Just when we thought our problems were all over something completely different has stopped us from moving. We had successfully navigated through Crick Tunnel with the aid of our temporary lamp when I heard a rattling noise from the engine. We stopped to have a look but we could see no obvious cause. Not wishing to risk any major damage I called RCRCR again who agreed to send an engineer out.
However we could not moor safely where we had stopped as it was too shallow but did not want to risk carrying on to somewhere more convenient. Fortunately narrow boat Katie arrived and ageed to tow us towards Watford Locks where there was plenty of mooring.
The engineer turned up within 2 hours of the orignal call and quickly identified the problem. The rattling noise had been very real and was the result of various bits of the drive plate, the equivalent of a clutch on a car, knocking around in the engine. He was amazed we had been able to carry on so far, only one bolt was in place preventing the engine halting completely.
So now we await a phone call from RCR on whether they have a new drive plate in stock. A 2 day wait if they do and possibly 2 weeks if not. In the meantime we have store cupboard meals for 2 days and then will have to either get a taxi a local shopor walk the 1 mile down the towpath to Watford Gap motorway services which are next to the canal. As the engineer was able to remove the drive plate completely we can run the engine purely to generate electricity and provide hot water so should not be too uncomfortable.
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| Drive plate with broken bits around the centre |
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| Close-up showing jammed broken bolt and sundry bits of plastic stuff |
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| Moored near Watford Locks |
1 hour 13 mins moving, 2.28 miles
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