rusty69 Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 Told you somebody would be along, although they didn't say much about the boat in question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 "that'll be the day". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 There is a saying the smaller the boat, the bigger the fun. And a 25 foot boat is not a day boat, we used to spend weeks aboard our 23 foot Springer, all sorts of advantages especially if your priority is actually boating - turn round anywhere, squeeze into a narrow lock with another boat, and you'll never be struggling to find a mooring spot. There's less to keep clean as well. BTW I know a guy on our marina who had a boat built and fitted out by Aintree and he has nothing but praise for them - especially their after sales service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 6 hours ago, JamesFrance said: If you would like some serious discussion about Beetles rather than the usual off topic chatter here, you could join the Aintree Beetle owners group on Facebook. I am very pleased with mine which is also 25ft and we are happy to spend a few weeks on her having spent months in motor caravans as well as larger narrowboats. Have you ever been anywhere in your life where only one subject is ever discussed without diversification? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesFrance Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 1 hour ago, mrsmelly said: Have you ever been anywhere in your life where only one subject is ever discussed without diversification? Yep, lots of forums are quite strict about off topic stuff and sometimes you have to read through pages of chat to find useful info, however when you find it here it is often valuable so worth the effort. Rather like commercial tv where you have to suffer the ads to watch the good programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaysider Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 The Beetles are a smashing boat - I designed our dinette using photos I took at Crick of theirs. SUCH a lot of boat fitted into a small but useable space - the bathroom is brilliant too. You'll have a wonderful time... if we had the money spare, we'd have one to do shorter trips on and play around. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 1 minute ago, JamesFrance said: Yep, lots of forums are quite strict about off topic stuff and sometimes you have to read through pages of chat to find useful info, however when you find it here it is often valuable so worth the effort. Rather like commercial tv where you have to suffer the ads to watch the good programs. True. I hate ads but wish they were on the beeb instead of the con that is the tv licence!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Rose Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 15 hours ago, mrsmelly said: True. I hate ads but wish they were on the beeb instead of the con that is the tv licence!! Not me, I 'm happy to pay the licence fee to avoid having ads, even though I can skip them on the Humax (but not on catch-up which is why I use iPlayer a lot but the other players rarely and as a last resort). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Bob Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 15 hours ago, JamesFrance said: Yep, lots of forums are quite strict about off topic stuff and sometimes you have to read through pages of chat to find useful info, however when you find it here it is often valuable so worth the effort. Rather like commercial tv where you have to suffer the ads to watch the good programs. I'm with you James. I find this off topic stuff very tedious. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesFrance Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 5 hours ago, Dr Bob said: I'm with you James. I find this off topic stuff very tedious. You don't get much of it on the Liveaboard Link, maybe you miss it sometimes?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tunnelman51 Posted May 8, 2018 Report Share Posted May 8, 2018 Aintree Beetles are great little boats, designed as an "entry level" boat for folk that want to get started on the canals with minimal running costs. I have had one now for about a year and a half, acquired second hand, but with very low engine hours and in "as new" condition. OK, it is 30 feet long, but all four boats in the range - 25' 30' 35' and 40' all have the same bow and stern configuration and Beta 16 engine, it is just the cabin length that varies. The steelwork and welding does seem quite impressive, as does the paint finish. The Beta 16 engine is only a 600cc twin pot, making it very economical to run, but it does need a bit of revving to make any sort of progress (which is probably good for a diesel engine anyway). I usually try to aim for a (relatively) relaxed pace of around 1600 rpm, although this could be increased to 1900- 2000 rpm if so desired, but I find this can give rise to cavitation and gurgling noises. I have never taken her on a river as she was designed for canal use primarily, and I think the little engine would not be up to the job of punching against a strong current. (someone will probably be along shortly to say that they have ! ). The interior is nicely fitted in oak with contrasting cream painted wall panels giving her an open airy feel, especially with the light coming in from the roof skylight (which I believe was an "extra") and the ample windows. My only gripe about the interior (and this is purely because I have spent fifty years in the woodworking trade) is the relatively simple construction of the cupboard doors. They were built to a price, which is understandable, using only a groove in the stiles and top and bottom rails (to take the ply panel) as the basis for the corner joints. this gives a minimal glue area. The doors consequently need careful operation and usage. Personally I would have used a stub tenon, or dowels or even a biscuit here, but that's just me being picky, anyway - a minor gripe, as treated with care, they are perfectly OK. Oh - and do keep an eye on the eberspacher blown air heater - they need to be run REGULARLY - all year round, once a month, even in summer for a short amount of time or you get problems. Reversing - now this can be interesting, - what we have here is a combination of all things conspiring to make life challenging, a short boat, with short swims, a square stern and a relatively low torque engine. You will probably find, as I did, that you stick it in reverse, point the tiller where you want to go, and merrily sally forth....Noooooooo...... This is where the boat develops a mind of it's own. The bow wants to go to starboard, driven by the weird phenomenon known as prop walk, transverse thrust, or as I prefer to call it, the bu**eration factor. No amount of faffing about with the tiller this way slightly, that way slightly will do any good whatsoever. What you have to do is this - bring the boat to a stop gradually, with very little turbulence, in mid - channel, away from any shallows. Then, engage reverse on tickover, look along the roof vents and imagine a very acute angle either side of centre (no more than about 10 degrees I would say). As soon as backward momentum commences the bow will tend to swing to starboard. At the very first indication that this is happening, put the tiller HARD over to port, and keep it there. All things being equal you will begin to track rearwards, albeit glacially slowly. The revs at this point can now be increased to around 1400 - but no more otherwise it all starts to go wrong very quickly. When the bow starts to move back towards centre line/ port, and BEFORE it gets anywhere near the 10 degrees point whack the tiller hard over to starboard. This is what works for me, extreme movements of the tiller, creating what is , in effect a "stern thruster". Continue in this way and watch that bow movement like a Hawk. Remember, once rearward momentum is achieved, hang on to it at all costs ! The last thing you want to do is lose it by having to "correct" by engaging forward gear. Oh, and pray that the wind doesn't get up - because that will stuff it completely ! Finally, I hope when you get your Beetle in August that you enjoy it as much as I have mine, I might even see you out on the cut one day ! Good Luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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