Nice to see no panic when " disaster " struck. Capable pair I must say, my only suggestion would be one of those little cord thingys to attach to your specs. to avoid having your glasses sitting at the bottom of the canal. Excellent video, thanks
Ladies, a tool I've found invaluable for clearing the prop is a cheap patio knife ( sort of L shaped) sharpened on all edges fastened onto the end of a broom handle. Using this I've cleared all sorts of stuff off the prop without having to put my hands in the water. Sorry I haven't got a picture.
Annamarie, your rant was truly wonderful! Well said 👏🏻👏🏻 Well done on clearing all that material from the prop. It’s disgusting that it was all in the canal in the first place.
Hi Anna and Kath. So excited you mentioned my name (Cathy Larsen) while posting the book I ordered. I paused the video and gathered family into the room to replay for them. Have a great day, and hope your cut finger heals.
The Narrowboat Experience . Yay, the booklet arrived today. I am most pleasantly surprised with the originality of the presentation of the book. The Art was fantastic and this work of art surpassed my expectations. I will most definitely recommend you to friends and family.
Hi from NJ. I've just discovered your channel after watching your supposed rescue by CC and I love your channel. I have to say that today's rant was just epic. It completely lifted my mood.
I have just discovered narrowboating and loving watching all the adventures. You handled that so well. I can not imagine why things like that end up in the canals. Was it David who had a sleeping bag on his prop? I am astounded. You are amazing and I do enjoy follwoing you. It may be a great life....but not always for the faint of heart.
Nothing is more satisfying than a completely justified rant about other peoples stupidity. Also, your videos are providing a fantastic source for binge watching during the lock down, thank you! Regarding things round the propeller, I sympathize entirely. I had the plastic seal from a washing machine stuck round the propeller on the Coventry Canal - that was my excuse for hitting all the bridges on the way back!
Well done , I can't believe someone would throw a sheet in the canal , the last time we broke down was in my dads boats , inside harecastle tunnel , our engine just stopped then started again, then stopped just as we got through the gates , & a couple had to pull us into the side before a barge hit us up the backside , it was very scary . But my dad was always one for not doing any maintenance Grrr .
Love the video, the Cows in the Canal reminded me of a Canal holiday with my parents in the 90's when we saw a rather "full" (either with milk or calf) Cow who had got stuck in the canal, and couldn't get out.... she had to be helped out by 2 farmers and a tractor!
Glad it was nothing wrong with the engine again you've had enough trouble with that at Banbury. Good Job on clearing that hatch such idiots throwing stuff in the canal like that. Thumbs up to you both
Heavy duty, elbow length rubber gloves kept in the engine bat near the weed hatch. You can avoid coming into contact with the canal water with a pair of those. They cost, but it’s a good investment these days, the way people toss stuff into the cut.
I am sure I have heard somewhere and it is very logical so it was probably David said it that a bread knife is an ideal tool to keep for the weed hatch, great video and please take heed of the warnings because wiels disease is more prevelant when water levels are low, I speak from experience. x
Well done. We had a 6’ horsehair/coconut bale wrapped around our prop (the sort C&RT put along the bank to protect plants against wash & erosion). Genuinely thought we had a body down there as we pulled out masses of black hair! On another occasion we had a full washing line including sports clothes! Recommend a dedicated cheap double edged bread knife for the weed hatch to saw through things like this. Really enjoying your travels. Keep the vlogs coming. xx
Good work, the throttle thing is called a morse control (different as it handles gear changes and throttle). If your morse control can do it, then you can disconnect the gear rod and run the throttle separately, if the engine starts and revs with no propeller engaged you know it's not the engine in trouble. Don't try running the propeller if the engine cuts out, you could loosen the engine from the mounts or sheer the drive plate - very pricey! Hope I haven't mansplained too much there!!
the NBSC run brilliant courses on all things narrowboat, you might find it worth while, I feel much happier that I can fix our engine and save a fortune now when the inevitable happens.
Ah yes, I think this is called " Mucking in the Cut". Both of you did a masterful job of clearing the prop. It is quite unnerving to stick your arms into dirty water not knowing what you are going to find. But in the process you are learning what it takes and the skills to be self-reliant. Diesel engines are incredibly tough and reliable. However, the nemesis of a Diesel engine is dirty fuel and air in the injector line will stop them dead. It is good practice to keep on the boat two extra fuel filters at all times and know how to bleed the fuel lines. On my boat I kept a fine tooth hacksaw blade with the blade in the handle set to cut on the pull stroke. This works really well if a nylon line gets wrapped around the propeller shaft and you are much less likely to cut yourself than using a knife. Again, congratulations, a Good job.
Be careful with that wound, Kath. The local (West Palm Beach, FL) just ran a story of a guy who had a cut on his knee and water from the canal splashed on it and he got flesh eating bacteria. He nearly lost his leg, but still had to endure 6 surgeries.
It’s healing up nicely so I think I’m ok. We are on the watch for flu like symptoms or anything really over the next few weeks. Fingers crossed nothing happens.
We realised the same when we watched the video back- we thought it was a hell of a time, but we looked quite positive. Then we remembered that we live on a canal and that's probably what keeps us so happy. Oh and each other.
As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote: “Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall,” Or, in your case, some sheet happened.
