Gunna Do

Checked the voltage readings and they are the same (must have been my eyesight!) Same error message on Smart Gauge so cancelled it and got rid of a bit of charge. Lowered the solar controller 'charge off' voltage to 13.5v and let them charge (on solar alone) for a while. Approaching 13.5v the charge rate tapered off to 00.0amps so all appeared to be well. A couple of hours later though, back came the error message on the Smart Gauge. The voltage was now at 15v! The Juta 24 controller has a float charge facility and I'm sure that I have read somewhere that this is done at a higher voltage so could this be what is happening here? There doesn't appear to be any way of disabling this so I may just have to put up with it. The engine still gives an over-voltage alarm at 14.7v if I leave the panels uncovered but in reality one would not need solar when the engine is running.

You would then STILL have to do that first cruise! If you are buying from a broker he will give you a demonstration cruise. The owner in a private sale would probably give you a longer one. Whichever, go for it and enjoy. You don't have to do the full trip in one go as there are plenty of marina's with spare capacity where you can leave her for a week or two while you catch your breath. Even if the engine has just been serviced I would check/renew the fuel filters before setting off for peace of mind though.

We are planning the same as you although we now have the boat. Ours is a 50ft Nb with Trad stern. Some may think that this is a bit small but coming from small(ish) yachts, we are well used to living in small spaces. We are selfish about our requirements so it is unashamably a comfortable two berth. If we get a visitor they will have to rough it on the floor on an inflateable bed. We don't believe in carrying extra rooms around just in case! We were lucky to be able to buy a six year old boat that an elderly couple had had built. Ailing health had put paid to their plans but it suits us very well. In fact over a year later we have yet to see a boat that we would rather have bought so perhaps we have been doubly lucky with our choice. We too find the Forum (and indeed the Canal magazines) a bit depressing at times but out on the cut this is soon dispelled by the (generally) lovely people that you meet. However when you are needing help or good advice, this forum takes some beating. Just be prepared to read between the 'moans and groans'!

A Fisherman would be my first choice as a rock pick and a rocky bottom is generally just the place for an anchor to get stuck!

We also visited at end of June. Temp water tap was in use while they were doing repairs/upgrades. Elsan disposal and toilets were fine.

Yes I have used the anchor in anger on the Trent when the donkey went silent and I was lucky I didn't get it caught under a rock, pipe or perhaps someone else's discarded anchor! On the sea I regularly anchored and if there was any doubt about getting the hook back up, I would always used a tripping line from the crown of the anchor. This was threaded through a float and attached to a small weight. The purpose of this was a: to indicate where the anchor was and b: to keep the tripping line fairly taught whatever the tide state, so as not to entangle someone's prop ie mine! Never used one on the rivers though. Here the practice of running a loop of chain down to the anchor would probably work better to free the pick.

Before you strip the engine down to see if the valves are stuck, its worth taking the camcover off and checking the valve clearances. If you have a stuck valve the clearance will be huge! If the clearances are correct then you can cross stuck valves off the list. Also check that the exhaust isn't blocked. If it can't get out then neither will it be able to get in!

We also have a Refleks (62MS) on our 50ft Nb which runs a couple of rads as well as heats the water. It takes a long time to reheat the boat if we have been away for a while and shut it off, but when running normally 24hrs a day usually on the lowest setting we still have to open windows periodically to cool down! When not using the top for hot-pots etc the kettle is always just off the boil, so long as we remember to tip it up slightly, otherwise it boils continuously!

Mainly quite like them, adding variety to the day. Narrow locks tend to be easier and quicker but wide ones more daunting when alone but more sociable when with another boat. Gets your brain working sometimes when perhaps the bottom gate won't stay shut so you have to crack open a ground paddle so that water pressure will help etc. Of course going the other way it should open automatically but usually doesn't! As I say it keeps you on your toes. Going Boston way in Aug so will probably long for a lock to stave off the monotony of straight rivers with high banks!!

One should also set shore lines. Yes they are a pain in the A**se but they take the load off your hosts ropes (Which may be bailer twine!) and make it easier for said host to slip out if He wishes to leave earlier than you and doesn't want to disturb you.

As with Phylis, breasting up was a normal way of life for us on the sea and rivers. It is a good way of meeting new people, some of whom have become lifelong friends. It can get quite difficult to cross the inner boat via the foredeck with cratch covers and the like though so maybe that's why we don't see it much on canals , or perhaps there are more selfish people inland than offshore! ..... yes I'm taking cover!! The general rule when mooring up being amenable to having close neighbours, is to put fenders down on the outside. As most Nb's have fenders permanently down, they must be inviting others to moor alongside.......mustn't they?

