pks1702

We look forward to seeing some images. I noticed you were planning a Broads holiday first two weeks of September so hopefully some images to post from that trip.

I had a new prop 'made to measure' and as part of this Clement checked my prop shaft tolerance. I had a full tour of the facility and can't recommend them highly enough. http://www.clementsmarine.co.uk/propeller-shafts See the PDF for more info The surprise on the prop was that the 'made to measure' prop cane in less than a Vetus 'off the peg' and the service received stunning.

Nice images Mark. Nothing better than a great sunset and a drink in hand

Well spotted Ian, I have never seen that before Nice photos

Hi Dave, The son of a mate of mine worked here until recently. http://wattsons.co.uk/ They do Teak for Fairline, Sunseeker etc but also do all sorts of other stuff I am sure will help. Not Suffolk or North Essex but Thrapston Northants just off the A14.

I can only make comment on stuff I have used Dave so know nothing about Semco but this is the UK outlet http://www.onwardtrading.com/shopsect_B ... 20Products I have used Teak Wonder which is the product many Chandelery's stock, and was unimpressed with it. I have also used Starbrite again not a patch on the Wessex two part. Look forward to hearing how you get on.

Hi Dave, Thank goodness someone has advised you not to use Teak Oil I have a fair bit of Teak on Kiki both cockpit and side decks so this is a subject close to my heart. The best solution I have found by far is the two part stuff sold by Wessex Marine http://www.teakcleaner.co.uk/index.php They have a couple of video's on how to use it http://www.teakcleaner.co.uk/about.php I can assure you the results are excellent. At the beginning of the 'season' I was all the Teak and agitate it to remove winter gunge and give it the 'Wessex' treatment. Sadly I have no before or after photo's to show you but the results are excellent.

Warmth and sunshine helps a bit too

Hi Jupes, Intending to not have such a leisurely hop south but have a long day on the first day to get from Sarasota down to Cabbage Key then Sanibel area possibly Naples/Marco Island. I would love to get down to the Keys but at over 300 miles it is a bit too much for the week we have. We will then head back up to Charlotte Harbour where the cruising area is idyllic with many small islands. For planning I know the area reasonably well but visited West Marine on a previous non boat based trip for a Florida Cruising guide and charts. This sort of thing http://www.amazon.com/Doziers-Waterway- ... _pe_s_cp_4 If you can ever go - do it! The whole area is absolutely geared for boating. If you go on the Inter Coastal at any point and come to a bridge Marine traffic has priority; it will be open by the time you arrive, after Reedham & Somerleyton it is very refreshing

I got bored the other night so married a few pictures and a bit of video to some Jimmy Buffett..... All booked for next year so something to look forward to during the winter.

If you do Mark The Pier is worth a stop. Sunday Lunch was very good but top end as we wanted a confirmed booking this was our best option. The Bistro looked good but does not take bookings but worth a look. http://www.milsomhotels.com/thepier/ http://www.milsomhotels.com/pdf/Menu_Pd ... roMenu.pdf

No problem mooring there but it can get a bit bouncy in a w-sw anything much. Details here http://online.hhait.net/library/files/2 ... 10D467.PDF

A very odd weekend weather wise and one which the forecasters got totally wrong (even the normally reliable Simon Keeling) 7 's were forecast on Saturday so we had no thoughts of going anywhere much Saturday. Just before arrival at 20.30 on Friday we got a call from the crew of Binky inviting us down for a drink. By almost 2100 we had unloaded and wandered down to Binky to find the crew of Kingfisher ensconced with much hilarity. It soon became apparent that the festivities had kicked off at 1630 and we arrived nearing full time! Carron bless her furnished us with drinks and an enjoyable couple of hours ensued, I think some though having done 'extra time' were feeling it a bit on Saturday. With the forecast of poor weather Saturday fitting a third bilge pump had a calling. Kiki has one forward one in the engine room but nothing in the lazerette. Non of this would be an issue normally but the bulkheads between each section are getting on for 12" high so any ingress has to be pretty bad before the water spills to the next bulhead. After a chat with David he confirmed a third bilge pump in the lazerette was the best bet. We put a shallow pump at the lowest point of the bilge and connected reinforced hose pipe which was routed through the bilge to point around 6" above the water line and in line with the bottom gas outlet so it matched. I then had a bottom clencher after drilling a pilot hole of using a hole saw which as it broke though some wag shouted 2crikey that is below the water line" drilling holes in your ship never seems right! Bilge Pump fiited Yikes a hole in the side! One way Valve Skin fitting and hose in situ David had 'knocked' me up a wiring harness what a job it was fitted with a blade fuse holder that indicated a fuse failure, boot lace end pieces (no wiring in bare wires) heat shrink sleeves over the crimps and even heat shrink name denoting what the wiring related to Sunday had again been forecast poor so we headed across to Harwich and had lunch at The Pier. Harwich is a place we all transit past but if you have a spare couple of hours it is worth a visit. I can thoroughly recommend the Pier which has a restaurant and bistro. View from the table Lightship LV18 is now a floating exhibition including its connections. http://www.feuerschiffseite.de/SCHIFFE/ ... lv18gb.htm http://www.broadcasting-fleet.com/mebo3.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/pirate/lv18.shtml She was the star of a film about the pirates too. Now returned to her original paint job but with some reminders. Getting back to Shotley there was all sorts getting under our feet!

