BOATS AND CANALS

great pics as always graham many thanks,
the old man with the lantern nr armitage bridge is my friends,he lives on the boat there his name is also mike.we somtimes have a pint in the plum pudding together,

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.... my memory,s not what it used to be.
also my memory,s not what it used to be.

............................mike.

That's interesting, I do like it when people put quirky things by the canal or on their boats.

Cheers Graham

Winter maintenance under way. First task was to clear all the leaves out of the deck and roof drains, then empty a load of water out if the engine bilge. The bilge pump leaves about 6 gallons in there so I take that out with a wet and dry vac. The bilge was dry last time. I think the water is coming in when the rear deck drains are overwhelmed by the little bit of rain we have had recently.

Cheers Graham

I have fitted a new trim tab to try and sort out the rudder. The last one was a genuine tab and so caused the flow off the rudder to go to the starboard side off setting the load, the flow on the port side would stick to the tab and also go to starboard. This meant turning round anticlockwise wasn't very effective. Anticlockwise should be helped by prop walk but looking at the flow it is definitely weaker on a turn to port.

I think I need a wind tunnel! Thinking about the water coming off the prop - there is a swirl to starboard off the top of the prop that is constrained by the swim as it goes across the rudder, the lower swirl off the bottom is less constrained and can drop clear of the rudder. I think this is why the boat turns more effectively to starboard and why the rudder has a load on it.

Back to the trim tab, I have heard a suggestion to use a gurney flap. This is a small flap at ninety degree to a wing and increases lift. Now the rudder doesn't have any lift as such so would such a thing work? Well I thought I would give it a go.



The flap is 15mm wide and about 10 inches long. It is done up with two clamps at the top only so I can fit it without too much hassle.

So two cushions on the rear deck to stop odd bits of metal bruising my chest, flap attached to Jo with a string, spanner also attached to Jo with a string, I have gauntlets on to protect my delicate hands from evil canal borne bugs, then lie down on cushions, lean off the back and rely on Jo standing on me to stop me falling in and there is is fitted.

Canal side tests revel reduced rudder pressure, effective rudder on starboard turn and not bad on port. We need a sea test now. It is obvious that the port flow is leaving the rudder in a straight line not following the tab as in the old design.

Next time I am there it is off to the junction and turn then back to the lock and turn.

Cheers Graham

Hopefully it will be much improved in actual use.

I am just imagining Jo standing on you, I wonder if she was tempted to also jump and down.

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Maurice

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I have been up to the boat again - primarily to get her ready for the dreaded BSS. I have to remove the lower panel of the boiler because they aren't allowed to unscrew anything apparently. I also need to make sure they can get in easily so I have temporarily removed the rear tonneau.

The gas test point is something they have to undo. It is quite hard to access. This photo was taken lying on the floor.



As I have removed the rear tonneu and as we have been having a drop of rain recently I decided to do a long outstanding task and fitted an automatic bilge pump.



It is hard to believe that I painted this part of the boat last year.

Another task involved the portable loo. You have to prime the waste tank with bog chemical and two litres of water. Not too bad just two jugs full from the opposite sink and chuck it down the loo.

However the top tank needs 15 litres poured through a small hole - 15 jugs. I got fed up with this so did some plumbing.

Here it is ready to fill direct from the water system. There is a tap on the right hand side.



This is it after filing.



And this is the plumbing under the wardrobe floor and above the pump out loo tank.



Home again now, the BSS is booked in after the 10th.

Cheers Graham

Quite a busy little boy, much improved plumbing. Shouldn't have an issue passing the BSS.

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Maurice

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Things are not going too well with the BSS side of things. That little catch all 'in the opinion of the inspector' is causing trouble as is the very slow progress. They have decided that the test point on the Alde is no good so are putting in a new test point. They wanted to put in new isolation valves until I pointed out the perfectly adequate and labelled valves.

Moving on, Dotterel will not be in the BCN challenge this year. I think it has run its course for me.

We are going to focus on fun short trips plus one or two really big ones. We are planning on taking the boat to Llangollen. This was were my love of canals was born in the form of trips on the horse drawn boats, a walk from Chirk to Llangollen with my sister and the start point of the Flower of Gloster kids series. (I am still in love with Annette Robertson).

Anyway if I can stop dreaming of Annette, the trip will take around 20 days and will be in May.

Once the BSS is complete I will get on with a few jobs and report back.

Cheers Graham

Hopefully you will soon be sorted.

"We are planning on taking the boat to Llangollen". Graham, I have done it a quite a few times, it's a lovely canal.

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Maurice

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The Boat Safety Test has now been completed so there is nothing in the way of licence renewal. They insisted on putting in a new test point despite, in my view, the boat complying with the standards. There isn't a lot you can do about that if they dig their heals in. You can apply to the governing body but do I want to get into an argument with my home boat yard? In four years time the work will be done at Braunston Marina instead, I have built up a very good relationship with Graham their service manager during the rudder issues.

Cheers Graham

Now the boat safety saga is over we can get back to enjoying the boat.

I have fitted a USB charging socket at the end of Jo's bed. She is always running out of charge in her tablet or phone and there is no mains supply in that room for a charger. Should keep her happy!



The weather is variable and we have discovered a leak around the frame of one window. I will sort it out tomorrow.

The sky was quite dramatic this evening.



Despite all the foul weather and the fact that I left the tonneau off for Calcutt to do the BSS, the engine bay was remarkably dry!


Cheers Graham

I have realised that the USB socket will take power even when not in use and it goes blue at night. I have fitted an off switch!



During the course of this work I had to remove the fuse leading to the circuit. This caused me to do an investigation into what equipment is on which fuse.

The answer is it is pretty random.

Fuse 1, All but one roof lights, one bed side light and the socket used for the rear inverter.

Fuse 2, Water pumps, fridge and cooker.

Fuse 3, TV and front inverter socket.

Fuse 4, 3 cabin reading lights, one roof light, central heating pump, bath whale gulper pump.

Cheers Graham

It's all go isn't it Graham. That's the trouble when you do one job, more come along.

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Maurice

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Dotterel's licence has been renewed today via C&RT's automatic renewal process. I have always cracked in the past and renewed manually but decided to let the system cope this time. No problems at all.

Cheers Graham

Good, you can stuck in now for the BCN Challenge.

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Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals