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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Aug 2012 : 23:56:49
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Hi,
Me and the missus decided we wanted a boat and have just taken our first steps.
We bought a Norman Conquest 20 with a 7.5hp Honda 4 stroke outboard and BSC until 2016. We were also able to take over the mooring at Goole Boathouse, and we have it insured with CraftInsure. We have paid for the Canals and Rivers licence and have a yellow sheet in the window. Now we just need to find time to use it.
The outside is in pretty decent condition considering its age. The inside needs a bit of tidying and the battery definitely wants replacing. We need to source some longer cables to the outboard as they are taking up seating space at the moment LOL. I am thinking of replacing the oven and just generally making the boat more suitable for us.
The only problem we have is we are total beginners and don't know where to begin?? It has a small plasticlike temporary toilet in the cupboard, is there anything better we can get that doesn't break the bank?
Any body any suggestions on what to do first?
Heres a piccie of the boat, she is called Cee Jay.
Thank you and hope to see you on the water some time. |
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ken cattell
United Kingdom
192 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 04:56:35
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| Well welcome and good luck, as long as the boat is safe and presentable, use it; and whilst traveling around pick up ideas through experience or other boaters. My Conquest rebuild has taken 18 months so beware starting too many projects at once! Avoid expensive chandlers for most things! Search e-bay for new or used kit Nautequipe (control cables)and UK Yatch Rigging (also 5% off via this site, see Norman benefits section) have both been good suppliers for me. Go Outdoors is very good for leisure batteries, sleeping bags, chemical toilets, clothing and camping type stuff (you are basically caravaning on water) its even better when they have additiional 15 or 20% off weeks. Solar powered vents working all day help with condensation/ventilation issues. All the forgoing is in my humble opinion. Any questions, just ask this forum, the knowledge of others here is mind boggling. Enjoy. |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 02 Aug 2012 : 14:30:26
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Welcome on board, as Ken said just get out and enjoy it for the rest of the summer and you will find soon find out what you do and don't want, the list never seems to get shorter though !!
The Portapotti type toilet is pretty standard in a Conquest or a 20 which is basically a Conquest without the rear cabin area. You get chemicals to go in the top and bottom compartments and use degradable paper you can buy from Halfords or camping shops.
Have a good search through the forum which will give you lots of ideas to tweak the boat the way to suit yourselves.
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2012 : 14:51:08
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Thank you for your replies. We are off to the boat in the next hour to take a new 85ah leisure battery we have just purchased, a kettle, and some other bits and bobs. Will our 7.5hp engine be enough to keep the new battery topped up? We were thinking of getting a solar panel to assist it, is this necessary? Currently the battery is only used for the lights in and outside the boat plus the horn. There is no sockets in the boat 12v or 240v. Is it possible to get these fitted? Or is it not worth the hassle?
Thanks again for the help and pointers, they are greatly appreciated. |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2012 : 15:30:32
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A small outboard doesn't charge a lot so might be worth fitting a small solar panel, even the small briefcase type ones from Maplins you just clip on to the battery terminals will keep it topped up whilst you are not on the boat.
I only have an 85 amp hour battery and lasts us just about on a day or overnight out and that is running a cd car stereo as well as lights/horn etc.
If you plan to use it overnight might be worth changing the light bulbs for led's which use next to nothing power wise.
No problems adding to it, check eBay for a marine cigarette lighter type socket which is handy for charging or running things.
Bear in mind anything you add power wise will need to be fused preferably through a fuse board which again you can buy cheaply on eBay.
Wouldn't bother with 240v unless your mooring or places you visit has a power hookup points. |
Edited by - Knighty on 03 Aug 2012 15:34:56 |
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2012 : 20:43:57
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Thank you Knighty very helpful :)
I've got bigger problems at the moment though. I took the new battery today, connected it up to the terminals, turned the isolator key and it filled the cabin with smoke in literally a split second. I turned the switch off immediately, and the 2 wires from the isolator switch to the battery have both burnt out :( Strange thing though, it hasn't melted the 2 smaller wires that run direct from the battery to the outboard? Or any of the wiring from the isolator back?
I am not an electrician, but the only thing I could see was that one of the live terminals on the isolator switch was bent up towards the negative terminal. It was about 3-4mm from it, when it would normally be down and a good 30-40mm away from the other terminal. I am wondering if it has maybe arked and created like a mini heat ring? I didn't try moving it back to where it should be, as I was worried that it may have damaged the new battery? If so, it looks like I may be £60 out of pocket for a another new battery?
Any help or advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you. |
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2012 : 22:21:13
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Just thinking on, last time I wired an isolator switch was to a caravan mover a few years ago, and I remember just breaking the live wire through the isolator. For some reason the isolator had been wired with live to one terminal and earth to the other.
Looks like I will have to strip the wires back, take the earth side straight to the battery and just break live on the isolator.
Anybody any further thoughts on the matter?
Thank you. |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2012 : 16:33:13
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quote:
Originally posted by shadiebthe isolator had been wired with live to one terminal and earth to the other.
That's wrong... very wrong.
it looks like you have created a dead short across the battery. If only for a short period than it will probably be OK. If possible, connect it up to a trickle charger to put some charge back in.
Have the cables looked at by someone who knows what they are looking at. I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the cable set up. 12 volts does not jump across gaps, you have a dead short.
Some cables may have been damaged, but that will only be restricted to the area immediately around the battery and isolator.
I have a PDf that may help, I'll email it to you... shout if you don't get it.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2012 : 17:20:44
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Hi Deano,
Thank you very much for the handbook, it will come in really useful.
