.png.5ff10cca1d0967e44a17e4a2edde2a80.png)
LondonRascal
-
Posts
2,784 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
72
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Articles
Posts posted by LondonRascal
-
-
Do we have any firm dates?
I would come up and help and we could use B.A which could be used as floating accommodation and have more space onboard than Nipper.
B.A is booked out currently between 4th and 8th May so could not be then, we also have the Forum meet 18th - 20th. Otherwise it is looking free. Perhaps a good idea might be from the 11th?
-
1
-
-
5 minutes ago, Hylander said:
It is good when you are hooked up to be able to watch TV and have lights on without having to worry about batteries.
That should be easily covered by your batteries though. If you are not able to go through an evening watching telly, running heating and lighting up your boat then you've got something amiss with the batteries/charging system. So in my opinion plugging in to simply watch television and light up the boat is not fair use of an electric point. Since there is no right or wrong or 'terms of use' this entire thread is based on opinion.
Maybe a different approach would be to increase the minimum top up from £1.00 per card and have it reset to zero once the lead is disconnected. Someone needing to run a few Kilowatts of power might be happy to pay a fiver, someone who needed to use a few hundred watts over an evening might not.
-
1
-
-
I have spoken of this before, that the big problem the Broads Authority had when they first brought these posts to moorings (and this is not 'BA bashing here) I don't think enough was done to work with the boatyards to come up with a good base from which to work and improve on.
In short the posts went in, and I remember a couple of boats (there may have been more) that were all electric and one could hire. One was Quiet Light from Herbert Woods, and another was a small aft cockpit boat from Colin Facey.
Instead of the network of charging points growing in line with boatyards building more electric boats (including day boats) what seemed to happen was the boatyards found the market was not there for the cost of this foray into electric propulsion, battery tech was all based on Lead Acid and so you had limited range and limited places to charge up anyway.
They are still called ‘Charging Points’ though but here is the deal, they are standard marina electrical pedestals! This is where the Broads Authority really went wrong because anyone can so easily get the required lead and plug in. They can get the cards from numerous outlets to top up as well. It should be managed so much better especially as now there is more talk about ‘dirty diesels’ these days and boatyards are experimenting once more with ‘Hybrid’ boats.
I don’t think one can put the Horse back in the stable, but I do think that there should be more electric charging points that are solely for that purpose. While someone is going to be happy to spend a few pounds on a 3 pin ‘caravan lead’ they might not be so happy to spend a few hundred pounds on a lead with the correct ‘fast charge’ connector found on road side vehicle charging stations. The boats need these, the posts needs these and please Broad Authority get contactless payment meters in the posts! No need to buy cards just tap and top up – choose from £1.00, to £5.00, they have the power connection and the Broads is no longer a ‘not spot’ for data over phone networks so everything is ready to go – units can be bought off the shelf for not a great deal of cost – which is why so many vending machines now have a contactless payment method.
But what about all the exiting posts out there? Well I reckon they too should have contactless payment accepted, it would make it so easy and simple and no need to have all these cards, and local shops running out of them and the Broads Authority having to go empty the little used card bin on the side of the posts.
What surprises me though is why many boaters actually ‘plug in’ I appreciate it if you have an electric immersion heater, supplementary electric heating, a battery charger, toaster, electric kettle, larger TV and so on because then you can use all these comforts without worry and it can especially in the winter months enhance the boating experience. This said, I am a bit nosey when people arrive and plug in and when it is a small boat with none of the above or say just one item that might be used I ponder did they need the electricity really..?
A side note...
I have just returned form a weekend hire from Herbert Woods. The boat was not fancy, it had an Inverter and a microwave - that was it. I was told by a chap (who used to work at Brooms for a good number of years) so knew a thing or two about boats, how we should not run out heating for more than two hours without running the engine. It was as if we both knew the root cause but it was the script he had been told to use. Our batteries were not capable of starting the heater without the engine running, even then it would take at least two (often three) attempts to get it to fire. That is just one boat, one experience. Imagine how many are out there not only on hire but hirers being told to run engines 'to keep the heater going'. Also the importance of running the engine during the day be it cruising, or not but you need a good few hours to replenish battery charge something else I don't think many appreciate.
It only takes a few to do this and then this sort of becomes a standard procedure. Last year we did it, this year we will type thing. I felt awful at Ranworth having to do this after coming back from the pub (which thankfully was not too late) but the boat two down was stilling chugging away at 9:45pm.
-
1
-
1
-
-
What sad news, but what a brave person to have opened up so much here and shared how things are - now at peace and without pain. RIP.
