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Anyone with experience of building a new, accessible and all electric narrowboat? Just starting feasibility and information gratefully received.

Neil and Jay here again (well Neil). We are heading to Crick next weekend and really wanted to get some impressions from folks who own both drive types as to the merits and downsides of Hybrid boats and Diesel boats. To my simple mind the main difference is the amount of noise whilst cruising, we have pets who most definitely do NOT care for the sound of ICE engines so hybrid is a clear bonus in this aspect. However, there will be a list as long as my arm of pros and cons for both. Just keen to hear everyone's personal experience. Thanks folks 🙂

Hi everyone, I have just moved onto a canal boat and am looking to update my electrics and install some solar panels. I am a newbie so really appreciate any advice you can give. I have been attempting to do an electrical audit (using a template I found online) Firstly I wonder if someone could have a look over it and see if I have made any glaringly obvious mistakes?? I have done my best but I must admit I do find the electrics a little confusing !! I am continually cruising and my boat is 57x10 I am looking at installing: - 3x 260w or 305w solar panels (with the plan to add a fourth in the future) - 2x 40A MPPT controllers - Victron Multiplus Inverter/ Charger - A monitor of some kind recommendations apreciated! I will also have a Honda EU20i generator to top things up. The questions which I am struggling to find answers to online are... What is a good size battery bank to match this system? I have been told it's important not to go too big as it means lots of time spent trying to charge them up. Not to mention the expense. Is it a good idea to get a multiplus inverter and charger or a separate inverter and charger? I am thinking about purchasing a washer dryer which will need 2.1kw to run (not shown on audit) would it be acceptable / advisable to run this of my setup while the generator is running? So the batteries / inverter would only need to supply the extra bit of energy as the Honda is only rated at 1600w continuous. Is there any other major bit to the system I am missing. My understanding is Batteries / Inverter / Charger / MPPT Controllers / Solar Panels / System monitor. Do I need fuses or any other bits? Thanks in advace for your time. Look forward to hearing your opinions. (Please be gentle I am new and still figuring it all out) Martin just figured out how to attached the file hope that works ok : http://www.martin-price.org/downloads/boat.pdf

Hi, I am about to start fitting out a widebeam sailaway boat. I need an electrician to connect up the leisure batteries to the alternator and then to a fuse board. Once this is done I am confident to do the rest it is just this stage I am unsure of. I am struggling to find an electrician who will come to my boat to do this, the boat is currently at Hayes and Harlington and I wonder if anyone knows any good electricians who would be able to come to my boat to do this stage for me? Kind regards, Will

Hi all Kitchen refit is going well, I am changing my existing kitchen layout from a both sides "walk through" format to an "L" shape on the Port side. At the moment, I have 12v/240v/Gas under the gunnel on the Starboard side and 12v/240v/Water under the gunnel on the Port. Is there any reason why i can't have gas, water and electric all under the same gunnel? i'll leave a 12v and 240v loom under the starboard too. Any advice for doing this? Do the lines need to be isolated from each other? thank you! Jess

I know a lot of people have been talking about leaving electric oil filed radiators switch on on unattended boats for frost protection. Screwfix has issued a recall on two of the ones they sell. I am sure other supplies also sell this product so even if you didn't buy from Screwfix it may well be worth checking yours. http://www.screwfix.com/images/general/grx/ProductRecallRads.pdf

Hey guys, When I was re-fitting out the engine room and sorting the engine out I accidentally/stupidly connected the wrong wire to one of the terminals on the alternator. The cable went up in flames and now I guess the alternator is dead.. The engine runs fine without it but the LED light is always on indicating that the batteries aren't charging. The alternator fitted to my engine has the following markings: Which has led me to the following websites after a quick google of the barcode number and model number: http://www.recambioverde.es/detalle-pieza-1572965.html http://www.hcparts.com/Default.aspx?ID=773&GroupID=RemanufacturedStartersAlternators/Alternators&ProductID=CA305IR#Austin To me this looks like a standard car alternator. Am I right in this assumption? What do you believe is my best course of action in either repairing it or replacing it? If replacing it should I find an identical model or would any alternator do? Its not essential that I replace this immediately as I have the batteries hooked up to a charger but I'd like to get this sorted before I take the boat out in Spring Many thanks for any help or advice you can give..