On the job train is the best way to make it in boat life..seasoned with preventive maintenance and lots of research. I am throughly impresses with your persistence in getting the job done. I was happy to be just having coffee and was glad it was not me. I would tell you about my car breakdown one late night in the mountains of North Carolina and having to be towed at 40mph by a logging truck to get the car to crank over....but...I will let you just imagine..lol
I was waiting for the grand finale where you turned the engine over and it started to a chorus of hoorays.... well done getting stuck in to it ... sometimes these things that try us come in clusters.... and yeah, always got prop fouls around the London canal system...one boat powered by hydraulic system...any abrupt stoppage like that and the hydraulic system would pop a hose and had to call out an engineer each time. x
Haha! The rant!...whenever we’ve had similar ‘run ins’ with ungracious boaters who don’t seem to know what canal etiquette is I spend the next 2-3 hours seething and going over what I should have said to them. Chris is much better at just forgetting than I am 😂 Glad you got the engine problems sorted! - Holey Ship
Oh my goodness ; what a nightmare! Kath you make steering look sooo easy, I’m completely inept!!! I love living on my boat but absolutely rubbish at steering 😢 Have yet to be brave enough to go anywhere on my own let alone tackle a lock without help!! Hope your injury is ok now!
Hey! You’ll get better as you get some practice. The trick is to relax. Don’t rush yourself to do things on your own if you don’t feel comfortable. It’s important to get used to living in the space too. Glad you have the boat now and are settling in. We are so happy for you!
OMG! I have to say I’m dreading the day I have to do that. Every time I saw that knife going into the hatch I thought watch your fingers as they are terrible things. I think one of the saws like a long knife would be useful and safer but as I’ve never had to do it I don’t really know. Someone recommended a hack saw so maybe that would be useful. Anyway I’m glad your sorted now. I also loved the little book, just in case I forgot to tell you.! Thanks as always for another interesting and enjoyable video.
The Stanley knife wasn't the best idea. The sewing scissors worked much better on the bed linen. Who knows what it will be next time! I hope your first time is long time away! Glad you like the book. :-)
Get yourself some decent elbow length gloves for that weed hatch. This is probably a good video for anyone contemplating life on a narrowboat to watch. Glad you got it done. Looks like an entire set of bed sheets got dumped in the canal. I found your channel from watching Cruising the Cut and I enjoy your videos.
On the Rya course, when using a lock, if it’s not in your favour, the rules state that you have to give way to boats that have the lock in their favour.
I'm not a mechanic but when the sheet got stuck & throttle wouldn't go back. because moving throttle forward& part back few times, when you tried to restart sounded like engine got flooded. Now sheet is out throttle back in neutral did it finally start ? Can't believe what people through in canals, but your problem with that lady & the lock doesn't surprise me !!! Great video keep them coming 😁
Always advisable to have a selection of tools available for weed hatch jobs. We have a variety of knives, saws, wire snips etc to hand in the engine bay. You never know what you may need. Glad you got it sorted. Love your videos.
Well done you two! I must admit that the last thing I want to do is to delve down deep into the weed hatch! It's just so yukky! I got something around my prop on the Bristol Avon, but the prop was still turning so I motored back to my marina at about 2 knots - anything but delve down there. Lucky me - whatever it just dropped off as I went over the threshold and control was regained :-)
Next time you get a mass of (stuff) around your prop if it is forward of the prop. Ie wedged between prop and hull around the prop shaft. It is quicker to undo the 4 bolts on the flange/coupling to the gearbox and slide the shaft back, then 99% of the time you can grab the object and pull it up out of the weed hatch.
Hi just a comment based on my own personal experiences, your boat is the same layout as my own, being a cruiser stern, when clearing the prop take up only prop section of rear boards and lie down length ways over weed hatch and reach down it'll likely be a lot easier than standing in engine bay and reaching over the scupper rail, it is believe me, less of a distance to stretch, also you'll get better leverage to pull at whatever's wrapped on prop. Please try it out keep a towel ready to lie down on especially when wet or muddy. Also I keep a separate hand towel called my prop towel no pun intended, only used for drying hands after clearing prop jams never used for anything else I want my partner to embroider a propellor on it for me because it would be lovely lol. I once encourtered 4 big slimly shiny rats swimming in the cut whilst night locking the Wolverhampton 21, oh yes, you are, allowed with your own boat not a hire boat as hirers insurance usually doesn't cover travelling at night, itcan be risky you need to be alert and methodical an on your game don't when tired hungry had a drop of drink, I have more than adequate LED lighting, being told I couldn't night boat by a hirer caused me amusement on the Shroppie he was half right ! You mentioned catching a disease, worry about it, its called Leptospirosis or Weil's which can be carried in animal urine, pigs, cattle dogs and predominantly rats, if contracted you suffer severe flu like symptoms, jaundice shortness of breath please get information on this as it will cause death: if suspended do not hesitate to get medical assistance without delay, Anglers, kayakers, swimmers boaters beware. When I wash my hands I follow in with sanitizer gel if skin broken with nicks or cuts, i personally find wearing gloves and prop clearing difficult around sharp tools, your choice obviously. Prop tools I have amassed include: Lockable long blade flick knife now outlawed, taken off a so called football (fan) in the 70s, by the BTP who reffered to them as (hooligans), good for getting into and cutting rope scary fine point keeps a surgeons edge and gets into knots in rope and plastic bags etc. Medium serrated edge kitchen knife, teeth on it very sharp and short, excellent for sawing nylon rope which is arwfull assorted rubbish off i.e. cushion off a 3 piece suite which I know personally consists of many many layers of fabrics and foam, nearly lifted weed hatch cover as I loosened it completely filled weedhole, I laugh about it now, it was evil it was a surgical operation a lot of cutting and cursing. Medium size side cutter pliers good for steel lacing wire. Cable cutters electric cables. Junior hacksaw, plastics, once a bread delivery tray, handle