Winterising

With a period of cold weather forecast, we stopped off at the boat on our way to Bromagrove to drain the tank and take out the board with the pump and accumulator on. Now need to plan Christmas shopping in Worcester ... free parking ... and other winter tasks ... change oil, oil and fuel filters and fan belts. Other over winter jobs include refitting the studs broken when being removed for painting and fitting the magnetic door catches.

Finished and back in Diglis

 Just like when Ada first met the sun! We chose to keep the same colour scheme and signwriting style because we like it and it was less likely to give problems. The blue and red are very close to the original colours but the yellow is more so and less golden. Paint is International. The grey roof was as originally painted before I repainted it to Raddle Red.
Lowesmoor Wharf have done a good job. The blue finish and red finish is excellent. The yellow lining has an edge. I think the masking tape did not get sufficiently close to the edge of the blue. The non slip grey deck paint is a bit streaked but we now think it's too light so may well repaint the front and rear decks a darker grey.
Overall very pleased but disappointed they did not communicate progress.
A comment from Paul, the painter, was that there was a lot of rusting on the front deck and the side decks to about 75mm up the cabin sides. I am not surprised I should have been more particular and patch painted as the damage/rust appeared.
The cruise back was agonising. I turned it out of the boat yard without a touch. Judith struck entering the first lock and then glided perfectly into the second. The wind cause difficulties at the basin swing bridge but help operating the bridge while I held the boat helped greatly. With the wind side on backing into the moorings was with use of lots of engine power and the bow thruster but eventually in without hitting anything!

Ada Painting Progress

A response from Lowesmoor Wharf and seems Ada is looking good. Hopeful that the work will be finished Friday. Unfortunately they're sending pictures as pdf files and I've not found how to convert to jpg!

Ada's being painted ... at Worcester Marina.

Ada's being painted at Worcester Marina but it's not progressing smoothly. Sent this email a couple of days ago ...

We are deeply disappointed in the way you have treated us. There was little differences in the quotes we received for repainting Ada. It was your confidence in being able to give us a fixed time that persuaded us to give you the work. At first the work was to take 3 weeks, then 4 weeks and now 6 weeks. Each time we have had to contact you to be told of the delay. You have failed to keep us informed. We now have the date 26 Oct. Will we have to contact you? Will you again say the work is not finished?
We still hope you will 'wow' us with quality of your work but by not keeping us informed you have changed that from a 'Wow and ...' to a 'Wow but ...' 

--- and the result .... silence! What's the problem with talking to your customer? They assured us that they'd send regular photos of progress ... needless to say these have stopped. Last one was nearly 2 weeks ago. We're planning to visit to view progress on 26th. I have no confidence that they will be finished nor that they will phone me to tell me what's happening.

Upton to Worcester 3.15

The forecast heavy showers did not materialise so a pleasant cruise back.
With one of the new Trust's volunteers working Diglid Locks at the weekend we were quickly up and into the basin.

Pumpout and fuel

A short cruise today to Lowesmoor Wharf for a pump out ready for 3 day cruise with friends next week, a mile and 2 locks each way. The CRT pumpout facility at Diglis is still out of commission and has been since the stoppage notice late May. Apparently lead was stolen from the roof and rain go into the electrics. Given the time the facility has remained of of commission the only conclusion is that it's being left to deteriorate until it is 'beyond economic reapair'.
Whilst at Lowesmoor asked for a quote for repainting the boat. Email with price waiting when we got home, £4017. This not an obvious winning price as the three quotes received are all about this price. Nothing back from from Robin of New & Used Boat Co, Hanbury. Why do tradesmen not have the decency to say when the job is not of interest? I suspect Pinder by publishing his prices sets the price from this end of the WBC.

Pleased  to see that Ada's old steel holding tank has been recycled. It has been cut in 2, painted, and has now replaced the rotting plant barrels in front of the office. Apparently, above the usual effluent level, it was riddles with holes.
Saw a bear on the offside bank when cruising up (in Kent they'd think it was a lion) but forgot to take a picture on the way back.
Having delayed at Lowesmoor Wharf we were too late to go into Worcester for lunch so had good value sandwiches at the Cafe Afloat.

Eckerton Wharf to Upton 4 hrs

Woke up to bright sun and blue sky which disappeared as we left. Did not see another boat before Tewkersbury ... very quiet still.
Arrived Upton for lunch just after a heavy rain squall. Satellite may be difficult ... the only mooring this trip.

