Modifications

We had a morning appointment at Braunston Bottom Lock with Justin of JG Marine.  I had arranged for Justin to fit a diesel Fuel Purifiner to provide greater protection against contaminated fuel getting to the engine.  Whilst the Beta 43 came with a Wasp Separator which is designed to remove water and sediment we were also concerned about the dreaded fuel bug.  The Wasp is fitted with a fine wire mesh filter and does a good job.  But the Purifiner appears to do an even better job of filtering the fuel.  Moreover it is easier to drain as it has a tap on the base.

The first thing Justin did was to turn off the diesel tank isolation cocks and remove the Wasp.

He then modified the mounting bracket to accept the Purifiner.

The new mounting bracket was made long enough to mount the original Wasp separator beside the Purifiner.

I was initially concerned that having an additional filter may starve the engine of fuel but Justin assured me this wouldn’t be a problem.  We now have three diesel fuel separators/filters in line.

We were about to reverse off the finger jetty and winded (turned) Waiouru in the adjacent clear space of water when nb Sundowner passed.  A female voice on the bow with flat kiwi vowels called to the rest of the crew “Look it’s Waiouru!” More damned Kiwis choking up the canals.  The word is certainly circulating!

In the afternoon Daniel invited me to walk into Daventry.  Jan gave us a shopping list and we headed off down the towpath.  I had intended to take a few photos of the Braunston Tunnel ventilation ducts which appear in the middle of the farmer’s fields.  But it was raining on the way to Daventry so I decided to take the photos on the return journey.  However Daniel Christopher Columbus decided to use his iPhone to navigate back to Waiouru.  At one stage I mentioned we were actually walking back to Daventry but was told “Don’t worry, there’s a sharp right turn soon!”  We found ourselves walking down an old railway alignment which gradually became a very muddy drain with low overhanging vegetation.  Eventually we cut across the fields and ended up at the Braunston end of the tunnel.  Consequentially none of the planned photos were taken.