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_934wt_1142 If only I had the space in the engine room and the money!

Just found this on Ebay,looks lovely. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221292541617?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_934wt_1142 If only I had the space in the engine and the money........

This was my intention, we have a lot of hose to get rid of!

Not mine, they always sink or I would fish them out!

Hi All Recently someone asked about cheap fenders. This got me thinking as I seem to lose them at a rate of two ot three a year. I have access to time expired hydraulic hoses, they are about 40mm (1 1/2") diameter. I thought If I cut them to a suitable length, threaded a length of rope through, spliced a loop on one end and knotted (monkey fist?) the other this would make a cheap and effective fender. This hose will need a thorough clean. Any thoughts? John

They clearly did not turn into gold for them!

Hi All Whats happened to Alchemy boats at Yarnton (Kingsbridge) on the southern Oxford?

Gas or fluid? Rolf Harris drank his.

The one I was thinking of was a BMW motorcycle engine, but the Japanese and Italians have theirs as well.

For many years I worked at a business that had the facility to test petrol and diesel engines, during this time I witnessed many tests of the "latest fuel consumption improvement devices" including more than one magnet type. (NOT octane improvers or valve seat protection). We always approached the test with an open mind and without fail none of them made any difference what so ever. (Except one, a little "propeller" that sat between carburettor and inlet manifold that was supposed to mix up the petrol and air better than without the device, it caused a slight drop in power (efficiency) much to the dismay of the designer). On one occasion we tested an engine without, had lunch, then tested with. There was an increase in power, very small but it was there. The customer was delighted until we pointed out that over the lunch break atmospheric pressure had risen a little, that accurately accounted for the slightly higher power output. We thought no more of it until a colleague saw this device for sale, read the blurb on the packaging, it inferred that it was tested by ********** and had improved fuel consumption. Needless to say, it cost the guy a considerable sum of money to get his stock repackaged! There is one thing that has improved engine efficiency over the last 30 years or so, electronics. How else would you get a 1200cc normally aspirated petrol engine to make 170bhp, run at 13:1 cr and still give 50mpg? John

Hydrocarbons are non-polar in character, therefore passing diesel through a magnetic field will have no effect. John

The first one was in 2010.