Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Sounds like common sense.
BSS
- Thread starter bendyone
- Start date
Sounds like common sense.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
The only issue with a Bilge Blower are the "Know-it alls" that tell you "Oi!, switch your engine off in Locks!" - I had this on virtually every trip out this year.
Switching off engines in locks is important (as well as being required by the Thames bylaws (but who takes any notice of them??) for two main reasons:-
1. Noise - If there was an emergency or a "situation" and all boats in a full lock had their engines running, you'd never hear the cries for help (or whatever)
2. In the old days when nearly all boat were petrol powered and engines were less efficient there was a strong possibility that fume concentrations could reach ignition proportions and cause an explosion. Think of (say) Boulters full of Chentlemen's boats and the lock nearly empty of water - Bang! - Fire! what do you do then???
When I first came on the River I thought this rule and some others were potty (Don't start the engine until the gates open,or no radios on, or gas cookers in operation), but thinking about it they are very sensible. Not much effort required and could save lives.
So there.
mlines
Well-Known Member
Trueblue
I think you are misunderstanding me - I am NOT running my engine in a lock and I am not advocating doing this. I am running the BLOWERS which causes people to offer me the handy advice to turn my engine off.
Martin
I think you are misunderstanding me - I am NOT running my engine in a lock and I am not advocating doing this. I am running the BLOWERS which causes people to offer me the handy advice to turn my engine off.
Martin
byron
RIP
Just as an aside. There was a time when 'Lock Rules' were (maybe they still are) in direct contravention with the rules governing VHF Radios.
In the early days of VHF it was a licence requirement to "listen out" on Channel 16 at all times you were aboard. This was the main reason dual watch became the norm on sets thus allowing one to work another frequency whilst monitoring the calling & distress channel 16.
Ergo if one complied with 'lock Rules' one was technically breaking Radio Regulations by switching off. I am uncertain about pre-VHF when we used 2182 on MF sets for calling and distress. Although I hold an MF Licence too it must be circa 50 years since I took the exam and all I can recall is how to tune by blowing in the Mike
Of course the other radio rule older boaters will remember was how it was illegal to transmit on 16 for the first 3 minutes of the hour/quarter/half/three quarter.
In the early days of VHF it was a licence requirement to "listen out" on Channel 16 at all times you were aboard. This was the main reason dual watch became the norm on sets thus allowing one to work another frequency whilst monitoring the calling & distress channel 16.
Ergo if one complied with 'lock Rules' one was technically breaking Radio Regulations by switching off. I am uncertain about pre-VHF when we used 2182 on MF sets for calling and distress. Although I hold an MF Licence too it must be circa 50 years since I took the exam and all I can recall is how to tune by blowing in the Mike
Of course the other radio rule older boaters will remember was how it was illegal to transmit on 16 for the first 3 minutes of the hour/quarter/half/three quarter.
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
Running blowers whilst in a lock is pretty sensible really.
Turning them off, and assuming there was a fuel leak of any sort, would cause a concentration of fuel vapour which could cause an explosion once the engine was restarted!
Leaving them running shouls ensure the restarted engine should be running in a fresh-air environment.
Now I'm sure some clever Dick will come up with some weird case in which this scenario isn't as simple as I have suggested, but this would be pedantic to say the least.
Also, a recently run engine's latent heat will show up once the engine has been turned off, thus raising engine room temperatures, as the engine's coolant supply will have been turned off along with the ignition. Not good for restarting in the case of old Petrol powered engines!
Turning them off, and assuming there was a fuel leak of any sort, would cause a concentration of fuel vapour which could cause an explosion once the engine was restarted!
Leaving them running shouls ensure the restarted engine should be running in a fresh-air environment.
Now I'm sure some clever Dick will come up with some weird case in which this scenario isn't as simple as I have suggested, but this would be pedantic to say the least.
Also, a recently run engine's latent heat will show up once the engine has been turned off, thus raising engine room temperatures, as the engine's coolant supply will have been turned off along with the ignition. Not good for restarting in the case of old Petrol powered engines!
oldgit
Well-Known Member
" No wonder people are not going on the thames "
Still the navigation with the greatest number of boats by far and the numbers have remained remarkably constant (approx 8000) over last year or two.
Still the navigation with the greatest number of boats by far and the numbers have remained remarkably constant (approx 8000) over last year or two.
apollo
...
Yeah "constantly tiny" in comparison to the 1970-80's...
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Did not realise that the data was kept from that period,is it on line or only from available direct from EA or whoever ?.
Only recent numbers appear to easily obtainable.
