What spares etc should we carry on the Thames.

Sod's law dictates that no matter what spares you have on board, you will need the one thing you didn't think of.

FWIW, I have the same engines and spent last summer on the Thames and I would carry as a minimum:

Spare belts
Spare impellers
Spare primary fuel filters

I would also suggest carrying a spare starter motor. Now I know these are heavy and expensive but trust me they go wrong quite suddenly when they get to a certain age and without a spare you are stuck unless you are happy to run on one engine. They are not that difficult to change. Thames usage is quite hard on starters, what with all the stopping and starting going through locks.

Another good reason to carry a spare is that it allows you to buy it at your leisure which means you can get one at a good price. Stuck on a field somewhere on the Thames you will probably have no option other than to call the local VP dealer and pay the circa £450 rrp. I got mine on ebay for £100. If you ever have to use your spare you get the broken one repaired and then put back on board as your spare again.
 
Chris_d said:
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.
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Had the engines, outdrives, batteries and a whole load of other stuff done already. We decided it was better to have everything done. Score putting her back in the water so we hopefully know all will be well....

Thanks for the list. I will pass it on to hubby... :D
 
boatone said:
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
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I personally think pimms is a waste of money.... Would rather have a good coffee.:D
 
HONEYMOMMY said:
Had the engines, outdrives, batteries and a whole load of other stuff done already. We decided it was better to have everything done. Score putting her back in the water so we hopefully know all will be well....

Thanks for the list. I will pass it on to hubby... :D
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You'll need a vegetable peeler for the cucumber in the pimms ;)
 
Far more important.....lifesaving in fact !

"A bottle of Cinzano(Bianco) and some lemonade would be useful in case I come visiting.......:p"


Also vital is a fast escape plan complete with a handy written list of excuses why you had to leave so abruptly when you saw B1 striding up the towpath clutching a thick wad of the minutes of the last RUGS meeting. :)
 
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