of builders bucket. The very worst jam I experienced was armoured electrical cable which has steel lacing wires wound around insulated power cables to prevent it being cut through. On that occasion I split the connector joint from gearbox pulled prop back just enough to gain better access to cut through piece after piece, that was difficult only attempt if your are sure of what your doing I take no responabilty for you folks but it saved me having to get in the cut itself. I spoke to a guy on the BCN who had the misfortune of picking up a sprung mattress on the spinny phospher bronze bit at the back. He tried and tried it weren't coming off no way. He was at the tow it to boat yard, lift out stage. Whilst sat forlorn on the bank a couple of factory guys out for lunch time stroll asked him his plight. What's the chances they worked in a factory backing the canal and had a gantry loading unloading crane, mind, (handnt been used since Adam was a lad) they told him if he could get boat to their loading Jetty they could give him an arse lift, which is generally painfull and expensive! They powered the crane up resulting in a lot of dust small amount of smoke, lifted stern out of the water even threw him a hand to remove the high quality box spring slumberland from its present home namely the spinny bit at the back, all was good with the world. Said gentlemen treated the chaps to a couple of after work pints at the local purveyor of ales and spirits as a deep felt thankyou gesture, bet their pie and chips were in the dog that evening ! You meet some very kind souls on the cut when you least expect it. PROP JAM = MAKE IT ROUTINE NEUTRAL. ENGINE OFF. REMOVE KEY. Or turn off and remove red separate engine power isolator key, which should be fitted tested and working.( In an ideal world not a spaghetti mess of cabling). Avoid any possible danger/s working on or around propshafts and propellers. Propshafts love fingers, hands, wrists, arms feet ankles and legs and any unsecured items in or around it both in engine bay or room. Propellers love fingers hands wrists arms legs bodies heads and everything and anything human or other. Don't forget to enjoy your boating people it ain't bad it's mostly really really good. Bfn
You two just make my day. Your both just so cute together. I'm happy that's all the problem was. So here's an old Navy term. Fare winds and following sea's.
It's called the joys of boating girls :) I once got stuck, my fault. Went near the bank, just for a look and got a net on the prop. It was stuck in the riverbed. Cold weather, had to get in to cut it off. Knife went blunt after 3 cuts. Few attempts failed. My friends came and rescued me next morning and towed me back. Cut enough off to free the prop and easy to get the rest off once back on the mooring. Oh, the adventures of boating eh! Pleased all went well in the end.
Yes a functioning anchor is essential on rivers. Not so bad on the Witham, because usually it has little flow, and you can just float to the side. But on tidal rivers, or any with a fast flow you do need a way to 'anchor up' (sorry). On my last little boat I actually made use of an electric winch (one I already had). So if I wanted to stop, I just lowered the anchor with a switch.....and although I didn't use it much, it really worked well. Oh, always remember to attach the chain. Just reminded me of someone I know (can't remember who) but they dropped anchor, only to find the chain followed it to the bottom lol.
You wouldn't necessarily have a cover over the bearing as if given a swift of LM grease on a regular basis water stays out, don't wipe off all the pished out old grease.
I think I remember CTC having the same problem with a quilt last year, I will say what I said then and that I hope the items were blown in rather than thrown in.
Last Sunday we couldn’t get our boat started, first thing we did was email CRT, they were very good, i think a lot of problems people have with CRT is because they don’t communicate.
I was staying with Friends in the new forest during a hot spell.... next morning went out to the car and where I had left the window open I had a massive cow lick on the inside of the window !!! Never mind 2015 - I remember 1976 :) !!! It was so hot the roads were melting - glad I was working as a lifeguard in a swimming pool !!!1
Murphy wanted it to be raining between sleet deluges, with 40 knot winds, 1.2deg C and a good mix of barbed wire, marine steel hawser, and a circus tent around the propshaft, but all you got was warm, calm weather and easily cut flotsam. Obviously you now have to roll the dice until you get a double six, then go back over the area you found your clunk-wad and get a fresh lot. (It might have got bad if you'd stopped smiling, but luckily you didn't, at least while the camera was on.)
My husband would be the kind to only charge his own device. We've had that argument. And on our travel holidays, yep, I get to do the laundry. I hate the people who say travel light and do your laundry every few days. Save I'm the one doing the laundry for the whole family! We don't travel light.
You can get USB chargers for electric toothbrushes which work fine and are more efficient than using the original charger via your inverter. I use one and it works just fine.
They are a good idea as the charge rate for the toothbrush is so low that just having your inverter switched on the inverter would consume more power that the brush does - be quiet a margin too.
You were right to have a rant about the clowns on the lock. It’s basic canal etiquette. If the lock is empty the boat going up has priority if it’s full vice versa.
When you have a breakdown is there a tow service to get you to A mechanic? Or do they have road service? Are the tools needed For repairs metric or English SAE ? Enjoying the way you do comments thank you very much
I hope you're ok Kath. How far after passing the cattle did that happen? You need to get to the doctors if you have any flu like symptoms. What kind of idiot throws bedding into a canal? At least there wasn't a body wrapped in it!
There was a lock after the cattle from memory. We are keeping an eye out for symptoms for the next 2 weeks but both fine at the moment anyway! We were very relieved that there was no body!! Some of the cloth smelt bad enough on its own.
What a shame bedding around the prop! Why would somebody dump that in the canal. It causes all sorts of problems. Glad you both managed to sort it. Make sure you get you cut checked Kath. The lock filling episode has happened to us a few times. It's so frustrating! I did used say how silly and wasteful it was to the other people......that had done it... But never got a good reply😆 I just say it and smile now!!!😆😂😆😂. It's good to rant Anna! Looking forward to your next episode xxxxxx😘
I don't think it was dumped it did feel like really good quality. I think the heat was getting to some people at locks and they kind of just wanted to speed through the day.
