River Canal Rescue (RCR) responded to 3335 callouts last year to help with issues such as electrical, fuel and engine problems, flat batteries, overheating and gearbox failures.
Despite RCR’s best endeavours, parts do break down. So what are the top 10 parts that cause boaters the most grief, and how much do they cost to replace?
Fuel filters: £5-£35
Cables: £20-£140
Batteries: £100-£280
Alternators: £70-£270
Starter motors: £140-£600 (£1200 for Vetus)
Gearboxes: £650-£2600
Fan belts: £15-45
Drive plates: £90-£190
Fuel pumps: £50-£850
Couplings: £100-£600
Just outside the top 10 are water pumps (caused by seal failures, wear and tear, impeller break up and sheared components), morse controllers (wear and tear) and engine mounts (hitting underwater obstacles, wear and tear, age, rubber degrading, misalignment and bolts shearing).
The majority of replacement part call-outs are due to damp getting into electrical components, excessive or harsh use, vibration, accidental damage, wear and tear, the effect of pollutants such as diesel, oil or anti-freeze, old-age and misalignment of parts.
Ninety per cent of RCR’s jobs are sorted the same day, as engineers carry a range of spares, but it can take up to 48 hours if parts specific to the boat have to be ordered.
Get in touch with River Canal Rescue here
