Living Aboard - Mooring and a Land Hobby?

[Halkyon]

Well.. I've now done my first bit of plumbing and replaced the toilet pump with a solenoid valve, plus swapped the T-piece and domestic pump.

 

Next up I want to add an inspection hatch, some floor/bilge vents and lay a new floor... then move the cooker. It's all go!

 

We also did our first cruise the other day... for seven hours... loved it.

Edited September 18 by Halkyon

[Halkyon]

One thing we noted when cruising is we're not really kit out for it in terms of fenders - just some skinny side fenders and no attachment points for bow button, stern v or swag fenders.

 

The tidiest attachments to me seem to be this type: https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/products/ag-fender-mooring-eye-recessed-brass-ad-086-m

 

I wonder about the feasibility of drilling 57mm hole in 5mm+ steel though. Even with non-recessed I guess I'm drilling four smaller mounting holes and threading the inside for some brass bolts/screws lathered in grease?

[hider]

They are not so good, under load the pin bends and falls out

[jonathanA]

Those fittings aren't usually used for bow/stern fenders but down  the side for side fenders. I'm sure with a decent hole saw  some oil or cutting fluid and patience you could drill hole in your gunwhales. Not sure why you would want to TBH. We have those 3 a side  with pipe fenders on which are fine on wide canals but a pain in narrow canals and locks.  

 

Just get some fender hooks for the side fenders when mooring....  usually there is some sort of welded mount/brackets for chains for bow / stern buttons

Edited September 21 by jonathanA
Sp

[Halkyon]

Right, so normal eye plates for bow, stern and swag?

[jonathanA]

Yes or eye bolts or something that chains or dvshackles can be attached to. Varies from boat to boat. Worth having a look at a few boats to see how they are. 

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, Halkyon said:

One thing we noted when cruising is we're not really kit out for it in terms of fenders - just some skinny side fenders and no attachment points for bow button, stern v or swag fenders.

 

The tidiest attachments to me seem to be this type: https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/products/ag-fender-mooring-eye-recessed-brass-ad-086-m

 

I wonder about the feasibility of drilling 57mm hole in 5mm+ steel though. Even with non-recessed I guess I'm drilling four smaller mounting holes and threading the inside for some brass bolts/screws lathered in grease?

They will never be in the right place, very few moorings are dead straight, thats why its better to hang them from the handrail so you can deploy them where the bank sticks out. Tonight I have one at the very front of the cabin and one right at the very back. Lunchtime I had one a couple of meters from the stern and one half way ahead of mid ship.

 

2 hours ago, Halkyon said:

Right, so normal eye plates for bow, stern and swag?

By swags do you mean those long ropy things each side of the bow which seem to be the latest fashion?

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

13 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

They will never be in the right place, very few moorings are dead straight, thats why its better to hang them from the handrail so you can deploy them where the bank sticks out. Tonight I have one at the very front of the cabin and one right at the very back. Lunchtime I had one a couple of meters from the stern and one half way ahead of mid ship.

from time to time I hang a fender from a bollard, ring, Armco or peg in bank. What ever it takes or needs. 
Just remember to collect before moving on. 

[David Mack]

3 hours ago, jonathanA said:

Just get some fender hooks for the side fenders when mooring.... 

This sort of thing:

Available from chandlers or make your own from plywood.

[Stroudwater1]

I’m not sure about swags, they don’t seem to look the part and it’s not clear what they are trying to protect other than the  few inches of paint either side and the manufacturers bank balance.  
 

I must be missing something? 

[ditchcrawler]

3 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

I’m not sure about swags, they don’t seem to look the part and it’s not clear what they are trying to protect other than the  few inches of paint either side and the manufacturers bank balance.  
 

I must be missing something? 

Ideal for wrapping round props

[Jon57]

2 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Ideal for wrapping round props

Bit like the bagged netting on the canal bank to encourage wild life. OK until it comes detached. 

[MtB]

31 minutes ago, Jon57 said:

Bit like the bagged netting on the canal bank to encourage wild life. OK until it comes detached. 

 

 

That's interesting. I've never seen anything like that in the canals down south. Maybe we already have plenty of wildlife! 

 

Which canal was it you picked up that lot on?

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

2 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

That's interesting. I've never seen anything like that in the canals down south. Maybe we already have plenty of wildlife! 

 

Which canal was it you picked up that lot on?

 

 

Loads in London I think, is that south?

[Bee]

Generally speaking fenders are horrible things, they are only of any use when tied against some sort of concrete or metal bank and also when banging about in locks.  That's not to say they are unnecessary, they are but the perfect fender is yet to be invented. Rope ones fill up with mud and woodlice, plastic pipe things are just not big enough and tyres are always going to end up in the bottom of the cut. Bee has a selection of all of these and a few more of my own invention involving rolled up carpet tiles. We have finally settled on plastic inflatable fenders - the ones that cruisers use. You can yank them out of the way and dump them on the roof without leaving a pile of mud and creatures on the paint, likewise chuck them in a locker without making a big muddy mess.   I'm not ashamed to admit that we have a couple of those oversize things on the front  that are brilliant in locks and for avoiding clangs and bangs. So..... absolutely no points for aesthetics but there is a reason why all those cruisers have them, they do work and they are readily available second hand. 

[Jon57]

33 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

That's interesting. I've never seen anything like that in the canals down south. Maybe we already have plenty of wildlife! 

 

Which canal was it you picked up that lot on?

 

 

Staff and Worcestershire  just passed Compton. Tree was down on the offside so only able to pass near towpath side. Didn't help being shallow or being deep drafted. 😉

[Halkyon]

Just cut an inspection hatch under the bottom step of the stairs into the cabin, only to find... ballast.

 

Is that normal, and can I get away with removing a bit under my new hatch so I can see the bilge proper?

[Tony Brooks]

7 minutes ago, Halkyon said:

Just cut an inspection hatch under the bottom step of the stairs into the cabin, only to find... ballast.

 

Is that normal, and can I get away with removing a bit under my new hatch so I can see the bilge proper?

 

I am not surprised, and I would just take some ballast out

[Halkyon]

23 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

I am not surprised, and I would just take some ballast out

 
I didn't cut the hatch that big! I suppose I'll have to get violent with a cold chisel and big metal mallet.

[Tony Brooks]

12 minutes ago, Halkyon said:

 
I didn't cut the hatch that big! I suppose I'll have to get violent with a cold chisel and big metal mallet.

 

Angle grinder and stone cutting disc so they split where you want them to, and do not keep shocking the baseplate?

[Halkyon]

44 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Angle grinder and stone cutting disc so they split where you want them to, and do not keep shocking the baseplate?

 

Good advice no doubt. The staff at Screwfix Ely are going to know me well by the time I'm done with this refit.