The lever/throttle thingy is a morse control. Having stuff around the prop shouldn't really stop it going into neutral but you've left us on a cliff hanger. Did it start afterwards? There's no clue on twitter. It's not just a ploy to overstay on the mooring again. is it?
I didn’t think that having stuff round the prop would stop the throttle going into neutral either but after the prop was clear it moved again. The engine also started thankfully.
When the prop was stopped by the sheet(s), it was in a position that we marine mechanics call “stuck between the (clutch) dogs. Think of it like trying to shift a manual transmission in your car. That won’t allow you to shift into neutral and start your engine. It’s called the “neutral safety switch” in the controller that prevents the engine to start while in gear. I hope that helps. 👍
Exactly what I was thinking. One lady said to us 'where are you headed' and we said 'wherever we want' and she said 'oh you live on board... how terrible' lol
Thank you for showing a weed hatch disaster!! ...I am hoping to learn some real world problems ...and yeah... ...wish you two the best ...Thank You !! : )
I wonder it a curved carpet knife, that's what we call it in the US anyway... would be good. Mostly have a wood handle so if you drop it, it might float :) and it would grab the offending crap to cut it. All the best!!
Question, do you have hot water radiators? No? Why not? Every time your cruising your wasting heat overboard. Simply ask you favorite mechanic to hook up your radiators to your engine cooling system. Now it would take longer to fully warm up unless you warm up the engine first then turn on the heating system after the engine is fully warmed up. Saves coal for when your tied up and the engine is shut down. That engine should have a means of warming up either an intake grid heater or glow plugs. Both systems depending on which your engine is equipped with makes a world of difference in starting the engine. Even if it's 80 degrees out use the preheating system, engine manufacturers don't put them on the engine simply for looks. And if you change you own fuel filters you must fill them before putting them on then using the small primer pump pump up the fuel until it pumps hard for at least 50 strokes then when starting after changing the fuel filter open the throttle to give her more fuel and after she starts let her run at higher speed until she smooths out i.e. No more air in the fuel injection system.
AHAAA! I see you've discovered Wabbit Transit! ( sorry couldn't resist ) One item you might consider is buy a 240 volt induction cooktop, the portable kind. They only work with metal cookware but even though you have it on high power it will still be cold to the tough I.E.: no glowing heating elements. Cheers
Nice to see no panic when " disaster " struck. Capable pair I must say, my only suggestion would be one of those little cord thingys to attach to your specs. to avoid having your glasses sitting at the bottom of the canal. Excellent video, thanks
That’s the one thing I never even thought about! It would be terrible to lose the glasses as I can’t see a thing without them!
Ladies, a tool I've found invaluable for clearing the prop is a cheap patio knife ( sort of L shaped) sharpened on all edges fastened onto the end of a broom handle. Using this I've cleared all sorts of stuff off the prop without having to put my hands in the water. Sorry I haven't got a picture.
Annamarie, your rant was truly wonderful! Well said 👏🏻👏🏻
Well done on clearing all that material from the prop. It’s disgusting that it was all in the canal in the first place.
Thanks Mandy
Hi Anna and Kath. So excited you mentioned my name (Cathy Larsen) while posting the book I ordered. I paused the video and gathered family into the room to replay for them. Have a great day, and hope your cut finger heals.
Yay! I hope the book arrives soon and you like it. Thanks for watching.
The Narrowboat Experience . Yay, the booklet arrived today. I am most pleasantly surprised with the originality of the presentation of the book. The Art was fantastic and this work of art surpassed my expectations. I will most definitely recommend you to friends and family.
Hi from NJ. I've just discovered your channel after watching your supposed rescue by CC and I love your channel. I have to say that today's rant was just epic. It completely lifted my mood.
I can honestly say, you have inspired me to get my narrow boat like
Awesome.
I have just discovered narrowboating and loving watching all the adventures. You handled that so well. I can not imagine why things like that end up in the canals. Was it David who had a sleeping bag on his prop? I am astounded. You are amazing and I do enjoy follwoing you. It may be a great life....but not always for the faint of heart.
Nothing is more satisfying than a completely justified rant about other peoples stupidity. Also, your videos are providing a fantastic source for binge watching during the lock down, thank you! Regarding things round the propeller, I sympathize entirely. I had the plastic seal from a washing machine stuck round the propeller on the Coventry Canal - that was my excuse for hitting all the bridges on the way back!
Well done , I can't believe someone would throw a sheet in the canal , the last time we broke down was in my dads boats , inside harecastle tunnel , our engine just stopped then started again, then stopped just as we got through the gates , & a couple had to pull us into the side before a barge hit us up the backside , it was very scary . But my dad was always one for not doing any maintenance Grrr .
I agree with your ranting ! Good for you doing the slo-mo too!!
Love the video, the Cows in the Canal reminded me of a Canal holiday with my parents in the 90's when we saw a rather "full" (either with milk or calf) Cow who had got stuck in the canal, and couldn't get out.... she had to be helped out by 2 farmers and a tractor!
That sounds like it would have been both interesting and disturbing to watch!
Glad it was nothing wrong with the engine again you've had enough trouble with that at Banbury.
Good Job on clearing that hatch such idiots throwing stuff in the canal like that.
Thumbs up to you both
Oh yes such a relief.
