Leonie

Thanks for all the considered helpful responses on this. I really appreciate it. Apparently I have a hydraulic gearbox and the cylinders all just tested at 300 PSI (which I understand is the low side of okay). I don't think this was an issue with the original engine reinstall but I can't be certain. It did lots of odd things in the short time it was running. I was present while fuel filter was replaced but didn't see anything terrifying about them. I have someone coming to look on the weekend so will use all your help to guide them in the diagnosis. Thanks again. Fingers crossed.

Thanks Tony. The engine starts again in neutral once it has stalled. I'm not sure that it is related to the 'allegedly' failing fuel pump and injectors; however the initial stalling problem was diagnosed as potentially a fuel problem and as there was clouds of smoke billowing it seemed logical to have them tested. It was hoped that replacing them (they failed the tests) would solve the stalling problem. The background is long and complicated... involving a 'reconditioned' engine which wasn't installed well - new feet and engine mounts though - and I've been firefighting with it ever since. I'm reluctant to put it out of its misery yet as I'm financially crippled from having been on maternity leave and paying quite a premium for the initial 'reconditioned' replacement. I'm not sure what the gearbox is.

Wondering if anyone can help try to armchair diagnose why my engine is stalling please. It was stalling as soon as it was put in gear. The injectors and fuel pump were changed as they were both failing. The engine starts okay and runs in neutral and now goes into gear. After a few moments running in gear the engine slows down and stalls. I haven't had it compression tested (that is happening sometime during the week). Any ideas or am I going to bite the big one and end up replacing the engine...again?

Yes, possibly you are... Access to water, rubbish disposal, winter moorings and stopages are the first issues that arose off the top of my ahead. I'm sure others can add 'moor'.

I thought the IWA already held those regularly.

I've experiened one summer over the last seven in which the boat became unbearably hot. I dealt with this by lying on the roof reading after work safe in the knowledge that once it became too dark to see, it would be cool enough to head inside. That was about three years ago and lasted for about a week. I don't think you have too much to worry about.

In general I would say that no there aren't enough places around the system however interestingly enough, Rickmansworth is well supported by rubbish disposal points supplied by CRT and the place the rubbish is accumulating is a short walk to a commercial rubbish disposal unit/recycling centre. This isn't the first place I've heard this rubbish discussed; I've read it about on a mailing list as well. It seems there is definitely a big problem with dumped rubbish in that region no matter where it's coming from.

Ah wow, nice to hear from you. It must be a tad bitter sweet to hear of your old friend like this. What an adventure the boat is having! Thanks for checking in.

I'm not sure what the confusion is? Following the thread it seems clear that the boat was sinking/partially sunk. CRT phoned the owner who couldn't find it and reported it stolen. Someone stole it. That person responded 'yes' to Jenlyn when asked 'are you scrapping it'. It has been repainted. Where is the disconnect for you?

She looks prettier in yellow :-(

Oh that is SUCH a shame on so many levels. Dorothea was a lovely characterful boat which showed up in London around 5 or 6 years ago now. During that time, it has deteriorated a little faster than most other boats it's fair to say but there is nothing wrong with that boat that a little (a lot) of TLC won't fix. She's a really sweet boat.

My experience of those boats is in and around Perivale/Greenford. I agree they look sinister 'in a nice way' although I had a friend staying with me for a while who actually had a nightmare about them :-) She wasn't a fan.

Have you joined the London Boaters mailing list? I know there are at least two or three families on that list who have managed to enrol their little ones in childcare/school in the East London area. Put a request out on there and see what comes back. I feel sure there will be people who can advise you. Good luck. Another London Boater was born yesterday and my very own is due in early April.

Eye roll. Even if you only holiday on them, surely they are still your 'home' as in holiday home?

It was more than one stupid comment. It was one long stupid manifesto and he deserves to be pilloried for it. He was putting forward a canal stagnant, not a canal movement. If that eclipses his 'years of good work' then who is to blame? Oh, that's right, he is.

The fire damage is mostly in and around the rear of the boat and it's severly damaged. The fire brigade used mostly foam (some of which is still in evidence on the path next to the boat). If I had to guess (and it would be a uneducated long shot kind of guess), I'd say that it sunk due to damage from the fire itself. The front cabin area (beyond windows being blown out - possibly smashed by firebrigade?) - is relatively intact. You can see it's already sitting much lower at the rear in the London Informer photo and that is where all of the fire damage is.

Given that the arse end of the red boat in the Flickr photo is me, I can assure you they haven't.

it's the same boat and it's in the same place in all photos; they are just taken from different angles.

I'm alright Cath, I'll lob round and see you in the week if you are still about. The very little cat still has a very big persoanlity and yes, boaters in London are setting about answering the consultation paper as we recognise the pattern and content from last time the focus was down this way. I ddin't make it out to Ricky this summer due to a number of things (the Olympics + endless trips back and forth to Australia) but hope to head that way again this summer.

I'll wager they are more affectionate than my cat.

There were two incidents in Paddington/Little Venice over the weekend. One was the boat which blew up/caught fire near Sheldon Square. The other incident was a boater ending up stabbed in critical condition (rumoured to have been related to an all night drinking session between a couple or more boats). Burglaries? I haven't heard of anything but it is London and they are rife at the moment, so it's possible. Edited to add that the fire and the stabbing are completely unrelated and the boats aren't moored near each other etc. The stabbing happened but it has little if anything to do with a burglary and a lot to do with drink.

The only thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is to consider the location of the boat. If you have a permanent mooring then make that look as appealing as possible (they will be buying into the lifestyle and the dream etc). If you don't have a permanent mooring but will meet them somewhere on the cut, make it the most visually appealing but easily accessible to non boaty folk as possible. Good luck.

I'm loving the red highlighting work. It was actually an attempt at a dry humoured response to having my own humour called into question... Using my dictionary defintion of reactionary, your anarchy comments and they way I read your participation in the thread once you'd made them definitely led to a level of enjoyment, yes.

Alright but heh heh you just admitted to being a reactionary and I don't recall complaining.

Yeah I did miss that bit so sorry but without that sentence the rest of your posts read like a toys out of the pram, the canal will fill up with no-good-nicks rant. I did expect a reaction. I always expect one from reactionaries ;-)