Tony Brooks

I can see some benefit if it is a totally separate system from the domestic water system. It could be used for toilet flushing, general cleaning and cloths washing provided it was got very hot first. It would save a little tank filling, but as for cooking, drinking and washing up, I think it is asking for health problems. I would remind the OP that many years ago Thames Water was reported to have done checks in domestic properties, and they found that those with plumbed in water filters had worse quality water than those without because of nasties build p in the filter and the filters not being changed frequently enough. I also know what I found when I removed one of the ceramic filter drinking water taps when we bought our boat - lucky SWMBO did not see it. If the OP is intent on using canal water for general use that he investigates ultraviolet sterilization, but dread to think about the electrical demands.

The flow can be reduced the next time the boat is out of the water by cutting two or three discs of rubber with a hole in the centre to fit around the rudder stock. Then cut through, one side to the centre and slide them around the stock above the blade with the slots 180 to 120 degrees apart. Push them up against the swim plate. However, as David says, not uncommon and nor really a problem. Not if the tube has been properly welded to the plate work under the bearing housing. I would be more concerned about how well the housing mounting bolts are sealed in the tank top.

At one mouth there is/was a big notice saying No powered craft. If it was a practical proposition, the OP would have been told many posts ago. Like all rivers the river bed is owned by the surrounding landowners so the same problem in respect of moorings on the Thames applies, and as the Cherwell has not been used by powered craft as far as I know, the riparian owners are likely to get very upset if someone turned up and moored a huge boat on their land and then tramped across it to a road. . As far as I know, unlike the Thames, there is no public right of navigation. The same applies to the other tributaries in that area

I suspect that he has no idea about what controls hull speed on a displacement boat, but going up the Trent with the tide I did sustain 10 mph on a satnav for a while - probably 5 mph tide and 5mph through the water.

And as the pump will be on the other side of the filters, exactly how do you think that will help. It will make the delay until the pump cuts in even longer. You will get an initial spurt of water without the filter restriction, but it will soon drop to what you have now, then it will say the same until you turn the tap off, so the new accumulator recharges. Open the tap and the initial spurt, dropping to what you have now will just repeat. I suppose that if you fitted an enormous second accumulator, it could supply a lot more water until the pressure dropped enough for the pump to cut in, but you have mentioned space considerations. So if you don't have room for a second set of filters, I can't see you have room for a giant accumulator.

FWIW the "standard" difference that is acceptable between cells is 0.03 while Lucas used to say 0.025, basically you look OK for now but with a suspect more badly sulphated cell. "Boiling" a cell should not "dilute" the acid. It would strengthen because it would be just water driven off (probably plus a very small amount of acid mist) it so when you toped up to the correct level and allowed the liquids to mix the strength should be normal. It is far more likely that some sulphur from the acid is now locked in the plates as unrecoverable lead sulphate.