Leeds liverpool vegetation issue

[Andy DC]

Hello all

I have a DC with an outboard on the leeds liverpool near blackburn.

The current situation with vegetation in this area is at epic proportions.

I have blown 2 impellers and one slipe rubber(yamaha outboard) and am receiving please move on emails whilst again being broken down..

Can anyone suggest a remedy or fixture to add to my outboard to stop the water intake and the propeller from getting bogged up by weeds.

I can't make it more than a few hundred yards before having to manually clear the debris from the motor...I even have picked up a scaffolding plank(12 foot) and a tonne bag from aggregates the CRT have been using to maintain the tow path.

I'd like to comply with the CC policy but how can I if the canal is un navigable.

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice 

[hider]

Have you told CRT of the reasons for overstaying?

[Andy DC]

Yes I have,  they have been really helpful and given me 4 weeks to get it sorted out...it's going to happen again though..I've moved 2 miles in 2 months .

I am capable of sorting the engineering out myself but the engine get warm and I'm concerned about damaging it.

[hider]

Tell them that you cannot move due to weed and that you will have to stay there until winter when the weed dies off, or they can get you towed out by RCR at their expense.

[LadyG]

Ask them to tell you when the weed boat is coming your way so you can sit on its tail?

I just find it odd you are the only person to have this problem, you can always bow haul or use paddles to propell your boat. Don't do nothing! 

To be frank, it's your responsibility.

Edited September 8 by LadyG

[Andy DC]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

Ask them to tell you when the weed boat is coming your way so you can sit on its tail?

I just find it odd you are the only person to have this problem, you can always bow haul or use paddles to propell your boat. Don't do nothing! 

To be frank, it's your responsibility.

Speaking to several other boaters on the canal, I'm not the only one having this issue, seems mainly an issue with out boards but narrowboats are also over heating due to impellers clogging with duck weed.

Why is it you think it's only myself having this issue? I don't mean to be challenging asking this but are you local? If so have you seen the condition of the canal around blackburn?

This is a genuine concern, I don't live aboard and am not trying to dodge the rules on CC just to be clear.

Have you tried paddling a several tonne boat with paddles?

I'm not doing nothing I'm repairing my boat, I'm in touch with crt and I'm genuinely making enquiries as to how I can navigate thus issue.

 

Your comments are not helpful at all to be frank

[Tony Brooks]

No idea what a DC is, unless it stand for day cruiser, in which case I would have thought bow hall to its moorings.

 

It sounds like duck weed to me, little round green leaves that cover the canal that cab build ap a fair depth of weed rather than rushes, and the long pond weed that comes up from the bottom.

 

Usually the water intake is a little grill just above or below the anti-cavitation plate, so could you fashion a cranked brush from (say) a bottle brush so you can brush the weed off the intake grill every minute or so with the engine turned off. Also keep a sharp eye on the tell-tail jet of water that normally shoots downwards from below the tray that is mounted under the engine and cover. If it reduces in volume immediately, try to clean the intake grill.

 

This type of weed is often moved by the wind and any current, so a few hundred yards further on or back you may well find the canal is clear of it.

 

If I am correct then as long as the tell -ail is running simply popping it into astern for a few seconds is very likely to clear the weed from the prop - for the next few yards.

[IanD]

Duckweed on the Stourbridge Canal yesterday... 😞 

 

Edited September 8 by IanD

[Andy DC]

Thank you guys, yes that's the nasty stuff clogging the water intake.....then there is the course stuff wrapping the prop.

 

I belive it is worse this year die to climate change. 

 

It's very bad in and around blqckburn.

 

Any fixes to prevent it...think not but just asking

 

Thanks in advance

[Tony Brooks]

27 minutes ago, Andy DC said:

Thank you guys, yes that's the nasty stuff clogging the water intake.....then there is the course stuff wrapping the prop.

 

I belive it is worse this year die to climate change. 

