sharpness

We used a "Thermostatic Mixing Valve, Bar Type Exposed", about 1/2 way down the BES link mentioned above, not from BES, didnt pay half that price. Nice & simple, temperature control one end, flow the other. A thermostatic mixer valve is an absolute must with a calorifier not only to avoid scalding in the shower but also in the washbasin & kitchen sink, not that I bath in either of those of course! Steve

the bit of string hanging on the hammer thing (it has a proper name but I cant remember it)...............Clapper? Anchor? We've just got a simple 12v buzzer in the cabin & bell push beside the engine panel, boringly simple, no special codes, just press it, works well for us. Steve

We have a Mikuni MX40 on our 45ft narrowboat & so far (4years), touch wood we dont seem to have had any of the problems that appear regularly on these pages. There, thats probably put the kiss of death on it. It runs 4 rads of just over 1 kw each & a towel rail in the bathroom & keeps the boat lovely & toasty for weekends in the winter. Because of the wall space they take up in the 10ft saloon part I would like to change one or both of the rads for Finrads. Do they work? Well presumably they work but do they work as well? I've no experience of them atall. Is the heating effect spread too far rather than sitting by a nice hot rad? Can anybody give me any clues or experiences please. Thanks Steve

We were in Stourport last week wanting to stop overnight to meet daughter & granddaughter the next day. There are no designated visitor moorings in the basins and we moored about 3/4 mile up the canal outside the Bird in Hand, just before the old railway bridge & a very peaceful mooring it was too. I had a stroll round the basins in the evening & saw a notice on the BW notice board close to the Sani station which said "Visiting Boaters are welcome to moor against the basin walls overnight but must move on by 12 noon the following day" I know its a bit late in the season for some, but it might be useful. I dont know whether or not it is wise to moor there but it seemed very peaceful. PS I had a Rib eye to die for in the Bird in Hand, the wifes gammon was unbelievable too. Unfortunately on the way back down, dreaming about the steak all day, the kitchen was closed, the chef was off sick!!!!! Fish & chips was no substitute!! Steve

We're back, thankfully no call outs!! Had a great trip, we didnt use the Worcester Racecourse moorings though. The Gloucester lock keeper suggested we left at 8 because of the tide so we did & had a good run up the Severn. We passed the moorings but the weather was good so we kept going & moored at Bevere lock overnight. The Worcester moorings looked fine to us, not too much silt. Strolled 200 yds from Bevere lock to the pub, the name escapes me, Camp House?? It seemed to be like stepping back 25years, ate well & the beer wasnt bad. They even had one of the old table top, well more coffee table top, Space Invaders which worked when you fed it 50ps. The weather was a bit different coming back down, fleeces on to keep warm in a very strong wind. I love those long runs though. Steve

Thanks Jim, not sure where that is but its not the end of the world, we've got no particular target, just go with the flow. I'll have a look at the map when we get back to the boat tomorrow. Steve

Hello all, Thanks for all those replies, especially the info about Worcester. Just got back from a long weekend on the boat, wifey has a doctors appointment tomorrow and then all being well we'll be off on the "Big Voyage" heading for the Shroppie. Dont mention the "bumping & grinding" we've heard about that from Bottle on Saturday but didnt know it was him at the time. We dont have mobile internet at the moment, dont have digital TV, dont have an inverter, or an Ipod? or MP3? bit of a dinasoar really according to the kids. I have got their inheritance though!! (and a Smartguage!!) Thanks again for all your help. Steve & Lynne

Thanks Sue, Can you tell me more about the moorings please. I understand they are above the bridge, we've not been above Diglis before. Thanks Steve & Lynne

Hello Just over a week ago I posted a topic titled This years "Big Voyage" seeking some guidance in particular about Worcester Racecourse moorings & also a part of the system we have not travelled before. It seems to be the only post in recent weeks that hasnt had any replies atall. Other similar sorts of post seemed to have several responses. What did I do wrong? Thanks Steve Edited to add link to orignal thread: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...mp;#entry398132

Hello all We are planning this years “big voyage”, 2 weeks + bank holiday Monday starting 15th August. At the moment the very loose plan is to Leave Sharpness Saturday morning, overnight in Gloucester docks. Sunday – River Severn to overnight at Worcester. I understand there are moorings on the river somewhere near the racecourse, is that right? Monday – Up to Stourport & on to the Staffs & Worcs. From there, no particular plan, we’d like to see the Shroppie if we get that far. We’re not lock & mile counters, we’ll stop when we’ve had enough for the day if we find a nice quiet spot. We prefer out in the sticks to in the towns, the occasional pub is nice, saves cooking, cant stand nouvelle cuisine? 2 green beans with fancy gravy over the raspberries isn’t enough for either of us. Don’t go much on anything other than good old meat & 2 veg to be honest. We’ve not been that way before other than The Bratch by car so please has anyone any recommendations, where to stop, places to avoid mooring, all the usual things. The other half likes a bit of retail therapy now and again, I shall take enough rum to last the trip! Thanks Steve & Lynne

Thats probably why I thought it wasnt very good then!!!!!! Steve

When we went up through there a couple of weeks after the floods in 2007 there was a lock landing (not a very good one) on the upstream side of the bottom gates of the lock into Bancroft Basin. Has that landing gone now then? I can see it would be a bit awkward doing it from the other side of the river. Steve

I will, I bought a proper ratchet crimper back when I started, I'll put heat shrink over the join too. Steve

Steve Thanks for that, its what I thought I could do. Thats a job for when I have new batteries & alter the wiring. Steve Thanks T. I see what you mean but I think I'll just extend it though, only about 18". It currently runs in the loom through multiplugs at each end of the loom, nice & tidy. If I run a new cable it will need to be outside the loom so not so tidy. Steve OOOOOPs, thanks for the welcome, I was concentrating so hard on getting my first post on, I put it in the wrong place. Will try harder next time. Steve

Hello there, newly registered but I admit to having been lurking for a while. My first post so please be gentle! Whilst lurking I have learnt a great deal, been amused, puzzled, surprised, and confused and learnt that sometimes it is better not to post electrical questions. I have fitted a Smartguage though! My question should be pretty straightforward though I think for some. We have a 45ft Liverpool sailaway, on the Glos - Sharpness, nearly finished after 7 years but would rather use it than spend too much time on the mooring so progress is slow. What used to be the standard arrangement on Liverpool sailaways Beta engines with twin alternators was that the B+ on the domestic bank alternator was connected to an insulated post on the engine bed. When you have progressed far enough to connect the domestic battery bank you simply connect to that post. Mine is done like that, the battery bank is on the opposite side of the engine and the cable runs around the edge of the engine space, a distance of about 8 ft. From what I’ve learnt from this forum, (apart from don’t ask electrical questions!) when I replace the batteries (3x110 Elecsols fitted May 05) I intend to connect the +ve & -ve at opposite ends of the bank rather than at the same end as at present. If I then connected the +ve straight to B+ the cable would then only be about 3ft long. Would this be worthwhile? Now the tricky bit, for me anyway. There is another cable on the insulated post, a small wire, brown, which I have traced through the loom to the control panel & it is connected to terminal 87 on a relay. What does this wire do? Presumably it is a feed when there is output from the alternator. If I disconnect the insulated post from the B+, what do I do with this wire, extend it directly to B+? Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks Steve