FAST thinking by RCR engineer helps a stroke victim.

Dean Burroughs

RCR engineers are known for their skills in diagnosing problems with boats but RCR’s junior engineer Dean Burroughs can add medical skills to his CV. Dean was recently attending a call to the refit of an outboard to a boat on the Weaver near Northwich when he noticed the owner beginning to slur his speech. 

Both Dean and the owners wife noticed but didn’t initially pursue the matter but a short time later Dean noticed the tell-tail facial droop associated with a stroke. With the owner now beginning to loose his balance Dean recognised the key pointers of a stroke and alerted the owners wife and the emergency services. The ambulance call takers assessed triaged the case over the phone and remained in contact providing advice and guidance until help arrived. Paramedics arrived on scene and they confirmed the diagnosis and rushed the gentleman off to hospital. Dean and his assistant Aaron Bushnell secured the vessel before leaving site after the ambulance crews left the scene. 

There is every chance that early intervention and the quick actions of the engineers may well have averted a more serious outcome as early intervention is imperative in the treatment of strokes. RCR understands that the member is now recovering in hospital and all at the company wish him well.

Crick 2012

If you are visiting Crick this year come and see us on stand KF23. We also have a stand near the water side for the chandlery so if you want to come and say hi we'd be glad to see you.

New Apps for Waterways Users.

Eureauweb, producers of Water-way - the only integrated cruising guide, route planner and sat nav for the inland waterways - have worked with RCR to produce a series of regional navigational apps for both the Android and iPhone platforms. The results are applications that provide mapping and local information directly related to the inland waterways user for just £5.99 per region.

Getting reliable and useful information relating to your location on the waterways has, in the past, meant looking at a map or guidebook or having a GPS-enabled laptop/PC on-board.  But with fast growing number of people having Smartphones, it was obvious that before long someone would come up with an app to use the functionality of new technology to provide all the information needed by boaters.

The ‘e-canalmapp’ apps have been specifically designed for boaters and provide instant information about location, places of interest and waterway information (locks, bridges, moorings, etc.).  In the future, the apps will include additional features that will help simplify claims and accident assessment, and may even be developed to have an 'panic' button in case of emergency. Features like this are currently provided by some automotive rescue services on their apps but this is a first for the waterways.

RCR will be providing one region of your choice to our members as a free membership benefit, with additional regions being available at a discount to members.  We will be launching this at Crick this year on stand KF46 in the Kingfisher Marquee, Crick Marina 1st - 4th June 2012 and anticipate a good take up.

Stephanie Horton, MD added, "RCR is very excited about this new development, part of our service to members is to deliver innovative solutions and services and this useful application is just one more example of this,...we know how valuable this will be which is why we have decided to offer this as a FREE download for all of our members....All RCR members will receive notification on how and where to download their regional map as soon as it is available, alternatively if members pop to the stand at crick we will help with installation and give them a demo of the software. These are exciting times for all boaters as we are starting to see technology being used to enhance the enjoyment of the waterways"

For more information on all River Canal Rescues services visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

So... just what is in our Tanks?

In 2011 River Canal Rescue the nationwide breakdown company for boats attended over 600 instances of fuel related breakdowns, with over 50% of these problems being related specifically to fuel contamination. In previous years contamination could be broken down to two main categories 1)water contamination and 2) diesel bug. However over the last 12 months the cases of unidentified fuel contamination issues has risen dramatically, and the knock on effect has resulted in fundamental components failing in the fuel system.


There is a clear correlation between the increase in diesel issues and the introduction of low sulphur diesel. The biggest down side of this diesel begin its absorption and attraction of water, which is resulting in higher cases of diesel bug and fuel emulsification. However Low sulphur diesel can also cause issues with rubber and components in the fuel system because is contains less lubricants, and eventually this lack of lubrication can result in faster degradation of these components, resulting in seizures, breakages and seal failures. Due to this range of problems most Insurance companies and parts suppliers will no longer cover claims or warrantees where fuel issues are suspected as the cause of the failure, and with an increase in these types of issues it is more important than ever to know... What is in your Tank?


River Canal Rescue has always advocate the use of treatments to combat water in the fuel and diesel bug, and for these problems these offer the best quick fix solutions, even though good maintenance and regular removal of water form you tank will give you the same protection.


However over the last 15 months RCR have seen a rise in contamination issues that are far from the norm, with visible issues causing the diesel to look anything from ‘hot chocolate’ to ‘orange’ to being completely clear, and creating a number of issues throughout the fuel system. 

Typical symptoms are non starting, erratic running, cutting out, but in addition RCR have found fuel pumps experiencing major failures. Injection pumps failures have increase dramatically as the new mixes and bio fuels result in failures of seals, pumps running ‘dry’ and internal rusting which have resulted in an increase of over 34% in these type of failures.


Working with a number of external independent testers and laboratory’s has highlighted the fact that this problem is not unique to the inland waterways. Every industry from ships, to aircraft, tractors to back up generators are experiencing similar issues.

