Pot Noodle Adventurer

The chandlers requested my bank account details to refund the postage and I have given them these. So just waiting. I asked why they cancelled my order and refunded without telling me and their answer was and I quote "this was to give you peace of mind that we were not just holding onto your money sir" How refreshingly honourable yeah right! I have now ordered the part through my from my local marina chandlery and I should have it in a month. They did not want any upfront payment and I have ordered from them before so complete trust in them. I only went online as I was looking to get the part more quickly. So I have learnt a lesson, and would reaffirm, always check that item is actually in stock, always pay by credit card as this affords some back up if needed, keep records and copies of communications. Thanks for all your support and advice.

Unbelievable, that would have been some weed hatch to clear. He is a lucky but foolish man.

I agree with you and in future that is what I will do. Thanks

Thanks for your comments. I did not like being held to ransom over having to return an alternative inferior isolator that I had not agreed to accept. However, when I consulted my credit card company last week they said that if I wanted them to pursue the matter with the chandlers bankers (they tell me it is not industry practice to deal with the sellers directly) then I have to send the replacement back first even if I never asked for it. My credit card company said that any reclaim they put to the chandlers bankers would be certainly rejected if I held onto the replacement goods. Now that I have been refunded by the chandler without the intervention of my credit card company I will just have to wait and see how long it takes my postage costs to be refunded? It is not all about money, more the hassle and inconvenience of dealing with an online chandlery where customer service is seemingly a low priority.

Thank you for your advice. The chandlers insisted on me sending the Stirling Isolator back before they would do anything else with my original order. Sent it last week with a covering letter stating that I still awaited original part. Hopefully they will eventually refund the return postage as agreed? Surprise, surprise, I went onto my online chandlery account today to check on status of my order and it stated order Cancelled. This is totally contrary to what I had agreed and as confirmed in the letter I sent with the return. They had not communicated cancellation with me at any point. Furthermore, I checked with my credit card company and they have just received a refund for my original order. Again, no communication from chandlery. I have been in touch with chandlery today and there was no apology for all the hassle or lack of communication. This is the first time I have dealt with them and never again. Something amiss me thinks.I will stick to my normal channels in future. Buyer beware.

Thank you for your advice and support. Out of interest I Googled the compan(ies) and also did some Company searches and it is very interesting to see who are behind this outfit and the other companies that trade from this location. Names include Marine Megastore. There are some posts on the Yachting and Boating World forums that reflect past issues. I will let you know how I get on with Credit Card provider.Thank you l

Thanks for your replies. I emailed the firm last wednesday for an up date on my order for a Quick Battery Isolator. No reply by friday afternoon so I went on their online chatroom. Advised me item was not in stock when ordered, although no indication of this at time of ordering or on confirmation email. I was advised that the part has to be shipped in from Italy and would not arrive in this country until the 27th. Expressed my annoyance as this causes me inconvenience. Asked for a refund. Offered me Sterling product but I advised them not interested as not as heavy duty or as robust. I want to replace like for like. In the end I agreed to wait for the product to be imported. Would you believe it this afternoon a courier arrived and my wife signed for a parcel and inside was a Sterling Isolator. Frustrated I went onto the chatroom and asked what was going on, the firm said that they had sent it as an identical replacement. I said I didn't want it and for their information there was supposed to be two keys with it and there were none at all so it was no use anyway. It comes no way near to the originals quality. I said I had had enough of all this messing about and wanted an unconditional refund. They refused and said I could only have a refund if I returned the replacement at my cost and this would be credited to me. I said I had neither wanted or requested the inferior replacement which incidentally is about a quarter of the cost of the original part ( the company had not mentioned any value). I asked them to send me a postage label or send a courier or swap it when the original order is delivered. They refused and said I will only get my original if they firstly receive their replacement back at their warehouse at my expense. I asked to speak to a manager as I was unhappy and dont like to be held to ransom when I clearly told them not to send a replacement. They refuse to involve a manager. What they say goes, no room for management discretion here, do as we say or else customer. This is my first experience of this firm and certainly my last.

Hi Just wondering if any members have had dealings with Force Chandlery of Coopies Way, Morpeth, Northumberland, also known as Medline Marine Distribution and for email purposes Waveline Leisure. Basically, I placed an order last week and paid by credit card, receiving an email acknowledgement to confirm order same day. Sent email early yesterday to check on progress but no replies as yet. Online tracking system just says processing order but I need to know an approximate delivery date so I can replace defective part. Probably all above board but any experiences of this company may provide reassurance. Thanks in anticipation.

It sounds like Steve Hudson built nb Blackbird?

Thankyou for your feedback Calorifier has a 3 bar pressure release valve fitted, but there is no expansion vessel in line anywhere. Interested in the success of the plastic metal repair. What is this and is there a brand name? Regards

Good evening all, Just been out cruising for 6 weeks and a couple of weeks in found that my twin coil calorifier was leaking. Caught most of the water using a large microfibre cloth dripping into a plastic tub and was able to gauge that it was leaking about 4 litres per day. Water pump didn't kick in very often and when it did only for a couple of seconds. Hot water on tap no problem and still some left overnight (water pump always switched off overnight). The tank insulation has a split approximately 10 inches long horizontally, half way up the side of the tank (it is a horizontally mounted calorifier in engine bay). I removed some of the insulation carefully from around the split but was unable to see any leak site so when I return to the boat next week I am going to remove some more of the dryfoam insulation and try and track down the leak. Now the questions are; given the above details does it sound as if the damage is likely to be significant and does it point to the leak been towards the top of the tank? If I have to take the tank out what do you have any tips re draining down, disconnecting the piepework etc. Has anyone successfully repaired a calorifier using brazing or glass fibre or some other means? Does anyone know how thick the copper is on calorifiers? Many thanks for any tips and advice.

