Kieron G

I only mentioned part numbers as it was said before that some parts might fit more than one engine. I haven't needed to look into that myself Yes, made in situ just long enough to fit over alternator pulley once made, feed it over the pulley rotating the engine by hand and then tension it with adjustment on alternator.

We have to fit a link belt on ours as there is no way of getting a full belt in. Just use a piece of string then add a bit more for length, you take the links out that you don't need to get to get the correct size. They have a direction of travel, I think the thin edge of the wedge shape goes first from memory.

I run a Coventry Victor HDW in our boat. The twin cylinder engine. I chose to put it in as i wanted an affordable vintage engine. As mentioned before the alternator will be driven by a link belt from the back of the crankshaft which you make to size. Re starting and reliability, ours is always a good starter using the dash pots and the decompressor with a small amount of throttle, I spin the engine up to speed with the starter motor then let the decompressor go. Once warm it will start with a flick of the starter, no need to decompress, personally I never use easy start. I have seen glow plugs tapped into the inlet on these but I haven't got that on the engine we run. For spare parts I've bought a couple of scrap engines off ebay very cheap, they do come up now and then. I had a few sets of head gaskets made by 'Gaskets to go' in Thailand, I sent a pattern over. They are excellent. Just changed leaking rear crank seal which I measured and sourced from 'simply bearings'. We take ours out on tidal Ouse and Trent so have complete faith in it, as long as the diesel is clean. The Coventry Victor site is dead but useful for part numbers, I even visited the address in Chipping Norton I think but the place was empty. To sum up I think these engines are great, hope yours proves to be a good one.

Glad the boat has been recovered and hope is not damaged. Been thinking about this. If a boat like that got stolen in this area I can only think of a limited number of places where it could be slipped onto a trailer. I think all of them except maybe one would need yard / marina owner to allow access, it wouldn't be too difficult to make removing from the water with a trailer a risky thing to attempt for a thief. With cruisers it seems to be more outboard engines at risk around here than complete boats.

There was a narrow boat high and dry on the mud bank right in the middle at Trent falls last week waiting for the tide about quarter of a mile up the Trent . I've always anchored next to the training wall but then I guess my anchor only weighs around 15kg. I thought he got caught accidently but when he waved as we passed he seemed relaxed enough.

I recommend the Chesterfield canal. There were 2 narrow boats for hire at West Stockwith when I was last there a few years ago. Lovely quiet stretch of canal with an amazing flight of double and triple locks at the end . Great pubs in Retford as well.

We stopped overnight on the pontoon for first time travelling back home from Torksey as a stepping stone to catch the full effect of the next tide to get up to Trent falls. There is a good café called 'Reeds' just at the top of the pontoon walkway. We got a hot sandwich to take out there and they filled out drinking water container for us in the morning. The lock is missing at the moment and gate was left open with an array of peoples personal padlocks fastened to railings. There were some kids chatting there at the gate till early hours but no problem, not even any rubbish left behind.

We just had a run out of Barmby barrage down to Torksey and met Neil there for first time. What a great guy. He stopped on till 6.30 pm to let us through. The new Lock keeper / grounds man ( not sure of official title ) at Barmby Steve is very helpful ( Environment agency ). He locked us out at 4 in the morning to get the tide. It makes a real difference having the staff live on site. Barmby barrage and the public toilets there are immaculate.

DeWalt seem to make good power tools. Mainly wanted it now to clear a path on Yorkshire Derwent through trees up to Elvington lock, have managed to get up there with a hand saw but there is still a lot more to clear for boats with a canopy to be able to make that passage safely. Especially coming back down with the flow.

Thanks. Really interesting

Some amazing pictures. I'd really like to make this trip one day. The Humber is a bit beyond my capabilities right now. Did you need to radio through to VTS while underway so they were aware of your position or contact them with your plan before the journey so as not to potentially impede commercial traffic ? I've only really used vhf with Ocean lock at Goole so interested to know about the radio use on possibly a busy river /estuary. Also will you be posting details of the return trip ? Thanks very much for taking the time posting this and all the links

If not already checked I would make sure the alternator and water pump bearings are ok. I've had an alternator seize and destroy the belt.

Thanks for feedback on these. I think rechargeable is definitely the way forward for me. Better for neighbours too. On a Sunday afternoon last thing folk want to hear is a petrol saw revving away while I cut up fire wood in the garden

Anyone experience of the rechargeable chainsaws? Thinking of getting one to use at home and to take to the boat. I realise that the batteries are very expensive

If the original doors are solid and look good from inside could you clad them on the outside by coach bolting a steel skin on them. If you use 3-4mm steel and strengthen it with welded on strips it could be strong enough to straighten the original doors when you tighten the bolts I guess.