Test run 29.6.13 and 30.6.13

Fitted a solar charge controller and re fitted the small solar panel on the roof as the batteries have been holding charge well. The solar panel must have been causing problems to the charge circuit so will not be plugged in during cruising. The boat started well and it is a lot quieter at high revs since the exhaust was repaired. Took it to Mercia for 10 mins to blow off the cobwebs. We are taking it out tomorrow for a short cruise. Took the boat out this afternoon and got the click on trying to start the engine again, but it turned ok after a few turns - will try fitting the new battery, but, starting to think that the starter motor might be on the way out.

Top of steps

Decided to put a new ply panel on top of the steps - existing panel is very thin ply and is delaminating as well as the hooks becoming less secure - the screw threads have got loose, the chipboard behind has also bulged out. Using long wood screws has pulled the wood sections together and made the surface solid to hold the steps and hooks in place.

Exhaust repair

 I cut off the insulating bandage of the lower section of the exhaust and noted that there was no flexible section in the exhaust - this means that the exhaust is being stressed by any engine vibration. I noted that the original exhaust that looks about 4mm thick from the manifold had been sleeved with cheap bendable pipe and had been riveted to the manfold pipe. The cheap pipe had sheared at the end of the overlap section and was only held in place by a thin thread. The cheap corrugated pipe was 45mm. I went to midland chandlers and would have had to replace the whole system with screw fitting pipe and manifold, including a flexible section. In the end I decided to go for a cheaper temporary option of a repair sleeve available from a motor factors. The sleeve has substantial pair of bolts and I put some repair putty in the joint - clean break to assist the seal. After tightening I put more putty around the edges. On starting the boat I noted it was a lot quieter and I will be less embarased to cruise now as it was very noisy at high revs. I then replaced the bandage on the exhaust after checking for leaks. A good day and I hope the repair last for the rest if the year. The battery isolation is working as the boat started first pull.

I also bought a battery operated pump to empty the bilge fully as the bilge pump leaves about 1.5 inches of water in.

A few more jobs

Boat started ok today - isolating the starter battery is the way forward - the leisure must be on the way out - I will isolate the starter when not cruising. 

I used one of those unscrew isolators to break contact on my last boat. 

I also noted that the exhaust was black near the engine manifold - on starting the engine a large amount of black smoke blew out nr the manifold. On the plus side it is a short length so won't be too difficult a job. Strange that both of our cars have had new exhausts recently.

Also bought a new starter battery as back up.

I also fitted a shelf under the sink - this has doubled my storage space and made it much tidier. 

The only down side of the day was when I kicked over my dab radio and broke it!

Willington raft race 8/6/13

Annual raft race between Newton solney and willington on the Trent. The village gets very busy with the 3 village pubs putting on outside bars and bands on. The Trent was still choppy - must be bad when the weather is not so good - after completing the course the rowers get pelted with eggs from the bridge. The race is a time trial but you still get competitive overtaking and collisions

Trip to great Haywood and tixall wide

 Enjoyable trip to great Haywood - moved the boat to fradley on Friday and had a latish start on sat morning to great Haywood - some new features seen - the Collapsed tunnel before rugely requiring a runner to see if the coast is clear and the aqueduct over the Trent at brindley bank. Rounded off the trip with a short detour onto the staffs and worcs to see tixall wide and a run up to the marina further up the t and m. Checked out most of the Pubs in great and little Haywood - Clifford arms (gh) fox and hounds (gh-closed) and the red lion (lh) complete with karaoke (bad). Woke up to a flat battery in the morning and managed to get a jump start from a friendly boater . Uneventful trip back to fradley and then alrewas 14 day moorings. No idea why the battery went flat - may have to isolate the starter battery to avoid this again - second time it has happened

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.