Good Morning I have a Beta 35 (Green) engine 2006 and a PRM80 gearbox. A fellow boater has offered to sell me (at a very reasonable cost) a spare R&D Drive Plate that is stamped XG R+D 22B6O He has a Beta 35 also but it is the earlier red engine and the plate was bought from Midland Chandlers but turned out it was not the right one so is surplus to requirements. The equivalent Beta plate for my engine is part code 206-91950 as per Beta Support after quoting WOC number. I have spoken to R&D and Midland Chandlers but neither were able to confirm compatability. Any ideas would be appreciated, thankyou.

Good morning I have a crusier stern narrowboat with a Beta 35 engine and PRM80 gearbox. The control cables are Ultraflex C8s and are stamped C8M2.50176 (throttle cable) and C8M2.00515 (gearbox cable). I am looking to get some spares but two chandlers have said the above codes mean nothing to them so they can match up with compatables. Does anyone know if the codes relate to the length of the cables ie, M2.50176 is 2.50 meters and M2.00515 is 2.00 meters as this would be logical as the throttle cable is longer than the gearbox cable. I know if all else fails I can attempt to measure the cables but this would only give me a rough length. Thanks in anticipation of any help on this.

Hi I have a Webasto Thermo Top C. If yours is similar to mine it may have the fuse block in the wiring that has three fuses in it and worth checking these blade fuses to see if there is a failure. The only time I have had a dead unit was when I disturbed a wire causing a poor connection at the back of the control panel so I installed crimped spade connectors on each of the three wires behind the panel and hey presto has worked fine since, fingers crossed. Covering the Mercia area I think there is Edward Shires who fitted the system in our boat before we bought it and all good, Tel 07922 163072 of Four Counties Marine, have a look at his website www.fc-marine.co.uk based in Leek Staffordshire who may be able to assist. Good luck with it and enjoy your stay at Mercia.

Thank you all for your feedback and comments. I have spoken to Beta today and they tell me that it is more than likely a moisture issue. They advised if I could take the round tacho unit out (includes led hour counter) and put it somewhere to warm up gently (say an airing cupboard) rather than direct heat from say a hair dryer, it may come back to life. Whilst on the phone I asked where the hour counter was driven from, thinking it was an alternator connection but no it is activated when the key switch is powered on, so that educated me. Although I am sure I read somewhere about checking the alternator Y connection but that might have been regarding the tacho, which is obviously driven from this source I think. Cheers again.

Hi I have a Beta ABV control panel with an LED type hour counter. I have had intermittent problems with the hour counter either not coming on, coming on and flickering or performing normally. The panel is externally mounted (cruiser stern) and I noticed that after the winter it sometimes is temperamental and takes a few sunny days to return to normal, as if it has got damp. Now it is totally blank. I have visually checked and cleaned up all the alternator connections (twin alternator Beta 35 engine setup) and wiring loom and all seems OK. I did have to jump start the engine recently using a bridge lead from the domestic battery bank to the starter battery and wondered if this might have been a contributory factor as I forget to take the bridge off for approximately 15 minutes. Any suggestions/theories would be gratefully received.

Thank you all for your replies. I will indeed do a survey when I am next at the boat and take it from there.

Thank you for all your thoughts. The reason I brought this up was because last year I went from Leeds to Lemonroyd and back and got locked out due to flood conditions. When allowed through the flood lock(amber status)the run against us was significant and required lots of power to progress. Any catastrophic power failure would have put us into a difficult position I think. This was the first time we had cruised the area and perhaps unlucky to experience flood conditions! Does anyone have any ideas how deep the Aire, Calder, Hebble is ? Cheers

it must be 16mm squared as I cant remember it being 16mm diameter.(not on boat at present)

Hi 50 foot narrowboat around 15tons. What would be a good spec for an anchor and associated chain/rope for cruising on the Aire and Calder, Calder Hebble waterways? Prereably something the folds up flat. talking to a few other boaters they don't think these waterways warrant having an anchor!!!! What do you think? Many thanks

Hi I think I read somewhere that the cables that join the batteries in the leisure bank should be as thick as possible? I currently have pieces of 16mm cable joining the three 110amp sealed batteries. Please can you advise what is the best size of thicker cable to use as replacement? Many thanks

Many thanks for all your contributions I have enjoyed the humour. The pole comes out for cruising and in for when left unattended for days or weeks cos sadly there are some light fingered people out there. A friend of ours had his pole knicked one night on the Leeds Liverpool and I have had a brass mushroom knicked once (all are now secured with split pins, nuts and washers. Thanks again.

Hi Looking for some suggestions on how to store the 14 foot long boat pole inside our narrowboat. Are there any decorative brackets (wood or metal)available that would be suitable or do I have to improvise? Many thanks

Hi Dave Sorry to hear about your problem. Just one thing, be careful with the leaking blue as it can leave permanent or near permanent staining depending on what brand it is! I have 5 Thetford Cassettes like yours onboard our narrowboat and they have been very reliable. Thetfords UK Customer Service Number is 0114 273 8157 (Sheffield). Hope this helps. Regards

Hi I usually get a £10 monthly top up so will watch this closely. By my calculations your daily rate has actually increased by nearer 50% so even worse than previously thought.