sebrof

No. A smaller engine has smaller and lighter parts, and all else being equal will use less fuel than a larger engine to do the same amount of work. The 20i is significantly more expensive than the 10i, and unless you use it a lot at full power, you are probably not going to see much benefit for the extra expenditure.

My statement was an elucidation.

And, of course, running the engine costs nothing. And it needs no maintenance. And oil changes cost nothing. And engines never suffer from wear. And they make no noise. But if you're a well-organised chap with time on your hands, and you know how to measure a battery's state of charge, then by all means use a cheapo charger.

On a point of order, Bizz, I think the regulations would demand a stern light be fitted to the skier's derriere. A light on the top of his head would, perforce, be an all-around light, which would tell other navigators that he was a vessel at anchor. We need to insist that proper lights are displayed in all circumstances. If not, nocturnal water-boarding might come to be viewed askance by the authorities, with the consequent danger of a ban.

You can't consider the cost of a charger in isolation. A proper charger will extend the life of your batteries, and thereby save you money.

BW rules don't normally apply on waters where Colregs do apply. If you take your BW boat on the tidal Thames, for instance, you are subject to PLA rules (which embrace Colregs), not BW rules.

For a moment I found myself agreeing with you (well, not to the point of contempt), but then you went and spoilt it. There is no legal or practical reason to have navigation lights on the canals proper, but boats that venture onto big rivers at night are legally obliged to have proper nav lights. And those do NOT include a bloody great searchlight on the front, which will blind people coming the other way. Nav lights are not for illumination; they are for telling other vessels your location, speed, propulsion method, and type. And for larger NBs, while under way, the regulations call for a mast light, facing forwards, not a mast-head light (which is visible from all angles). Phylis is right to say that it is not straightforward to fit nav lights to NBs. A small mast is required to elevate the mast light, and the side lights need to be elevated sufficiently so that they can be seen from ahead. Proper lighting is quite rightly enforced by the authorities. I was hailed by a police boat recently because the mast light on a friend's barge that I was skippering was U/S. I placed a man on the bow with a torch , and was allowed to proceed.

I do hope this gentleman is not representative of the police generally. It would alarm me to think that this country had policemen who see no benefit in being able to communicate properly.

My tongue was firmly in cheek when I mentioned exceptions 947, 8, and 9.

If you have a 50amp charger, then the EU10i will be adequate, and will use less fuel. Against that, it will be working harder. Don't forget that these things need oil changes at quite frequent intervals. BTW, using CFLs on 230V from the inverter will use a lot less energy than your halogens, despite the inverter losses.

Yes. The person I quoted assumed you would realise that his post did not give you carte blanche to ignore local regulations or restrictions. If he had tried to do that, his post might have taken several pages. For instance: Exception No 947. You can't navigate on waterways that have no water in them. Exception No 948. You can't use a lock if BW have closed it for repairs. Exception No 949. You can't navigate on the Thames if flood warnings are in force. Etc.

The post you referred to said: "Put on a proper set of colreg compliant navigation lights. That way, you'll be able to legally navigate the entire inland waterways, at whatever time you please." Note that he didn't say you couldn't travel at 50 knots (in most places), or use a boat without a licence. No doubt he assumed that the readership of this forum was sufficiently intelligent to understand that fitting navigation lights doesn't absolve a boater from obeying all the other regulations. Obviously he was wrong...

Nobody, I think, argued that they should be fitted for use on canals. That would be silly. But for NBs that go on major rivers, where they are a requirement, having nav lights means being able to cruise at night. Unless, of course, you have decided that NBs shouldn't use such rivers, or shouldn't go out on them at night. But quite who you are to say this, I have no idea.

The international regulations for preventing collisions at sea don't apply to inland waterways proper, but they do apply to navigable rivers when large enough to carry international traffic. This includes the tidal Thames, and parts of the Severn, Humber, Mersey and no doubt others. For canal boats, the regulations do NOT include a bow-mounted headlamp, and the headlamp, being too bright, too directional, and mounted too low, is not a substitute for a mast light. What IS required is port and starboard lights (red and green), a white stern light, and a white light on the mast. The lights have to cover a particular angle, so it's no good just fitting any old light. Bona fide navigation lights purchased from a chandler should comply with the regulations. If you are brave (and have the right lights, a sound engine, and a radio) a trip through the heart of London on the Thames at night is spectacular. Well, it's spectacular even if you don't have those things, but at least you'll come back to tell the tale.

They may simply be praising the photographer, or saying it is a dramatic picture. I had a brief look at that travesty of the journalists' art which is NBW. The errors were so numerous that I soon gave up trying to read the first article, but one thing did catch my eye - they have a proof-reader! I kid you not.

Sounds reasonable. Now, do you have any clues as to the length?

Should our replies differ if the syndicate were not to include you? 1 Will depend largely on size and cost of boat. 2 Will depend largely on size and cost of boat. 3 In proportion to the amount paid. Equate it to weeks use of boat. 4 Difficult to get everyone to agree on what to do when best-laid plans gang agley. 5 Will depend largely on size and cost of boat. But I'd suggest you go for something new or nearly new. So, what size boat will you be buying, and how much do you plan to pay for it?

Like a fine wine, it improves with age. Try it on the nose; subtle fragrances reminiscent of camels and hyaenas come to mind.

Thank you, both. That worked.

I found a spare injector pump in my boat, complete with a nice brass hour counter. CJ Diesel in Isleworth/Hounslow overhauled it for me, and now the original one (sans hour-counter) has become the spare. Not a cheap job, but a comfort to know it is in A1 condition, especially as a faulty engine on the tidal Thames is a thing very much to be avoided. If you never venture below Teddington, it won't be such a concern for you. CJ's advice is to change the oil in the pump annually as it tends to become diluted with diesel.

If anybody knows how to contact Mr Redshaw, please let me know. This one has yielded no joy for the past week or so: 01788 553 417 Thanks.

Ah!

BW would expect you to move to the next pound, or further, by the same means you employed to reach the first one.

Perhaps, but what is not expensive on a bridge that might cost millions, may seem a little more expensive on a NB.

You're the sort of clown I like.