A wander round the town on foot replenished the purses, the larders, found no post(!) at the Post Office, and discovered a shop selling sports goods, from where an aerosol of silicone was bought, to try to keep out the expected rains from some of the "weatherproofs". Continuing north up the canal, a short way past the diamond lock, on a nice deep (and fast!) stretch, the engine temperature suddenly soared - its amazing how quickly you can shut the throttle and pull the engine stop, when you need to, before the gauge goes ballistic! A rapid foray was made into the reeds to hold the boat against the current, and then temporary "mooring" with the boathooks using the reeds as "fastenings", while the engine was given a chance to cool down. The source of the trouble was that the engine has two cooling circuits, the usual one using a skin tank, and a second one using a belt-driven Jabsco pump and an intercooler set in the weed hatch ( an item NOT in use on account of its being nowadays below the water level - reverse being far more effective in weed-clearance!) The hose connections above the hatch cover, to the intercooler below, were not serrated, and one of the flexible hoses had come adrift, and all the cooling water now resided in the bilge! A new jubilee clip, a few gallons of River Cherwell water, and we were back in business - no leaks, and the engine happy again.
The Junction at Duke's Cut
Somerton Deep Lock.
Ship's Mate/Chief Mutineer shows off her boat-handling skills!
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