Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/08/16 in all areas

  1. Wullie, the less helpful replies above are because you have asked a "how long is a piece of string" type question. This is easy to do when you don't know enough to ask the right question which, in the case of solar power, already isn't easy! If you can or would prefer to design and fit your own system, then there's a fair bit to read by doing searches on here. To get good advice once you've got a bit of an idea, you would need to supply details of your existing charging system and your battery bank, your electrical supply system (is it 240V through which inverter or are you just 12v), what electrical equipment you have fitted and how often you use it, and how you tend to use your boat (is it connected to shore supply much of the time, do you cruise a lot so only need solar to top up, or are you fairly static and will be asking a lot of your solar). When you read up, you'll see that a 'power audit' is mentioned a lot, and you'll need to do one. If that all sounds too difficult or is gobbledegook to you, then that's the bit you pay extra for when you engage a professional! Your initial outlay will be less For the DIY route, but the risk is greater. If DIY isn't for you, you may be better asking for solar installer recommendations. There are some useful links above. Good luck.
    2 points
  2. Just repeating what others have already said but in my experience it's more often ingnorant/inexperienced owner boaters rather than hire boaters who pass moored boats too fast. In many cases the hire boaters may have far more boating experience than a lot of boat owners. I like to think that we treat all fellow boaters with the same respect be they hirers or owners.
    2 points
  3. Yes except for the last bit. When you exchange your rented gas bottle you get a different bottle each time so there is virtually no chance of 'your' rented bottle ever being returned to you. So another way of putting it (rather than 'scam') is the rental charge covers the first five years, after which there is no further charge should you wish to continue the hire contract...
    1 point
  4. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  5. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  6. How about the gas bottle that they own? You are potentially permanently depriving them of their property ie the gas cylinder that they own and you rent from them as part of the supply of gas. When you buy gas from Calor (or one of the other companies) you do NOT own the bottle it comes in. So, taking it to refill it is you keeping the bottle for your own use and depriving them of their property. Please yourself but if you are taking the bottle for your own use a gas bottle you do not own and they do it is potentially more than a contractual issue. You are also contravening UK Health & Safety Regulations, weights and Measure regs (possibly) and consumer safety regs. The likelyhood of prosecution or not does not make something legal. The thing is it is not just me that says it is not legal (or indeed safe) to self fill a rented (Calor) gas bottle as I have shown web addresses of organisations who agree with my point. Your opinion differs and that's fine but it is just that an opinion.
    1 point
  7. i got a proper welders chair the other week Gazza, well it is now, had to cut the legs down as it was way to high. i have a very comfy set up, as said just struggle with my fingers and rist, shakes and cramp. I am good at holding y breath, i do most the time when i have eye surgery lol. Anyway todays attempts, i got the tungsten closer so a smaller nice weld when i got the run going. Still with 1.6 tunsten, 1.2mm filler and 60amps with 1.5 pre and 4.5 post. chuffed even more now. Still need to sort the spill on the edge. one step at a time
    1 point
  8. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  9. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  10. 9'' angle grinder with a propeller on it and hold or clamp it over the stern.
    1 point
  11. Maybe GOOD BYE would be a better suggestion.
    1 point
  12. Yesterday I obtained the new alternator belts from a nearby chandlery, and successfully managed to change the belts! I needed a good torch to see what I was doing. For reference, the belts are SPA-882 for the left-hand belt (driving the water pump and left-hand alternator), and the right-hand belt is an SPA-975. These are not Isuzu belts, but as I understand that Isuzu no longer make these engines, Isuzu belts may be hard to source. To change them, I had to sit astride the engine and lean well forward, until I could feel the pully wheels and the ends of the nuts which attach the alternators. Fortunately it was not too difficult to get the new belts on, and I ran the engine without problems for several minutes after fitting the belts and tightening everything up. On reflection, I would definitely change the belts myself again if required! Thanks again for the suggestions and comments posted here.
    1 point
  13. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  14. You post a lot of sentences with 'hopefully' in them, which is not a word I'd want to see in a business plan. (You also post about "births" a lot which is not something I'd want to see in a hireboat either!). To be more helpful though , I was chatting to the proprietor of a small independent fleet of nice boats on a very popular canal back in June. When I asked how his bookings were, he replied that even August was a worry this year. I pass quite a few hire boat wharves on my travels and don't recall many being empty of boats outside of the peak season. Even the well-established ones with good reputations, years of experience and the skills and facilities to maintain and turn around their boats with barely a blip. The ace up your sleeve appears to be your advertising skills, and you're obviously very confident in your ability. Maybe, as a result of that, you will have the many unusually large groups of hirers you need beating a path to your door, but that's where the real business starts. I have limited knowledge of hire boat operations, but I have started and run a business and I have extensive experience in engineering, maintenance and in operating a fleet. I'd offer there's more to it than just the advertising and, whilst you appear to be doing research here, the feedback you receive will only help you if you take it onboard and process it rather than dismiss it because it doesn't fit with your ideal. Negative feedback is actually quite valuable as that's the stuff that identifies the issues you really need to bowl out. Suck it up, find out why those things are being said, work out how you might counter or allow for the issues, build those things into your plan and you may find a way to make your idea into a success. Hopefully!
    1 point
  15. I've been running my Shoreline 12v fridge from a 650w computer power unit for over two years non-stop. You can find instructions on YouTube, it isn't that difficult to adapt. The CPU runs cool and it caused no problems with the BSS in June. I'll have to check later but it's either a 20amp or 30amp inline spade fuse used. The CPU output is around 35 amps. You have to bundle the 12v wires together. Check out the videos. The CPU is a Tesla, nothing-special unit, cost £26.00.
    1 point
  16. I once had to be held back (''im indoors holding firmly on to my waistband) when a portly, captains hat wearing, shiny boater loudly stated " oh god, here we go, a hirer and a woman to boot, keep away from my paintwork dear". He was lucky really as I couldn't get to him and husband was to busy restraining me to be a danger! It was his dangly bits that would have suffered not his paintwork though. Edited for missing comma
    1 point
  17. Alyson, you would not believe the number of threads and posts that just disappear, just like long standing members. Phil Apologies if this offends any mods
    1 point
  18. I think we're missing a key USP here. Canalnoob has repeatedly told us how many births his boat has... and there it is! Maternity cruises! Edited to remove a spurious figure 2!
    1 point
  19. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  20. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  21. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.