Posts

Posted on

Floydtilla BSS Certificate – Passed

Floydtilla’s BSS certificate is due to expire at the end of April 2025, so it was time to book a test, we have added a few new bits and pieces to the boat in the past 4 years including our new solar panels – it is always a worry when you do the planning/install yourself.

As with the last test and survey we booked Tom Keeling from Small Craft Services to do this for us. Two days before the appointed day, I check with Tom that everything was going as planned, and we headed of the next day to the boat, to be ready for his visit.

Tom arrived very promptly at 9am, he first explanied the procedure and then we started at the stern looking in the engine bay, where he carefully explained what he was looking for, checking the fuel tank for rust and damage, the fuel lines, filters etc, before then checking the batteries and our new battery wiring and solar install (he noted the fuses etc) everything seemed OK, except the batteries could slide sideways in there mounting, We already had a ratchet strap over the top of the batteries, but within a few minutes we also had one install around the sides as well.

From the Engine bay we moved inside and checked the Fire Extinguishers, we have three mounted in the boat, and I have three extras for just encase (could not resist the Lidl special offers, they are two lower rating, but better to be safer?).

From what I remember of the discussion each extinguisher has a rating i.e. 8A/50B that you will find on the body label of the extinguisher, you need to add up the number of ‘A’ and the number of ‘B’, combined between you extinguishers they need to exceed 21A and 144B together, this is dependent on the length of the boat, at 61ft we need a minimum of 3 extinguishers in total.

Next we are on to the gas supply and the Gas locker was expected and the pipes inspected for the correct type, we only have a gas cooker connected to the supply and near the kitchen area is a test point to which Tom fitted his Manometer. after a few minutes all seemed to check out OK. Then Tom slid out the cooker to show me and to check the pipework was correct.

It is amazing how quickly and hour and a half went by, Tom is a mine of useful information and advice and I am sure I missed out lots of things he inspected along the way, but I now feel very confident we are safe onboard and also not a danger to others.

BSS Examination Report
BSS Examination Report

The cost of this inspection including VAT was £260 (which includes a £72 charge by the Boat Safety Scheme for the certificate.

Posted on

Canal Walk from The Falkirk Wheel to the Kelpies

We are on a trip around Scotland and decided we would visit the Falkirk Wheel and take a tour, while we had some luck, as the day before it would have been closed, today it was open, but unfortunately the actual lift was closed for maintenance. We did how ever have a good look around and a coffee in the cafe.

The wheel is an impressive structure lifting boats between the Forth and Clyde Canal and Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal.

Not being open meant we had a few hours to spare, so I decided to walk along the canal to the Kelpies, about 4 miles, while Sonia took the car directly.

Leaving the Falkirk Wheel the canal path is tarmac style, with solar powered LED lights embedded at the sides. at first there are moorings for all the hire boats, waiting for the season to start.

All the locks seemed to be overflowing as there are no boats moving. At lock 16 on the opposite side is the, now closed, Union Inn. The building is looking very run down, then on the left is the The Canal Inn which seems to be still open.

Canal side art comes along every so often, the first piece I found was these three gents.

On the left is Dr Harold Lyons, then Reginald Adams, and finally Robert Barr who’s name is forever synonymous with Iron-Bru.

Like almost every large town in Scotland it seems it must have its own Distillery, and between Locks 11 and 10 next to the Camelon Road Bridge is the Rosebank Distillery

Then another interesting find is just next to Bainsford Lock No 5 a Pizzeria called Gambero Rosso.

After this the walk is mainly along the edge of an industrial estate area, but just as this area ends and you pass under Carron Road Bridge, to the left you can see the Kelpies in the distance

Next the canal turns a sharp left-hand turn and you are then walking directly towards them.

When you get close you can see the canal can exit the Sea Lock basin via the Kelpies Lock No 1a between them or via Sea Lock 2 before joining the River Carron.

Posted on

The Four Counties Ring – Map Updates

This year (2025) we are planning on completing ‘The Four Counties Ring’ so one of my tasks has been to update our interactive map. We are starting from our Marina mooring at Droitwich Spa Marina then up to Wolverhampton, as we did when completing the Stourport Ring in 2022, from there we can turn North on to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and then onto the Shropshire Union Canal to start the ring.

We expect this to take just over a month, we are not in a rush and need to be visiting some of the interesting places along the way.. maybe the Secret Nuclear Bunker if we can find it.

Back to top