I've recently replaced a leaky water pump with one of similar spec. I now have full water pressure in the system but flushing the loo causes water to shoot over the top of the bowl and onto the floor. This happens when the accumalator is at full pressure but stops as soon as the pressure falls a lttle. I need to put a pressure reducer in the inlet water pipe. I've so far got no reply from Thetford nor can I find a part number in their spares list. I presume that this is just a nylon plug with a hole in, that goes into the inlet water pipe. Does anyone have one they don't use or can give me dimensions so I can turn one up? I could of course use a pipe clamp but that tends to damage the plastic pipe after a time. Graham

In another life, we often went into the Dutch inland waters. Here the rule seems to be 'if there is a space then use it!' Rafting up is the normal way of life, sometimes in trots of 17/18 boats. Everybody is friendly (except perhaps to the Germans!) and help one another freely. I use to worry about some of the marinas/harbours where, after about 5pm one could walk from side to side on boats crammed in. What would be the outcome of a boat fire, for example?. Nevertheless perhaps every boater should serve his/her apprenticeship over there. It would certainly change SOME boaters appreciation of space requirements!

Thanks for reply Gibbo. I'll get the AVO out at the weekend and get some meaningful data. I trust the Smartgauge more than the controller though! Graham

I have 2 x 85w panels connected in parallel through cheap chinese controller to domestic bank of 4 x 110 a/hr batts. Left boat for a week and found batts a little short of water. Topped up and set off for week of cruising but immediately got an overvoltage alarm from the beta control panel. Carpet on the panels cured this! On return I decided to junk the cheap chinese controller and fit a JUTA 24A unit. Batts were at 100%charge (due to Sterling automatic jobby) so disconnected mains and turned on a few things to get charge down. Solar was charging at 1.4 amps suggesting that things were at least connected correctly. Left boat on solar for weekend but on return found Smartgauge giving error E03 suggesting overvoltage again (it didn't give this error before). Juta controller is showing 13.7v and the Smartgauge 14.4v. The Juta can be reset to lower the shutdown voltage and I have in fact changed this to 13.6v but I am wondering whether to up the Smartgauge high limit warning, lower the Juta shutdown voltage further, neither or just jump overboard tied to the anchor! I haven't tried the engine yet to see if I get the same overvoltage warning but it is a bit embarrassing to continually have to explain the carpet covered panels! Anyone had similar problems?

A little further down the T + M from this disgusting incident, possibly Barton Turn we encountered a Swan waiting by the closed lock gate. On opening said gate He swam majestically straight down the centre of the lock and waited by the bottom gate. I warned SWMBO who brought our 50ft Nb in very slowly. As soon as the bottom gates were opened our swan went out and a little while later we saw him together with (presumably) the rest of his family. We were told that they do this quite regularly but we had never seen it before!

It sounds like the Chassis Black that I used by the gallon a few years back.....well OK maybe a few more years when cars had chassis! Couldn't have been that dangerous as I'm still here. It's marvellous for covering 'not too well prepared' surfaces and sticks like poo on a blanket. Just don't ever try to get it off! Also used it to paint engine mounts and such like but would not recommend doing the block etc.

Finally got to the bottom of this one. It's an over voltage warning and has got worse since I fitted 2 solar panels. I'm going to try a different solar controller but for now I have to cover the panels whenever the engine is running!

We also have manual inflating jackets. They are left over from our sea faring days, in very good condition and self serviced every year. Himself would not have automatic vests because he was a bit paranoid about being down below and suffering a sudden water ingress (such as may occur in a collision) These jackets inflate very quickly and COULD trap you below. He decided to take his chance with being knocked overboard, possibly out for the count and not being able to manually inflate the jacket. His last trip on the sea was half way across the atlantic single-handed on a 20ft yacht, if he fell overboard he was dead anyway! It made much more sense to make sure he stayed aboard!! This however is taking things to the extreme and now we wear our jackets when out on the river, especially if there is a strong flow because a victim may be in the water for quite a while before finding somewhere to get out. Otherwise they stay packed away under the bed!

I have been replacing my bulbs with LED's from Bedazzled. It's quite a faff connecting up the fuse etc but the latest batch now have this built in so now much easier.

Great to hear it, we're going to give it a go at the end of the month. Hopefully the Trent will co-operate this time. We tried at Easter but T was is flood!

I'm married to a Moose, does that count?! Seriously many thanks for the ideas, gives me something to check out next weekend.

Hi Tony, I've checked around for other sources but can't find one. The sound is exactly the same type of 'beeps' that you get when turning the key to on before the starter is engaged. I am beginning to think that I may have an intermittent short in the key switch (possibly due to vibration as it seems to occur only when the revs are up a bit). I just wish it would happen long enough for me to get to the scene. There's probably a Gremlin sat down there grinning at me!

I have a Beta 43 fitted to my Nb. About 1750 hrs on the clock and totally reliable. On a recent trip up the Trent I opened her up a bit. After about 1/2 hr I heard an alarm ( about 3 peeps similar to a text arriving on my mobile phone ) which stopped immediately. Didn't hear it again for next couple of days. Have trawled through the various manuals for the engine and various other equipment that I have fitted in the area, nothing! Out for 5 days last weekend, again heard this short alarm and shot down to investigate but again it had stopped after 2/3 beeps. Rather frustratingly it didn't happen for the rest of the trip. Everything checks out and the charging system (twin alts) is working fine. I dread to admit that I am a mechanic but this one has me beat. As the old saying goes 'you can't cure a fault when it 'aint occurring!' Has anyone out there had a similar problem?

An interesting thread......er..can anyone remind me of the topic? Like the fishermen, I seem to have nodded off!