Diesel tank cleaning

I have become very efficient at changing the fuel filler when the engine stops unexpectedly. However, lately this has happened after very few hours cruising. I now realise that it happens after filling with diesel and then cruising immediately afterwards. I believe this is because filling with fuel disturbs sediment in the tank that is immediately sucked into the fuel filter and the remedy is to clean the tank using one of these ...

... a fuel polishing machine. Booked in for the work at Lowesmoor Wharf but after taking the boat there, the machine was not working. Returned a couple of weeks later, machine repaired took the boat for a repeat. Turned out the tank was so dirty the machines filter blocked very quickly. The tank was eventual cleaned by sucking out the dirt from the bottom of the tank and then washing the tank with water. With limited access it was difficult to direct the water jet but eventually what was visible of the tank bottom was fee of dirt. Finally my fuel was passed through this machine and returned to my tank. The cost of this was determined by the amour of fuel 'polished'. At just 25ltrs in the tank I had timed it too perfection.
I did have a fright as leaving our mooring to cruise to Lowesmoor the engine stopped just as we entered the main cut. I thought I had run out of fuel and with that panic it took longer than usual to prime the system after changing the filter.

Moored in Nottingham

Arrived yesterday from Shardlow. Another fine day, it's cruising as it used to be before the recent years of poor summers. Only surprises were the mechanised locks at Sawley and finding lock handles welded onto the paddles on the locks on the River Trent ... pleasant surprises. At Beeston Lock a paddle is left up on leaving, both at the top and at the bottom. Assume this is to provide a flow into the canal but must remember to close one of the paddles before operating.
Moored near Castle Marina at the back of Sainsburys. Although well screened there is just a short path to the main entrance with only money separating us from everything we might need!
Although official CRT moorings they are not particularly good, with stretches of missing rings, which mean we moored in a long empty space leaving small gaps at either end. Also, a disproportionate number of scruffy looking boats that suggest live aboards working locally. A well used towpath and surprising quiet at night despite a road on the opposite bank.
No winding holes shown in Nicholsons Guide but no prohibition on turning in the marina entrance. Boats can be turned below Castle Lock.
Meeting school and university friends for lunch.

Summer Cruise 2014

Now moored at Fazely after cruising for ? Days on 2014 long cruise to Liecester eventually but pausing a Sawley.
Moored the first night above Tibberton bottom lock on pillings but noisy. Second night at Stoke Pond below Tardebigge and a meal in the Queens Head. Had pleasant surprise when Bob and Mary appear and joined us for the meal, although one course behind!
Up early and through Tardebigge in 3 3/4 hours. Continued on to Gas Street Basin. Moorings busy and eventually moored on a 14 day mooring about 250m from Sea Life Centre. Stayed a second night but whilst running the engine to top up batteries, the engine stopped. Appeared to be fuel starvation so changed the fuel filter and problem cleared. However, I changed the filter only about  a month before, worrying.
Third night moored before Curdworth. Helped down farmers Bridge locks by a CRT volunteer and much appreciated, but left to do the Aston flight. Tonight at Fazeley Junction.

Maintenance

Hull blacking with Pinder in Diglis dry dock. A busy week but managed to repaint the black hull sides above the rubbings track.
Taking the boat out experienced hire duos vibration. No obvious fault including checking the propeller for fouling. Pinder had polished the propeller leading edges to reduce propeller whine. That seemed to work and the vibration was not evident after runing the engine for a time.
Though problem could be thrust plate rubbers to visited for the day for J to complete getting ready for summer cruise and I would replace rubbers.
Disconnected and removed Aquafax coupling. Unfortunately had not left angle irons onboard that I could use to support the gear box. Made up a jury rig and got gear box off and thrust plate out. No apparent fault so replaced rubbers ans started to reassemble. Unfortunately jury rig did not support the gear box to allow it to be slipped onto the drive spline.
Returned next day with angle irons to support gear box. Reftted all. The bell housing on the 1505 is designed to make maintenance as difficult as possible. The bolts have to be started with the housing away from the black and then the bolts tighter and the housing move towards each in turn. One bolt is almost inaccessible and not in line of sight.
Anyway all assembled which left me time to re wire the galvanic isolator that I incorrectly installed about 12 years ago!

