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.