Recent email to narrowboat world

The canals are for leisure and slowing life down. If you want to speed go on a motorway. The canals are getting like the roads, full of arrogant tossers who feel entitled to go any speed they wish. The moaners also can't be bothered to pass the time of day or even acknowledge on line moorers, it is getting to be an unpleasant experience being on the canals recently. This is a very recent development in the last couple of years. Perhaps there should be a horsepower limit on boats - a common excuse for speeding is "I am only on tick over".
Time to call a truce and remember the community spirit that is sadly being lost to this wonderful network enjoyed by many and spoiled by a few.

David Morrell
Evening cloud

Sent from my iPad

Like a painters radio

Got to the boat today and was amazed at the amount of bird poo on the roof - - spent an hour brushing it off. 

Took the boat a few hundred yards to turn it and noted that it was not losing any water - encouraging. I still need to change the fuel filter - the engine is hunting at tick over suggesting that it is blocked. 

Rob at the mooring has put a fence up to secure our car park - not gone down well with the neighbours but important to keep out our Roma friends.

Also noted that the fuse panel is on its way out - seems to be working intermittently with all fuses - so the horn radio and light will not work properly. I suspect it is the solar panels fault as there is a constant current through the panel when it is plugged in - I should wire it directly to the leisure battery but like the option of unplugging it when running the engine.

Oil change done

A bit of a problem removing the oil filter - had to puncture it with a screwdriver to get it moving . No sign of water leaking today - might take it for a run to see if the k seal is working. I did put some gasket seal around the water pipes to establish if that is where the leak was coming from. Just the fuel filter to do now - not much help on YouTube. The fish are starting to bite - it is only a matter of time till we catch one !

Our mooring gate appears to be redundant now

Due to the removal of the hedge at the nadee we are a bit open to unwanted visitors! The gate is now redundant - at least it is being shut now. 

Last attempt at water leak

Tried some k seal in the coolant to help with the water leak - still leaking - will leave for now but this is going to limit my cruising range. Managed a run to Mercia between showers to buy an oil filter - the new buildings are coming on well .

Weekend trip to branston water park

Uneventful trip to branston - boat ran well - still losing a little water from the water pump area - not sure where exactly the leak is coming from.

Had a couple of pints and nice bar meal at the riverside - sky sports available but not advertised . Finished off the night in the blacksmiths arms - nicely refurbished. Got a bit wet on the way back but not too bad. One thing I did notice was the increasing poor attitude of boaters - getting like driving a car atm - what next - boat rage!

Good and bad news

The stainless steel pipe that I had made to connect the pump and the thermostat worked fine with a liberal coverage of gasket sealer. 

Next jobs to do are oil change and fuel filter change , then ready for an Easter cruise.

The reassembly of the water pump and thermostat housing went well. I took the boat for a run and it was fine. On checking the area of the water pump I notice a small amount of moisture coming out of the pump pulley - no more than a drip . I will monitor it but I don't think it will be a major issue as long as I watch the coolant level.