Signs all over the place Sheriff JW Pepper For those that don't know said Sheriff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cP1ICm10Kk

I think that is 1 of 1 so not difficult to work out whose it is! I agree in principle with your idea but it is wash more than speed that causes the issue. Try doing 3mph with an ebbing tide passed BA Moorings at Berney or those at Burgh Castle and to a lesser extend Reedham, it is not possible and maintain steerage but you will harldy make a ripple. Therefore it would mean BA Ranger using discretion; most that patrol the most tidal areas do seem to understand this but I can think of one in particular who clearly does not There are already bylaws in place re wash http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/broa ... ws1992.pdf But this is as you say relatively subjective i.e. when does a 10" wave become 13"? Your idea would work but I would suggest the BA would have to exempt certain BA moorings in tidal locations.

It was a great weekend Mark, the weather clearly helped. Fireworks

Whoops should have updated this over the last weeks...... So this weekend it was Ipswich Maritime Festival this event seems to be growing in stature year on year. We had a couple of berths booked (which was just as well as all marina's in the Wet Dock were full and turning people away) http://www.waterfrontaction.co.uk/Marit ... fault.html Programme of events - http://www.ipswichevents.co.uk/Maritime ... ammev1.pdf The whole town in and around the waterfront seemed to have been taken over by the festival, a great atmosphere. The weather was as we all know was glorious and this had people flocking in their hordes. As the programme shows there was a mass of stuff going on with all sorts of mock battles and gunfire The Wet Dock was very sheltered from what little breeze there was goodness knows what temperatures got to but there appeared many tenders on the water in an effort to keep cool. As ever there was the odd loony, we heard a crash a guy and his son in a RIB were weaving around at too high speed (in the dock) hit a wall and flipped the RIB over. Fortunately they had the sense to be wearing Life Jackets which deployed and a kill cord which stopped the engine. David bless him was out in his tender in seconds and with the help of Merlyn who was wandering along the waterside they managed to turn the RIB over. The Old Gaffers were meeting at Ipswich as part of a weeks cruise and were absolutely crammed in to the normal visitors moorings at Haven. Plenty of wood, tar and cloth in evidence so best to keep the Swan Vesta's under wraps http://www.oldgaffersassociation.org/ea ... allery.htm Around 2100 in the evening there was a mock battle across the wet dock with plenty of Musket fire and a firework display which was excellent. To get a better view we took to the tenders and moored in the wet dock and old mud weight I have on board as an 'angel' for anchoring and some extra string allowed us to anchor for grandstand views. Crew Of Kingfisher Just Chilling A find for lunch Fun for all Old (relatively) New Military Presence Gaffers Finding a front row seat for the Fireworks I have some footage of the Fireworks which I will post later.

Thanks for that Paul, Good to hear they sound to have settled into their new lifestyle, I will wondering know. Lovely couple.

What a fantastic journey and Paul very envious. Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to post I know this is time consuming but it gives us great pleasure to read and follow your trip. You certainly get my vote for post of the year The Misty you mention.... Is this a White Steel Yacht with and English Gent and a French Lady? If so they were berthed behind us at Shotley for some weeks we got to know them quite well. They were off to Gibraltar (or the yacht was with a delivery crew and they were meeting it there) a few of us in the marina were only wondering the other week how they were getting on with their new life. Thanks again.

I heard this a few weeks ago but Cobelfret have ceased the Ipswich-Rotterdam service for freight traffic, last service is today. It was only last year they dredged for the larger vessels! Sad for Ipswich port but less to dodge I guess. Stena have taken on the vessels to use on their Harwich - Rotterdam EADT report. http://www.eadt.co.uk/business/harwich_ ... _1_1484923

Good to hear from you Steve. Hope you are well.

The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.

My money was on you Trevor!

Nice pictures Mark. Looks like you had a good time. Sorry it was a fleeting cheerio at Shotley, I did not get down until almost 2100 on Friday and thought I would wander round on Saturday. On getting up Saturday I saw life jackets going on so dashed round to say cheerio. Hope the trip back went OK.

The negative comments are in my view very much in the minority have a look through this thread viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6722&hilit=rc45 If nothing moved on it would remain the same we would still be driving model T Fords in Black.... I think as John alluded in his first post the wash is minimal she gets under the bridges that are a restriction to other boats so must therefore fits the bill as a proper Broads boat even under the AA's definition. There are some though who believe in 'tradition' but even they are wrong as we would all still be using coracles I wonder if the folk using Coracles thought the same The sorts of modern craft are more likely to attract first time boating families.