Good Morning Bob

Hi Honey, I am always interested in oportunities to get out sailing. Currently based up near Manchester I have spent a fair number of hours travelling down south this year to sail and almost certainly going to be heading to Portsmouth regularly for sailing next year..... Anyone based closer to Mancheater Loking for crew???? ...... Not sure how many of your criteria I meet..... I can get from the galley to the helm with a cup of tea before it gets cold, no guarantee how much tea is left in the cup, in anything more than a moderate sea, but what is left will be good. Tea is probably the height of my culinary expertise though, if my sausage, beans and mash taste like sausage, beans and mash then I consider it a success. I would much rather be out sailing than sitting in front of the computer working, even on a Bank Holiday ( aren't these normal working days anyway? I've never worked in a bank), so little chance of me jumping ship but always best to double check my navigation, I quite fancy sailing north to the Arctic, I've always wanted to see a polar bear. Cheers. /jh

Hi, I have been using a ProRoute H685 for nearly a year and it has worked fairly well. Not had a chance to test the 4G speeds as only get a 3G signal where I am but this has worked well, ignoring carrier capacity issues..... As mentioned above, it only has fairly basic router functionality but does provide everything needed to be functional. Firewall, DHCP server, WiFi etc. Also runs fine on 12V supply. /jh

Hi, I have made some, following instructions in 'The Fender Book' by Colin Jones. They came out pretty good, in my opinion at least, although they did take me a couple of hours each to make.... Definitely worth a go. /jh

Hi, If you rotate to Landscape you will hopefully get the top banner with menu. Looks like they have lost the menu in their mobile view. /jh

Hi, Sandra, excellent electrician. I don't have a number to hand but the guys at Wincham Whatf will know how to cet in touch with her. http://www.narrowboatsltd.co.uk /jh

Hi, I did similar last year, sold my house and bought a boat. Coming up to 1year living aboard now, the year has flown by. Should have done it years ago. Orchard Marina in Northwich is pretty nice. Smaller than upland's and a great bunch of people. Also, close to the train station with direct trains to Manchester and Chester. /jh

Hi Thanks for all the reply's. I will get some grease and and add before I go out next and will keep an eye on it for any reoccurrence. I am not overly worried as it was just the two occurrences and has not repeated but if it does start repeating then I may well be back asking again. Cheers. /jh

Not a problem at all. I have reasonable theoretical knowledge but limited practical experience so always happy to have my mistakes pointed out..... The engine etc is new, 85h on it. I have checked the bolts, flexible mounts etc and all tight, no cracks I can see. I have also tried to move the engine by brute force with no success at all. The shaft turns easily and smoothly by hand. Not tried a bottle jack but I am fairly confident the engine mounts are okay. When I was watching the stern gland move you could see the shaft stay put it was just the end of the stern gland, after the rubber piece, that seemed to move. The engine is a Canalline, It has run for about 20h since this happened with no reoccurrence which, to my thinking, makes me think transient event rather than a mounting fault? /jh It didn't sound good hence why I want to find out what caused it... Although it hasn't repeated in the last 20h or so of running. I haven't added any grease yet, it has only run 85h. Is there a co census on how often you should grease it? I have seen recommendations from every 100h to yearly? /jh

Yes, engine mounts etc all solid.

Hi, A few weeks ago I started getting a nasty metal against metal noise from the engine bay. It was not regular but did increase in frequency. Taking up the deck boards I could see the end of the stern gland, where the water pipe comes out, was jerking upwards and presumably causing contact with the prop shaft. The shaft looked pretty solid and did not appear to be moving. After some reverse revs, the canal was completely covered in grass and hedge cuttings etc, this behaviour stopped. It did start again a while later and again some reverse revs seemed to clear the problem. It has not reoccurred since. The gland is not leaking. My thought was that some of the grass cuttings were getting dragged up through the stern gland and causing a movement due to changing pressure or similar? Anyone else seen this or have any ideas? Cheers. /jh

Hi, Moored up in Teleford basin now. Just walked round the city walls. Cheers. /jh

Hi, Thanks for all the suggestions. Hoping to get as close to, or just past Northgate locks as planning to move up to Caughall Bridge Sunday morning so we can walk down to the Zoo. Still on the T&M at the moment. /jh