[Minimum distance? The enforcement officers have it in black and white.]

 

Just had a wee conversation with a volunteer data collector here in Berkhamstead, he was very pleasant wearing the Blue CRT short sleved top with volunteer clearly marked on the left hand arm, a name badge and a ID lanyard.

 

I asked him about his duties and he explained that he walks the towpath on Tuesdays & Thrusdays in Berkhamstead recording all the boat numbers and then goes home and logs them into the CRT system. On top of that, there is the EO who passes through every 14 days.

 

He explained that the whole of Berkhamstead was considered one area and we could moor anywhere there was a vacancy for 14 days; as in we could moor in 3 or 4 different locations as long as the whole stay didn't go over the 14 days in which case CRT would issue us with a £25 overstay charge per day. He didn't do this in a stern or abrasive way at all, and only did so after me asking questions.

 

Funny enough last winter we moored for 10 days on the towpath side by the first water point you come to when entering Berko from the south and then moved up to just before the winding hole across from the train station and stayed there for about 10 days, in February/March when I asked for our data log info it was recorded as such and confirmed that there wasn't a problem with our cruising pattern. So I guess things have changed a bit since then.

 

 

ETA - this all took place while I was out deadheading my flowers and Dave was helping the lovely couple who bought ALBION (Junior's last boat) down through the lock. The boat is still looking Great Junior and the couple are really enjoying it...though they are having some probs getting the hot water to heat properly without running the engine hard?

Hi Betty. Did this chap tell you were Berkhamsted starts and finishes in his world ?

[Fuel Boats Tracking Section]

yes please BB, thats kind of you

[Fuel Boats Tracking Section]

wonder how long he'll tajke to get from Bugbrooke to Kings Langley ?

I dont think there are any other coal / gas boatrs coming through here now

[Dog thieves alert!!]

Does anyone know if these boats had come up from further south on the GU, maybe around Pitstone around July / August time ?

[Berkhamstead]

Agree with Alan, the Riser is the best pub along there, especially if you like Cider.

Loads of places to eat in town, bring plenty of ££ with you though as most are quite expensive.

I'd avoid the the Old Mill if I were you, really expensive and not great (£20-25 for a steak that wasn't anything special at all).

If you need a break on the way up maybe try the Kings Lodge at Langleybury, serves Tring beers and London Pride at £2.50 a pint, cheapest for miles around!

[Two Solar controllers, bad idea ?]

Have just ordered 2 x 165W panels and the 30A Tracer MPPT controller. I'll wire these two in series and then connect the controller in parallel with the existing set up.

I'll see how it goes once its all installed and report back.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Les

[Two Solar controllers, bad idea ?]

Thanks. Decision time !

[Two Solar controllers, bad idea ?]

 

But Bimble usually suggest using identical controllers. Did they really suggest pairing a Steca with an MPPT?

 

 

Yes indeed, I just checked my email and I did include that detail. Ive just emailed them back asking for clarification.

Maybe get a 30A Tracer for the new panels then try it along side the Steca with the old panels. If you're not happy with then later on get another 20A Tracer MPPT to use with the old panels.

 

Also one of those DC clamp ammeters can be very handy for telling what each controller is putting into the batts.

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Pete

Do you think I could wire it as I described above if I wanted just the single controller ?

[Two Solar controllers, bad idea ?]

Thank you all for the replies, its starting to make sense now, I can see why Bimbles suggestion may not be the best way forward.

Sounds like Im going to have to spent some ££ on the existing set up, so following on from Bottle's point the other possible way to connect this up may be to series wire the two existing 18v/130w pannels to give a 36v output and put this in parallel with the two new 36v/165W panels and connect all into a new MPPT controller. The main issue being the cost of that single controller as it will need to handle around 50amps. Just for completion the battery bank is 4 x TrojanT105's (house bank) and two cheapie 110ah wet cells (start and BT) all connected via smart bank.

 

Any thoughts on this alternative and recommendations for the controller ?

 

Cheers

Les

[Two Solar controllers, bad idea ?]

On another recent thread someone said having two seperate solar controllers connected to your batteries was a bad idea, there wasn't much further explanation as to why this is so. Can anyone expand on this please ?

