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Showing content with the highest reputation on 24/04/16 in all areas

  1. Last weekend it was my pleasure (?) to assist the IWA to clean the canal, bank and environment in North Milton Keynes. We collected over six ton's of rubbish including bikes, a motorbike, a wheelchair, a complete set of patio furniture and the inevitable supermarket trolleys. We also collected hundred's of beer bottles, thousands of lager cans and dozens of black sacks of "small stuff" from crisp packets to fishing line. None of these can be directly attributed to boaters. We also found no fewer than three (full) toilet cassettes between Bradwell Aquaduct and Bridge 71. Unhygienic, stinking and a hazard to children, adults, dogs and wildlife alike; these can only have been thrown into the undergrowth by boaters. Cut it out chaps.
    8 points
  2. Hi all I posted that I'd share my painting technique for spiral stuff. Bear in mind that some of the paints, tapes and brushes that I employ are part of my working kit as a signwriter and boat decorator, though alternatives are readily available. RESOURCES Length of string Low tack tape, 6mm wide Chinagraph pencil Masking tape Lettering enamels, I use One Shot No 7 lettering brush, chisel ended METHOD Paint the shaft , finishing with the lightest colour, usually white or cream. I then put a screw in each end and rest it on a couple of improvised cradles, allowing the shaft to rotate in a horizontal plane, the screws resting on the cradles. Then I mark the shaft at 12 o'clock at each end and in the middle using the chinagraph. Tie the string to the screw at one end of the shaft, then wrap it round so that it touches the middle and other end marks. You may wish to use bits of masking tape to hold the string in place. It needs to be pulled tight to give a decent spiral. Using the pencil, I mark along the string with a series of dashes. Once complete, I remove the string and run a line of tape along the marks, turning the shaft in the cradle as I do so. Next, work out the circumference of the shaft. I do this by wrapping a strip of paper around it, divide the result by 4, this gives the width of each stripe. I then cut a piece of card to this width and use it to measure off from the tape, giving a parallel set of marks to the tape, a stripe's width away. I then lay a second line of tape to those marks, this delineates the first stripe. I paint this in yellow, using the lettering brush. That takes a few minutes, you may well need a second coat. Once dry, remove the tape. Then, using the edges of the yellow as a guide,,run a series of parallel marks with the help of the card strip and pencil. This guides the next run of tape on both sides. The tape is also laid along the edge of the dry yellow stripe, giving 2 " channels " to paint in...I usually paint the red stripe next, the second lightest colour. Having removed the tape on each side of the red stripe, then I paint in the darkest colour, normally dark blue or green. Remove the tape when dry. Take the shaft out of the cradle and remove the screws. One end will normally carry the mop head or boat hook head, this can be left as is. The other end needs to have the screw hole filled, sanded smooth then quartered with the pencil before the end of each stripe is painted in. You may need to use a smaller brush for this. Here's a photo of an earlier effort. Good luck! Dave
    4 points
  3. Thanks all, and excellent tip on the lamp. I don't think it is blocked, as the flush pump worked perfectly last night, no sign of struggle, then this morning it never made a sound - dead. Nothing had gone in there overnight other than pee and paper. Results of tests so far so far are: Switch seems to be sending power through to wires that feed motor. The lamp lights. However, one strangeness. What *should* happen on pushing the flush switch is - Click#1=water, Click #2=macerator and first extraction, Click#3= Macerator again and final water extraction. What *is* happening according to voltmeter/lamp is that clicks 1 and 3 send power to the motor lead, and click 2 does nothing. Click 1 sends power to the solenoid controlling the water as expected, then clicks 2&3 do nothing for that line, also as expected. The click sound is in the control panel - at the motor end I hear nothing. Question- does solenoid for water valve also do something to motor power? If not then it's as if the control panel is giving out incorrect instructions. To eliminate control panel from the equation we tested power to the lamp straight from the 12v boat supply. Worked Ok. Then we attached the wires feeding the motor to the same 12v supply, and it just sparked a lot. Why would it do this? I am suspecting this may mean dead motor? Anything else to check? I can't believe I have 2 simultaneously occurring problems. (May I take this opportunity to say I hate the principle of pump outs at the best of times - never get this kind of grief from a porta potti!)
    2 points
  4. It's hard to comprehend why anyone would, then again I give in on understanding why anyone would throw anything in the canal/undergrowth etc. Hats off to all those volunteers helping to clean up other people's mess. Well done.
    2 points
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  6. Brentford was once the major gateway port to the inland waterways, and carried on with back-water boatyards, moorings and businesses right into recent times. The trouble is that although in past years we were able to cement excellent relationships with planning, conservation, and executive officers in the Council, the political ebb and flow has seen them all gone, and a new lot are in office, with eyes only on the prospects of turning their area into a ghastly cheap version of the Docklands. Where once the waterways issues were very much a live area of concern, the new lot are utterly ignorant and careless of them. River and canal are valued only as sanitised backdrops to waterside cafes and foreign millionaire investment flats. All this within the last ten years only, and I and others have all but given up on the fight to retain waterways heritage and use as a lost cause; too much has been torn down already, and ever more drastic measures in train. The present Council have forgotten the lessons of the past and now look to BW’s successor as the arbiter of desirability for anything to do with the waterside – the same people that campaigned vigorously for the close of boatyards and freight interchanges, in favour of their own developments of high-rise expensive flats. What I never get over is the narrow-mindedness and short-sightedness of developers who miss out on seeing the huge asset a lively used waterway can be to new development; they could be mutually beneficial symbiots rather than having mutually exclusive characteristics. I have heard tonight that the story Sky are preparing on this is still ongoing, so it sounds as though it will be more than a very brief snippet of news when it does come out. Although all locals are affected by what has been going on here since the last world war, it is the boaters and waterside life that is presently most 'picturesque' and identifiable as threatened, where once upon a time they comprised Brentford's essential distinguishing character.