-
2
-
-
If it floats it’s a goer I’ve been told, thing is some things that float don’t want to go anywhere
-
4 hours ago, Hylander said:
I get a bit concerned that there is an assumption that everyone is on Twitter or Facebook and I am afraid it just is not so. I think word of mouth would be the only way anyone would find out if they were not glued to these sites all day long.
The fact is the majority tend to win - take electric and gas bills, nobody likes the things but I have recently moved not only over to paperless but pay thru and manage my account using the iPhone App for E.on and British Gas. So easy, so simple.
It is easy for utility companies to then push the ‘old fashion’ paper bill preferring folk to give up using everything from the environment being saved if they do to slapping the discount carrot in front of them if only they would go paperless and save a little
The same on a kind of social scale applies with Facebook. It is so much part of our lives that people talk about events there as if it is a mutual friend and everyone else knows what they are referring to.
It is true that not everyone uses Facebook but since so many of the worlds population now do (and will continue to despite the recent issues of privacy) because of its ease to stay connected to things. It’s the very need to stay up to date and in the loop that keeps people part of the circus.
Add in the fact you’re automatically notified whenever someone says something on a Group or adds a comment of reply and it makes near live updates and reading possible of a situation esp silly since most of the users of Facebook interact through their phones.
A chap called Dave Whitworth was live streaming the convoy over Breydon on the Norfolk Broads Boaters Facebook Group and I was watching and commenting from Middlesborough train station. Despite this being pretty technically amazing, it seems now so everyday at the same time. It was also quite a spectical seeig so many boats in a line over the water.
-
On 4/9/2018 at 20:33, scaniaman said:
Hi robin. your blue smoke is usually turbo seals,valve stem seals,valve guides or worn piston rings.Given that the engine is still fairly new its likely to be turbo seals letting a little oil through.If it clears up as the engine warms up it should be ok. Still sounds great though.
Yes this is where some light oil was found around the Turbo air intake. Some have said that if i had an oil leak of any substance I would have a huge smoke screen and not to worry too much. I remain unconvinced and it will be something to be looked over in time as above all else I want her to be mechanically tip top.
-
1
-
-
I have the right oil, in the right place just happen to have used a bit more of it than one is meant to and in order to remove the oil I now need to remove the oil tank and several hoses to get at a place i can suck the oil from the actual engine from.
-
1
-
1
-
-
A long time coming, but this is part of a 'catch up' video that covered Independence, but here is the buying of Trixie:
-
2
-
2
-
-
It has been a good while, so it is time for the 'big catch up' and what has been going on over on Independence - mainly cleaning.
-
6
-
1
-
-
Just back from a fleeting visit to the Broads. I travelled up Friday morning and had some things to fix and investigate onboard. Firstly I needed to remove the heater controller and re-wire the new one and I am pleased to say I now have properly functioning heating which is handy it was a broken controller and not a costly repair to the main unit.
Next up I got to trying to find the issue with the batteries and charging system, I thought initially I had found two issues: The first being that at rest the batteries (which have been sat a week not on charge) were all reading 12.6v. I had expected when I started the engine that these would then get well over 13v - but only got up to 12.9v. This turned out to be a read hearing as later after cruising to Ludham Bridge with the engine running at a faster tickover they were reading 13.96v. So it seems my Alternator is doing what it ought but there is no isolator/regulator to manage the amperage to which bank needs charging or reduce it as the batteries reach their full state of charge. This is something I am now getting.
However, what I can't fathom is why I am only getting just a tad over 10v at the distribution panel when the engine is running, but when on shore powered charger 12v - despite the battery charger running at 14.6v. I thought it may be a faulty volt meter but clearly it is not. My forward steaming light and anchor light which worked last week, no longer do. You can see where this is headed, somewhere I have some wiring gremlins - what joys.
Anyway, the other news was a lot of work being done just inside the far end of the Wet Shed and masses of work outside - trees being felled, excavators doing all sorts. It will be interesting to see what is what in the fullness of time, or if it is just a tidy up.
I wanted to lower the canopy in the peace of the Wet Shed and figure out how best I may do it in future if alone. The canopy is almost impossible to get back up single handed, since it naturally wants to fall down backwards, and only the fasteners on the windscreen keep it up. With nobody to hold the hoops up trying to get a couple of fasteners on to support the canopy single handed is a real effort. During me trying to figure things out I had stepped on some of the canopy and heard a tearing sound. I felt terrible initially, what on earth had I done? I decided to not look too much into it an pretend nothing had happened and head out onto the river.
