A running repair and on to the Boot

Friday 22^nd March; Lyons’ Boatyard to Kingswood, below lock 14

We pushed across to Lyons’ boatyard this morning, still having heard nothing from RCR.  We needed to know whether we could cruise without risking damage to the engine, and as Lyons’ is a Barrus specialist (we have a Barrus Shire engine) we reckoned we could trust their advice.  The engineer confirmed the leak was coming from the cap on the thermostat housing, and as the unit was probably the original, and therefore 18 or so years old, RCR would be expecting to replace the whole unit.  So, with Sikaflex to seal the leak, and as long as we kept a close eye on the engine temperature, we would be good to go.

Just one issue, though – he noticed a lot of play on the tiller.  We had thought it was feeling a little looser than normal, but these things creep up on you and we hadn’t realised how bad it had got.  Dave went down the weed hatch to check the bolts  holding the rudder on, and ascertained that the one he could reach was tight so the rudder wasn’t going to just drop off.  What happens, apparently, is that gradually the holes the bolts go through enlarge slightly, and then the boat needs to come out of the water to have everything checked and things replaced as necessary.  We hope it will just be the bolts.  So as we are not cruising rivers, and will be going gently anyway, we decided to move on and get the work done at Calcutt.

So off we went, carefully.  After such a late start – getting on for 12 – we had lunch on the move.  The sun was out, and even though the wind was cold, it was lovely cruising weather.  The engine temperature remained normal and by 4 o’clock we had passed through the two manually operated draw bridges, having come through Shirley drawbridge, with its new control panel without incident (and only holding up 5 or 6 cars).  We started off down the Lapworth flight, gradually shedding layers of clothing as we went. 

Most of the locks were in our favour so it was easy work.  In the photo above, the approach to lock 7, you can see a yellow-jacketed figure leaning agaist the bridge.  I hoped it was a boat coming up, or just a gongoozler happy to help - but no such luck!  He just stood there as I heaved the gates open, and totally ignored us.  Oh well.  

The overflows were running strongly, which would have made it difficult for boats going up.

But we met no boats today, other than letting a share boat through one of the bridges.  We haven’t seen more than 3 or 4 boats in a day so far.  The light was beginning to go as we dropped down to lock 14, the one above the long curving pound where there is room to moor.

The picture doesn’t really show how much the light was fading.  (Sorry about the camera shake.)  We decided it wouldn’t be safe to do the rest of the locks to the junction, so moored up.  We tried to book a table at the Boot, which does excellent food, but there was nothing available till 9 so we walked down to the Navigation instead.  It was excellent, and cheaper too!

RCR called during the day to request a photo of the plate which shows the engine number, and confirmed they would be replacing the thermostat housing if we chose to accept their estimate.

13 locks, 10½ miles, 3 lift bridges (including the electric Shirley drawbridge).