Satellite was impossible but would be if moored at the extreme down stream end. However, had an excellent dinner at Pundits.

Evesham Lock to Eckington Wharf 5.3 hrs

Set out in sun with a light breeze. Travelled to Pershore with an Alvechurch boat. Just below Jubilee Bridge met the black swan and its white mate but could not get them to pose together! At Wyre Lock, the diamond shaped lock, just before the hire boat moored for lunch, we were firmly caught on the side by the bow flare but this time pushed off before opening stye paddle. At about midday at Nafford Lock a heavy shower was accompanied by a strong wind. This lock has a very sharp right turn when exiting upstream. A hire boat with an inexperienced crew could not turn their bow against the wind ... Helped by getting their centre line onto a bollard.
Arrived here, a 24 hr morning, to find a narrow boat obviously left some days, carefully in the middle of the limited mooring virtually ensuring only yogurt pots could moor either side. We are mored, stern to wharf and bow on the bank

Stan Glover Lock to Evesham 4.5 hrs

A late start today but remarkably quiet. The threat of rain and showers barely materialised.
Congratulating self on improving 12v power for inverter power toaster was premature ... The invert 'whistled' this morning but we did only cruise for 1.5 hrs yesterday.
Each time we cruise the Avon we relearn how to go up these fierce locks .... Tie the bow and drive the boat forward with the tiller putting the stern into the wall, keeping the pressure on the bow rope and the boat sticks to the side. The only problem can be when there not an appropriately placed bollard and then the boat has to be run in reverse. This can push the stern out but a stern rope round the bollard taken up by Judith can solve this if needed.
I remain amazed at the number of female partners are content to let men sit idly at the tiller whist the struggle with heavy lock gates!
Moored above Evesham Lock just to get a satellite signal ... The town moorings are too close to tall trees.

Stratford upon Avon to Stan Glover Lock 1.5 hrs

Shopping in Stratford follow by lunch at the Oppo on Sheep Street. Although the weather was variable there was still a good grows to the watch Judith enter the exit lock perfectly through just one gate. I have always believed Judith handles the boat better under stress, when watched by a large audience.
Just a short cruise before sleeping off the good lunch but set us up for the return trip. Moorings were empty when we arrived and there's water so that's one les thing to fill in tomorrow.
Although the vibration probably caused by the bent prop blade is there there's no doubly that Ada is smoother and less noisy when going with the flow.
Now three days since a pump out. I can just make out the water level so now marked with tape. I will monitor the rise over the next few days to get an estimate of the fill rate. However, I'm almost certain a fill sensor would be a good stress reducing buy!

Bidford to Stratford upon Avon 4.5 hrs

Yesterday's cruise to Stratford was interspersed with showers ... The summer is returning! The Lock gates into Bancroft Basin are as they have been in the past, unbalanced so that one each end swings open when walking back to open the paddles ... well it keeps the tourists amused!
Spent a pleasant eving with Judith's cousin, Bob and Mary. So pleasant we offered to take a taxi back rather that let Bob stop drinking so that he Could drive us back to the basin.
This morning, as with every morning this trip, we have used the 240v inverter and the toaster without problems so the replacement battery and the small upgrade in alternator output seems Tao do the job .... deep freeze, fridge and satellite TV all in use.

Eyre lock to Bidford-on-Avon 6.7 hrs

Todays task is to get a pump out. There was a free pump out facility at the sewerage works down stream of Evesham. We arrived to find it now closed and the nearest facility at Evesham Marina. The phone number given was not answered and the number from the Nicholson guide was permentantly engaged ... is is Sunday. Fortunately Bidford Boats were open and confirmed they could do a pump out if we arrived before their 2day boats returned, about six. With this news the warning light for the tank turned red confirming that the sensor still worked. There was a cool breeze as we left this morning but the day warmed up only for a torrential downpour at midday. Fortunately was moored in Evehsam to buy a paper and were having lunch. Arrived at Bidford Boats in time for the pump out and with visitors moorings clearly full paid for an overnight mooring ... at £17 for pump out, blue and mooring good value.

