Moved boat to fradley

Had to move the boat in two stages in preparation for a bank holiday cruise. First last Sunday I moved the boat to the 13 day moorings at alrewas - no major issues six locks all narrows so easy for a single handler - cycled back to the car in findern. Last night we moved the boat to the 48 hr moorings in fradley - another 5 locks up the hill. A shame that the shiny new moorings in fradley are being occupied by such ugly boats! Will have to make an early start on Saturday to get to stone - likely to be a 10 hr trip. Weather was poor for the walk back down to alrewas, luckily raincoats were at the ready.

Cart auction

No luck today with my bid for a longer online mooring at Findern - in recent years there has been very low bidding activity in this area - most moorings going for reserve at best. The last two auctions of 45 ft moorings have exceeded guide price - reflecting people wishing to leave Mercia marina despite the lack of electic and other facilities. The availability of cheap solar panels could have something to do with this as well as the fact that you can store your junk beside the boat at this location!

Keep a watch out for the camouflage boat

This boat and its aggressive owner have been breaking into boats and stealing diesel in the last few weeks - moves between the T & M and Erewash canals

Small solar panel and bilge

Finished installing the 10w solar panel - any bigger would have needed a regulator. Changed the lead over from croc clips to cigarette lighter socket.
Painted the bilge with red oxide and touched up the hull with blacking. Also tightened the bolts on the stern gland - they were very loose and I was getting through a lot of grease.
Replaced the old damaged hose from the coolant header tank to the engine heat exchange also replacing the jubilee clips, then topped up with coolant.
Took the boat out for a quick run to stenson - no leaks detected on the cooling system.

Work on the bilge

Cleaned the bilge and pumped out the water in the bilge - once dry painted with blue hammerite - not sure if this will work - might try and line it with a plastic box if I can find one to fit. The flue is now painted - hopefully no more crumbling fire cement. I have also installed a carbon minox alarm. I have acquired a small solar panel but not sure how to mount it yet - might put a regulator in just as a means of temp connection.

A few jobs

Oil change done, drive bilge drained and cleaned - will paint soon. Blacking bought but won't be able to do it until the boat club winch is repaired. Solar panel has arrived - just need to organise a mount now. The paloma appears to have stopped leaking after the temp repair. Just need to do some boating now - next bank hol looking good to go. Might take a folding bike with me to keep options open. Had a walk around Matlock bath on Sunday - some nice bikes on show - tempted to go to iom this June.

A few more jobs

Put external sealer on the paloma boiler i had to bend the casing with a pair of pliers for access with the sealing paste - will see if it holds - only a drip at the moment - my previous soldered repair is still holding. It is obvious that the leaks are from old repairs as I always drain down over the winter. I fitted a set of 3 led lights - bought at wickes - bargain bin £5. Also filled the flue where the fire cement had broken away. Finally chopped some more wood - I get thru a lot with the recent cold weather.