Following a winter where I've managed to complete the jobs Wud-E-Nuff requires to make her shipshape, I am now looking forward to this seasons boating. I say I've completed all the jobs, but the underside is still to be done, as this is a job for a sunny day. The only downside is EA, in their wisdom have gated the slipway we use, which is close to where my friend has his tractor and trailer. I sincerely hope this will not prove to be too much of a problem.

I have also added, probably one of the best things I have ever made to her; that is a stove. But my first job was to try to discover why the engine was getting difficult to start. When I first got the boat, the engine started first time, every time, and was in fact one of the best starting engines I had ever had. First investigation found the compression was poor, so I removed the cylinder head and re-ground the valves, which were in a very poor state. However this gave me the opportunity to examine the rest of the engine, which is in remarkably good condition, with every indication it has been recently overhauled, with the major components being replaced. I was still not sure if the lack of compression was the reason for the difficult starting, as I have discovered from an online friend with a similar engine. I added the missing decompression cable, and recently bought and fitted a new fuel tank, so the whole system has now been renewed. It still appeared lacking however so only last week I've finally taken the injector out, which I found was in very poor condition, but excellent service by the local diesel reconditioning firm, has returned this to as good as new. The poor starting is the result of air getting into the fuel pump through the worn governor. Simply purging the air by winding over a few times with the decompressor open, the engine starts immediately, and is now almost perfect. All these are jobs I should have done in the first instance, but as it started so well, I assumed the work had been done properly. Truthfully I think that's probably just an excuse for my idleness really (a wry grin).

In the early autumn, my long time best friend suggested I make a wood burning stove from a disused gas bottle. I've enough work looking after house and car thank you, and a perfectly good electricity supply, and a fan heater, so I initially poo pood the idea. However a couple of weeks later Derek, the chap who lives at the lock suggested the same, saying there was an empty bottle on the riverbank nearby. I must appear idle? Or did they just want to keep me busy to shut me up for a few days .

I looked in the boat, and found the space it would occupy very simple to clear. Given that Derek was getting free firewood from the offcuts at the pine factory, the idea did appear attractive, as free energy is never to be sneered at. I took my barrow and collected the bottle, soon cleared the space in the cabin on the boat, and traveled to my friend's yard, where I would be making it. By evening I had cut the top handle off the bottle, and cut the first hole, safely washing any remaining gas out first, as there was no resulting explosion.

I returned to his yard the next day to proceed, which at first proved more difficult. This wasn't going to be the 'doddle' I had assumed, but then nothing every is, is it? By evening that day I was more than half way through the conversion, copying some of the ideas from his wood-burner he has at his workshop. He had kindly given me free run of his yard and equipment, including giving me a chimney, and also some steel sheet to line the hull, and sides of the space I had made in the cabin.. I came home via Bardney, leaving the stove and materials on Wud. The only real problem I could see was the chimney was directly under a beam in the cabin roof.

After a restless night, wondering how to overcome the chimney problem, I returned to the boat the next morning, finding another of my friends on his narrowboat (yes, despite rumours to the contrary, I do have several friends :)

After lining the space with the sheet, I sought his help, and proceeded to position the stove and mark out and cut the hole in the cabin roof for the chimney. He helped me lift the chimney onto the stove, where I immediately saw I had been rather lucky. Although the chimney does not sit vertically on the stove, it is almost parallel to the slope of the roof, so doesn't look odd, or non-professional from the outside. I made a chimney liner from another piece of sheet metal I had, and pushed the asbestos string my other friend had given me, into the gap to stop the heat from burning the roof.

By mid afternoon I had collected a bag of wood from Derek and had a cozy fire going. I cannot stress just how much of an improvement adding a stove will make. Not only does it keep you warm and comfy; it dispels the damp, forever present on a boat, from condensation and any small rain leaks. The dreaded black mould is also almost a thing of the past. An hour or two at the most will dispel any wetness, which, lets face it you should expect with boating being a water-orientated pastime. And if you recall my experience of last year with the damp sleeping bag, this serious problem should never occur again. The only thing I should have done differently is to place the chimney at the back of the bottle, instead of the middle, as this would have left room for a flat plate, to boil a kettle, or fry the bacon.

My other major job over the 'close' season was to make a new propshaft and cut the propeller to the correct size. Again thanks to my friend allowing me use of his yard and equipment this has been achieved, and I'm delighted to say, highly successful. I put my 30 odd years of engineering experience to excellent use, allowing me to thankfully produce a first class job. I even changed the assembly without taking the boat out of the water, another challenge that exercised the grey matter more than a little. So now the engine and drive train are almost as good as new, and quite adequate for this classic old lady.