Visit for maintenance

Another quick visit to catch up with the maintenance schedule. This time to change the fuel filter. This has given me problems in the past filling the new filter but not this time. Turned off the fuel using the tap closest to the filter, replaced the filter and then used the lift pump to fill the filter. Being by myself could not bleed the system so just kept cranking the engine and it eventually ran.
Also replaced the 2 temporary cables from the domestic alternator with a single 6 mm cable.
Next visit will be to clean inside ready for our weekend cruise with friends to Kinver.

Shower door

At the boat yesterday. Although the visit was planned in advance to do some jobs it fortuitously coincided with delivery of our new shower door.
First jobs were to change engine and gearbox oil and the oil filter. The second job was to install our new TV replacing our analogue only One. The new  TV has inbuilt digital and satellite and a DVD replacing a spiders web of cables, sensors and SCART leads . Both jobs went smoothly.
The shower door replaces a shower curtain. The door opens out wards and is from Wesley Windows. Delivery was longer than expected and phone calls seemed to suggest this was their first of this style. No instructions but fortunately I've installed a shower door before. Needed to drill holes in the side frames to fix to the shower sides and to the door frame. Having to do all this risks scratching the white painted aluminium. The fit of the for was too tight reducing the opportunity to align it correctly and the silicone used to hold the door side frames is rough and looks as if it was trimmed before it was fully cured ... all disappointing but door now fitted.

Easter Cruise - Stouport to Worcester

Away from mooring in the upper basin at 0900 and on the river by 0930. A sunny but cold spring day and a clear sky but where were the boats, a 3 hour cruise on the river and the only boat we met was whilst locking up at Worcester!
Back in Worcester after 12 days cruising, some rain during the first two days but dry and cold with plenty of sun after that. Boat systems all worked well but the batteries still need careful nurturing. Back home tomorrow, shopping already done online for delivery Saturday evening, washing and the family for lunch on Easter Monday.

Easter Cruise - Hythe lock to Stourport

Two short days stopping in between at Kidderminster. All still remarkable quiet with only one boat on the Kinver visitor moorings and 2 at Stouport.
Bottom near side lock gate at Wolerly Court would not open fully but was pushed back by pushing the boat though. Gate closed smoothly afterwards so no idea what the problem was. Anti vandal locks on locks out of Kidderminster are in varying states of function and would not deter a vandal, so the odd locks working just annoy boaters.
Pump out, fuel, gas, paint, oil and bits at Limekiln Chanderlery contributed to their new cars for this year. They have an excellent range of products and their fuel is the cheapest we've seen but must check their price for Morris oil. Moored for overnight just beyond the CRT sanitary station.

Easter Cruise - Bratch to Hythe Lock

Another bright sunny spring day. Is it that the bright green shoots make everything seems better than remembered? Or is it that the vegetation between the towpath and the canal make the canal more cared for?
We departed from Birmingham having only partly filled the water tank but now, having passed no water points concern that we are getting low, probably only 4 days supply! Topped up at Greensforge but no pump out facility there so now concerned about holding tank .... oh the worries of cruising.
Of worries, I had not been able to get a satellite signal with the new dish having apparently found the satellite. I had begun to think either the dish or the receiver were not working. However, tonight I succeeded so J can watch Neighbours. What did I do? A lot of fiddling with the receiver settings, other than that no idea. However, I have downloaded instructions for the receiver so that may reveal more in time.
Now moored above Hythe Lock, one of our favourite mooring spots. An easy walk into Kinver, no further than from the moorings below Kinver Lock.

Easter Cruise - Compton Lock to Bratch

Having debated the need to stop at Limekiln Chanderlery for a pump out and fuel and eventually decided to stop we were alarmed to discover it has closed and moved to Wolverhampton ... But it was in Wolverhampton! So, cruised on and stopped to visit Wighwi k Manor. Just as fascinating as before but a dreadfull lunch, I returned mine. A great sunny, warmer day so a pleasant stroll around the gardens.
Cruising on J grounded the boat whilst I was operating a lock and getting back on to re float proved a problem. Overcome we cruised on the The Bratch to go straight down and moored below. Warned off Two youths who thought throwing stones at the boat was a good sport. I hope they don't return later tonight.

