BOATS AND CANALS

Feb 18 2007

We've just spent the weekend tinkering on the boat.

I've replaced the plug in the rear cabin and was looking forward to being able to watch TV. (The volt drop to the front cabin tripped the inverter). The telly switched on and started to tune in, the inverter tuned off! I've no idea why, the voltage on the terminals was 13.4 volts, the inverter should do a steady 150W and the telly takes 70. I'm going to get a smoothed 12v DC/DC power supply as the telly has a 12v input anyway.

Jo finished removing the old hire company lettering and was left with trying to remove the glue, water didn't work, meths didn't work, white spirit didn't work, WD40 worked a treat!

We've attached the anchor and measured up for the Cot sides. We can actually use the two pipe cot bases for the sides, they work fine. Just a little wood work.

There is now a hook across the back doors so the grand kids can't open them. This makes the semi-trad back deck safer.

We've fixed a few things but the radio has stopped working!

I also forgot to take the new licences so have to go up to the boat again.

Feb 25 2007

We've heard about the concept of actually moving our boat.....almost did but the weather didn't seem that inviting.

We've got a smoothed power supply for the TV from amperor, they are very helpful souls. The TV worked fine until the volt drop on the front sockets dropped a little too much. We probably need to drive the boat a bit more to get some more go in the batteries. We did leave it to idle for an hour or two. The rear socket needs an adaptor.

We’ve bought and tried out our new memory foam toppers, they seem quite good. We would have slept through the night but Jo complained of a dripping tap. The pumps were off so I released the pressure from the accumulators, still dripping apparently. Turned out to be waves lapping against the stern.

We've cleaned out the channels in the self draining rear deck, they'll need some paint.

The extra bed end to support the cot sides was a close fit but needs a minor mod.

We've finally met our next door neighbour on Pearl. He's called Martin.

The other neighbour is not in his wife’s good books I think



Mar 11 2007

We've gone out for a Sunday Lunch cruise. We decided to take my Mum to the Folly Inn at Napton. We left Calcutt succesfully, despite the breeze trying to blow us into the other boats. We shared the locks with a very nice couple with one son. They vanished into Wigram's Turn Marina. A short while later and we moored just before the turn round point near the pub (nicely clear of the point itself).

Lunch was good, pies all round and then fruit crumble with custard.

We headed back to the boat and round the corner and we saw a private boat moored neatly half on the turnaround and half off. Can't they read? They were now parked just where the back end needed to go for the turnaround. We are not the most confident of boaters so were a little miffed! We managed to turn OK with me pulling the back round with ropes and set off again.

Down Calcutt locks with another nice couple (they had bow thrusters and at the risk of being called names we want some!!!!!)

Entry to the marina 10/10, entry to the pontoon 3/10, we managed OK in the end.

We're not sure we'll do such a short cruise again as most of it seems to be the bits we don't like, setting off from Calcutt, turning round and getting back into Calcutt!

Mum liked it though.

An interesting article.

_________________
Maurice

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Reading through all of your post's here and come accross this one. Even I know that you aren't supposed to moor up that close to a windinghole (or turning point) or near locks/tunnels/bridges DURRR people need to turn round. Pity they didn't have sheels to clamp them lol.

People moor in the strangest places. The last trip saw one moored on the outside of a bend next to a blind turn into a bridge. The back end missed him by inches in the turn.

Cheers Graham

I'll have fun then with 70ft lol
Stephen.