Viking23

I think that stating a 300 Amp cable without knowing the currents required, cable lengths and acceptable voltage drops is a bit of a guess, it might well be right, but better to have a couple of simple calculations to hand to justify the new cable. You also need to consider if an inverter is or may be installed later, that the voltage drop could be unacceptable to the inverter, and may require that the engine has to be run, just so the inverter can start up. Sounds familiar in hire boat installations, doesn't it. ?... That might be a case of inadequate wire sizes giving too much of a voltage drop, or low battery capacity. I am not implying it could be an unsafe installation, just that the voltage drop for inverters could stop them running unless the batteries are in tip top condition.

To compare like with like, the new cable run to the switch is 2.5 metres, but what is the length now? Can you also consider repositioning the isolator switches, to reduce the cable run? Voltage drop based on cable size, length and current passed is quite easy to work out, but don't forget to include the losses in the black return cable too. An an electronic engineer I would opt for moving the batteries provided that they are in a cool and well ventilated space. Refer to BSS for correct installation. A shorter pipe full of **** will be easier to clear than a compacted long pipe full of **** which is likely to block more often. If you opt for the long pipe, make sure you have full access to both ends of the pipe. Smells do permeate through plastic, the longer the length, the greater the smell.

Many of us face this every day, one engine, one prop. What you will notice is that the boat will turn tighter in one direction than the other. Increasing or decreasing the throttle will also turn the boat, so you need to correct the steering to compensate. Richard

Thank you Stuart, for spending some time explaining the current situation of what a caution actually means. I would think that many folks on here will recall that information, if they or other friends or family ever find themselves in that situation. So thank you very much. Richard

Decades ago, I was advised by my ex police sergeant father in law, never to accept a police caution. A caution stays on your record for life. If you ask them to arrest you, it would not be in the public interest to pursue it, and wouldn't go beyond the station sergeant, so you have no police record. I've got a Police record.... "Walking on the Moon" lol.... Maybe Wildfuzz, could comment as to whether this is still the best action to take in these modern times. Richard

If it was hidden it would be good, or they will probably keep cutting till they find the end of it lol... Stainless would look better though.

With the bigger engines, you need the lower fixing bolts when turning at say full throttle, otherwise the engine can twist off the transom, if only relying on clamps. Our honda 15 (old square top) has two bolts, but these are mounted well above the waterline. It wouldn't be difficult to seal a couple of bolts welded to a plate with nylock nuts on the engine side, once these nuts are removed, the fixing holes are sealed. It would allow the boat to remain in the water if the engine is being serviced off the boat. However, no two engines have the same bolt fixing pattern. If you secure your engine too well, it has been known that thieves chainsaw out the transom complete with engine. I can never understand how something like this can go undetected. However, we hear petrol lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and chainsaws, running often, who would think to look at what is going on? Richard

It's all down to communication, in this case a lack of. This is what the Engineer wanted lol...

Thanks for the information but, Panda free looks interesting, but I would prefer the antivirus more local, Avast looks like the best option for us, with AVG a close second. We have been out this evening, and just before we went out I ran malware bytes and re booted, it has now started to load Mcafee, so we'll see how this goes. I'd still like the free software, should all this go pear shaped though lol So AVG is the one I had heard of, but that was years ago... so still going, sounds a good option too. The last time we had either Norton or Mcafee, the computer slowed to a crawl, we have a lot of shadows and ghosts of antivirus software still in there, as I am convinced that bits are left behind just to cause havoc. The free ones, I always think, there's no such thing as a free lunch, there must be something in it for them. They may be harvesting data, what you browse on the internet... yes those sites too. lol I was thinking of the Broads forums, what were you? lol. Richard

We are with BT, I just tried to down load the free Mcaffee anti virus protection, and it doesn't want to run. We are running XP service pack 3 which "should be" compatible :doh I tried their tech download to check it, and that doesn't run either, several chunks of programs missing. So if any one knows of any free one, I would be grateful. I run Malwarebytes, and spybot on occassions, but need something to use that checks the computer more often, so this might be causing a clash. Thanks, Richard

Re HT coil. The car HT coil is not designed to give a constant high voltage, it relies on the primary being disconnected, ( think points, or electronic control) which creates a back emf in the secondary, as the magnetic field collapses. Ah... right. lol Health and safety, it's not the high voltage that kills you, think static electricity, it's actually the current, 30mA or more can kill, but it needs a high enough voltage to overcome the resistance of the human body. If a good enough contact is made, 50 volts can kill. However don't watch the Green Mile, it will give you night mares.

10% off for me on Wednesdays lol. Bought nothing so far, cheaper elsewhere even with 10% off in most cases.