 

I have two panels (18V) with a Stecca PWM controller and am considering adding another couple of larger panels (36V ones).

Bimble Solar said the best way to connect this up would be to add a second controller for the new panels and run this in parralel to the existing set up but this clashes with the assertion above so I'm not sure how to approach this. Any help appreciated.

 

Cheers

Les

 

 

[s-type windows?]

We've had these on our boat from new (coming up 7 years) and they've never caused any problems at all (windows and ports)

Also, as there is nothing protruding inside the window frame you can easily fit the acrylic secondary glazing panels lots of us use in winter, this isn't aways possible with other window styles. Also easy to take out the glass to clean all round.

[Is this worth doing? solar question]

Hey Julian

When your away from your mooring you're on holiday, surely you dont want to spend time putting that contraption up every afternoon and down again every morning, that sounds like work !

Les

[Honda eu20i to shoreline power in]

Yes lots of people do it (we do) but there is something around earthing that needs to be sorted first. I cant remember the details, Im sure someone will be along to explain. I think you have to modify the cable for E-N bonding or suchlike. It's all to make sure your breakers works correctly if there's a fault.

[28/29 September CWDF London Banter]

Sorry folks but due to family issues Heidi and I wont be close enough to attend on Sat evening, I hope you all have a great time.

[who nicked all the water]

When we came through the damaged lock at the Riser last week BW nearly drained the pound above trying to lock us down, the top gates were so poorly sealed. We could have done with a large tarp to drop down there. There's an abundance of water further south, Sharps Lane has plenty

[Another resi mooring]

If it goes for that price it will be something of a bargain in that area. I cant recall a similar 20m mooring going for less than 3K in recent times, several for quite a bit more, especially as they are now taking 10' plus boats there.

[28/29 September CWDF London Banter]

Heidi and I are still hoping to come but we wont get there with the boat due to work commitments.

[when is a 65 barrus shire not a 65 barrus shire?]

Just for info, we have the same Shire 65Hp engine and our boat has a 20x14 prop, she handles well when on the Thames and revs freely.

[Incredible day continued.]

Congratulations, have been following our your boat build progress on here for some years now so great news that your finally properly afloat, nice feeling eh !!

[Continuous Cruising Maps]

I don't think you've read the guidance. Here is a link:

 

http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/633.pdf

 

the bit which answers your question is :

 

 

This implies you can move between three places only, ABC, and then return to A and start again. I know several people who are having enforcement issues who move further than that. Even our friend Davies moved between more than 3 places ???

[Are All Ecofans The Same?]

Just had ours repaired by the same people, very efficient service. They had to solder a dry joint on the motor and have straightened the blades (the unit had been dropped a few times).

[Continuous Cruising Maps]

I know some people like the current 'greyness' of the law but I've heard many boaters saying they would welcome more clarification on the guidance so I think they would welcome this initiative. I saw a draft of the map a few months ago and if I remember correctly it shows different colored areas (places) marked on a Nicholson type map covering a much longer section of canal. Again my understanding is that it is trying to show boundaries between the various 'places' along the longer section. It should help people understand how far they have to move each time to be in another place (which is surely helpful).

I don't remember the map saying how many of these places someone had to visit before they could about turn though ? That also needs to be outlined to help people become compliant (maybe it is but I missed it ?)

I agree local boaters should be part of the definition of the maps as has happened here.

[Solar Panel Brackets, Where To Buy]

Small price to pay if someone nickes em though

 

Has anyone ever had any panels stolen ? Im not convinced this isnt one of those overblown worries we boater sometimes have.

[Very Amateur Survey]

just completed, well done John

[Compensation]

I'm currently off work typing this one handed following a shoulder reconstruction operation (Laterjet + soft tissue work), this was to repair my right shoulder which I damaged after I fell into the cut in January (I slipped on the green slimey lock landing). I'm going to be off for a fair few weeks and not completely right for 3 months, I'm also self employed so can understand the worry about lack of income but I do agree with the majority here that when you have an accident it is exactly that, an accident, and we shouldn't automatially put out our hand for compensation, there's just too much of that going around our country these days and we really don't want it coming to the cut.

 

I hope she heals up well and quickly.

 

Les