You guy's look so happy, good on you. Still make me jealous because we don't have the ways
Just want to say I look forward to watching your flogs. You are the most suited couple I would love to live your lifestyle. May you always be happy x
Thanks
This one made me laugh multiple times. Love the rant, some folks don't realize they are not the center of the universe. Bud from Phoenix, Arizona.
Heavy duty, elbow length rubber gloves kept in the engine bat near the weed hatch. You can avoid coming into contact with the canal water with a pair of those. They cost, but it’s a good investment these days, the way people toss stuff into the cut.
Nice tip
You two are utterly adorably together, troubles or not.
Couple goals = Kath & Anna.
Couple goals- wow you made my day.
That was incredible.what a shame you had to deal with such a mess . You did a great job.
I am sure I have heard somewhere and it is very logical so it was probably David said it that a bread knife is an ideal tool to keep for the weed hatch, great video and please take heed of the warnings because wiels disease is more prevelant when water levels are low, I speak from experience. x
Well done. We had a 6’ horsehair/coconut bale wrapped around our prop (the sort C&RT put along the bank to protect plants against wash & erosion). Genuinely thought we had a body down there as we pulled out masses of black hair! On another occasion we had a full washing line including sports clothes! Recommend a dedicated cheap double edged bread knife for the weed hatch to saw through things like this.
Really enjoying your travels. Keep the vlogs coming. xx
WOw I think you win! Mind you I don't want to beat that.
Very refreshing you 2.. great stuff.John.😃
So glad you got "Dink & Malc" in coming out of Banbury, if they're in the conservatory they've always got a smile and a wave.
Yes they gave us a wave when we were on our way past last time.
Anna don’t you know people like that lady are above every one else as the universe revolves around them!!
Good work, the throttle thing is called a morse control (different as it handles gear changes and throttle). If your morse control can do it, then you can disconnect the gear rod and run the throttle separately, if the engine starts and revs with no propeller engaged you know it's not the engine in trouble. Don't try running the propeller if the engine cuts out, you could loosen the engine from the mounts or sheer the drive plate - very pricey!
Hope I haven't mansplained too much there!!
Thanks for that. Its really good to know. We are still learning about the engine and what the different parts do and the impact of different things.
the NBSC run brilliant courses on all things narrowboat, you might find it worth while, I feel much happier that I can fix our engine and save a fortune now when the inevitable happens.
Great video, beautiful scenery and you two make wonderful couple.
Ah yes, I think this is called " Mucking in the Cut". Both of you did a masterful job of clearing the prop. It is quite unnerving to stick your arms into dirty water not knowing what you are going to find. But in the process you are learning what it takes and the skills to be self-reliant. Diesel engines are incredibly tough and reliable. However, the nemesis of a Diesel engine is dirty fuel and air in the injector line will stop them dead. It is good practice to keep on the boat two extra fuel filters at all times and know how to bleed the fuel lines. On my boat I kept a fine tooth hacksaw blade with the blade in the handle set to cut on the pull stroke. This works really well if a nylon line gets wrapped around the propeller shaft and you are much less likely to cut yourself than using a knife. Again, congratulations, a Good job.
Good job ladies, well done.
Thank you!
My boat came with a bread knife and a pair of barbecue prongs for doing prop clearing. Well the bread knife is good at least.
I enjoyed the video but that's the last time I trust you with my laundry!
Be careful with that wound, Kath. The local (West Palm Beach, FL) just ran a story of a guy who had a cut on his knee and water from the canal splashed on it and he got flesh eating bacteria. He nearly lost his leg, but still had to endure 6 surgeries.
It’s healing up nicely so I think I’m ok. We are on the watch for flu like symptoms or anything really over the next few weeks. Fingers crossed nothing happens.
power the electric toothbrush ! Good on you Kath, my wife would have done exactly the same ! :) Glad you girls are boating again !
Hi you two were still smiling and happy even though things were going wrong great to see 😁 👍
We realised the same when we watched the video back- we thought it was a hell of a time, but we looked quite positive. Then we remembered that we live on a canal and that's probably what keeps us so happy. Oh and each other.
As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote:
“Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,”
Or, in your case, some sheet happened.
Lol. Cats were happy though!
With great power comes great responsibility, Cath.
Wonderful choice of music , until Disaster. Glad you were able to get the grunge off the propeller.
That's great happy cruising .
On the job train is the best way to make it in boat life..seasoned with preventive maintenance and lots of research. I am throughly impresses with your persistence in getting the job done. I was happy to be just having coffee and was glad it was not me.
I would tell you about my car breakdown one late night in the mountains of North Carolina and having to be towed at 40mph by a logging truck to get the car to crank over....but...I will let you just imagine..lol
Preventive is the key.
Hi guys,love the awesome banter,the both of you make me laugh,
Thanks 🥰
glad its all good now good job freeing eward.
greetings,, Kitty.
I was waiting for the grand finale where you turned the engine over and it started to a chorus of hoorays.... well done getting stuck in to it ... sometimes these things that try us come in clusters.... and yeah, always got prop fouls around the London canal system...one boat powered by hydraulic system...any abrupt stoppage like that and the hydraulic system would pop a hose and had to call out an engineer each time. x
We went to clean up and forgot!! The engine is all good though. Thanks!
Haha! The rant!...whenever we’ve had similar ‘run ins’ with ungracious boaters who don’t seem to know what canal etiquette is I spend the next 2-3 hours seething and going over what I should have said to them. Chris is much better at just forgetting than I am 😂 Glad you got the engine problems sorted! - Holey Ship
I’m a great person to have around after an event - I always think of great comments or comebacks when it’s too late!