I don't know why I didn't think to check before connecting it all up. I just assumed with the boat have a very recent safety certificate there wouldn't be any problems. I realsied when I got home that I had wired an isolator switch to a caravan mover a few years back and only broke the live wire.
I am back at the boat tomorrow, hopefully this time will be our maiden voyage. We are going early in the morning to sort the electrics out once and for all. I will be armed with a decent multimeter and spare wire to replace where necessary.
One other question if you don't mid.
The outboard has a 12.9 litre fuel tank. I have been today and purchased a 20 litre metal fuel tank (heard they were safer) and filled it with fuel. Are we safe to carry this fuel onboard, or should we full the outboards tank and store it in the car before we set off?
Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to do anything silly or dangerous.
Kind regards Paul. |
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2012 : 17:22:54
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The other I can't understand is the previous owner seemed to be clued up about boats in general and had another in his garden he was working on. I can't understand how he has made such a mistake with the isolator on this boat?
Oh well, hope all goes to plan tomorrow.
Thank you again. |
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adi-n-chez
United Kingdom
1980 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2012 : 19:17:12
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quote:
Originally posted by shadieb
Hi Deano,
One other question if you don't mid.
The outboard has a 12.9 litre fuel tank. I have been today and purchased a 20 litre metal fuel tank (heard they were safer) and filled it with fuel. Are we safe to carry this fuel onboard, or should we full the outboards tank and store it in the car before we set off?
Kind regards Paul.
Paul
The BSS has strict guidelines on this - http://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/164534/bss%20guide%20chap5.pdf
For the legal way - the most you can carry is 27 lts in a portable tank plus another 27lts in a spare tank (Suitably stored) or 2 x 10ltr jerrys as a spare.
Anything else would be at your risk - I wont advise that you do anything else ( ) but plenty do I believe. Of course if you are unfortunate to have a fire then your insurance may be invalid etc etc.
Depends on how far you wish to cruise I guess
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2012 : 00:46:11
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Hi Adi-n-Chez,
Thanks for the info on the fuel, its really helpful, unfortunately it looks like we won't be keeping this boat after our maiden voyage, which turned into the trip from hell on Sunday :(
First thing I did was fix the electrics which was as suspected, incorrect wiring of the isolator. Next I checked the fuel and oil level of the outboard, and then we got underway with our first time in a boat unaided.
The boat started pretty good after a couple of pulls. I pushed it away from the mooring and set off out the marina where it is stored. It seemed okay except the steering seemed really difficult to control, the wheel felt notchy and I struggled to keep it in a straight line. I also noticed the throttle was difficult to move and the gear lever also felt notchy, which we assume is down to the cables being shorter then they should be.
We ran for about an hour and I was still finding it extremely difficult to keep the boat in a straight line. I decided to find a quiet spot and practice mooring up on the canal. I had been told to slow down and approach the side of the canal at an angle, then put it in reverse and give short bursts on the throttle to help with the approach and bring the boat in steady. Unfortunately the engine cut out and the boat ended up hitting the side and bouncing off into the middle of the canal. I tried to restart it, but it was having none of it. I tried about 10 times and then the pull start wouldn't return.
I am no mechanic, but I spent the next 4 hours hanging out of the rear of the boat attempting to repair the pull start to make it useable, and trying to get the outboard to fire up and run. I eventually got it running but I couldn't use the throttle without it cutting out. I finally figured that if I had the choke on I could give it revs and try and limp it back. It took about another 2 hours to get back to the marina at around 1mph with a boat that I could barely control due to the steering and no power. It stank of petrol due to the choke being engaged, I got within 100 yards of our mooring spot and the engine died again. This time it wouldn't start and we had to be rescued by an helpful boater on the marina.
After weighing up what we now need to do to put the boat and outboard right, and finding out how difficult it is to try and do anything in an emergency to the outboard, due to the small cabin at the back, we are now thinking of putting it up for sale for spares or repair, and sourcing a more suitable boat, hopefully with a lot less problems.
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shadieb
United Kingdom
13 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2012 : 00:50:43
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I forgot to add that I bought the boat in good faith and was told it had no problems :(
I wrongly assumed that with it having a new BSC it would be a good boat.
Also, if you are taking your first trip, it is advisable to have a set of oars onboard, even if only to get you to the bank side. Also mooring pegs help when you finally make it to the side and try and secure the boat. Luckily I did have some big screwdrivers and an hammer which did the trick.
You live and learn.
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2012 : 19:02:11
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Shame you are having so many problems, if it was your first outing the steering does take some getting used to, my 20 which is what your Conquest is based on took me best part of the first season to sort of get it going in a straight..ish line. You do eventually get used to the constant tweaking of the wheel.
Engine sounds like it just might want a good service and the carb jets cleaning out, the Honda's can gunk up and give you tick over issues.
The cables for steering and control should run down the side and at the stern gently curve round to the outboard, sounds like they are too short maybe with tight bends giving you your issues.
Shame if you do decide to part with her as looks a nice boat, poss one of the later model ones with the stainless handrails. |
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tigtog
United Kingdom
421 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2012 : 22:40:31
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| SHADIEB HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE WHEN I FIRST GOT THE BOAT, had trouble getting her off the trailer into the river engine broke down a couple of times ,now got the boat how we and need it, thanks to the info on this site, well worth some of the hasle now having some great dys and nights on the river good luck to you in the future. |
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Topic |
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New to boating, just bought a Norman Conquest 20
