tjg1677

Couple of pictures for you of GK showing the new flybridge instrument panel and the new bow rail rail for better safety when on deck up forrard.

Is it Ashby by oby??

Can't beat a good old English ****** or savoury ducks as they are called round our way. Or is that fowlist?

VC. Boulters do list them. It is a doulton super sterasyl 11 inch ceramic water filter. If the don't have them in stock they can get fairly quickly. Price 24 quid incl vat. Hope this helps Trev

October 1974 taken for my first ever broads trip By my brother aboard Aston cairn. It started a love affair with things that float that has lasted to this day. Thing thatStockport in my mind for some odd reason, was my brother teaching me how to go from ahead to astern smoothly, near Berney arms and remember gary Sheraton on the radio singing I get a Kick.......happy memories!

Don't think that's the one VC. The one i remember for the type that you have is a solid ceramic one that looks similar to a sodastream gas bottle and is a creamy beige colour. Not even sure you can still get them. Off into the Chandler some time over The weekend, I will ask for you and let you know. Trev

Fair play BR. At least you still have One, my big one is long gone. And on that note, just got to Horning and on board GK. Might even do a few small jobs, wide awake now after the drive. Now then, where's that toolbox.........

Yes I had one of them too, the break elbow type, it was about 5 foot long and used for the cylinder head nuts on the main engine on one of our small coastal tankers, if I recall rightly the nuts were about 2 1/2 inches AF.. just out of interest , we have all heard the jokes about left handed spanners and screwdrivers, well believe it or not they really do exist !! On oil tankers, any tools used on deck are always made from either brass or phosphour bronze alloy, if dropped it prevents sparks. These were always referred to as left handed tools, so there, now you know .

Another good takeaway is the one in Loddon. Can't remember what it's called but it's not bad though.

China city in Horning is ok but it just seems to open when it feels like.

Yes I do. Had a socket set that was king dick Started at 3/4 inch af and went right up to 2 inch af. Weighed a ton but it was bullet proof. Also had a full set of britool spanners, remember them, real top quality.

Everyone needs a Griff.. ............

I have been in marine engineering both professionally and in boat ownership for nearly 40 years. Over that time I have got into the habit of always having certain items to hand in the toolbox, on that basis I thought I would ask what are your must have items apart from a fairly basic tool kit?. Toolwise my most versatile thing is a set of 3 spring loaded self grip wrenches, they have got me out of the mire on more than one occasion. Never without a roll of ptfe tape, this stuff is so versatile I have even made temporary O rings in the past as a get you home job. Also superglue, self amalgamating tape, araldite, terminal blocks, tie wraps and various bits of wire. What are your must haves? Trev

Have to say I am mightily impressed with what those 3D printers can do, it seems you are capable of making literally just about anything. Wish I had one when I put a powered winch on my r.c. tug, talk about a heath Robinson job but in this hobby, like the real thing necessity is the mother of all invention. Trev

PS. was going to fit dual rudder indicators as well but ended up buying a davis instruments indicator that mounts to the centre of the wheel. |Great little gadgets and highly recommended, saves running cables from both helms back to a sender on the steering gear tiller arm. If anyone is considering fitting rudder indicators, I have two spare gauges and a sender if anyone is interested. trev

Thanks Regulo. The only three gauges I am actually fitting are the temp, engine volts and RPM. The oil is a warning light and buzzer. The engine already has a dual tapping for a duplicate temp gauge. The tachometer signal will come off the alternator phase tap ( AC pulse ) and the voltage straight off the positive side of the shut down solenoid and suitable engine earth. The oil warning is a straight on/off pressure switch, so no resistances fighting each other to worry about there. Incidentally, just for anyone interested and who may want to do this themselves, I was a bit wary about cutting great big holes in the GRP where the upper helm is situated, get it wrong and it is a right mess to fix. Instead what I have done is prefabricate the panel in a large IP rated project box. This is fully removable and will be connected to the engine electrics via a 12N trailer plug and 7 core towing cable. That way I only have to drill one small hole to mount the 12N socket to plug it all into and the instrument panel can be placed anywhere to give best visibility as it is on a 3 foot trailing lead and can be removed from the upper helm when not in use. Will take some pics when installed and post it here. trev

Formica is incredibly slippery underfoot when wet. Safest option for flooring would be non slip bathroom vynil the stuff that is about 4 to 5 mm thick. Easy to cut and shape and will look good too. Trev

Thanks robin. Switches are the hydrostatic type that work on pressure in a tube, this in turn operates a pressure switch and illuminated a warning light. The switches work I have tested them so we either have an electrical fault or even blown bulbs. Fuses are ok. May just end up rewiring the whole lot, could be easier! Have that product already but in tablet form, so all good there. I think I wilpolitely decline your kind offer to swap to do lists even though I still have about 25 items to do. The pulpit rails and duplicate engine instruments are going to be a big enough headache though. Trev

but in the wrong hands could be a bit of a handful.........

Bit of an update. We have a full week aboard at Easter and it looks like a lot of it is going to be maintenance. Been slowly shuttling stuff down over the last couple of months and the saloon now looks like a Chandler. Jobs to do list. 1. Fit some more roof vents. 2. Fit drainage facility to birdbath aka moulded in lifebouy holder. 3. Assemble and fit my version of pulpit rail. 4. Fit repeat set of gauges and warning lights to flybridge. 5. Attempt to fit thermostat to heating system to try stop it drinking fuel.managed to use over 75 litres over the winter! 6. 're hang flybridge access doors. 7. Bend on nbn burgee 8. Investigate why pump out holding tank warning lights don't work. 9. Carpet tile 2 cabins. 10. Sterilize fresh water system. And so on and so forth. The above represents about 60 percent of the to do list but I didn't want to bore you all to tears . Will hopefully get some pics of the work and post them up. Hope we get time to do a bit of cruising!! Have a greatEaster y'all wherever you are. Trev

Go on Polly, do tell............please!!!

Hello welcome and yes. The batteries have to be both secure and covered, this prevents the likelihood of dropping a spanner? Shorting out the terminals and making a bang. The easiest way is to put the batteries in a purpose built vented plastic box. Alternatively if you are handy yo can make one out of 12 or 19mm ply dead easily. If it is fully enclosed just remember to vent it. Hope this helps Trev

Nice one Dave. I had a canal boat for over 25 years and during that time there were a few people I know who used Calcutt, one of whom bought a fully re-conned Bmc 1.5 , no complaints from any of them, so you should be on a safe bet. Ttfn Trev

Calcutta boats have been reconditioning BMC engines for at least 25 years that I am aware of. They have a very good reputation so I figure are a safe bet. Usually they have engines ex stock too. Only other BMC specialist that I know of on the broads is Boulters at Horning but I know he does have quite a bit on at the moment from talking to them a couple of weeks ago when I was last in there. Trev

Indeed it was in use in the brass fire extinguishers fitted in the green goddesses and some RN motor boats right up until the end of the seventies. Was great for getting stains out of uniform clothing too. Trev