I always got the impression that Burton was full of criminals.
The marina was alright. I went out a couple of times to the bar and had a few meals in the restaurants. I lived there for about three months from May until August maybe.
Google Pixel 2 – Red light comes on and stops working
That’s right my phone, pictured below. Left it on charge overnight. Shortly after I got up in the morning, whilst it was still on charge, the red light came on and started flashing and the picture of the battery sign came on the screen.
google pixel 2
Checked the Google Support website. “The battery is fully discharged. Re-charge for at least 30 minutes then re-try”.
I knew this was not the case, because it had been on charge, and when I checked the cable, it was attached securely.
This is a short guide to installing flexible solar panels to a narrowboat.
Background
I’ve lived on my boat for 2 years. When I first started, I was located in a Marina. Everything was laid on, showers, water, electrical hook-up.
It reminded me of a high-rise flat for boats. After my boat was painted, I took it up on a journey to the most Northern and Southern reaches of the UK canal system.
It was called Bonnie Journey, in the name of the boat. You can read about it here.
It included some cycling, which I had to postpone due to injury. Whilst I was waiting for my injuries to recover, I stationed myself on the Kennet and Avon.
Kennet and Avon
Near Burbage
As visitors to this waterway will know. Kennet and Avon Marinas are few and far between.
I decided to try continuous cruising. When you’re continuous cruising, all your energy has to be self generated.
You’re entirely ‘off grid’. In winter, generating power was a case of starting the engine.
As the sun began to shine, in the run up to spring, I began to think of the advantages of solar.
After my boat was fully painted, I decided that the next job to be done, was to fit some solar panels, and take advantage of the free energy!
I’m now in a position to do that.
Researching
Most people are going to find that this is the most lengthy part of the process.
Before you shell out large sums of money, you want to ensure you’re getting something which is fully compatible with your needs.
The first question you need to ask yourself before fitting solar is – …
During last summer, the heat of the sun on the hull and the cool of the interior of the water-tank caused a lot of the coating, previously discussed in this post, to flake off.
This left flakes of toxic residue in my water and made it unsuitable as a potable water source.
As an alternative to climbing into the water-tank and getting myself covered in toxic bitumen water-tank paint in the blazing hot summer sun, I decided to try another suggested solution for the coating of watertanks on narrowboats, that would be VACTAN.
Vactan
A water based product. Instead of bitumen, it applies a latex anti-corrosive coat to the watertank.
The advantages of VACTAN vs Rylards Water-tank coating
Below, there are 5 steps to coating your water-tank.
To amend that.
Strip the loose and decayed metal (#1)
Apply VACTAN (#4)
Flush the residue (#5)
If you decide to use one of the other coatings, then you need to take the steps below.
I’ve made a short video about my experience in applying VACTAN and some of the practical observations about using the product.
Painting a narrowboat water-tank, old version
This little story is about how to paint a narrowboat water-tank:
There’s 5 steps
Strip the loose and decayed metal
Work surfaces down to bare metal or non-corroded paint
Apply Iron Oxide paint to areas still rusting
Apply bitumen blacking paint
Remove paint residue
Time:
Stripping and prepping (rusty tank) – 2days Painting (1 primer and 1 top) – 2 days
Total – 4-5 Days
*This is doing it fast. If you want to paint the tank in two halves it’s going to add a day.
Cost:
Paint – £15-£20 Brushes – £15 -£20
Total – £40
Step #1:Strip loose and decayed metal
Tools:
Shave-hook – Triangular headed scraper
Triangular headed scraper
Water pump
rule il280p pump
Removed a few shovel-fulls of rust.
Located right at the front of the boat, the water-tank has been rusting for a while. The paint has come off over time leading to corrosion and a build up of sediment at the bottom of the tank. …
Woke up early, about 5, before the sun had come up.
Went back to sleep again.
BESTEK 2000W Power Inverter
The inverter was still working after a night. Got to watch TV in the morning, always good.
Tried to microwave my porridge using the inverter. Didn’t quite work… The video shows the explosion and the flames all over the cabin, (only joking mum).
Morning chores
Living on a boat, you’ve always got a series of these. Even more so than living on dry land because space is so restricted.
I’d say on an average morning, my morning chores list on the boat looks like this:- …
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