Productive weekend

mouse
Long Standing Member

Posts: 448

Productive weekend Apr 5, 2021 17:31:17 GMT JohnV likes this

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Post by mouse on Apr 5, 2021 17:31:17 GMT

As per title, Saturday boat bodging by @gazza and the youngest. @gazza making rudder work by dint of welding and other magic tricks. Youngest wrestling out p## tank prior to relocation and removal of steering cable ready for a replacement.

Sunday boating on the Nen in the sunshine on a nice old petrol Freeman. Understand now why owners love them. Apart from the fact they put up with the exhaust bark! Would be lovely with a nicely silenced 3 cylinder Kubota diesel!

Monday assisting the youngest with some electrical work in a pub prior to open air drinking opening well more supervising (watching) than doing! Then it was pre mot jobs on car. Why does one have to undo 4 bolts and wrestle the headlamp assembly out to change a sidelight bulb? Then free off the binding rear brakes after a year's exposure to a seaside atmosphere?

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

Deleted
Deleted Member

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Productive weekend Apr 5, 2021 17:41:52 GMT JohnV and mouse like this

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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2021 17:41:52 GMT

Re-engining a Freeman is a hard job due to the strange offset gearbox originally fitted, particularly those supplied with the Ford Watermota (crossflow) unit. The engine beds have to be significantly re-worked to accommodate a more conventional shaft. Since it is (obviously) not a steel boat this involves some clever carpentry and a lot of glassing.

But yes, a diesel unit would be far preferable. Petrol inboards - run for the hills.

JohnV
Super Member

Glorious winner of the 2016 Thunderboat photo competition

Posts: 17,243

Productive weekend Apr 6, 2021 10:03:28 GMT Trina likes this

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Post by JohnV on Apr 6, 2021 10:03:28 GMT

I'm fortunate that Shapfell was re-engined with a Vetus diesel before I bought her ..... a rather bodged job. For a start they had kept the original prop which was more like an egg whisk than a prop and was wrong handed as well (they just swapped the gear change round

) The speed doubled after a new prop fitted

Some of the installation I knew was wrong, worked, so it was just left until my preparations for 2020 ...... commenced in 2019 but only just being completed now

That involved some woodwork to stop the engine mounts hitting things on tickover, removal of the original watercooled silencer which had just had the new Vetus one tacked on the end giving an exhaust hose route that needed a GPS to find your way round, and a totally inadequate water inlet, filter and pipe route.

Hopefully I will be able to finish all this shortly, now the floods have subsided and she is sitting back on her blocks and have some use this summer.

the biggest disadvantage of age .... is that you can't outgrow it

thebfg Super Member RIP Mouse. Posts: 9,056	Productive weekend Apr 10, 2021 16:07:41 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by thebfg on Apr 10, 2021 16:07:41 GMT You've reminded me, thank you. Need to MOT the van.

Jim Super Member I'm a handsome gutless invertebrate. Posts: 15,959	Productive weekend Apr 11, 2021 10:30:45 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jim on Apr 11, 2021 10:30:45 GMT Apr 10, 2021 16:07:41 GMT thebfg said: You've reminded me, thank you. Need to MOT the van. Did the MOT not get moved last year, mine is now due 1st July, should have been this time last year. Check DVLA website.
	Last Edit: Apr 11, 2021 10:31:55 GMT by Jim NB Bittern's Boom, 32ft Narrowboat reg'd 1968, moored on the highest mooring on the network.