My winter trips have been somewhat thwarted, mainly due to lack of interest, although there have been a couple which could have ended in tragedy.

I finally persuaded another long-term friend to accompany me. We arrived after a particularly cold night to find the river covered in ice. The cold North wind blows from the unsheltered direction and the river is man made for the first 500 yards or so to the sluice. No flow in the river means ice readily forms. Remembering how I cut through some ice when I first brought her from Lincoln I wasn't unduly worried, but I should have been. The ice was much thicker than I realized, the rudder blade broke off as I tried to back out, leaving me with little steering, which I put down to the ice. Worse was to come though as just as we were about to clear it, I noticed water in the cabin floor. Seconds later there was more HELP!!! We were sinking.

I couldn't hear the bilge pump working for the engine, so had a frightening few moments until the water quickly went down when I slowed to turn. Struggling with the broken rudder, I turned round and moored at the new moorings just fitted by BW that we had thankfully just passed. On examination, Wud's progress had been so fast, the ice had been thrown against the lower edge of the planks in the bow wave, so wearing the underside away until a small hole appeared. Thankfully I was prepared with bitumen and sawdust on board, so after inflating the dingy, we were able to patch the hole with a small piece of wood and paste. I returned very slowly through the path we had just cut, thanking my lucky starts I was not leaving Wud on the bottom near the bank somewhere.

The following week, I repaired the rudder, and filled the worn planks properly, adding some top quality marine ply to reinforce the outside of the hull where the bow wave comes up. If we were nearly sunk by a hole the side of a finger, hitting a log would put us on the bottom in only a few yards. Previously I had thought a very large hole under the waterline would be required to sink her, as with the sea-cock open the water only trickles in, but I had not foreseen the force of water when traveling. I was planning to replace the rudder this winter, if time and inclination allowed, but the 'quickie' repair I did with my friend is so good, I expect it to remain permanent. I have also obtained a tensioning spring for the steering cable, so the annoying play from the original poor set up is also a thing of the past.

The next incident involved my same friend. I set off again, no ice this time, only to find the windy day causing a back draught, blowing smoke down the chimney and into the cabin. Asking him to open the bottom door, which regulated the air to the stove, it came off. I screamed at him to get it back on, as I could see the stove bursting into flames, with them shooting across the cabin and setting fire to it.

Poor chap, he quickly got things under control, but the damage to our eyes from the stinging smoke took a day or two longer, before the soreness left. He says he must have been on the Titanic in a previous life. I haven't banned him, but asked him to bring me some Valium for the next time :)

I have however had a few successful trips upstream, halfway to lincoln, with several other people, some I have met on the day, and others my good friends who I'm about to go boating with this year. I have just heard the water level in the lower witham has been raised for Easter, and the season, so looking forward to a few pleasant trips. Mind you, with boating you never know.

The season so far - and as good as expected.

I may have written this before, but it is worth repeating; the easy boating season is from April until the 16th June. This is because there are no fishermen, as fishing is out of season and the rivers and canals are either weed free, or the weed growth still allows passage of boats.

My season has gone well, with over 350 miles covered already; more than many boats do in years.

The largest drawback has been the EA have put a locked gate across the slipway I need to use to paint the bottom to antifoul and seal the boat. Being I only got a wooden boat as I have use of my friend's tractor and trailer at this slip, at low cost, this could turn out to be a very serious problem. There are ways around this, but it is certainly going to make my boating season much harder than necessary. Well done EA.....hope you all rot in hell.

I have taken 2 trips to Boston, 3 to Chapel Hill, 1 to Lincoln and 1 to Torksey, with several short trips upstream to the new moorings.

My first to Chapel Hill was to meet a friend, and go up the Kyme Eau/River Slea. We had no sooner completed this short, exceptionally pleasant voyage, when the narrowboat of the chairman of the Sleaford Canal trust came past to say it was closing, to allow the paddle to be refitted to the lock. It now looks as if it will be closed all year, as the lock is requiring more attention than at first thought, and there is talk the river is being dredged.

Following the experience of the previous trip last autumn I had to wind the guillotine of Bottom lock up and down TWICE. Given it must be the slowest winding guillotine in the universe, I suppose this forced workout did me good, although I failed to see that at the time.....about knackered by the time I got back on the boat coming back. In South Kyme we only had a brief stop, as my friend had to get back, but the accidental great timing has meant I have undertaken one of my favourite short trips; and which proved to be one of the easiest and most enjoyable so far. Crystal clear water meant meandering along seeing all the fish and plants etc. in the river; a veritable 3.5mile aquarium.

