BOATS AND CANALS

We have decided not to do the challenge this year, we are going to Llangollen instead which is a challenge in its own right.

Departure date is 2nd if May. Before that Jo and I will go out for a shake down cruise.

Cheers Graham

I am sure that you will feel that is been well worth while. A little tip the lock into the canal at Hurleston Junction is very narrow so don't have anything protective tyres etc, hanging over the sides of your boat.

I speak from experience of my first trip there, getting stuck.

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Maurice

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We always run with our fenders stowed. They are rebuilding that lock at the moment. I hope they finish on time!

Cheers Graham

...and maybe widening it.

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Maurice

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Yes, that is why they are doing the rebuild. I think it may have got even worse recently.
Cheers Graham

It's OK for some.

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Maurice

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Jo had a happy time at the weekend ripping up old floor tiles. The boat has these old style vinyl tiles which have seen better days. They are going to be replaced with solid vinyl planking in the kitchen and corridor areas. They are under carpet tiles in the lounge.

Cheers Graham

We are on the boat again. We have sterilised the water system, changes the engine thermostat and laid the new floor on the kitchen and gangway. It is the new solid vinyl planking which can survive the damp.



Cheers Graham

She is still afloat!



There was no money left on the electricity meter so we have topped that up. I removed a large amount of bird poo from the roof and sides were she sits under the tree and we met our knew neighbour Ben. He is now working at Calcutt as a mechanic. We also saw our old neighbour who had moved into the marina for safety during the lockdown. She is moving back up to near us shortly.

If only the motorways were this quiet normally!

Cheers Graham

I bet it felt good getting on board again.

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Maurice

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It was good, mostly reassuring, the stern gland hadn't leaked at all and no rain had got in the bilge and she hadn't been vandalised unless you count the actions of the birds.

We will probably do a day trip again in about a month unless they allow us to stay overnight before then.

Cheers Graham

Yesterday was probably our last day trip to the boat. The road traffic has increased such that there and back in a day is now too hard.

We turned the boat round so we could clean the port side.



This was also the first chance to try out my new Gurney flap. The tiller load is considerably reduced and it doesn't seem to cause any steering problems when turning round.

Jo carried on cleaning the outside of the boat and then started removing more of the old floor tiles in the bedroom.

I changed the engine and gearbox oil and oil and fuel filters.

We overtook a huge dutch barge. Well on the A34 actually. It caused some major obstruction around Oxford.

Cheers Graham

I have heard of this for other things but what is on the boat, please.

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Maurice

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It was invented in the 70's to improve racing cars.

There is a description of it here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurney_flap

My version looks like this



It sticks out 15mm at the back of the rudder. It seems to produce a sideways force without very much defection of the wake. My previous attempts were more like a normal flap which also deflected the wake and caused problems turning round.

Cheers Graham

Thanks Graham. I knew it was used for racing cars but wasn't sure how it would be used on boats.

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Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals