No big deal

FELLOW boat owners I know are all capable of a simple engine service so do it themselves, writes T. Lang.

I often check the oil in the engine and gearbox and feel if the belts are at the correct tension—and fill-up or tighten a belt if needed, which is no big deal.

Easy to do

After recording a certain number of engine hours I change the oil and fit a new filter, which is easy to do, of course tighten any loose belt that only requires a couple of nuts loosening then tightening and always make sure the engine water is topped-up.

As to the batteries these are sealed for life as most are nowadays, so need no attention, just replacing when they no longer hold a charge, so paying a fee of £150 that River Canal Rescue is asking to do the above is certainly a bit much, especially as a 'starting' fee means that there will be travelling time charged for the engineer to attend.

Of course a charge for oil and filters and possibly a belt would however not be extra as this would be needed no matter who did the work.