When we crossed the Ribble Link in 2011, one 57ft boat made such poor progress against the tides that he missed the ‘window’ to go up the brook and was diverted up to Preston Dock. On the plus side he said the dock was well worth the visit.

Regards

Pete

As GM said it is not just engine size.  I have  a 38hp on my 54ft and have had no problems, although I have not had to go against a strong tide.  Waiting for the lock against the tide on the Trent she held position on tickover and can do 6.5mph flat out.  So I would not think the boat you saw was underpowered but admit I have no experience other than what I have just stated.

Hi there

We’ve got a 57′ narrow boat with a 38hp engine and when we brought it the size of the engine was not even on our checklist – DOH! We’ve mainly done canals so far, including the Llangollen that has got quite a flow and the River Weaver although that was during quite a dry spell so there was almost no run at all.

The engine size has been in the back of our mind though and more so recently because we’ve been building up to doing The Ribble Link that we just did yesterday, well yesterday and the day before actually as we ran out of water and got diverted to Preston Docks. This was more due to being the last out of the lock and a particularly low tide on the day though as we did the journey in two hours that I believe is the norm and kept pace with the other boats doing the trip on the day albeit a lock or two’s distance behind. We didn’t want to push the engine too hard as we normally just potter around at about 1,000 revs so did the trip at 1,500 revs and seemed fine, didn’t overheat and that we’d been told to keep a check on as this can be a problem. Had we upped it a couple hundred revs more we may have caught up and got through, but we weren’t in a particular rush.

The plus side of Preston Docks was a Morrison’s about five minutes walk away, the marina had washing machines and tumble dryers, water, Elsan Point and we brought (well ordered it, picking it up on the way back) a low voltage twin tub washing machine for £57 that we’d been thinking of buying that’s about half the price we were expecting to pay. So, best diversion we’ve every had. We did the overall journey from Tarleton Lock to Preston docks that’s about 9.5 miles in 2.75 hours so we averaged about 3.5 mph and that was against the tidal flow for about 2.5 hours of the way.

With all that said though, I’d probably be happier with a larger engine as it may present us with problems on the faster flowing rivers to come, but as we’re not running to any timescale, if we have to stay moored for a period of time until it’s okay to move then so be it.

Bit of a sitting on the fence answer to your question I know, but it takes all sorts of information to come to a decision and hopefully this’ll help in some way.

Regards,

Keith

NB Badger Sett said

The engine size has been in the back of our mind though and more so recently because we’ve been building up to doing The Ribble Link that we just did yesterday, well yesterday and the day before actually as we ran out of water and got diverted to Preston Docks. This was more due to being the last out of the lock and a particularly low tide on the day though as we did the journey in two hours that I believe is the norm and kept pace with the other boats doing the trip on the day albeit a lock or two’s distance behind. We didn’t want to push the engine too hard as we normally just potter around at about 1,000 revs so did the trip at 1,500 revs and seemed fine, didn’t overheat and that we’d been told to keep a check on as this can be a problem. Had we upped it a couple hundred revs more we may have caught up and got through, but we weren’t in a particular rush.

I forgot to say, in my previous post that I have overheated twice.  The first time when it was getting dark and there was no sign of a decent mooring so I started thrashing it a bit at about 2400 revs – my normal cruising is at 1600revs.  I found the prop was a bit fouled and put it down to that.  The second time was a bit more worrying – on the tidal Trent a week ago, when I was again travelling at 2400 revs – I was mighty relieved when the warning light went out after a bit of time in idle.  I may try fitting a new thermostat before going back on the Trent next week.

The real reason for the post is to offer two tips which everyone may not know:

If you have a central heating system which also heats the water, open all radiators and start the pump but do not turn on the gas.  The water circulating through the calorifier, heats the radiators a bit and helps cool the engine (also useful for a bit of free heat).

As an emergency measure run all the hot water out of the calorifier.

Thanks Keith, good point.  In my naivete I did not enquire what exactly was done when she was blacked last March.

Alan said

NB Badger Sett said
The engine size has been in the back of our mind though and more so recently because we’ve been building up to doing The Ribble Link that we just did yesterday, well yesterday and the day before actually as we ran out of water and got diverted to Preston Docks. This was more due to being the last out of the lock and a particularly low tide on the day though as we did the journey in two hours that I believe is the norm and kept pace with the other boats doing the trip on the day albeit a lock or two’s distance behind. We didn’t want to push the engine too hard as we normally just potter around at about 1,000 revs so did the trip at 1,500 revs and seemed fine, didn’t overheat and that we’d been told to keep a check on as this can be a problem. Had we upped it a couple hundred revs more we may have caught up and got through, but we weren’t in a particular rush.

I forgot to say, in my previous post that I have overheated twice.  The first time when it was getting dark and there was no sign of a decent mooring so I started thrashing it a bit at about 2400 revs – my normal cruising is at 1600revs.  I found the prop was a bit fouled and put it down to that.  The second time was a bit more worrying – on the tidal Trent a week ago, when I was again travelling at 2400 revs – I was mighty relieved when the warning light went out after a bit of time in idle.  I may try fitting a new thermostat before going back on the Trent next week.

The real reason for the post is to offer two tips which everyone may not know:

If you have a central heating system which also heats the water, open all radiators and start the pump but do not turn on the gas.  The water circulating through the calorifier, heats the radiators a bit and helps cool the engine (also useful for a bit of free heat).

As an emergency measure run all the hot water out of the calorifier.

Since posting the above, I have been told by someone who knows what he is talking about that 2400 is probably a bit high for continuous running for my engine.

Hi Russ2903

The other thing to consider is resale value, if you are having second thoughts about the canaline 38 then so may others in the future, it is, I believe, a bit of a budget engine. 

This sounds a bit like tell me that my car cannot travel at 120, well within its capabilities, because it will overheat. It still sounds like the cooling tank, either too much blacking, or of course the cooling system was never specified for it maximum power which I suggest it should have been. It would be nice to know who manufactured the engine and which model it is.

Beta 38.  2006 but only 400 hours when I bought her.  I have added over 200

At 600 hours that is barely run in. If you look at http://www.betamarine.co.uk/in…..1.pdf You will see this engine does not develop its 35 BHP until about 2800RPM. That leaves me puzzled as to how “…someone who knows what he is talking about that 2400 is probably a bit high for continuous running for my engine”. 2000RPM is about the peak torgue point but that is not the maximum revs the engine will happily run at.

Having read through the manual that engine should run at about 85/95C.

I am puzzled that this engine is overheating at 2400 RPM. It is suggesting to me that something is wrong with the cooling circuit. I am assuming that the prop etc have been properly sized for both the boat, gearbox and the engine. I would be interested what Beta Marine would have to say, so I have emailed them asking what the maximum continuous RPM is for the engine. I will post a copy of the email if I get a reply.

Interestingly the sea going version develops max power at 3600 RPM