The Journey -
Rosy - and So to Bed

We spent a few days moored at Menetreol, including some shopping trips to St Satur, before cruising down to Lere, where we idled for another few days.  The church in Lere is worth a visit, if only for the ninth century crypt.  Another short cruise down to Chatillon, with frequent stops to gather fallen walnuts - including some transgenic MONSTER ones from a tree not far from the Belleville Nuclear Power Station.  I've eaten a couple, and they cause one to glow like a fluorescent tube.  Then a final pootle along to Briare, which is where we started off from, back earlier in the year, and where we will pass the winter.  It is possible to keep cruising, so long as you have a copy of the stoppages list - sections of the canal system are sometimes closed for a few weeks/months during the winter for maintenance purposes.  BUT drinking water can get tricky, as the bank side supplies will be drained down in case of freezing conditions, and it can be tricky to find the key holder to get them turned on.

The boat of the Laird of Strathnaver has a hole in its bottom - the boat has not been out of the water for ten years AND it has sea water anodes on it.  The Briare welders wont touch it, as there is nothing to weld to!!  The Laird says he will therefore do a DIY job.  He plans to cut a tingle out of a sheet of steel piling (he's asked the VNF (the French answer to British Waterways) for one) and to fix it over the hole with mastic and bolts/rivets.  Jess the Woof is pretty unhappy about all this - she gave me an enthusiastic welcome and a "I'm-a-nice-friendly-little-dog-Get-Me-Out-of-Here!!" sort of a look.

My apologies for having been a bit secretive of late, but I've been having some problems that I didn't want to write about until after Dick's visit.

It is finally obvious to me that some of the things that I'd like to do (trip to the South of France and trip to Poland, for example) can't be done on Rosy as she is.  The Kelvin doesn't, currently, produce the power to enable Rosy to navigate on some of the bigger rivers with a reasonable margin of safety.  I wanted to discuss things with Dick, the Kelvin whizz, and was very pleased and relieved to be assured of his help and support no matter what decision I come to.

The problem that I have is two-fold,

Firstly, the engine cooling system is not effective enough over here.  This is not uncommon with other narrow boats over here, and has two causes:

• On these bigger waterways, one tends to run the engine a bit faster than one would in UK.
  
  
• The water temperature is a bit higher over here.

For both these reasons, the size of skin cooling tank that would be fine in UK is a bit small for over here.

Secondly, I still cannot spin the propeller fast enough.  The engine should rev up to 1000 rpm, and though I don't want to run it that fast, it would help a lot if I could run consistently at 600 - 650, with extra bursts of 700 - 750.  As it is, I run comfortably at 350 - 450, and can do 500 - but for extended running at 500, the engine overheats.  Above 500 (ish) the engine labours and produces black smoke - a sure indication of an over-large propeller.

As things stand, I can pootle around the basic canal system, but I can't do the more adventurous voyages.

My options seem to be:

ONE:  Do nothing, and forgo the pleasure of these longer and more adventurous trips.  I don't fancy this option at all!!!! 

TWO:  Sell Rosy, and get a different, more suitable boat.  I don't fancy this one either.  One gets very attached to a boat, and although Rosy has her short-comings she has a character that I would be very sorry to loose.

THREE - A:  Improve the cooling system either by building a second skin tank, or by using fresh water to cool (via an inter-cooler) the engine coolant.  Although this latter has several advantages, I'll probably fit a second skin tank.

THREE - B:  Change the propeller.  Long time readers of these witterings will know that I've already done this, without too much improvement.  I'm sure the right prop will improve things, but how to get/find the right prop?  (Any suggestions will be gratefully received!!)

If I do both these things (successfully) then the situation will certainly improve, BUT no-one can say by how much it will improve.  My cruising speed is now about three and a half mph, with four mph possible for short periods.  The theoretical hull speed for a 52 foot boat is in excess of 10 mph, and I'd certainly like to be able to cruise at 7 or 8 mph when necessary (e.g.  to make headway on a flowing river).  What I don't know is whether the Kelvin can achieve this following improvements to the cooling system and the prop.  Hence.. 

THREE - C:  Take the Kelvin out and replace it.

Gulp

So.  I have lots to think about over the winter.

Meanwhile, I'm moored next to David Long's 'Falcon', which is looking very smart under her newly painted blue roof and colour co-ordinated tarpaulin.

We are due for some excitement in November as they want to drain the basin.  Big Decision as to whether to stay here for the two weeks, or to join the others who will retreat to the deep water above the lock.  Decisions, decisions!!!!  It's a tough life here on Rosy.

Toodle pip!!

Bill