    2 points
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  8. In either case, shit happens!! Dave
    1 point
  9. Few bits done this weekend, filled a few scratchs pin holes etc in the deck in readiness to prep and paint in a few weeks i hope. I would of got more done if it hadnt started to rain today. I will see in a day or so if the cabin top leak has been found as i resin up the damaged areas and filled, Fingers crossed i have sealed it. I got some fitting months ago as i want deck drains on the rear deck for washing it down. Muddy dog and all lol. Another small job was that the front deck has a bit of flex in it when you stand on it, easy enough job but darn messy, rsin all up my arms etc etc. even in my ear, dont ask. My hair will stay in place anyway lol. well what there is of it. Just a bit of foam again and laminated inplace with three layers of 350grm CSM and one 650grm combination. I stuck it inpace first with bridge filler and then laminated it in. i will give a few days so before i try it to make sure it is fully set. I have been looking for some windows for the top screen for ages, and i won these on ebay, yes they are big at ten foot long, but good height and match the side windows as same style. And like me being one for a challenge i got the pair for a god price and i plan to shorten them to five foot long, if i can i will keep them opening aswell. I still have the side quater windows from when i got the sides so all will match. It will all fold down incase i come by a low bridge/tunnel, i dont think i will come by one low enough but you never know.
    1 point
  10. The already rich thread gets richer still, thanks to these marvellously evocative photos, thanks so much for showing them to us Plutio and Jeannette. This is making me almost forget that I spent five hours today painting trellis bloody fences in the garden.
    1 point
  11. A few more trains of boats: L&LC near Adlington 1935, with BI boat in the distance. Stour, East Anglia River Trent
    1 point
  12. A very large number of us have enormous enthusiasm for waterways history of course, in any of its many facets. There is a massive leap, (and a great deal of cash!), necessary to move from just having that enthusiasm, to taking on boats that may be from (say) 80 to over 100 yeras old. Fortunately some of us are privileged enough to be able to do that. However when the boats concerned were deliberately scuttled in deep waters of a flash nearly 60 years ago, and have lain there ever since, with (I suggest) little idea of their actual condition, then for most of us raising and restoring such a craft moves to just impossible pipe dream. As has been said, the iron boats were mostly buttys, and it is very hard for even buttys in a reasonable state of repair to now find a home in their original format. Fortunately, however, there are some very brave individuals prepared to fund restoration of boats that have very little glamour, and this applies to several of the BCN Joey boats featured in pictures and videos already posted, otherwise fine sites like a tug still at work pulling a short train would not be possible. Most of us though could not fund the restoration and maintenance, (let alone licensing and mooring), of say three 70 foot unpowered boats with no living accommodation. I am thankful there are some who can!
    1 point
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  16. One of my sports on the GU is that if a boat is taking a long time to leave the lock and the opposite gate is open I just enter the lock whilst they are stil in it, my bow wave assists them in leaving the lock DLW has realised my game and now holds the gate shut to spoil my "sport"
    1 point
  17. You missed out the following phrase which was "as we are often told". I got the distinct feeling he was taking the mickey out of Tim and Pru. Personally I'd rather watch Sarjent any day than that grumpy old sod West taking it out on his poor long suffering wife for not being able to read his mind.
    1 point
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  19. That's true, can't be anything worse than dog piss though.I remember John Cushnie replying to a woman on GQT who had asked for a recommendation as to what plants are resistant to dog pee. He replied in his experience the only thing resistant to dog pee was a lamppost Um, you are looking too deep me old China.The mk1 eyeball will confirm a 25kg 110ah battery is smaller in size than a 25kg bag of gravel. Here endth the lessons in density for today.
    1 point
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  21. Thanks SmileyPete !!! That diagram seems to answer the question, ie it shows a reducer and an expansion tank, much as I proposed to do it. Excellent work and thankyou. Pete the OP MtB- sorry you glazed over, not my intention.
    1 point
  22. Dear all, Following discussions with Exol and Whitakers I can add and correct some of the detail but obviously not what is commercially confidential. Exol wish to continue with barge deliveries mainly for convenience: there is a lack of space at Rotherham, plus it's easier to sample one barge on arrival than say 20 lorries (the tanker lorries can carry 24 tonnes whereas Princess carried about 480 tonnes if I remember correctly.). There is no EU (or MCA or CRT) rule requiring double skinning - it's the international major oil companies who require it for reasons stated. In this case the tanker is carrying waste oil and the majors are not involved so a single hull vessel is fine. The limit on draft (2 2 metres) is not due to lack of dredging but because the tanker goes about half a mile beyond the end of the modernised section of the waterway; the canal bed is solid and can't be dredged. Raising the level has been discussed but it's not really feasible for various reasons. Patrick is correct that tonnage has fallen somewhat, and is expected to fall a bit more due to low oil prices hence Whitaker's decision - although it's hoped that tonnages will recover in due course. . Exol are naturally talking to other UK tanker barge operators - some will recall, for example that Rix operated this traffic for a while a few years ago. I don't know for certain regarding Princess but the 500 tonne barges use about 5 gallons of gas oil an hour so would expect a similar consumption. Turning to Robbo's question about the Skelton Grange / Stourton proposed inland terminal, this has planning permission for the first stage of development. As it involves a consortium of waterway, port and other interests and is quite a big investment it will take a little time to get off the ground. Battlestone is for sale as stated but being maintained still. I hope that's of interest. regards David
    1 point
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