Engine woes averted (fingers crossed)

I didn't mention that despite giving us no problems for most of our June trip, we had some issues with the engine on the way home. Less than half way through Blisworth Tunnel the alternator warning light came on and the engine was just managing not to stall whatever position the morse control was in. So we stuttered along hoping for the best and thinking "it's early, someone will be along to give us a tow" but eventually got out to Blisworth with the problem easing. By the time we found somewhere to moor it was running fine and beyond a little water in the trap no problems. So we set off North for the three hours to the Buckby flight and two hours to Norton Junction. I remember thinking it must have been a one off, and that we'd be pretty unlucky to have cruised for that long and then have the problem repeat in Braunston tunnel. Guess what.

By the time we hit the locks it was fine again. Just as well as we needed to negotiate the slim channel left by all the boats moored for the historic boat gathering, and then cruise on into the sunset to find a mooring.

It happened again the next morning for a section of the trip, then fine again. So time for a look at those great sources of advice the Canalworld Forums and Tony Brooks website.

Last weekend, having concluded dirty fuel picked up on the trip was the problem, we returned to the boat with a first aid kit of fuel transfer pump and replacement filters. I guess we pulled out about a litre of dirty water accompanied by some cloudy diesel before getting to dimishing returns with far more diesel than water coming out of the pump. New filters, and, for the moment, she is running fine. Although I have to give the health warning that whoever wrote the instructions "hand tight plus half a turn" had somewhat stronger hands than me. Or perhaps they weren't dangling head first from the deck boards trying to tighten greasy metal filters with one hand at full stretch. Anyway, all components in, no leaks, previous spills cleaned up, we decided to celebrate with an evening at the Boat Inn after a proving cruise. Next job - change the central heating antifreeze and corrosion inhibitor as it is starting to look a bit rusty in the system reservoir. If only I'd paid less attention at school I might have picked up the skills that would be useful to me now a bit sooner!