C.Ricko

Vaughn, did the main shed ever get locked? in my time the door was always left unlocked as some of the longer term staff were convinced that sometimes when it was locked at night it would be unlocked in the morning! When the yard closed and my friend lived there the door was wedged firmly open!

a few 'Woods daybooks here and there, I think my launch was in the Powles fleet in the 50s as she was built in a class of 6 ....

we had loch Invar on the yard during the summer..

from memory from Richardsons there is a Tranquil, Broadsventure a few swiftways... may be more about these are in the water...

yep, he lives in Wayford, go see John..

Mally K who lives on a boat at Wayford broke sundog at Geldeston, he also lived on her.. I bought Broadsventure off him, he saved my boat off the fire.

Swan Rhapsody had already sold..

bit uncomfortable! I prepared for all the wrong questions! all achievable with a fantastic team behind me and at the coal face. I think we won it as we had a 5 year plan and have stuck to it, we also work with some great partners in achieving what we do. cheers.

didn't work on my mac, bit annoying as I now can't read the forum as often as it isn not 'at a glance' I think I miss most of what is put up.. I appreciate it is me being a bit dim.

It is the hull shape which makes it hard, also the more room in a cabin leaves less space for wardrobes, also the separate cabins as opposed to walk through rooms..

someone had asked if we would sell one as they preferred it to a princess, the enquiry has not been followed up so is in the fleet for next year, (this could be changed though) We will take any of the pre 90s boats out of the fleet for the right offer. (or any boat come to that!)

great theory, if all expenses matched income then all is well. I think there needs to be more of this thinking!.

how does a boatyard offset its tolls against tax? I suspect the 0.05 reduction in multiplier will make less odds than the 15 boats I am removing..

too many trees now.

Get Phil at moonfleet to quote, we will do it on site or round the corner. not always the cheapest but it will be done right (not suggesting otherwise of others)

bigger yards have different costs and restraints that the 'one man band' can ignore. sounds a bit unfair to suggest big yards rake it in, the answer is to diversify, and try to find something which pays, a bit like if you think you don't get paid enough for the job you do.

Senator, No solid info, I suspect the average is higher than one meal a day, a few of the cookers are not used at all it seems.. as for drinking from Tescos, I think that is a general trend in all areas.

It is a real shame there is little or no understanding on the hire boat industry and the benefits to the area, it will be moving disillusioned operators closer to the decision to retire, there will be little or no progression as it is a way of life for most operators. We will be removing 15 boats this year which will need replacing by about 40 private boats. this equates to over 300 weeks on the broads which at average 6 people if eating one meal a day is 12,600 meals the 40 private boats if out for 3 weeks each is not in the same ball park by way of supporting the local economy. Leave the dicky works there, if the authority can't afford to move them then don't! Not inspiring news for any boat owner.

It looks either as if there was a minor fire in your boat, or someone has tried to stop rot by burning the edges of the wood..

Hi Clive, We are referring the George smiths picnic boats and putting new flooring in the day boats.. The film crew was doing a promotional video for our WIFI provider..

Arnott Fowler designed plenty http://norfolk.broads.org.uk/wiki/index.php5?title=Arnott_Fowler both ends of the Broads too!

Wow! great pictures, I lived in that house for a while before it totally fell apart! the lift was the original, it got moved over the road which is where I think it still is!

nope, this is a boat we moulded for Phoenix, we are moulding two for ourselves from the Phoenix mould next, then we may get time to start (or carry on with ) the picnic boat! I think the two we make ourselves will be shared between Moonfleet and Fineway.

really nice guy too, I crewed for him a few times and got shouted about once but hey, thats normal for me! always had time for a chat, a sad loss.

I have known him for years, done me a few favours, he is retiring soon!