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Maritime News

MV Dali Freed From Baltimore Bridge Wreckage

Fifty days after the MV Dali’s allision with the Francis Scott Bridge Key in Baltimore USA, the vessel has been returned to port. Operations to free the vessel from the wreckage of the bridge involved demolition cutting charges and dive teams. The crew of 21, mostly Indian nationals, remain under investigation and the cause of the accident has not been finalised.

Boat Chat Focus - 2024 Crick Boat Show Report

The biggest inland waterways boat show of the year in the UK (and probably the world) was another great success.  Boat Chat went along for two days and here are some of the highlights:

Favourite Narrowboat In Show

Huge congratulations to Tiffany Gale-Haynes and the team at Kingsground Narrowboats.  Their boat ‘Highgrove’ won Favourite Narrowboat in Show as voted for by the public and assessed by a panel of judges.    The picture is of one of many behind the scenes details which made ‘Highgrove’ stand out from the pack.  In a world of glossy polished exteriors and creative window dressing, it was the attention to detail under the skin that showcased the real quality of this vessel.

Excellent free seminars

Mark Langley, Technical Editor at Waterways World gave two thought provoking talks on buying and designing a narrowboat.  Packed with practical advice for new buyers and full of ideas for designing the right boat for your needs.  His key messages to all new buyers are that:

• Boating isn’t a free hobby! Plan for up front and ongoing running costs.

• Buy a boat that fits the waterways you want to cruise in. Narrowboats are not much good in a river, widebeams can’t go into every canal!

• A 58’ x 6’10” narrowboat can go anywhere, get any bigger or wider and it limits your cruising options.

• Do your due diligence on the builder if buying new - contracts are really important and use a solicitor.

• Budget for the shell taking 30% of the budget, engine 20% and fitout 50% - a great rule of thumb.

•  If buying a used boat, get it surveyed by a professional with experience of inland waterways craft.

Bas Edmonds of HPi Verification gave an insightful update on the 2017 Recreational Craft Regulations and how that affects new and used boats in the UK market.  The Declaration of Conformity is the key document for any vessel. 

• UK residents must use UK Approved Bodies for Post Construction Assessments

• Boats with a chain of manufacturers should have a declaration that the work at each stage was compliant and that the boat is to be ‘completed by others’

• A boat is complete when it can be used to its ‘full design capability’

• ‘Major craft conversion’ can be a tricky issue, examples include:

  • Change of battery type

  • Change of propulsion ICE to electric

  • Installing a solid fuel stove

  • Hull lengthening

  • Over plating (any amount) could be considered MCC

It is the owner’s responsibility to determine if an MCC has taken place, note that like for like replacement is not MCC

PCAs can be a proportional assessment, plan on minimum £1k for a limited PCA and for a full boat about £3k ex vat

Shopping…

Crick had plenty of trade stands showcasing a huge range of products, not all of them boat related…

Two that caught the eye were Compoost Toilets who have been designing and selling their composting toilet system worldwide for several years now. 

Ideally suited to a couple cruising on their own boat, the system separates ‘number ones’ from ‘number twos’ and uses coir compost to help accelerate composting of the solids.  The toilet is fitted with an electric stirring paddle to aid the composting process, a forced air vent with an activated charcoal filter and a sensor that alerts you to the urine bottle being nearly full.  On average a couple will fill a bucket in a week.  ‘Humanure’ compost can’t be put into C&RT waste bins or the existing elsan disposal facilities due to its dry nature.  But it can be used for growing non-food plants within a few weeks or months of ‘production’, so the system as whole needs some planning on any boat.  Find out more here:  https://compoosttoilets.com

NoPuttPutt were at the show displaying their all-in-one solar charged, lithium powered all electric narrowboat, ‘Aurora’.  With a custom installation which is pre-fabricated in their workshop they can install a fully integrated electric propulsion system into any narrowboat.  Here are some of the key specs:

• 48v direct drive electric motor available in four sizes from 8-20kW

• 14-72kWh LiFePo4 battery pack

• 5kW inverter giving 12v DC and 240v AC

• N type monocrystalline solar panels

• Weatherproof throttle with battery status indicator

• Android app for full system monitoring

The future may well be electric for all boats and the team at NoPuttPutt are developing a very neat, well designed and installed system. 

Check out their website: https://noputtputt.co.uk

Dogs, dogs, dogs!

If you haven’t been before, Crick Boat Show is well worth a visit.  Along with all the fabulous new and historic boats, seminars and product stands there was plenty of live music, good food and a real ale and cider festival. It is also a dog friendly show and at times it felt like walking around Crufts!

The White Hat Marine Surveying channel continues to grow and subscriber numbers grew by 15% in the month. Several new videos have been uploaded on a range of topics. From rudder and ground tackle checks to how not to use your gas locker, take a look and please share with your boaty colleagues and friends.

The White Hat Marine Surveying channel is all about boats and is for anyone interested in boating, whether they be boat owners, brokers, marine surveyors or are thinking about buying a boat.

Great Kit Ideas

With the sailing season well underway, it is time to start thinking about new gear for the boat owners or marine surveyors in your life or as a treat for your boat. I have put together several collections on Kit.Co which are all personally recommended items and most of which I own.

From boat safety equipment to books about sailing and the tools and books a marine surveyor needs; there really is something for everyone!

Boaty Terminology

Hotel Load - The electrical demand for non-propulsion systems placed on the ship’s electrical system. Lighting, laundry, domestic power and climate control would all feature in hotel load calculations.

Every vessel owner should carry out a power or energy budget so they know how much each electrical system consumes at peak load. From that you can work out reasonable scenarios for how much power generation or storage is needed.

Big shout out to William from Plymouth for buying us beers this month. He wrote:

“Well presented and informative newsletter. Long may it continue David”.

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