Examination Day

Today we will be examined.

There is an old Morso water heater on the boat waiting to be taken to a scrap bin. The gas pipework connection to the place where the new one should be is blanked off as are the water inlet and outlet pipes. The rules are such that if a piece of gas equipment is on the boat it should be in good working order and gas sealed. This certainly isn't! My Gas Safe engineer, Steve, has been in touch with the Examiner telling him the sorry tale of the defective unit that was supplied by the largest and mist popular Chandlers in the Midlands. Steve will supply full documentation and certification when the installation is completed with a new unit that is water tight, as the one we unwrapped last week wasn't. The water inlet connection had not been soldered to the unit and therefore washed our ceiling when the water pump was turned on! The leak was spectacular! There is no doubt this boiler had never been factory tested. So much for Quality Assurance!

Zero hour is 1300hrs. But it may vary a little becasue it is a bit dependant on the punctual birth of a grandchild to the Boat Safety Examiner. That is a scheduled event because a Caesarian Section has been called for in Milton Keynes. Our Examiner is coming straight from the hospital, I understand. What can go wrong? Nothing, I pray.

Bye Bye Spike: RIP

What can one say about a funeral? It represents the last farewell of family and friends. And the funeral today of Ian "Spike" Mason, late of nb Samara, was as respectful to a respectful man as it could be. With well chosen words from the civil facilitator, Spike's brother Shaun, a friend and with the reading of the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling. It was a good time to reflect on the man that we had known for only a short time. He was referred to as a "rapscallion" and "likeable rogue". He may not always have followed the rules but he did no harm to us and always had time to chat.  His staffie, Millie, was loved by all.

He will be missed by the boating community who turned out in good numbers from far and near to remember him. We also learned  more of his artistic side and were able to view his cartoons at the wake in the Castle House after the service at the Crematorium. Respect.

It is really sad that the cause of their death was probably carbon dioxide poisoning, a truly preventable event with good maintenance, correct ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Test it or fit one TODAY!  And clear the vents too.

Throw Away Society

Here is all the fire equipment from the boat all lined up ready for taking to the specialist testers who checked them out the last time I had a Boat Safety Certificate Examination.This is to satisfy Section 17 of the examination that requires the Fire Equipment to be maintained in good condition and kept accessible. I like to check they work as well.

You can see that they are all labelled with the name and address of the testers. So I took them round there to find that the place is now one of the many many beauty parlours that are sprouting up all over Banbury. I rang their number and spoke to Kate. She explained that the company had now moved to Buckingham but there were engineers in the area who would inspect the appliances. She then asked "what the date was in the bottom right hand corner of the label?" "2009" I replied. "Oh", she said! "That means they all need emptying and refilling. That will be £13.50 for the small ones and £18.50 for the larger one." To do all of them and a £3.50 inspection charge for the Fire Blanket would have cost £62.50

I went to Screwfix and bought brand new Dry Powder extinguishers, the only ones I really need, for £55.97

Here is the set of Fire Equipment now on the boat.



Anyone want 2x 1Kg and 1x 2Kg Dry powder Fire Extinguishers, unused, but over twelve years old?