Friday 1 November 2019

Captain we have a problem

So here we are again, back at the boat to take Steadfast to Glascote basin before the winter stoppages kick in. We travelled over Thursday evening so that we could have an early start Friday morning. Extra crew had been press ganged to assist with locks and try out a rudimentary guest bed. Amanda (of boat sharers fame with NB. What a Lark) has been persuaded to  join the Steadfast crew.
We were up an at em this morning at 6am and the boat slipped her berth at 7.30.
 We whizzed through the locks until we were out of Penkridge and had three hours under our belt and stopped for breakfast and a break. Cups of tea and eggs on toast saw us vitaled and ready for the off.  Amanda went to set the next lock as Joe and I untied...

A small problem had crept in, the boat wouldn't start.

Amanda was recalled, Joe took the engine room to bits to discover that the starter motor had failed.
We called Richard Milligan, (Black hands) who had rebuilt the engine. This will not be an off the peg starter so we will have to source a new one or have ours refurbished.  Given that we were now moored in the proverbial middle of nowhere we decided to bow haul the boat to somewhere it can be accessed.

Off we went, a mile to go and one lock to do.

So now hauling the boat was a new experience and perfectly okay until we encountered a moored boat.  How were we going to get around that?  The solution was Joe on the gas locker with a boat pole steering, a long line on the centre to haul until we got to the boat and then the person on the line carefully flipped the line over the chimneys, wood piles, solar panels and exhausts until we were passed.  We are now moored where a rescuer can access us so tomorrow we see how to resolve our problem.



U



9 comments:

  1. Oh dear! Hope you can get going again in time to make Glascote before the stoppages - what a pain! Still, that's boating! xxx

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    1. We are likely to have to return to base and try again in late November when Get Haywood lock is repaired.

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  2. Looks like you “Blacked up” to match Mr Black Habds in this last photo, but it could be the light.
    Many commiserations, sorry we couldn’t help.
    But I will be wanting my crew back!

    Lisa
    NB What a Lark

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    1. Do you offer biscuits with morning tea?

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    2. Your crew member is revolting. You will have to up your game with breakfast in bed perhaps..

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  3. Now that’s a bit of a bugger.... let’s hope Richard with his extensive knowledge and connections within the RN community can source you a replacement to get you where you need to be. If you need any help let me know. I’m fairly local so if you need lifts anywhere .....Which stoppage(s) is giving you the headache ?

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    1. Thanks Nev. We are hoping to pick up a starter from Hillmortin today. Joe has gone to retrieve the car already. Back again for Monday to meet Richard.

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  4. Boater's worst nightmare, a knackered starter. No bump starting boats! We had the same problem up on the L&L a few years ago. Glad you got sorted out quickly. Ain't folk great!

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    Replies
    1. They are. We got the old starter repaired, it was a burnt out solenoid.

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