What spares etc should we carry on the Thames.

HONEYMOMMY

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Jun 2011
Messages
652
Location
Windsor
Visit site
Now we are all sorted, licence stuck in the appropriate place the right way round.. :)

What spares should we carry on board? Engine volvo penta AD31

I know about....

5ltr bottle of half water half antifreeze for the cooling system
Oil

So what else???? :confused:
 
Now we are all sorted, licence stuck in the appropriate place the right way round.. :)

What spares should we carry on board? Engine volvo penta AD31

I know about....

5ltr bottle of half water half antifreeze for the cooling system
Oil

So what else???? :confused:

filters
belts
stern tube grease
tool box
bulbs
impellers
engine anodes (if req)
 
Mobile phone and a credit card, don't think you would need anything else really, your never far from help on the Thames, i cruised it for 15 years in my princess 32 and only had a problem once where i forgot to push the stop handle in when restarting my engine in a lock (second day of ownership), it took me 20 minutes to realise it and i was very red faced for the rest of the day !
 
Mobile phone and a credit card, don't think you would need anything else really, your never far from help on the Thames, i cruised it for 15 years in my princess 32 and only had a problem once where i forgot to push the stop handle in when restarting my engine in a lock (second day of ownership), it took me 20 minutes to realise it and i was very red faced for the rest of the day !

Good idea... mobile phone and card.. I can go shopping while hubby fixes the boat... He can call me when he is done.. :D
 
Beer !
The bilge is the best place to store it as it keeps it cold and ready to transfer to the fridge . If you use ice packs in the fridge and then re stock it with cold beer from the bilge then the fridge will work fine for a weekend without plugging it in or using power . (* If you add food to the fridge then you are messing with the system ! )


* Frozen food is ok as long as its flat and doesnt take up beer room .
 
Beer !
The bilge is the best place to store it as it keeps it cold and ready to transfer to the fridge . If you use ice packs in the fridge and then re stock it with cold beer from the bilge then the fridge will work fine for a weekend without plugging it in or using power . (* If you add food to the fridge then you are messing with the system ! )


* Frozen food is ok as long as its flat and doesnt take up beer room .

Agreed. Cold wine also makes a good beer cooler.
 
Better buy some ice packs then....

Flat frozen food can double as an ice pack for a while anyway. :D

The other suggested spares.. (sensible ones) will be purchased. Better to have some basic stuff on board.

Beer and wine to follow.... ;)
 
Some people on this forum seem to be unable to differentiate between "spares" and "essential supplies" :D

Simple list from moi:
Spares - alternator drive belt, fuel filters (primary and secondary), air filter (if fitted), Impeller, 5 litres of engine oil for topping up. In 17 years on the river I have only ever needed one of these items in an emergency - the drive belt.

Essential Supplies - entirely dependent on your personal approach to life, the universe etc etc. A bottle of Cinzano(Bianco) and some lemonade would be useful in case I come visiting.......:p
 
Some people on this forum seem to be unable to differentiate between "spares" and "essential supplies" :D

Simple list from moi:
Spares - alternator drive belt, fuel filters (primary and secondary), air filter (if fitted), Impeller, 5 litres of engine oil for topping up. In 17 years on the river I have only ever needed one of these items in an emergency - the drive belt.

Essential Supplies - entirely dependent on your personal approach to life, the universe etc etc. A bottle of Cinzano(Bianco) and some lemonade would be useful in case I come visiting.......:p[/]

One of my kids likes cinzano and lemonade but now we have our boat I have been told to buy pimms. :D

With all the booze I won't have room for any spares...
 
Some people on this forum seem to be unable to differentiate between "spares" and "essential supplies" :D

Simple list from moi:
Spares - alternator drive belt, fuel filters (primary and secondary), air filter (if fitted), Impeller, 5 litres of engine oil for topping up. In 17 years on the river I have only ever needed one of these items in an emergency - the drive belt.

Essential Supplies - entirely dependent on your personal approach to life, the universe etc etc. A bottle of Cinzano(Bianco) and some lemonade would be useful in case I come visiting.......:p

One of my kids likes cinzano and lemonade but now we have our boat I have been told to buy pimms. :D

With all the booze I won't have room for any spares...

Thats the beauty of my "Spares" list - the only thing that actually takes up any space is the oil and you can keep them all in the engine bay anyway.

Pimms !!!! Oh, please, we have enough posers on the river already :D
 
As you have AD31's (same as mine) can I suggest a more focused spares list:
someone suggested stern tube grease, you don't need that with outdrives but a pot of waterproof grease comes in handy. Have the impellers changed in your first service and keep the old ones as spares, don't worry about alternator belts AD31's are doubled up anyway and you can buy these at any motorist shop withing walking distance of the river. Have some power steering fluid for topping up the steering but don't worry about engine oil you won't use any at 5knts unless you engines are completely knackered. Better to invest in a decent small tool kit as most of your problems will be domestic lights, pumps, switches, broken fittings etc.... Fuel filters are a good idea if going tidal, not the ones on the engine (get these done at the service) but the primary filters mounted on the bulkhead these block up first, carry a gallon of diesel in a container for priming the new filters before fitting.

But don't buy too much get to know the boat first and its weaknesses.
 
Top