When our webasto is on, our step lights, outside stern light, bathroom shelf light all flicker. The main lights and lamps don't. Our boat builder does not seem to know why this happens. Can anyone make any suggestions as to why this may be? The lights do not flicker at any other time.

Can someone advise? We move onto Gracie at the end of the week and are cruising for a fortnight anti-clockwise - she is a 1978 boat and so works on 12 volt lighting and has gas fridge etc. this is fine for us; however, we do have two laptops, a Blackberry and a mobile to charge - I have a car charger for the BB, and phone; but wonder what is the best inverter to buy - because time is now limited, i have checked Halfords (I live near Broadheath Bridge #30 on the Bridgewater) and see they sell inverters - my question is are they any good and can anyone suggest elsewhere. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_183975_langId_-1_categoryId_255206 http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_242529_langId_-1_categoryId_255206 There is also a Maplins adjacent to Oxford Road Bridge in Manchester http://www.maplin.co.uk/600w-12v-inverter-48724 I am unsure on which is the best - please be nice!

Hi. So I've lived on boats for 15 years but have always had port potti's (easy & simple!) But I've just bought a new 2nd hand boat that has a fancy flushing toilet and I have no idea how it works or where to start? Do I start by trying to use it ~ or should I attempt to flush it out (from the outside inlet on the gunnel) and pump it out before attempting to use it? I have no idea when last the boat was used or what state of fullness or empty-ness the tank was left in or for how long. (I bought from a broker who knows nothing about the boat and doesn't want to give me contact details of previous owner - I guess they don't want me finding out how much they bought her for???? - who knows the reason). There is a large integral steel tank under the double bed which is next to the bathroom which contains the toilet which is quite posh looking, it sits on a little raised area with a electric press button switch on the wall) It's a Vetus toilet with 3 buttons, eco-flush, normal flush & then a press and hold button. Vetus' website isn't very clear on how to use it but I really don't want to press any buttons and have waste start bubbling up at me through the pan......... am I being paranoid?

Over here in France, Mrs Stilllearning has noticed that the French government has got a scheme to offer a 200€ rebate on buying an electric assisted bike. So does anyone have experience of buying and using such a bike, and have any suggestions of makes to avoid, or any that you recommend?

Hi all, Been boating for around 6 months all been going well, until a week ago, when I notices the Domestic batteries where not getting charged. Running a Beta 38 with dual alternators and twobattery sets, single starter and four domestic batteries, these are not linked in any way. The started runner circuit seems to run OK. So I did the following: Checked alternator output, 10v - so not good, so I ordered a new alternator 100Amp 14.1V. This also was confusing as I would of expected to at least see the battery voltage across the alternator. After replacement, still only getting 10V (slight panic as the new alternator was £150) Got on blog and someone mentioned isolator switches, but both mine where replaced when I changed to position of the isolator switches about 6 months ago, and they where not cheap !!!! As a test, I bypassed the isolator on the domestic side and now get 12.8V from alternator (was expection 14.xx) seems like battery voltage......Oh dear so the alternator seems to be working but not at the correct voltage - did it get fried due to a faulty isolator ? the batteries are getting some change, but not whats needed to get them to a fully charged situation. I check both isolators, ie domestic and started, and both seem to be intermittent, sometimes they work, other times not, and pushing the key in seems to affect their operation. Seems like both need to be replaced. Just got back from boat, slighty frustrated, but slighty happy about the fact that the isolator switches seem to be the issue, but worried about alternator output. Questions: Did I fry the alternator, due to a faulty isolator switch, I have the original which I have go repaired and was going to use as spare Why only 12.8V. is this linked to above and/ is this the battery voltage showing Any suggestions on a good make of isolator hope that makes sense. Kev

Hi. I want to build a strictly leisure battery bank with two 70Ah batteries and 2500watt inverter that will be used only for things like kettle, low power microwave, digital gadgets like phones and laptops, maybe cool box from time to time. I do not want to connect my new leisure bank to the boat's engines and intend to charge it by petrol generator only. I have an area near helm where I can place batteries and inverter - like a wooden box/cupboard. My question is... do I have to ground the batteries and the inverter? Thanks, t.