Tewkesbury to Wyre Lock (3.8 hrs)

Started today under a clear blue sky. Later some cloud appeared with a pleasant breeze. We intended to stop at Pershore but the moorings were full, although the usual just too short gaps. Decided to go on to the next lock and the only moorings before Evesham. (In the many years we've known the Avon the number of public moorings has only decreased. This must severely limit their income from visiting boats.) Wyre Lock is the diamond shaped lock where some years back we caught the boat on the side when going down and tipped all the crockery and glasses out of the cupboards. The iPad is proving an excellent investment ... an internet connection at every attempt without the fuss of a dongle. The only problem to solve is adding photos to this blob!

Worcester to Tewkesbury

We can fit a short cruise between Judith's various medical appointments so we're heading for Strtford Upon Avon. With few locks we'll see how she manages handling the boat while I operate the locks. Weather fine we left Worcester about eight and were passing through the locks to the river at 0812 within the sound of the Cathedral bells .... except no bells, none at all! Maybe like me someone thought twelve minutes past eight must mean 2012. Why would anyone ring bells at 0812? With the Doglis locks set in our favour and the river lock gates opening as we approached Judith was soon doing the breakfast washing up and tidying the boat whilst I steered .... At least something on our boat follows the common gender pattern. Four hours cruising in glorious weather to Tewkesbury Lock and moored for lunch. £50 for a 7 day through license and £3 to moor for the night. Crispy duck followed by strawberries plan and then watching the Olympic opening ceremony planed for this evening.

Not setting out!

Travelled to the boat yesterday and stayed overnight. Unfortunately not the start of our annual long cruise as Judith's illness means our immediate plans are dependent on her appointments. We were intending to cruise to Bath, about 3 weeks ... we will be there this Saturday to see a matinee performance of Dancing in the Streets, about 40 minutes by road! If appointments permit, we're hoping to cruise towards Stratford on Avon to find out how Judith copes and if well maybe continue on the Avon Ring or pick up our plan to cruise to Bath.
Did some jobs ... finished fitting ballast to balance new holding tank, fixed catches on panel to access new under bed storage, lowered engine mounts and treated limescale accumulation in the toilet (the cause of the toilet's 'heart attack').

Doing some jobs

At the boat today refitting batteries. I had these at home to charge and test. One battery had a dud cell so that was replaced. Don't understand but voltage of dud battery was the same as the others. I currently have only 2 batteries fitted for the bow thruster and it can take 3 so may fit it there ... bow thruster being non essential! Foolishly forgot that there are 2 terminal sizes and the batteries with the larger terminals need to be closest to the isolating switches so spent time having to swope terminals after the batteries were in place.
Also fitting concrete ballast to compensate for taking out the steel holding tank. All went well until I tried to refit the bed and realised that it was too high for one of the bed cross bearers so one padstone and one paving slab brought back to cut and fit another time.
A 50-50 day!

Bed base back in

 Bed base remade and refurbished. The mattress is in two parts with the smaller part covering the slats across the passage way. The mattress join is under legs when the bed is made up and never been noticed. There are 2 slides and each latch positively onto a bar on the hull side. There is now access from this side to the space under the bed not taken up by the holding tank.

The replacement lighter slats are solid wood. The originals are plywood but because of a fault in the ply composition some of the sliding slats had cracked.

I still need to sort out some extra ballast under the floor under the bed and under the bed to compensate for the difference in weight between the steel holding tank that needed 4 to manoeuvre it out and the plastic tank that I carried in.

As I'd hoped the natural plastic side allows the fill state of the tank to be viewed. I have refitted the original 'alert'sensor so not relying on constantly checking its state. I'm hoping that the new smaller tank, with just the 2 of us, will only need a pump out every 2 weeks. It's currently about half full but a lot of water was put through the system when sorting out the blocked toilet.

New engine mounts fitted!

New engine mounts fitted without lifting the engine. Ada had an Aquadrive so left all connections in place and levered up engine and supported it on blocks whilst removing and replacing each mount in turn. Extracted the bolt and then took off the mounting retaining bolts. Getting to the underside to take off and then refix the mounting bolts was excruciating ... I needed to be about 150mm shorter and 20 kgs lighter to fold myself up and reach under the engine.
Took most of the day so not sure I'd do it again without lifting the engine as only the Aquadrive and the exhaust would need to be disconnected.
Took off the bed parts to remake the bed at home to create the extra storage under the bed ... and after that back to the plan to take off and test all the batteries before we set off mid June!

