annv

Hi Another reason for registering a vessel abroad is to avoid VAT payment on completion of the build and launch, by registering the vessel in a country with low VAT rate saves a awful lot of money. John

Hi Smoggy the engine that was fitted to the imp was indeed a war time spec for a pump engine that had to run for so many days without servicing, be man portable plus many more spec's, i cant remember now. great engine only gave trouble in imps when the radiator core became blocked causing over heating we always washed the core on a service, pity manufacturers didn't put this in servicing scheduled would have saved many head gasket changes. John

If only people used a touch of grease when building the engines this would never happen. when ever i get a new car i spend a day removing greasing all relevant bolts on suspension and engine, copper slipping back of wheels f ally, then spraying oiling where necessary. when i took my car for a set of tires the fitter came out with a long pri bar i told him you wont need that as they have been greased he said he wished very body did this. as now when disc brakes are fitted the wheels dont get removed on a service unlike drum brakes are, which often means ally wheels get corroded on hubs. John

Hi Ray Oil pressure is checked at normal operating temp see manufacturers spec's. obviously a old worn engine may not reach these. rule of thumb at tick over min of 5lb to 10 lbs running 35lbs.time to worry is when it suddenly changes, a volt meter wont work if not connected to battery supply, the connections a pron to corrosion and as they need very little currant can stop working correctly if connections corrode. check all connections and remake if necessary and dip bare wire in Vaseline before crimping to stop corrosion and dip spade connection's in Vaseline before reconnecting to switch/gauge/fuse block. John

Hi Andy boat toilets that use river water for flushing very often smell for first few pumps/actions this goes away after use. leesan make a capsule holder attached to the inlet pipe to stop this, hire yards don bother as they tend to have constant use But! if not used for several weeks smell comes back for first few pumps. Sujjest you pump it as soon as you get on board with window open.John

Hi David They do say a picture is worth a thousand words. John

Hi Ray Silicon is usefully used in place of a gasket. often aluminium castings use silicon in place of a gasket, quicker and cheaper on a assembly line, thermostat housings use a rubber ring, cork gasket or thick paper gaskets, this is because of the possible movement as temp goes up and down on housing, often a smear of grease or hylomer or red hermotite is used if casting surface has corroded and pitied though time or housing may have warped, all should be used sparingly and surplus wiped from edge after tighting and only tighten wrist tight. John

Hi Mike You dont need a lock as this would just maintain a higher level of water with little rise and fall of water level ie no tide. this could cause ecology problems . BUT what would work at far less cost would be a gate to swing across the river at the bridge in Yarmouth which would only need to be closed at very high tides to restrict the inflow of water for an hour or so it wouldn't need to be water tight just restrict the incoming water to manageable levels, then when the outside tide drops the gate would swing open on the falling tide.this would prevent excessively high tides across Brayden and along with the rest of the rivers but not alter the tide rise and fall during normal times. John

It was very echoey in there before they put the trellis up. They will need to replace it with something John

Hi Ray assuming that you have checked for water leaks with pump turned on release the pressure valve on top of calorifiera by twisting the ****, water should come out if this is so start engine after a few minitits feel the hose that runs from rear of engine to calorifera if warm then feel top hose that goes to heat exchanger this should be cold if not, also warm your engine thermostat needs replacing. John

Hi Craig unless you mount it below the bows you will be blinded by the reflection , I have two car fog lights on a detachable brakit that i mount on the roof this gives a good spread of light down wards on to the bank when mooring at night and as it is above and behind helm doesn't lose your night vision and removes any shadows on the bank of dips or uneven ground. John

Ah!! nothing like a tin of stewed steak heated on hexy then use water for tea or coffee while you open the tin (rag essential) no washing up. I get MRE's now my eldest son and grandson love them always keep some on the boat for when i am by myself. My mother always said that the compo tea was one of the best you could get, I had to go minesweeping for the tins of tea left after a exercize i then got a new loaf door step crust with dripping and salt on it providing i picked the right day, Ah!!!,. John

Hi If it is only on your home mooring and you have steel quey heading a nearby boat connected to shore power is the likely culprit. John

Hi Cris The champ certainly could if brave enough. John

There use to be a guy on the Yare at Bremerton way who had a foil boat that went really fast some one said he could be dangerous if he had to do a emergency stop he then demonstrated by going really fast then in a blink of a eye turned 180 degrees and retraced his steps. Amazing demonstration. John

Hi Vaughan Why should you be different from the rest of us, i was told that is why we have you. On the good side at least its being used and kept aired while you are unable to use it. John

Hi If moored at Yacht station the station cafe will deliver Breakfast to your boat along with other meals during the day. John

Hi Ray I take it that the divertar valve is above the water line in which case remove and cap or keep and cap. John

Hi Ray you should have a gate or ball valve connected to hull fitting this will stop water ingress so any cap will be for decorative/aesthetic reasons and NOT for water integrity so any thing will be ok, UNLESS the valve is not working . John

Hi Ray if you dont use the diverter valve(ie pump toilet overboard and not going to sea) anything that shortens the length is a good thing , good to see that you have two stainless clips on each joint, ideally the saddles should be opposite each other BUT dont change them now as they are set on the hose but perhaps doing this on the new hose joints. John

Hi Ray its made by LeeSan and called Odor free toilet pipe and use only stainless steel jubilee clamps two on each joint if possible with clips opist each other and try too keep level or sloping to tank. John

And Electrolysis. John

Hi John You need too remember to moor into the tidal flow which isn't always up river and the height of water(rise & fall) can be as much as two feet depending where you moor so dont have the mooring ropes to tight. Enjoy having no locks. John

Leaving battery's for eight months with out a maintenance charge while kill battery's, and once they are discharged modern battery's cant be recharged. John

Hi You dont say what electrical equipment you have are the earth points connected to the engine earth when was the boat wired, as Vaughan says disconnect each item as you check meter to isolate which which could be the cause. John