I arrived at Ludham Bridge, less than 8ft clearance just as well the canopy was down already, but just as I approached it I decided nope - stay here tonight and go to the Dog Inn - as it turned out a great move. I turned the boat and got the very end mooring on the right hand side. I then spent over half an hour struggling with the canopy. It turned out I had ripped a small section of stitching, nothing too bad about 3 inches - but as i held it the stitching just began to run, more and more just was falling apart and all of a sudden i had an entire upper side of the canopy glazing now un-stitched and flapping in the wind! I began to inspect the rest and was shocked to find masses of stitching already gone, or coming free even on areas that are not under any tension.
I just thought, why do I not have any luck with boats? I mean the odd thing here and there, sure but this was not only niggles it was now bigger items to sort and now an entire canopy that was quite literally coming apart at the seams. I had a bit of a 'rant' and posted of a video over on our Facebook Group. I then decided the best thing was to head to the pub, which I duly did. This was an excellent idea as the food is very nice - and the IPA was too. Just as I was finishing Gary and Vicky turn up friends from the Wet Shed, and so we sat and caught up and I got a lift back to the bridge which was very handy too. Back on the boat I was now mellow and with some smooth Jazz, a coffee and a Jammie Dodger life was all once more ok.
I was woken about 1:00am when what I thought was some kind of jet engine was going, it turned out that it was the boat in front of me un-silenced heater outlet - blimey what a roar but either they turned it off or their domestic batteries gave out, but about an hour later peace was restored. I fancied a bit of a lay in this morning but just gone 7:00am and the boat traffic passing up and down river was already underway wash from passing boats and their engines meant me trying to sleep was not on the cards.
I checked my messages and found one of the Directors of Bailey & Stone (upholstery and canopy makers) had reached out to me after reading my Facebook post and watching the video. He could turn around a new canopy if I wanted it, in Sunbrella with some fancy UV resistant ultra tough stitching all to be done in under two weeks. The price he had given was very enticing too. I thought about it, and got back to him initially putting him off but as the morning passed and I thought some more and looked at the current canopy I called him up and accepted - only I wanted it in Burgundy. He agreed, and so that was the canopy woes sorted in a jiffy.
I went for a little potter up to How Hill and back to re-charge the batteries and give me hot water - then it was time to get ready and have a snack and coffee before I headed to George at Ludham Bridge. He is such a down to earth chap, but he certainly knows his stuff. We went over the list of things he had already quoted for, but I then effectively doubled it with more items me being worried if I was asking too much of him considering he has other boats in the yard to work on but he assured me what I was wanting was very doable within the time frame I had (before the Spring NBN meet).
I am now going to have the boat rather transformed with new red, hard coastal anti-fouling (which works really well on the Broads - we used it on Broad Ambition) and that will have a nice burgundy boot line. The current blue stripe on the superstructure will likewise go and be replaced with a burgundy version, all new fenders will be be got, the aerial for the TV removed, spot lamp relocated. This will clean the lines considerable and set the boat apart from others of the same design. The engine is being worked on, the charging system too. New sea cocks, auto greaser for the stern gland, new 'clear' weed strainer, work on the swim platform, updating navigation lights to LED, new headlining and lighting system - switched recessed downlighters and this evening I have got Bailey & Stone to get some sample fabrics for the upholstery sent to me and they will measure and quote to update the seating. There is a bunch more to do but I have not got my list to hand right now, but some exciting times ahead.
Heater controller renewal:
Cosy at night, but rather busy and 1990's upholstery
The 'before' and last time she will be blue:
-
10
-
1
-
-
5 minutes ago, Broads01 said:
Roof terrace bar could be nice if it comes off.
I think it would be nice if it stayed put
-
8
-
-
Well that was a bit of luck - the new Eberspacher heater control just arrived from Butler Technik
-
Clickbait has nothing on this thread's ability to get people involved in a topic.
-
1
-
-
38 minutes ago, Ricardo said:
Accumulators are sized to the system , small ones don't work on bigger systems .
Well the whole plumbing system is a mess - even the new pump has fallen apart - literally. It did not come with the red 'quick connect tabs' so I used the existing ones. All was fine until about 3 weeks ago, I was in the engine room - water system had pressured up fine and was changing the absorbent oil mats I had put down to catch the drips from the leaking fuel stand pipe the heater installers had caused when there was a 'pop' from behind me and I was duly then being soaked with water.
I was shouting up to the Saloon 'TURN THE BLOODY WATER PUMP OFF' while trying to stem the flow gushing out at some odd 20 litres per minute. Of course up in the Saloon they had no idea where the breaker was for the fresh water pump so are slowly running down the list of breakers to turn off - seconds are feeling like minutes so I called out to just turn all the DC power off which they duly did - fortunately the lighting in the engine room is off the AC side so I was not plunged into darkness.