Easter Cruise - Black Country Museum to Compton Lock , Staff & Worcs Canal

An unevenful cruise to the top of the Wolverhampton flight. Sunny but cold, Very quiet, met no boats. Only the last mile or so before the locks is industrial grim. Moorings at the CRT sanitary station and at the top of the flight.
Met boats coming up the flight otherwise all locks set in our favour, about 2 3/4 hours. Met Jane's colleague in Mintball just before lock 21. Turned left towards Kidderminster and Stourport. Moored above Compton lock, surprisingly no other boats moored. 3 boats came up the lock but none down, really very quiet.

Easter Cruise - Gas Street Basin to Black County Museum, Dudley

A late morning start after filing up with water at the top of Farmers Bridge locks. Very quiet until it was time to leave and suddenly boats wanted to descend the locks. We backed out gracefully and headed west on the BCN main Line and took a left onto the Wolverhampton Level at Smethick. Stopped for lunch and visited the Smethick Pump House which had a open day.
Continuing through Birmingham, it's not the bleak, desolate, past industrial wasteland I recall but a pleasant green corridor through a regenerated urban landscape. Apart from the water, black, oily and strewn with rubbish, no change there.
The M5 follows closely part of the canal and in placed the canal runs under the motorway for some hundreds of metres.
Moored at Topton Junction near the Black Country Museum. We have been here before but I have no recollection of the approach canals. It was before Ada, it was even before mobile phones! I know this because I remember wandering through the closed museum looking for a public phone box (I wonder what alarms would be set of doing that today). I did not find a phone, maybe because there were none during Victorian/Edwardian times.
Batteries fully charged after about 5 hours engine time. One problem with the advanced regulator a couple of days back was all the LEDs flashing. This means a 'high alternator output voltage' but this did not show on the Smartmeter. However, I had originally collected the positive of the alternator to the batteries with 2 cables. As one of these was hanging directly off a battery terminal I removed it for the BSC examination and had not replaced it. The advanced regulator functioned correctly after replacing this cable. Job for the future replace the 2 cables with one thicker cable - check engine handbook for the correct size.

Easter Cruise - Tibberton to Gas Street Basin

Tibberton to The Queens Head an easy cruise with our young crew eager crew closing up locks after I walked ahead to set them. At times I struggled with the paddle gear. Unfortunately our crew departed that evening after a meal at the pub with J and M. The Queens Head is again a popular eatory. Booking advised even at six on a Tuesday evening, if planning to stop there.
One other boat moored to go up Tarrdebigge and one having come down.
A prompt start fount all the locks set in our favour. Met only 3 boats and st the top in 3 hours 15 minutes ... I only stopped having to wait for descending boats. Moored early above lock 58.
A simple cruise into Birmingham in pleasant but cold weather and moored across from the NIA two nights panned her to visit the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and see the Staffordshire Haul ... both fascinating. That evening here was a stoppage notice for the BWC, a significant leak at the top of the Tardebigge flight ... how that would have changed our plans if a day earlier. Canal closed from lock 24 to bridge 57a.

Easter Cruise - Worcester to Tibberton

Woke to a dull wet day. Car was already packed and got away as planed despite trying to delay departure to let the rain 'clear to the East'. Picked up N and Katia and arrived at the boat before 1100. With our young crew's stuff we started and stowed for a getaway before 1200. 

Passed a hire boat moored on lock moorings below an empty lock with open gates. Up eventful journey other than N slipping on wet slim at the foot of lock steps. Tears and a change of trousers before we continued. A very heavy rain shower on a cruise between locks otherwise just damp.

The lock gear on the W&B canal are most beyond the girls so the routine is ...

I raise the paddles

Girls open gates and lower paddles

Girlies close gates

I raise top ground paddles

(If next lock in sight I walk on)

One girl closes offside paddle and crosses gate to help other girl open gate and then lower paddle

Girls close gate.

This routine has worked well and kept them interested.

Moored at Tibberton, only boat, before the bridge.

Easter Cruise Plan

Boat ready for a cruise to Birmingham and onto Wolverhampton before returning via Staffs and Worcs and River Severn. We'll have 2 young companions for the first 2 days but they'll leave just before Tardibigge ... bad planning. I don't think we've cruised the Woverhampton flight in Ada and if the weathers reasonable may have time to explore bits of the Birmingham Canals that we've never cruised.