Enjoyed your vlog on the broken down engine. Ca. USA
Cool, thanks!
Cliffhanger suspense! Great video.
U girls r so funny
And gr8 rant Anna Marie xx
Oh my goodness ; what a nightmare! Kath you make steering look sooo easy, I’m completely inept!!! I love living on my boat but absolutely rubbish at steering 😢 Have yet to be brave enough to go anywhere on my own let alone tackle a lock without help!!
Hope your injury is ok now!
Hey! You’ll get better as you get some practice. The trick is to relax. Don’t rush yourself to do things on your own if you don’t feel comfortable. It’s important to get used to living in the space too. Glad you have the boat now and are settling in. We are so happy for you!
OMG! I have to say I’m dreading the day I have to do that. Every time I saw that knife going into the hatch I thought watch your fingers as they are terrible things. I think one of the saws like a long knife would be useful and safer but as I’ve never had to do it I don’t really know. Someone recommended a hack saw so maybe that would be useful. Anyway I’m glad your sorted now. I also loved the little book, just in case I forgot to tell you.! Thanks as always for another interesting and enjoyable video.
The Stanley knife wasn't the best idea. The sewing scissors worked much better on the bed linen. Who knows what it will be next time! I hope your first time is long time away!
Glad you like the book. :-)
Get yourself some decent elbow length gloves for that weed hatch. This is probably a good video for anyone contemplating life on a narrowboat to watch. Glad you got it done. Looks like an entire set of bed sheets got dumped in the canal. I found your channel from watching Cruising the Cut and I enjoy your videos.
Yes, good iea.
Great rant !
Nice job Kath
On the Rya course, when using a lock, if it’s not in your favour, the rules state that you have to give way to boats that have the lock in their favour.
Exactly
I'm not a mechanic but when the sheet got stuck & throttle wouldn't go back.
because moving throttle forward& part back few times, when you tried to restart sounded like engine got flooded.
Now sheet is out throttle back in neutral did it finally start ?
Can't believe what people through in canals, but your problem with that lady & the lock doesn't surprise me !!!
Great video keep them coming 😁
Yes, it started.
Always advisable to have a selection of tools available for weed hatch jobs. We have a variety of knives, saws, wire snips etc to hand in the engine bay. You never know what you may need. Glad you got it sorted. Love your videos.
Thanks, we got a few helpful tool recommendations. The sewing scissors worked best for us this time. Who knows what will be caught next time!
Well done you two! I must admit that the last thing I want to do is to delve down deep into the weed hatch! It's just so yukky! I got something around my prop on the Bristol Avon, but the prop was still turning so I motored back to my marina at about 2 knots - anything but delve down there. Lucky me - whatever it just dropped off as I went over the threshold and control was regained :-)
Oh wow that's lucky
Oh yes, but next time I might have to get wet and mucky ;-)
Loved your rant!!
Next time you get a mass of (stuff) around your prop if it is forward of the prop. Ie wedged between prop and hull around the prop shaft. It is quicker to undo the 4 bolts on the flange/coupling to the gearbox and slide the shaft back, then 99% of the time you can grab the object and pull it up out of the weed hatch.
Sooo proud of you, girls!👍👍👍😊😀😁
Also loved the footage of the cattle wading on the canal bank!😊😊😀
All love, and best wishes, Claire, Berlin 😘 😘 ✌ 👍 👍
Thanks Claire
Small tip. Start engine in reverse for a few secs ,will undo the knot.
Not in this case as any start of the engine stalled it. You can't reverse a knot.
Hi just a comment based on my own personal experiences, your boat is the same layout as my own, being a cruiser stern, when clearing the prop take up only prop section of rear boards and lie down length ways over weed hatch and reach down it'll likely be a lot easier than standing in engine bay and reaching over the scupper rail, it is believe me, less of a distance to stretch, also you'll get better leverage to pull at whatever's wrapped on prop. Please try it out keep a towel ready to lie down on especially when wet or muddy. Also I keep a separate hand towel called my prop towel no pun intended, only used for drying hands after clearing prop jams never used for anything else I want my partner to embroider a propellor on it for me because it would be lovely lol.
I once encourtered 4 big slimly shiny rats swimming in the cut whilst night locking the Wolverhampton 21, oh yes, you are, allowed with your own boat not a hire boat as hirers insurance usually doesn't cover travelling at night, itcan be risky you need to be alert and methodical an on your game don't when tired hungry had a drop of drink, I have more than adequate LED lighting, being told I couldn't night boat by a hirer caused me amusement on the Shroppie he was half right !
You mentioned catching a disease, worry about it, its called Leptospirosis or Weil's which can be carried in animal urine, pigs, cattle dogs and predominantly rats, if contracted you suffer severe flu like symptoms, jaundice shortness of breath please get information on this as it will cause death: if suspended do not hesitate to get medical assistance without delay,
Anglers, kayakers, swimmers boaters beware.
When I wash my hands I follow in with sanitizer gel if skin broken with nicks or cuts, i personally find wearing gloves and prop clearing difficult around sharp tools, your choice obviously.
Prop tools I have amassed include:
Lockable long blade flick knife now outlawed, taken off a so called football (fan) in the 70s, by the BTP who reffered to them as (hooligans), good for getting into and cutting rope scary fine point keeps a surgeons edge and gets into knots in rope and plastic bags etc.
Medium serrated edge kitchen knife, teeth on it very sharp and short, excellent for sawing nylon rope which is arwfull assorted rubbish off i.e. cushion off a 3 piece suite which I know personally consists of many many layers of fabrics and foam, nearly lifted weed hatch cover as I loosened it completely filled weedhole, I laugh about it now, it was evil it was a surgical operation a lot of cutting and cursing.
