Side Hatch Glazing

With the list of things to do still growing longer and longer.

The Side Hatches have been on the list of To-Do's for quite a while now, we would love to be able to open the side doors when the weather isn't so good.

Now finally the glazing to the side-hatches has been fitted, PVC sheet with heavy duty toggle ties for easy removal and storage when not in use. Bungees wrapped around toggles above and below the apertures. 

 The difference this makes is astonishing.

Is it Five Years.

Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)

Five years already, wow!

Our date for renewing our boat safety is approaching fast so we decided to get the BSS out of the way early as we are planning a months cruise in the very near future and if anything unexpected appeared during the checks I would like to have time to correct them. Our last inspector Dave who did our first ever inspection has retired so we contacted Russell F Smith, he carries out inspections all over the Northwest. I highly recommend him to anyone, a really nice fella and he knows his stuff and is very helpful with advice. Needless to say we passed with flying colours, phew!

Yippee...

Only a few minor recommendations, nothing to affect us passing.

Find-an-examiner/BSS

A Few Days Painting.

Things are starting to look a little shabby on the exterior especially the roof paintwork, red is not the greatest colour choice really, some other areas are also starting to rust, especially along the left hand gutter where I without fail catch it on the tunnel at Chirk every time we go through it.

Work to re-black below the waterline was carried out by Swanley Marina back in April.

The long bank holiday weekend was chosen to start work and it was a good one, lovely weather ideal for painting. We moved just up the canal from the marina and tied up for two days. Buster loved the freedom and was shattered both days meeting lots of doggies that passed by. I didn't finish what we had planned but at least we made a start.

Working boats Mountbatten & Jellicoe  a few hundred yards down the canal.

Fan and Drive Belts, Continued...

We finally got around to ordering the fan & drive belts for the boat, The supplier was Mercateo and they arrived today from Germany. A minimum order value was the only snag but with a set of 3 and 4 we should be Ok for a long time to come hopefully.

SPA975 Super HC Gates
SPA882 Super HC Gates

Harlequin Decoration...

At last a weekend of sunshine, and a long Bank Holiday one at that. This was our chance to get some long overdue painting done, something we had being planning for months.

Our Cratch board had started to look a bit of a mess and we wanted to brighten it up, a harlequin pattern was the design choice.

It took three days to complete and I am happy with the end result, we even got the light fitted but the horn will have to wait for next time.

Mr B all ready to go

A lovely day to just sit and watch the boats go by
inbetween coats of paint.

Started with masking off some diamonds.

Adding more colours and being watched by Buster

Looks like we are getting there

Finished

Belt Supplier Problems...

Last year our alternator belt snapped. It is a Gates Super-HC MN SPA975 Cogged belt, We have searched high and low for a replacement but with no luck, dimensions are (w)12.7x(d)10x(l)975mm. We have fitted a standard cut v-belt that didn't last very long. also an alternative cogged belt looking like it will snap at any moment although it has lasted up until now. I would like to replace this belt with what was on originally. Seeing the problem I'm having finding an alternator belt I would like to have a spare engine drive belt too, same type just shorter at 882mm. The Gates website is very hard to search.

Alternator belt

Engine drive belt