Disappointed readers!

19 readers for 'Introducing Ada' and only for 1 or 2 for each of the following post ... 17 readers must have been very disappointed to discover Ada is a narrowboat!

Ada's toilet had a 'heart attack'

With daughter having a fortieth birthday treat, we had care of granddaughter, N, for 2 nights. We had decided a short cruise in Ada would be a treat for her. All seemed well with the first dry weekend since March forecast until, at 8 o'clock on the first evening, the macerator toilet failed to empty! The motor was running, but not the normal sound, and only a small amount of water was being taken away. Could I have done anything plumbing in the new tank? No, so need to take out and strip the toilet ... at 8.30 at night.
The toilet was installed when the boat was new, 14 years ago, and has worked faultlessly ever since. Having it go wrong was always one of my concerns. Three connects to remove, electrical ... just a plug and socket, fresh water supply at the solenoid ... jubilee clip but a bit of a fiddle having been there for 14 years, and the 1 1/2" foul water discharge ... to remove it involved some leakage of foul water. What I found was the innards furred up and a valve in the discharge pipe blocked with debris that had broken away ... just like a heart attack! The innards were remarkably simply ... how is the high cost justified!
Massaging the rubber pipes and rinsing them removed the furring but he valve had to be scrapped. It seemed a delicate mechanism but its only function appeared to be preventing a small amount of water flowing back. Cleaned as best I could, reassembled and refitted by 1130 the toilet worked again but need to consider getting a replacement for that valve.
Back home a bit of online research revealed ... that domestic macerators furring up is a known problem but nothing in boating forums ... ordinary cleaning agents, that do not foam, can be used ... spare parts are very, very limited ... a phone call to Aquafax being the only source.
The remainder of the weekend was excellent with 2 sunny days and N returned to her parents in time for us all to have lunch at the Storyteller, Cheltenham, and for N afterwards her Sunday afternoon theatre club.

New tank fitted

The new tank is fitted and the bed put back together over it. I cut out a section of floor to determine if there had been any serious contamination. There was no contamination but I found the ballast included broken slabs. It was a clear statement in the build contract that it would be whole slabs only. As I now need to add some additional weight to this side of the boat I'll replace these with whole slabs.

The tank comes from Goodwin Plastics. I asked for quotes for 2 sizes of tank, this size and the same as the old one. Prices for the larger tank were the same but Goodwin was significantly cheaper for this size. After the tank was delivered I realised that I needed an addition 1" BSP female input for the level sensor. Goodwin supplied a 'patch' with the necessary fitting. Cutting a hole and fixing the 'patch seemed to go smoothly.

From the top the pipes are 1" breather, 1 1/2" pumpout and 1 1/2" input. These are connected from the tank with flexible hoses to hosetail fittings into 1 1/2" BSP 40mm domestic push fit fittings. The pipes from this point are solvent weld. The grey pipes are hot and cold water and central heating.

I asked for the f'ard tank side to be in 'natural' so that it should be possible to see the level of effluent in the tank. I estimate, for 2 onboard, 2 weeks between pumpouts ...

Next task will be replace the ballast and floor and then to remake the bed to give access to the extra storage space created from the smaller tank. When remaking the bed I will remake the 'slides' which have worked well to extend the cross bed across the passageway except the 10mm ply has not been strong enough ... 3 slats are 'cracked'.

Old holding tank gone

Cruised today, strong gusts and heavy rain, to Lowersmoor Wharf for the old tank to be taken out. The strong gusts of wind cause difficulties exiting and entering Diglis Marina while waiting for the swing bridge to be opened. However, turning and backing at Lowersmoor was without incident.
I had already stripped out the starboard side kitchen fittings so the tank was removed by turning it onto its end and then sliding it through the boat to the front doors, lifting and sliding it out and then the same over the side. It took 3 to do this, £60 plus £20 to the social fund was money well spent.
Back at our mooring I refitted the kitchen units and appliances and checked fitting and connecting the tank. Unfortunately the breather outlet is about 5mm too high so need to solve that problem. Also need to consider how to move ballast to compensate for the replacement tank being plastic and not steel. However, making the connections from the existing pipes to the new tank appears to be straight forward.

Ada needs a new holding tank!