Medium size side cutter pliers good for steel lacing wire.
Cable cutters electric cables.
Junior hacksaw, plastics, once a bread delivery tray, handle of builders bucket.
The very worst jam I experienced was armoured electrical cable which has steel lacing wires wound around insulated power cables to prevent it being cut through. On that occasion I split the connector joint from gearbox pulled prop back just enough to gain better access to cut through piece after piece, that was difficult only attempt if your are sure of what your doing I take no responabilty for you folks but it saved me having to get in the cut itself.
I spoke to a guy on the BCN who had the misfortune of picking up a sprung mattress on the spinny phospher bronze bit at the back.
He tried and tried it weren't coming off no way. He was at the tow it to boat yard, lift out stage. Whilst sat forlorn on the bank a couple of factory guys out for lunch time stroll asked him his plight. What's the chances they worked in a factory backing the canal and had a gantry loading unloading crane, mind, (handnt been used since Adam was a lad) they told him if he could get boat to their loading Jetty they could give him an arse lift, which is generally painfull and expensive!
They powered the crane up resulting in a lot of dust small amount of smoke, lifted stern out of the water even threw him a hand to remove the high quality box spring slumberland from its present home namely the spinny bit at the back, all was good with the world. Said gentlemen treated the chaps to a couple of after work pints at the local purveyor of ales and spirits as a deep felt thankyou gesture, bet their pie and chips were in the dog that evening !
You meet some very kind souls on the cut when you least expect it.
PROP JAM = MAKE IT ROUTINE
NEUTRAL.
ENGINE OFF.
REMOVE KEY. Or turn off and remove red separate engine power isolator key, which should be fitted tested and working.( In an ideal world not a spaghetti mess of cabling).
Avoid any possible danger/s working on or around propshafts and propellers.
Propshafts love fingers, hands, wrists, arms feet ankles and legs and any unsecured items in or around it both in engine bay or room.
Propellers love fingers hands wrists arms legs bodies heads and everything and anything human or other.
Don't forget to enjoy your boating people it ain't bad it's mostly really really good.
Bfn
I love your vlogs👍
Thanks
You two just make my day. Your both just so cute together. I'm happy that's all the problem was. So here's an old Navy term. Fare winds and following sea's.
Thank you. Kind of you to say
Bless you both. 🤶🏻
Intrepid, classy, straight from the shoulder and so resolute in the face of a challenge....who needs TV !
A bed sheet .. you must be KIDDING ME!! I am glad Anna still have a sense of humor .. I would be freaking out!
Ha loved the last comment of the rant! Very entertaining!
It's called the joys of boating girls :) I once got stuck, my fault. Went near the bank, just for a look and got a net on the prop. It was stuck in the riverbed. Cold weather, had to get in to cut it off. Knife went blunt after 3 cuts. Few attempts failed. My friends came and rescued me next morning and towed me back. Cut enough off to free the prop and easy to get the rest off once back on the mooring. Oh, the adventures of boating eh! Pleased all went well in the end.
that's one of the reasons I'm a bit worried about rivers, on the canal we just kind of floated in to the side. I guess that's what the anchor is for.
Yes a functioning anchor is essential on rivers. Not so bad on the Witham, because usually it has little flow, and you can just float to the side. But on tidal rivers, or any with a fast flow you do need a way to 'anchor up' (sorry). On my last little boat I actually made use of an electric winch (one I already had). So if I wanted to stop, I just lowered the anchor with a switch.....and although I didn't use it much, it really worked well. Oh, always remember to attach the chain. Just reminded me of someone I know (can't remember who) but they dropped anchor, only to find the chain followed it to the bottom lol.
You spent more than 2 weeks in Banbury? Were they cross?
Do any narrow boaters fit some sort of cover over the self centering bearing at the base of the tiller shaft, seems to be open to all weathers?
I’m not sure. I will keep an eye out and check other boats
You wouldn't necessarily have a cover over the bearing as if given a swift of LM grease on a regular basis water stays out, don't wipe off all the pished out old grease.
I think I remember CTC having the same problem with a quilt last year, I will say what I said then and that I hope the items were blown in rather than thrown in.
John Brookes Sleeping bag!
My quilt cover, matt and pillow case beat your piddly little sleeping bag.
Last Sunday we couldn’t get our boat started, first thing we did was email CRT, they were very good, i think a lot of problems people have with CRT is because they don’t communicate.
Good rant
That dam woman in the lock!
WHY do people have to make life so difficult for the rest of us?!?!
Lovely video xx
I was staying with Friends in the new forest during a hot spell.... next morning went out to the car and where I had left the window open I had a massive cow lick on the inside of the window !!!
Never mind 2015 - I remember 1976 :) !!! It was so hot the roads were melting - glad I was working as a lifeguard in a swimming pool !!!1
Melting roads sounds ... dangerous!
Do y'all not have a way to put the thing in neutral & hand crank the prop in reverse? That seems like it'd be pretty convenient.
Always have a bottle of hydrogen peroxyde 3% on board. Best desinfectant and doesnt burn :-)
Goddesses of the waterways!
Love following you guy's. Wish we had those canals. Watch martin zero he is looking for old canals and a bit of history
Murphy wanted it to be raining between sleet deluges, with 40 knot winds, 1.2deg C and a good mix of barbed wire, marine steel hawser, and a circus tent around the propshaft, but all you got was warm, calm weather and easily cut flotsam.
