Roger Crown

Iv'e never understood why people think the Squirrel is a good stove. Due to there design and manufacture they crack, sooner or later. Get yourself a nice welded steel stove like the Aarrow Becton Bunny. And before all the Squirrel fans start, oh it has many controls so you can really control the fire. The Becton will stay in all night on most fuels without having to bank it up to the top. Ours and the other 30 ish we fitted are great. Cheers Roger

Give Macc Marina a ring 01625 420042, speak to Kev, they had a boat grit blasted on hard standing a while back and should be able to give you the number of the guy they used. Kerridge dry dock used to do it but not sure if they still do. 01625 574287 Roger

Gibbo would be in raptures if he could see this post

"Tear Aid" is made in two types, A for vinyl type repairs and B for clear repairs. A repair done on my cratch cover window is still holding 2 years on. Available on Ebay Roger

No Mike, dissolved the company. Ceased trading, all suppliers etc paid, no punters deposits retained etcetc. Happily early retired and Ccing. Thanks Martin

A couple of inches clearance should be ok

Hi, how do I change my profile name please Thanks Roger

Hi, the brushes are behind the grille at the top of the motor. I would strongly recommend you disconnect the motor and remove it. It will make it much easier to inspect and work on. Once disconnected just remove the four SS cap head bolts and off it comes, leaving the business end attached to the thruster tube. Hope this helps Roger

Nick, Manchester isn't scary at all. I must admit we put the route off for a good while but we have now been up and down from Marple to Manchester a good few times. Marple flight is lovely, good moorings can be found just before Hyde Bank tunnel on the LPF, then 3 hour cruise to Portland Basin, good place to stop with a great museum and good brekky in the cafe the following morning. A left onto the Ashton canal which is mixed with industrial and rural (earlier problems have been some what alleviated by demolishing a scroats estate), we find it delightful, then overnight in Piccadilly Basin (secure, ask a resident for the key code to get in and out) then on to the Rochdale nine in the morning for an experience. Depending who is there depends how interesting or not it may be . The locks can be difficult if you are impatient as most have no by-pass channels. Then you can settle in to Castlefield for a few days, take advantage of the free buses circumnavigating the city. When you have had enough its all lock free cruising to Preston Brook whilst you recover. Enjoy. Regards Roger

If you are using a MPPT controller you could consider wiring the panels in series (nominal 36volt system), which would reduce the volt drop considerably. As Jim and Pat above comment, 10mm2 cable does not readily fit with standard solar panel waterproof plug and socket connectors (Mp4) If wiring in series you may want to consider by-pass diodes some info here -- http://www.solar-facts.com/panels/panel-diodes.php Regards Roger

Hi we used Arctic Automotive to install our systems when trading. Our own boat has has one of their systems, just brilliant ! http://www.arcticaircon.co.uk/auto_sat.php Regards Roger

Hi, the two lift bridges and the two swing bridges on the upper Peak Forest Canal were modified a couple or three years ago to provide small offside landing areas and bollards to tie the boat to. This was done to give the Continuous Moorers in and around the Bugsworth and Furness Vale area no excuses for overstaying even if they were single handing. You should find these bridges easy once you have mastered the technique outlined by mayalld. Enjoy your boating Roger

Hi, not seen them on a canal, at least one on the River Avon at Wyre Piddle. Plus a pair on the old Mill pond at the factory up the Tramway trail from Bugsworth Basin Roger

I would second that choice, top man. Made to what you need and brilliant quality. @Boatropefenders on twitter or furnessvale.blogspot.com/‎ or https://www.facebook.com/nb.alton‎ Regards Roger

Thanks

Hi, does anyone have a wiring diagram for the four cylinder Barrus Shire engines that had twin alternators driven off a single vee belt. Thanks Roger

Hi, welcome to the forum. The brackets you are enquiring about are available on Ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170931869552?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Roger

Chinagraph pencil is one preferred choice, and I've never seen a problem with the sign writing not adhering. Hope this helps Cheers Roger

Hi Paul Travelpower is not a straight forward unit. basically gives 120v alternating on pos and neg. You are correct the cable run to the Iso should be kept short. Realistically though how many shore line earth bonds to hull are there within say a metre of entering the boat. Also your argument would be the same if connecting a GI, you wouldn't bond the incoming side to the hull. Would you ? Regards Roger

Hi, as Paul says above if you are not connecting to shore power then you do not need galvanic protection. Paul is also correct that your Travelpower unit should have a N-E bond. The only way this can be done when connecting a Travelpower unit is by using an Isolation transformer, which contrary to Paul's advice should be fitted inside the boat. The secondary side of the isolation transformer can safely be N-E bonded. The next time you have the boat out of the water there will be further mild pitting, and from all accounts you will not have been connected to shore power. I've not seen a boat yet that hasn't got some pitting. Edited to add : Congratulations on your new boat purchase. Regards Roger

Ask Jonesy, he hasn't seen any evidence of it in 15 years!

Hi Darren Tony Martin painted a few boats for us early on and did a solid job, http://www.boatpainters.co.uk/ He works out of Silsden's wet dock now according to his website. Cheers Roger

Pm sent with owner details and phone number, many thanks JDR

Tim's idea above is a good one. To answer you directly :- Battening out and insulating , just depends really how far you want to take it. The more you do the less the condensation problem should be. Cut slots and fit vents, IMO yes its a good idea, vents as high as possible and ducted to the engine. Mount batteries in lidded boxes, not always necessary but is good practice to do so. Regards Roger

Hi, You seem to have a fairly standard set up of a trad stern with the engine sat in that space. It is essentially another room in the boat and should be insulated to prevent you being swamped with condensation in the winter months. This is my view of what you need to be doing above the engine deck boards; however insulation below them into the engine space can greatly reduce engine noise also. Ventilation to the engine space is often overlooked by boat builders; it is a vital thing to provide. The engine needs copious amounts of air just to breathe, the cooler air the better. So ventilators feeding into the engine space from the outside of the boat are a must, not only for the engine itself but for the survival of alternator/s and the usually locally sited batteries. Regards Roger