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Monday, September 10, 2012

Leek for a few days and questions from Bryce

 We have spent 5/6 days at Leek on the Caldon canal and have had to move today as our water tank was getting low. Leek was chosen because we could receive post (mail) via the local post office and get the tiles for the revamp of the wood stove area. Jaq was waiting on some parcels and with Morrison`s supermarket near the canal the end of the Leek arm made a nice mooring.
The last 200yards of the canal is very overgrown and the best option is to wind(turn) the boat at the last bridge and reverse back 100yds in shallow water as far as possible. We are moored in the last mooring before the overgrown bank side begins.
Progress on the tiling is that it is finished with just some minor work to complete  so you will have to wait for pictures.
As the stove had to be removed we took the opportunity to paint it with heat resistant up to 600C matt black. The stove had to be lit to cure the paint but it seems we did not heat it enough as in the late evening Jaq fancied a small fire to take the chill off. After 20 minutes the smoke alarm went off because the paint was giving off  fumes. Turning the main lights on we could see a haze around the ceiling. So windows and doors open including the side hatch and the fire built up to a high temperature to speed the paint curing. Always a good idea a smoke alarm which together with the carbon monoxide alarm makes us feel safer in what is a very small area that can quite quickly fill with fumes or smoke.
 
 
Bryce in Canada has posted the following comment on the last blog post. I will try to answer all his points but any reader can feel free to comment if I get something a bit wrong.
BloggerBryce said...
The prime mover is located where, on the
boat? And in relation to same, the fuel tank, the weed hatch and related. The engine/prime mover is a marine version of a Mitsubishi design for what originally? Starting the engine utilizes electricity and what are referred as glow plugs? Water cooled using water from the canal?

Would an air-cooled design with a fan
work as well?
Interesting to meis how many Honda marine designs are in use?

As to the weed hatch, is there not some
form of protective cover surrounding the propeller which is how many blades and
of what diameter, RPM when underway?
Transmission is mechanical or electrical,
and range of speeds/throttle settings?

And I'd never fit vertically in any narrow boat. My friend Mike tells me they
don't make NB's as high inside as I stand vertically. Maybe what we call here a
cabin cruiser perhaps, however the draft is often deeper than a flat-bottomed NB
 
Delete


Glow plug


The prime mover is a 4 cylinder diesel engine located below decks. It is accessed by lifting a metal hatch beyond the doors at `A`. The engine I believe might have been used in a small car but it was for sure an industrial engine that perhaps might have powered a fork truck.
 Glow plugs pre heat the engine around the cylinders to help when starting from cold, they need 6-8 seconds to do this.
Coming towards the stern is another hatch at `D` that gives access to the weed hatch.
 `C` goes down to the rudder that sits to the rear of the 3 bladed propeller.It is about 13inches and has no protective cover. RPM is about 1100 when cruising.
Speed is 3-4mph and is just a one lever forward/reverse of the automatic gearbox. Transmission is mechanical.  
`B` is the fuel tank filler. The tank holds about 140 litres and is immediately below the filler.

7 comments:

Dave,Beryl Bradshaw said...

Hi Les & Jaq Glad the tiling went ok at least you know the smoke alarm works. We found out that the Gas alarm doesn't like the solvent in Brasso. Beryl sat in cratch polishing
mushroom and the gas alarm went off.
We are currently at Westport Lake.Have a safe journey south Beryl & Dave.

Anonymous said...

That explains a lot of questions. Interesting to note an internal recirculating tank is utilized for cooling the prime mover.

The glow plug warming am familiar with, very common on older diesels especially the diesel VolksWagon line of automobiles. Here in Canada diesel powered automobiles are not that common; petrol is half of what is paid in the UK even with all of the taxes. And petrol here is far more expensive than in the USA. Diesel is a few cents less (pence?) per litre.

Mike abd Phil are still learning how to utilize their sea legs, so to speak.

Keep thinking if real winter hits as we have (most of the time) here in Canada,will Mike be able to use his snow blower to clear the ice in front of Garnet so he can see where Garnet is headed. .

Thank You for the explanation!

Bryce Lee
Burlington, Ontario
Canada

Davidss said...

When Bryce asks about a 'protective cover surrounding the propeller' he is referring to it on context of the open weed hatch. So the answer is 'yes', there is a flat plate clamped to the top of the weed hatch, to prevent water entering the boat while the propeller is turning.

I know when you pictured the weed hatch you mentioned you had removed the cover, but without it somewhere in shot there was always the risk that someone unfamiliar with the arrangement would miss the relevance.

I don't know how high Bryce stands, but the internal narrow boat height can easily be 6' 6", although 7' would probably be unusual. Original working boats will not have this height in the back cabin, as the engine is forward of the cabin, and therefore the prop shaft runs underneath the cabin floor.

HTH

Les Biggs said...

Hi Dave/Beryl
Always good to know the alarms are doing their job.
Les

Les Biggs said...

Bryce
You lot across the pond would be lost without your snow blowers. All Jaq`s friends I noticed had them in the garage.
You most welcome to the answers to your questions.
Les

Les Biggs said...

Bryce check out Davids comment.

Les Biggs said...

Hi David
I was thinking he meant some protection for the actual prop but then that would take the fun out of cutting things off it.
Les

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs