As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on households across the UK, River Canal Rescue (RCR) says its Replacement Parts Cover (RPC) is helping boaters keep expenses under control.
Included as standard with RCR’s bronze, silver and gold memberships, RPC covers both the cost of specified replacement parts and labour following sudden, unforeseen mechanical breakdowns.
Last year RCR’s attended 2,057 general call-outs — covering issues such as electrical faults, fuel and engine problems, flat batteries, overheating and gearbox failures — with RPC covering around £115,000 of repair costs, saving boaters significant sums.
RCR managing director, Stephanie Horton, says: “One of the biggest unexpected costs for boaters is the failure of major components. Here, we highlight the 10 parts most likely to cause problems, explain why they fail and outline the typical cost of replacement.”
| Part | Reason for failure | Cost (dependent upon type) |
| Fuel filters | Contamination. | £5 – £35 |
| Cables | Wear and tear, routed incorrectly. | £20 – £140 |
| Batteries | Misunderstanding around what battery to use, its electrical capacity, charging levels and lack of attention to electrical connections. | £100 – £280 |
| Alternators | Misalignment, fan belt too tight, electrical faults, damp. | £70 – £370 |
| Starter motors | Over-use, damp, electrical faults, over-tightening of parts. | £160 – £700 |
| Gearboxes | Lack of servicing and being heavy-handed. | £650 – £2600 |
| Fan belts | Wear and tear | £15-45 |
| Drive plates | Hitting underwater obstacles, stern gland too tight, misaligned engine, excessive vibration due to worn engine mounts, engine revs too high. | £120 – £300 |
| Fuel pumps & injection pumps | Blockages, contamination and fuel pipe degrading. | £75 – £1100 |
| Couplings | Hitting underwater obstacles, snapped bolts, stern gland to tight, misalignment. | £100 – £800 |
Outside the top 10 are water pumps, typically affected by seal failure, wear and tear, impeller break-up and sheared components, morse controllers (wear and tear) and engine mounts, which can fail due to impact with underwater objects, ageing, rubber degradation, misalignment and bolt failure.
Most replacement part call-outs are caused by damp affecting electrical components, excessive or harsh use, vibration, accidental damage, general wear and tear, contamination from substances such as diesel, oil or antifreeze, plus age and misalignment.
Around 80% of RCR jobs are resolved on the same day, as engineers carry a range of common spare parts. However, return visits are often required for more complex components such as gearboxes, injection pumps, starters, alternators, morse controllers, couplings and fuel pumps. Boat-specific parts, including drive plates and engine mounts, need to be ordered.
RPC is included in all levels other than retainer, but this can be added to retainer membership for £65 per year. RPC covers up to £1,000 per claim, with a £50 excess, offering added peace of mind while cruising.
For more information, visit: https://www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk/replacement-parts/