My next trip involved 2 of my newer friends, and an excellent time was had by all. Only small complaint was one of them wanted to visit the pubs on the way, however I'll know for the next time. We went to Anton's Gowt, into the drains, through the lock at Cowbridge (the one I missed on my previous trip on Naiad) and managed to get to the bridge near the Trader Windmill at Sibsey. We just scraped under the previous bridge, by dismantling everything on the roof, so another slice of luck.

After being treated to a meal and drinks in the pub, by my friend who was staying with me on the boat, we travelled back in glorious weather on the Sunday. At the start of the season I had an exhaust issue to repair. A large threaded nipple had worn, leaving the exhaust elbow loose and leaking. This had been loose for some time, but dismantling the exhaust manifold to tighten it, with the problems this can bring from studs breaking off in the engine etc. being the reason I had put this job off for some time. After the third attempt at tightening I thought I had cured this, as it lasted the trip to the windmill, but alas, no.

Deciding it was time to travel the whole length of the Witham and Fosse Dyke, I came upstream, spending the night at Torksey, before returning the next day. I had acquired a 'slave' to help me through Stamp End on the outward journey, leaving him in Lincoln, before continuing on my own. Going back the next day I saw a friend from the Lincoln Boat Club I have been hoping to show my boat to, moored at the Pyewipe Inn. On stopping I found the throttle sticking......the exhaust had come loose yet again, and the heat had dried the throttle cable. Typical; just when I wanted to show my boat off.

After a brief stop, and inspection I followed him slowly to Lincoln, where I eventually got to Stamp End. I had set the throttle to slow, hoping I wouldn't meet a boat, or have to stop etc. Luckily I found a boat locking through, one I had made friends with on the outward trip the previous day. They willingly helped me though, despite the pouring rain. Once moored on the lower level I repaired the throttle to get me back to Bardney. I heated some water and washed most of the black soot off, before following to Bardney in the downpour. This meant I had to keep the canopy raised and closed to prevent getting soaked, however the leaking exhaust decided to expel from a hole underneath where I was standing. I've only just got rid of the soar thought now . So once again some small incident befell me passing through Lincoln.

Couple of days or so later I finally found where to get the part to repair my exhaust properly helped by my long time friend. Thankfully it is still ok, and should not be a problem again.

Another trip to Chapel Hill and then Lincoln, where I visited the LBC (Lincoln Boat Club) by boat. Fantastic night which ended with me sleeping aboard, instead of walking home as planned LOL. I returned to Bardney the next day, and had at last managed to get through Lincoln without incident, but failed to find a 'slave' to help with the lock. The extra heavy gate, due to silt in the lock, as I later discovered from the BW workers, saw me sidelined for a few days from overdoing it, despite using a strap to open and close them.....the best method I've discovered so far.

I then had a trip to Boston, with another friendly night in the pub, returning in good weather again. Very enjoyable and uneventful trip, except I got back to find the lock against me, and no one to help.

I decided to go to Chapel Hill and stay overnight for the bank holiday. I spent my third night in the pub this year, with excellent company, making the expense well worth while. On my return I found people to help lock through.

I have found a nice new friend, who arrived on my doorstep looking for an English friend. We had a pleasant trip in good weather to Kirkstead. Just what boating is about.

My last trip was to Boston again with a friend (the one with tractor and trailer) on his boat. On my first trip I had walked across Boston to find my friends who moor on the tidal Haven were there. They accompanied me a short way back, and we had arranged to maybe do the same again. However other plans thwarted this. I had just bought some new trainers at market, which at first seemed ok, but soon proved otherwise, so I had to undertake the route march back to Wud in ill fitting shoes.

Thinking I would be late, my friend had returned to his mooring at Chapel Hill, so I journed alone, although starting to enjoy myself again about half way back. I stopped to see them at Chapel Hill, before setting off for the return to Bardney.

For the first time I experienced problems, as the boat started overheating. I made it slowly and I've since hopefully repaired. This turned out to be the impeller in the water pump. This small rubber impeller should ideally be changed every season with the normal service, but low usage usually negates this need. I had a spare, and what should have been a fairly easy and straightforward job, turned out to be anything but (now there's a surprise). The spare I had bought from the Yanmar dealer, specializing in the YS range was incorrect. I only found the small difference after fitting, causing more problems to remove. Luckily the local large expensive chandlery had one in stock, and although the worn pump may have issues that could require attention on my next trip, it is working ok so far, although once again the job required doing twice, as the pump body is scored and failed to pump water at the first attempt. Time will tell if the problem manifests itself again, or not.

Better weather forecast for the next few days, so hope to take a trip to Lincoln next.