Had to look it up.. see :- http://makezine.com/2015/06/10/burn-fractal-patterns-plywood/ You need two microwave transformers... see above. This is extremely dangerous if left unattended, an earth leakage trip on the supply will not give you any personal protection if you touch the output. Richard

The unit has a constant current output, which means there has to be a minimum resistance so that this current can flow. With constant current, the output voltage will increase until this current is met, as the current hasn't got to the limit, the open circuit over voltage circuit protection will shut the unit down. What are you trying to do? there are other ways of generating high voltage, so what voltage do you need, does it need to be constant? what current capability etc? I designed and built a mains powered taser once but field trials wern't that good, as they couldn't find a socket on the street to plug it in, and if they did, the offendant just moves back until it unplugs it's self lol... Richard

The Electrician was told not to fit a socket that stuck out, and to fit a "Flush" socket. He fitted it, but then was told as part of certification it needed a "Soak" test.

Yes I believe this to be the original, even the cloud formation is the same too. Google does show loads of pictures, back tracking to the original can be difficult, I dropped on this one fairly quickly though. I for one know more about where the name Jenny Morgan came from. I am familiar with Captain Morgan though lol. Richard

I think it is on here lol.. http://www.captainsvoyage-forum.com/forum/windjammer-bar-maritime-interest/veteran-ships-about-ships-built-before-1970/1988-albion-the-norfolk-wherry Early hours posting, problems of not sleeping, and taking your ipad to bed lol.

Re Jenny Morgan"s Avatar, some interesting things about it here.. http://www.canaljunction.com/craft/east_anglia.htm As seen on Albion of course.

Thanks for the support and information, I checked the printers and very few are compatible with Windows XP I just checked on the internet for a couple of Canon printers, and they require Service Pack 3 to be installed, after a quick panic and check, it is installed. So looks like a canon. But the later canons are chipped but compatible ink cartridges are fairly cheap. There are loads of printers being ordered at the moment, fresher students to University I guess lol So thanks again. Richard

I agree with Robin's comments above. I have this question going around in my head... In rough weather, would the bell ding first, or would the crew be awakened by the crockery and vegetable dishes crashing to the floor lol.

I recon the Rangers make their boats conspicuous, so they don't have to deal with anything. When I was teaching, I had really quiet shoes, and everytime I entered a class room, I first had to deal with the kids and get them to sit down. So... I bought some hard soled shoes, clonked all the way to the classroom, result... all kids in their place ready to work.. ( As if lol) but it helped. Now if a Broads Ranger rode shotgun with me going north on the Ant on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, he would have to deal with a lot more than stopping the odd boat to say the river is closed lol. I wonder... if the Ranger checked to see if your toll was upto date when he stopped you? I hope he did, and checks a lot more.

A very happy birthday to her, so what are you buying her, some new ropes or some new fenders lol? Well I mean... she must have a wardrobe full of shoes lol. Ohhhh a compromise, some nice boating shoes would be good. I bought the wife an Auto inflating lifejacket at Christmas, I think I got away with that one lol... Richard

I wonder if anyone can help on this one, we have several printers, but to be fair... they have had their day, non are WiFi, so if we need to print something from the ipad, we have to email it to ourselves, warm up the old computer, reboot it a couple of times, then open the emails then wait for word to load... Then print to find the cartridge has not been recognised, so re boot printer reload etc.So from print request you are looking at a realistic 20 minutes to get a print.OK I do not sit infront of the computer waiting all that time lol. Wash the car, cut the grass, go on the forums with my ipad etc.So our spec is...WiFi but MUST have USB port.Must be compatible with ipad, apple air, iphone, android devices.Must have off line copy facility, B&W and colour.Scanner.Fax, well not used the last one apart from testing it once, so not important.Must be able to take cheapo cloned cartridges, and be able to be refilled.Most important thing is ... to be able to work with XP Win 7 etcWell I am not letting you guys do all my work but I have found one that does it all, the Cannon Pixma MX475, not sure what the difference is with the MX495 though.Some say it's a bit noisy, takes a while to start printing, but unless there is a better one for £45 don't mind paying a bit more, but a laser one is too big lolThanks for your help.Richard

Having a dishwasher on a boat requires that the boat is perfectly level for 90 minutes on average, I can imagine some spillage out of the lower door if there is some wash... lol Mind you if it drains to the bilge, the bilges will be nice and clean, so clean the caustic in the dishwasher tablets would probably strip all the paint lol. What happens to all these chemicals, many are not environmentally friendly are they? If the price was £100k I still think we would be saying it is too expensive. For 200k you would be better of buying a house, renting it out, then hiring a boat for many months a year, and you still have the house paying you every month. No marina fees, no tolls, no maintenence costs, no repairs, no worries about it being crunched. You do the maths... This boat might suit a livaboard, but they still rot away, and ongoing maintenace can be very high.

Seems fair enough, we have our own small cruiser, but as a couple now, we need our privacy, so if family come for the day, fine, but no room on board now for guests but if they wanted a family boat holiday, we would hire a boat, last one was from HW Funny though, as parents and grandparents, we not only pay for our own boat, but manage to pick up the full tab for the hire cruiser too. lol.