At this time of year, when frosts are likely, a warning about the dangers of old and thus rusty rudder or deck drain tubes, You can't derust and paint the inside the tube so it will rust away and then if the water in it freezes may split. Most modern narrowboats have the rudder tube running right through the fuel tank so the first thing you know about a leak is either lots of water in the fuel or a rainbow trail behind the boat. In either case, the boat is very unlikely to sink. Older boats with an exposed rudder tube or deck drain tubes are not so lucky so if you can see any such tubes please spend a morning looking for damp patches on and around the tube and if there are none then scrap, clean and paint the tube. Make sure you have some self-amalgamating 'rubber' tape handy in case you cause a leak. If so wrapp the affected area put some worm drive hose clips around the tape to hold it in place until you can get the tube repaired.
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