I thought the quick release red tabs may have broken, but they are perfect in all respects but no longer 'clip' into place with friction. At the slightest vibration they slide down just enough to allow the pressured hose to pop off. I have therefore constructed quite an artistic array of Zip Ties that daisy chain from the tabs to the pump bracket and prevent the tab from vibrating free. This is of course not ideal and neither a long term fix but works for now.
I am currently looking for replacement tabs..
-
A very nice site is http://www.gaugemap.co.uk/
I prefer it's layout and data (scrubbed from the Environment Agency) but presented well. Just search for the local gauge such as Hoveton Broad:
-
1
-
-
8 minutes ago, Ricardo said:
If its plumbed in on the hot side its either wrongly fitted or serving as an expansion tank which is impossible to know without seeing the boat or a drawing of the relivent pipe work
Here is the plans, and you will see it would appear as the Fresh Water Pump (FWP) has an Accumulator right after it, and before the Water Heater (WH)
-
I doubt it was because I can see no space for two - and why would you have two instead of just one large one? Also much of the equipment onboard is UK supplied, whereas things like taps, sinks, showers all had their Taiwanese labels intact. I therefore wonder how much of the fit out was left until the boats were here in the UK and how much of some of the 'oddities' are as a result of works done here prior to delivery to the customer. The plan is to replace the Accumulator with a larger model plumbed to the cold water outlet from the fresh water pump and from there serve both hot and cold water supplies.
-
1
-
-
18 minutes ago, Philosophical said:
For those that have never fitted an accumulator before it is important to ensure that the bladder pressure in the accumulator is matched to the pump pressure
It is also handy to fit an Accumulator on the right side of the water system. In that I mean, on Independence the boat was built with one (small one at that) plumbed in to only serve the hot water side. The result is you have a smooth and even water flow on the hot side.
However, turn on the cold tap and the pump pulses annoyingly - turn on a mixer tap to combine both hot and cold water and the pump really has some fun trying to pump continuously for the cold water flow but only a little for what the Accumulator's pressure is demanding.
-
Shower mixer tap has arrived from Brian Wards, very nice quality it is too:
-
1
-
-
There are always differing opinions. Period. It matters not if that is online or not, but I don't think it is always about what someone thinks it is about a 'collective direction'. I can best sum this up if I use Shiela as an example. She very rarely will drink alcohol, and when we are together or with friends that is fine - there is no judgment, no pressure. However when we have been at social gatherings where the collective direction of people is to drink 'to have a good time' she feels very much pressured to join in and drink alcohol and almost judged to be drinking a Coke and not a white wine for example
You can take all sorts of examples where people generally have their own character, choices and feelings on things which may not be perceived by a majority to be 'fitting in' and so I think it can happen here, on a Forum too.
If a larger percentage of people go with one direction (or opinion) then someone who may not be following the same path is made to feel perhaps small - not taken into account or heard, and then every time they may try to explain and defend their point of view be seen as being troublesome.
I know there have been cases where Richardo and I have had a difference of opinion on things, and I know some things I have said may have been taken by him to seem derogatory. Can I use his open and frank post therefore to 'clear the air' myself and say this was not my intention to cause any upset as I am sure it was not his. There have of late been some pretty 'hot topics' up for discussion and it is this freedom to share, and engage with people that makes this Forum so rich and far better than Facebook or other groups.
I would be interested too in hearing from the horses mouth about living on a boat, since this is a subject that is often talked about but rarely from those who actually are living on water. I am sure it would mean a lot of questions from people who in turn could learn a lot and may inspire some to take the plunge themselves.
-
5
-
2
-
-
Blimey don't let me go inspiring you, your end up with some kind of addiction to chandlers and boats and spend on things you don't need lol. Good to see you here and you've got a tidy boat there too :)
-
1
-
-
5 minutes ago, socrates said:
Never see much point of a bow thruster on most Broads boats, but that is a very personal opinion which most will disagree with. However they do serve a purpose, which is to warn other people that a boat is approaching a mooring.
What a line that was, made my day
-
4 minutes ago, ChrisB said:
By the end of your first season with her you will know what you want by way of upgrades and their order of priority.
I think I should take some of that advice
-
1
-
2
-
Diy Sos (forum Style)
in Restoration Projects
Posted
Ahh good points ref where the boat is to work on - well, let us perhaps concentrate on dates and then we can think about accommodations based around this.