Obviously you now have to roll the dice until you get a double six, then go back over the area you found your clunk-wad and get a fresh lot. (It might have got bad if you'd stopped smiling, but luckily you didn't, at least while the camera was on.)
We were surprised with how optimistic we came across.
My husband would be the kind to only charge his own device. We've had that argument. And on our travel holidays, yep, I get to do the laundry. I hate the people who say travel light and do your laundry every few days. Save I'm the one doing the laundry for the whole family! We don't travel light.
Do all canal boat engines exhaust above water? Are the exhaust manifolds water cooled?
Unsure sorry
@@TheNarrowboatExperience no need, thank you for your entertaining content!
What was that brick looking thing on the side of the canal at 11:37?
Hi there, I'm pretty sure it's a lock that has been taken out. But happy to be corrected by any locals.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience I don't think it was part of the lock. But it coud well have been the footing for a bridge.
You can get USB chargers for electric toothbrushes which work fine and are more efficient than using the original charger via your inverter. I use one and it works just fine.
Ooo I never thought of that. I looked for usb or 12v chargers for everything else. Thanks for the tip!
They are a good idea as the charge rate for the toothbrush is so low that just having your inverter switched on the inverter would consume more power that the brush does - be quiet a margin too.
You were right to have a rant about the clowns on the lock. It’s basic canal etiquette. If the lock is empty the boat going up has priority if it’s full vice versa.
Thanks
When you have a breakdown is there a tow service to get you to A mechanic? Or do they have road service? Are the tools needed For repairs metric or English SAE ?
Enjoying the way you do comments thank you very much
I hope you're ok Kath. How far after passing the cattle did that happen? You need to get to the doctors if you have any flu like symptoms. What kind of idiot throws bedding into a canal? At least there wasn't a body wrapped in it!
There was a lock after the cattle from memory. We are keeping an eye out for symptoms for the next 2 weeks but both fine at the moment anyway! We were very relieved that there was no body!! Some of the cloth smelt bad enough on its own.
Just discovered your channel, in love with you both.
Great. Welcome aboard.
What a shame bedding around the prop! Why would somebody dump that in the canal. It causes all sorts of problems. Glad you both managed to sort it. Make sure you get you cut checked Kath. The lock filling episode has happened to us a few times. It's so frustrating! I did used say how silly and wasteful it was to the other people......that had done it... But never got a good reply😆 I just say it and smile now!!!😆😂😆😂. It's good to rant Anna! Looking forward to your next episode xxxxxx😘
I don't think it was dumped it did feel like really good quality. I think the heat was getting to some people at locks and they kind of just wanted to speed through the day.
Working together as a team! Yea
Is this a reason to do a pre-cruise well check?
Yes, we do checks every morning, however this was a prop issue.
The lever/throttle thingy is a morse control. Having stuff around the prop shouldn't really stop it going into neutral but you've left us on a cliff hanger. Did it start afterwards? There's no clue on twitter. It's not just a ploy to overstay on the mooring again. is it?
I didn’t think that having stuff round the prop would stop the throttle going into neutral either but after the prop was clear it moved again. The engine also started thankfully.
When the prop was stopped by the sheet(s), it was in a position that we marine mechanics call “stuck between the (clutch) dogs.
Think of it like trying to shift a manual transmission in your car. That won’t allow you to shift into neutral and start your engine.
It’s called the “neutral safety switch” in the controller that prevents the engine to start while in gear.
I hope that helps. 👍
I subscribed because of the rant :-) it was great.
Can't you put a wire cage around the prop ?
Love the rant lol
Thank you
Good trouble shooting , Well done!
I’d have ranted about the lady at the locks too !! The hot weather seems to have brought the worst out in some boaters 😕
Exactly what I was thinking. One lady said to us 'where are you headed' and we said 'wherever we want' and she said 'oh you live on board... how terrible'
lol
Thank you for showing a weed hatch disaster!! ...I am hoping to learn some real world problems ...and yeah... ...wish you two the best ...Thank You !! : )
Cliff hanger! Did the engine start once you freed the propeller?
Yes all good thanks
I wonder it a curved carpet knife, that's what we call it in the US anyway... would be good. Mostly have a wood handle so if you drop it, it might float :) and it would grab the offending crap to cut it. All the best!!
I think we definitely need to look at other knife options as ours wasn't it! Sadly there will always be a next time. Unless we stop moving....
Question, do you have hot water radiators? No? Why not? Every time your cruising your wasting heat overboard. Simply ask you favorite mechanic to hook up your radiators to your engine cooling system. Now it would take longer to fully warm up unless you warm up the engine first then turn on the heating system after the engine is fully warmed up. Saves coal for when your tied up and the engine is shut down. That engine should have a means of warming up either an intake grid heater or glow plugs. Both systems depending on which your engine is equipped with makes a world of difference in starting the engine. Even if it's 80 degrees out use the preheating system, engine manufacturers don't put them on the engine simply for looks. And if you change you own fuel filters you must fill them before putting them on then using the small primer pump pump up the fuel until it pumps hard for at least 50 strokes then when starting after changing the fuel filter open the throttle to give her more fuel and after she starts let her run at higher speed until she smooths out i.e. No more air in the fuel injection system.
thanks for the suggestion
AHAAA!
I see you've discovered Wabbit Transit! ( sorry couldn't resist )
One item you might consider is buy a 240 volt induction cooktop, the portable kind. They only work with metal cookware but even though you have it on high power it will still be cold to the tough I.E.: no glowing heating elements.
Cheers
Is that cooktop you need to run your engine to power?
love you two. :)