Bobby

Hairy Christmas and Flappy New Ears to everybody. Now, where's me pint? ( ) Bobby.

Looks like somebody has got into the Christmas Spirit somewhat early Bobby.

What about icebergs? Bobby.

I had one the other day from somebody wanting to transfer a substantial amount of funds from Zimbabwe and they wanted me to give my bank details so they could use my account for transferring the money. They wanted me to click on a highlighted link to do this. I sent it to my e mail provider by clicking the "this is spam" button. I may be past my sell by date but.................! Bobby.

Ooo er! New oi dunnow waat a ziggy is bor. Sewns peinful. Bobby.

Incidentally, if anybody is thinking of fitting a car alarm to their boat, make sure that the live feed is taken off on the battery side of the main battery switch and covered by a suitable fuse. Details for proper fitting are covered by the BSS regs. Bobby.

In the light of so many thefts not only on the Broads but on many rivers all over the country I think that the best deterrent is to lock your boat to something very secure on the bank and use proper security hardened locks and chains. The proper locks and chains may seem expensive compared with the cheap mickey mouse products but they certainly are a deterrent to all but the most determined thieves. With regards to alarm systems, my own boat is fitted with a simple car alarm with an over one hundred decibel siren concealed in the cockpit area which has frightened off more than one ar****le. Bobby.

Whilst being an excellent type of boat to bang around the canal system I really think that narrowboats are out of place on the Broads. In saying that, Potter Heigham Bridge? No problems. Bobby.

It is a good idea to check the weed filter after venturing up that piece of river. There is a lot of chopped up streamer weed suspended in the water. Bobby.

Having moored at Horstead many times in my own boat I can agree that the river can be very weedy and shallow on that stretch. It is no wonder that hire fleets give it a big no no. For private boats, if you moor on the right hand side at Horstead (going upstream) it is handy for shopping and petrol if you have a petrol boat. Best moor on the left if you want the pub. On the right hand side, the meadow has many ditches and if you do not know the way back and do not have a strong torch it is difficult to find your boat at night. Bobby.

When I was about eighteen my father persuaded me to accompany the family on a Broads holiday. This was in the days of the old wooden Ferry Pioneers. The rivers were in flood and the winds were high. Dad always bought a paper in the morning and nothing was going to stop him from getting it. There was a small gap on the moored boats at Horning. "Nose it in there boy" dad commanded, standing on the foredeck. I had a few attemts, fighting the current and wind and trying to avoid some kids in a rubber dinghy and it was almost impossible. Dad was adamant that nothing was going to stop him getting his paper. "Hurry up" he said, so I did. I nosed the boat into the quayside and accidentally threw the throttle into forward gear instead of reverse to stop the boat.Oops!The bows hit the quayside and dad flew off the foredeck and landed flat on his face. He picked himself up and limped off to get his precious paper. He never said a word on his return, just glared at me. Well, I did tell him it was a bit difficult and beyond my capabilities. To this day, some fifty years later I still have the picture in my mind of dad's rather portly backside dissappearing over the bows of The old Ferry Pioneer. Bobby.

It would no doubt be similar to the River Thames in flood conditions. They have a system of yellow and red boards at the locks. Hire craft must moor when yellow boards are exhibited, private craft may proceed. When red boards are exibited private craft are advised to stop. They can proceed but if there is an accident the insurance company may in certain circumstances void their insurance. Therefore, if you are told to stop then you do so or shell out of your own pocket if there is an accident. I suppose it depends on the size of the private craft. If it is a seagoing craft then no problem. However, if it is a bobby little craft such as mine then I would not want to take her across Breydon in the near hurricane conditions such as we have just seen. Anything over a two foot wave and I head for the pub. I have done it in a gale and it was great fun hopping over the waves but it is not reccommended for the inexperienced navigator or if the boat is not up to scrach especially with regards to the engine. Regards. Bobby.

No I am not referring to those pontoons. I heard about the quayside moorings a number of years ago but the information was sketchy and then I forgot about them altogether. However, pontoons were referred to. Never mind, I will continue to use my favorite method of visiting Gt Yarmouth. I moor the boat at Potter Heigham and get the bus. I have an old codger's bus pass so it doesn't cost a bean. I just need to take care regarding the time of the last bus back. Bobby.

Thanks for the reply. I was given the impression that pontoons would be installed there. As they have not I think I will give the moorings a miss, especially consitering the current there. Kind regards. Bobby.

Gt Yarmouth went up somewhat in my estimation since a Wetherspoons pub was opened there. !!! Bobby.

Hi everybody. Somewhere in the mists of time I seem to remember somebody telling me that there were some public moorings for private vessels down below Haven Bridge. Is this correct? if so could somebody let me know the following information: Are they pontoon moorings? Are charges levied, if so where are they paid? Are harbour dues charged, if so, where are they paid? Has any anti social behaviour been experienced whilst moored there? Many thanks. Bobby.

Thanks Tan and Alan. Hopefully I can make some useful posts to the forum. Kind regards. Bobby.

It is heartening to hear that the Bittern has reached the Southern Broads. I have never had the privelige of seeing one. A couple of years ago in the Spring I was moored at Hickling Sound and heard the Bitterns booming over the marshes. I was also treated to the sight of a Barn Owl silently swooping over my boat. What a wonderful evening, I was also treated to a spectacular red Norfolk sunset. Bobby.

We must not lose sight of the fact that this is nature at work and is all part of the food chain of the raptors. No doubt that the farming community would be quite happy that another pidgeon has met its end and provided a meal for the sparrowhawk. I am happy too as wood pidgeons visit my garden and steal all the food I put out for my sparrows. Bobby.