I have been in areas with no internet connection for some time so it's good to be back online. Since leaving Lapworth I have been having boat problems. On the BCN I was down the weed hatch many times. (I'm never going near the BCN again). The delay meant I didn't get to Brewood until after dark. As I was approaching a mooring the engine went completely dead. So I did the obvious thing, moored up and went to the pub. Friday morning I checked the engine, expecting (hoping) to find a blown fuse or similar but what I found was a flooded engine bay. My bilge pump had packed up a while back (due to spilling a tin of paint in the engine bay!) so I emptied the water by using the shower pump, which has also packed up now. On Monday I got a tow to the nearby boatyard who spent 3 days rewiring. Fortunately it does not seem to have damaged alternators or starter motor which would have cost a fortune.
I made a presumption that for so much water to have entered I must have failed to properly fit the weed hatch on the last time of use so set off Yesterday to the Anchor confident all was resolved. By Gnosall I knew it wasn't as the bilge was filling again. Running with the engine boards up to keep an eye on it, I reached the anchor and today hitched a lift on a boat to Norbury Junction to buy a new bilge pump (though I had to walk back). It's the stern gland leaking. Must need re packing - I don't know how to do that but someone on CWDF will tell me how.
Next few days will be spent here and as the forecast for the weekend and beyond looks good I hope to finish painting the boat. I'll put up a photo when it's done.
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