Ian Roos of Fuel QC recently stated that ..... for some time now we have been working on a number of cases where fuel samples are taken from systems where there is frequent filter blocking issues but the samples present clear and bright with no visible contaminants. However on investigation the fuel is found to be filled with crystal.

Ian Roos of Fuel QC recently stated that .....

here is some debate as to the origin because we do not have a definitive test for it.

Companies are all capitalising on the key mistake a lot of people make in assuming the sludge they see, and the problems they have with fuel contamination is microbial. Statistically 95% of the cases we have been getting in the last two months is due to paraffin crystallisation in the fuel. 



Paraffin crystals form inside water droplets; growing bigger and thicker over time, it can appear as a white layer on the tank bottom or the crystals can remains in suspension in the mid-level of the tank, these crystals can be invisible but when they hit a filter they will compact and block up the system. 

There are a lot of explanations as to why new contaminates are being found suspended in fuel and the most likely explanation is that it is a side effect of other elements/contaminants being present, of which water is the most important. Given time to settle water does not normally remain suspended in fuel and therefore this behaviour is most likely caused by additives such as water emulsifiers, which lock the water in to the fuel. And it is these molecules that are the basis for the crystallisation to form.


RCR’s experiences are consistent with these findings, and they now suspect that more and more Paraffin or kerosene is appearing in ordinarily diesel. Additionally the use of different treatments and chemicals being added to fuel are creating a chemical concoction inside fuel tanks.


Over all although diesel bug is still affecting boaters regularly and water contamination is still a big problem, this new issue is as yet undefined and in addition there appears to be so many variations and strains that any coverall ‘treatment’ is unrealistic, no matter what any manufacturer tells you.

However there are things that boaters can do to limit there susceptibility to the current minefield of problems and solutions.

• Use reputable supplier
  
• Use same supplier if possible
  
• Remove water from tank on regular basis
  
• Choose a treatment that works for you and stick to it
  
• Take samples of fuel delivered. Check them before you accept the delivery.
  
• if buying cheap fuel – mix a sample with your current fuel to see if there is a reaction 
  

RCR’s Engineer of the Year.

Steve Hill and Aaron Forman have been awarded Engineer of the Year and Breakdown awards at River Canal Rescue’s recent AGM.  Aaron, who attended over 350 breakdowns in 2011 throughout his area which covers from Birmingham to London and includes Bristol, also broke the record for most breakdowns attended.

Steve was presented the Award for Engineer of the year which is based on a points system and assesses on a number of qualities including the number of any complaints made, stock control, temperament and attitude amongst a number of criteria.  Each award is held for the next year until they present it to the new winner. Pete Baker presented the engineer of the year award to the winner who wins use of the RCR  1P (RCR 1st place) number plate for the year as well as a cash prize, something which the two runners up also receive.

Stephanie Horton, RCR’s MD said that, “this award is a true reflection of the dedication of our engineers and the company to providing an excellent service for all our customers and the emphasis we place on the full package not just simply engineering skills.”

Pete Baker (r) presents Engineer of the Year award to Steve Hill

Aaron Forman with his award

Narrowboat Breakdown Guide

Towergate Insurance, has, with the help of River Canal Rescue, listed the five most common narrowboat breakdowns and how to avoid them on their website. It's worth having a look as they could save you time and money.

Breakdown Guide from Towergate Insurance Marine and River Canal Rescue.

Canal boat insurance provider, Towergate Insurance Marine, has joined forces with breakdown and recovery specialist, River Canal Rescue, to produce a Guide listing the five most common causes of emergency call-outs and how to avoid them.

Available online at www.towergateinsurance.co.uk (click on boat, then boat tips) and www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk (click on tips and advice), the Guide has been written in a bid to reduce the increasing number of people requiring rescue support. 

From January to September this year, River Canal Rescue responded to 3000 call-outs, yet for the whole of 2010 it made 1900 rescue visits.

Last year, the top five call-outs were; fuel issues and contamination 25%, batteries and electrical malfunctions 23%, breaking cables 12%, over-heating/cooling system breakdown 10% and gearbox/drive plate failures 7%.  These were closely followed by; problems with alternators 6%, fan belts 5%, propellers 4%, starters 4% and couplings 4%*.

As well as breakdown advice, the Guide offers general preventative maintenance and tool box contents tips, discusses how to solve problems before calling out a third-party and gives a word of warning about bio-diesel.

Towergate Insurance Marine Managing Director, Nigel Mills, comments: “Over a nine month period, it appears call-outs have shot up by 57%, so in line with our ethos to provide more than just insurance, we thought canal boat owners would find this Guide to be a useful reference tool.”

River Canal Rescue Managing Director, Stephanie Horton agrees: “Many callouts can be avoided by regular servicing/maintenance and learning about your engine.  This Guide will act as a prompt; encouraging owners to develop routines that will really help to keep unnecessary costs to a minimum and ensure a holiday or break is not spoiled by an ill-timed breakdown."

Canal boat owners taking out a Fresh Waters policy with Towergate Insurance Marine can either purchase River Canal Rescue support at a discounted rate or opt for a higher level of policy cover and receive it automatically.

For further breakdown information visit either of the websites and for insurance advice call 0800 515629 or 01743 284664.