Easter shakedown cruise proved more problematic than expected. First, there was a persistent fresh water leak from a push fit elbow close to the accumulator and then I found a leak from the holding tank. The holding tank is 122 x 102 x 36 cm and steel. Fitted when the boat was new it has rusted through and was leaking effluent. I eventually found a number of holes so no point in repairing it. I've order a new plastic tank, half the size to gain some extra storage space. The problem is now to get the old tank out as was put in before the boat was fitted out but first it needs a thorough pump out. This was done at Lowersmoor Wharf. During the pump out I was able to lift the tank and prop it up so that the content flowed to the outlet. Lowersmoor Wharf did a thorough job of rinsing the tank a few times so hopefully the worst is out.
I was hoping to get a quote for Lowersmoor wharf to lift it out and dispose of it after I have moved kitchen units to allow it to be moved through the boat but I've not had a call back with a quote. The next option is to cut it up onboard using a jigsaw ... further thought needed.

Easter shakedown cruise

Having rediscovered how to log into this account ....
Just managed to catch the end of the superb weather with a cruise up the Severn to the Droitwich Barge Canal and then onto the Junction Canal and the Worcester and Birmingham. Followed an excellent walk past Hanbury Hall and on to the Jenny Ring Craft Centre where we ejoyed tea and cakes before following different paths back. Cruised to Stoke Wharf and walked to the Queens Head for an average lunch.Walk up Tardebigge ... there were some hirers who would be cruising late to clear the flight. Broke my rule of never offering advice but to no effect ... all I was trying to do was to suggest sending a crew memeber to empty the next lock as the present one filled ... they couldn't becausethey only had 3 lock handles!
Returned to Worcester and home for a couple of nights before returning to cruise to the Sharpness Canal. The weather was now cold, cold cold! Shivering we arrived at Upton and decided to stop the night. Next morning the rev counter showed tick over revs but no more despite engine running faster. 4 hour very cold cruise to Gloucester guessing appropriate speed. Investigating the Alternator found the fan belt was fitted between the 2 crank shaft pulleys (one pully for each alternator). Fitting it properly seems to have solved the rev counter problem.

Looking good

 Inside cleaned up and everything refitted. Looks clean and tidy. Not a spectacular difference from before but we know its fresher and cleaner ... the camera cants not the boat! The most obvious difference is the deckhead boards, all fixed and no gaps. Over the years the movement of these boards between winter and summer appeared to be less. Time will tell if the looks are preserved or whether repainting the deckhead becomes an annual winter job.

Winter work

Visited Ada to fit the new alternator ... 75amp replacing 55 amp. Went in almost without a hitch! One of the old terminations was a spade connection. I had made up a short link to convert it to a ring but fitted to the wrong terminal at home so when the engine was started the charging light did not go out and the rev counter was not working. A quick check established the error and once corrected all working well.
Whilst doing this upgrade discovered why the Sterling alternator regulator I fitted never worked. The instruction for this include fitting a wire to B- or the alternator case. I fitted it to the case. I now understand that marine alternators usually have insulated return ... the case is not negative! I may adapt the new alternator to use the regulator but, as it is difficult to get to the batteries use it only when planning to stop for more that 2 nights.
Cleaned the bilge with the wet and dry vacuum and topped up coolant and gear box oil (this last was necessary because the RCR engineer allowed oil to pump out with the engine running whilst replacing the selector arm oil seal).

Winter jobs

Normally we do our own engine servicing but this year we had a RCR service and concluded that in future years we will continue to do it ourselves. He did not have a tool to release the fuel fiter and I provided the new oil filter but he did show me how to replace the oil seal on the selector arm of the PRM 150 gear box. We joined RCR because we realised that if we had a problem that we could not fix then finding an engineer to come out to the boat would be difficult.
Pre New Year we repainted the interior and refurbished the hardwood window, vent and door trims. The deckhead is tongue and grove planks and these had shrunk since first painted, in some places opening a gap between the tongue and groove. Planks were repositioned using a block of wood and a big hammer and shrinkage gaps were filled with decorators chaulking before painting with water based acrylic paint... we'll see how it survives the warm summer months!
Having stripped off all the fittings before repainting, putting back every thing has taken 2 days and still needs another half day. We'll leave a final clean and floor scub until the spring but already the boat interior looks smarter and cleaner.