 

It's very bad in and around blqckburn.

 

Any fixes to prevent it...think not but just asking

 

Thanks in advance

 

If it is duckweed or fallen leaves wrapping around the prop then, as I told you, putting the engine into reverse will usually let it float off. 

 

If you are talking about plastic bags, sleeping bags, string, rope and so on, then welcome to canal boating, you will have to get used to it.

 

If you try to go too fast, then you can swirl stuff off the bottom of the canal and onto the prop.

 

Would you by any chance have a long shaft outboard fitted to a boat that only needs a short shaft?

 

Is the engine correctly angled for the boat.

[LadyG]

Welcome to Blackburn, it's the absolute pits.....

3 hours ago, Andy DC said:

Speaking to several other boaters on the canal, I'm not the only one having this issue, seems mainly an issue with out boards but narrowboats are also over heating due to impellers clogging with duck weed.

Why is it you think it's only myself having this issue? I don't mean to be challenging asking this but are you local? If so have you seen the condition of the canal around blackburn?

This is a genuine concern, I don't live aboard and am not trying to dodge the rules on CC just to be clear.

Have you tried paddling a several tonne boat with paddles?

I'm not doing nothing I'm repairing my boat, I'm in touch with crt and I'm genuinely making enquiries as to how I can navigate thus issue.

 

Your comments are not helpful at all to be frank

Sorry, but I ha enough suggested you ask the CRT to advise when the weed boat is coming through, and that you bowhaul, not sure what help can be applied?

[TheBiscuits]

14 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Welcome to Blackburn, it's the absolute pits.....

 

How would you know, you never made it that far!

 

We deliberately aim for Blackburn quite often, Eanam Wharf is one of our favourite destinations. 

 

Good friends, good food, shame about the beer!  There's much better selections a short walk down into the city though.

[gatekrash]

14 hours ago, IanD said:

Duckweed on the Stourbridge Canal yesterday... 😞 

 

It's like it on the north Stratford as well, never seen so much, it's like a carpet. 

 

[Naughty Cal]

13 hours ago, Andy DC said:

Thank you guys, yes that's the nasty stuff clogging the water intake.....then there is the course stuff wrapping the prop.

 

I belive it is worse this year die to climate change. 

 

It's very bad in and around blqckburn.

 

Any fixes to prevent it...think not but just asking

 

Thanks in advance

A quick blast of reverse is often enough to clear the prop and the water intake.

 

Failing that just pull the boat along. Once you have it moving it will take very little effort to move a lightweight cruiser and keep CRT from knocking at the door.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

12 hours ago, LadyG said:

Welcome to Blackburn, it's the absolute pits....

I regret not spending time  at Blackburn. I also missed out on Burnley. 
 

Nevermind, two good reasons to get me back on to the Leeds Liverpool. See the bits I skipped. 

[jonathanA]

It's not usually duck weed on the l&l, (although as I haven't been to Blackburn  this year it might be). Its usually a long straggly sort of weed that gets wrapped around the prop. Not sure what it's called. 

 

Agree with @TheBiscuits that eanam wharf is a good safe and interesting place to moor. Shame the thwaites and other breweries are long since gone ..

[Pie Eater]

It's floating pennywort and on the CaRT list as highly invasive.

[ditchcrawler]

On 08/09/2024 at 20:46, TheBiscuits said:

 

How would you know, you never made it that far!

 

We deliberately aim for Blackburn quite often, Eanam Wharf is one of our favourite destinations. 

 

Good friends, good food, shame about the beer!  There's much better selections a short walk down into the city though.

Get that reggae music down your ears and the chicken down your throat  

[Andy DC]

Callipso bar is ace....Dave the owner is a colorful character...the food and ambience is excellent 

[TheBiscuits]

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

Get that reggae music down your ears and the chicken down your throat  

 

And the geese ... Don't forget the geese!

[Andy DC]

Haha