NB Granny Buttons and I moved from outside Blisworth Marina late on Friday afternoon, to Braunston on Sunday afternoon.
Shortly after leaving Gayton Junction I noticed my oil and battery charge lights glowing in the dusk. It turned out to be that my alternator had failed, though I didn't know that at the time. I tied up at Bugbrooke overnight and on Saturday morning phoned River Canal Rescue for advice.
This is the second time in three weeks that I've called on RCR, and it was only six weeks ago that I rejoined, long after my membership lapsed. Frankly, I haven't have made a better decision in ages. I got the Silver membership, £105 a year, which entitles me to up to 5 callouts a year, and a few other benefits – only, I don't remember the small print .
Well, not only did the RCR engineer (Kerry) make a quick diagnosis over the phone, but because I was still motoring happily (so long as the batteries held out) he suggested a rendezvous 45mins and a couple of bridges beyond Weedon, and said he'd bring a replacement alternators of Granny's type.
The timescale on Saturday 14th:
10.23am - I called RCR on 0800 071 8021
10.35 - The engineer called me back 12mins later (I missed it, but returned the call)
11:08 - He rang to say he'd sourced a replacement alternator, and arranged the rendezvous for an hour later at a specific bridge (where he said access and parking would be easier.
12:00 – I arrived at the appointed bridge – and sure enough mooring was easy and access to the quiet road over the canal was easy.
12:13 – He arrived, and parking was easy too. He replaced the alternator in about an hour, and on firing the engine it gave a very healthy charge. Diagnosis absolutely correct.
I paid for the alternator via phone to RCR head office - £70.
Thank heavens I renewed in January, because while I didn't save anything on the replacement alternator itself, because the original failed while I was cruising, its fitting turned out to be included in my membership.
RCR Engineer Kerry, incidentally, was the main engineer in the photos in my earlier post on RCR here). I asked him if he was a boater, and he said no. He'd been in diesel road vehicle maintenance, but jumped at the chance to join RCR five years ago and still loves it.
"It's so much less stress, working on boats," he told me. "You get to drive around lovely countryside, and when you arrive, it's a nicer atmosphere, and the boaters are much happier to see you, and they'll get the kettle on while you work, and… " [etc, etc. ].
Just as Kerry finished the work, fellow blogger Halfie arrived, on his friend's boat Willow, and shortly afterwards, Alan and Frances of the blog (and boat) Lazy Days turned up. They timed it perfectly!
That is so good to know, we are members and have never used the service, but we will definitely be renewing...
Posted by: Dave Baynham | Monday, 16 March 2009 at 12:31 PM