(Not) running on empty

We are setting off to do the Cheshire Ring tomorrow, and as we will be starting off northwards, towards Manchester, it made sense to bring Eileen up to Keckwick Lane bridge, close to the house, so we could load up more easily in the morning, and at the same time have a half hour head start. So I set off with the dogs to walk to the marina, a bit more than two miles, thus exercising them and at the same time going to collect Eileen.

We got aboard and prepared to set off. I was a little surprised when I started her, that the fuel gauge seemed to be on zero, as I was sure we had plenty of diesel. However as I pulled away from the pier the engine stuttered and died - clearly the gauge had been spot on. I was just too far gone to get back on the pier, so we drifted across the marina and up against a pier with liveaboard boats. By very good luck we happened to end up at a spot where there was a gap just big enough to take Eileen, so by a little manoeuvring with the pole I got her tied up, explaining to someone on the next boat why they suddenly had an unexpected neighbour.

There was nothing for it but to get some fuel, but first I had to get the dogs home - on foot. They were very confused when I got them off the boat, because the way to land was now forward, whereas we had approached from the stern when we arrived. It took a lot of tugging to get them going in the right direction, very tricky on a narrow wooden jetty with four confused and eager dogs.

After walking them home I drove to Thorne Marine in Stockton Heath, and bought two 10l containers, which were then filled with diesel. I also had a long discussion with the man about how to bleed the air out of a diesel system which has run dry, and get the fuel running again - involving undoing each link in the fuel feed and getting the liquid running through.

Back to the marina, and I decanted the fuel into the tank. While doing that I inspected the locking filler cap, because it was clear to me now that we have had the diesel stolen - the logbook shows that the last time we ran her we finished with half a tank. Sure enough the locking cap isn't locking - even with the key in the on position the cap still unscrews. I don't know whether it has simply deteriorated, or if the thief broke it, but either way we will need a new one.

Once the fuel was in I thought I would give the engine a spin to see if it might start, and to my surprise it caught instantly - as Loulie said when I rang to tell her - "What a great boat!" I squeezed back out of the hole I was in, with some difficulty, and then cruised down the canal to Keckwick, as planned but rather later. I moored up, and we have already put some supplies (mostly liquid) on board ready for the start of the trip tomorrow.

Eileen moored opposite Daresbury Labs