normanmarshman

Hi, Further to other thread regarding the venerable Stretton Queen (Freeman 22) with her decrepit Ford Angia (Watermota) engine... I've been pondering a water-cooled motorbike engine as a budget 'solution'. The chinese ones are appealingly cheap ! Looking at motorbikes today, they all seem to have the chain on the rider's LHS, meaning that the sprocket at the engine must be turning ACW, viewed from the rider's LHS. The Anglia engine (I think) would turn CW if viewed from the crank pulley end, or ACW if viewed from the flywheel end... I'm thinking this means that if the motorbike engine were placed so that its sprocket were facing the Freeman's gearbox, and (somehow) mated thereto, then the direction would be correct. Or is that a load of Dingo's Kidneys ? Anyone wanting the old engine is welcome to come to Gayton Marina and remove it ! Thanks John

HI All Suggestions ver welcome for an affordable swap for the Ford Anglia pre-crossflow Watermota in the Freeman Cruiser. The engine's been left in bits and does not look worth investing in, and besides a change to a diesel would be safer from a fire point of view. That said, would a Ford diesel be best, if it would naturally mate to the gearbox ? Thoughts welcome. Regards JM

Hi Many thanks to all Good tips - espesh the harness idea ! I have to shift it from chester to northwich soonish, and even when the engine is repaired the petrol cost and general noise and smoke from the old british seagull is off-putting ! JM:)

hi tw, a sensible answer ! many thanks, point taken jm

many thanks

Ta fellas Any hints to acheive it ? ta j

Hi All, Have purchased a long pole and a cast iron doofer that sits on the end - it has a curled hook, which ofcourse will be handy for pulling, but what's the straight poket finger-like part for ? Puzzled ! Cheers J

Hi All, Silly question perhaps, but can one "bow haul" solo ? I mean a 20ft cruiser. Any tips apprec. Engine not well ! Cheers John

I spent a few weekends helping the volunteers early this year. It's volunteers on a w/e and crimmo's from agecroft nick of a week - passing pedestrians are apt to be confused and shout abuse at the volunteers by mistake ! Anyhow, the volunteers are a great friendly crowd, and every few w/e's a buffet is laid on at lunch. We helped clear offcuts and branches from felled trees which have ntaurally grown in the bed, and spent much time scraping out grass from between the cobbles ("sets") - this latter exercise a tad peeving as noone qualified to then spray weedkiller (eg: Cart ?) actually does so, therefore the grass grows back ! This was suggested partly due to wildlife concerns, but I wasn't convinced. I suggested some nightime guerilla weedkilling... All that said, the MB&B volunteers keep up the work, as their contribution, even if a little lightweight, does much politically to attract sponsors, keep up the pressure on other "stakeholders", and keep the resto effort alive in these straitened times. Pip pip Norm see also http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/barges-on-a-canal-107275

'Scuse my ignorance folks, but what should he have been showing ? Do you refer those green and red doofers, or just a simple plain light front and back ? The photo is a sobering reminder that something's wanted, even if not mandatory on the canals Pip pip John

Many thanks folks John

Hi Can you please advise how do i get a number for my boat ? (index number ?) In other words, all boats have numbered plates but mine does not, or rather never has... Am I issued with such a number at first time of licensing or is it a separate application ? Beleive me, the BW website is not obvious on this point ! Regards John Marshman Sale Cheshire

Hiya HMallet. Any more goss' on the good boat Mantis would be very much appreciated. Whereabouts is it roughly, for example. What would it have been used for ? Many thanks Norm (Chesh)

Thanks to all for that ! Will have a play with the carpet idea Pip pip JM

Hi All It was not a terribly clever idea, in retrospect, to have painted the ceiling of the old Fairline 19 with "oatcake" emulsion. After a few weeks the damp and frost has brought much of it flaking off ! Question is... once it's all snowflaked off or been scraped away as best I can : Should I try a gloss paint, or try lining the ceiling instead - in which case what's suitable for cheapness, cleanability, fire resistance, etc ? It's way too curvy for wooden slats. Advise appreciated ! Pip pip JM