VetChugger

Thanks, generally you are both confirming my suspicions on the accessories. The package does look attractive at first glance. I think its a likely case of misrepresentation as far as the supposed three lenses go. How you can describe a screw on convertor as an interchangable lense is stretching it some! I hear what you say about Nikon Jonzo but I'm past the make consideration having spent a good deal of time comparing and drooling! I did notice the likely import status and US warranty Mark and have actually sent a question to the seller asking about the status of this in the UK. No answer as yet. Thanks again Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

I am a bare whisker away from investing in a Canon EOS 450d. I'm convinced by the camera itself and the standard 18-55mm lens but am being "seduced" by the offers of extras. The following Ebay link promises allsorts of toys to go with it and appears to suggest that the package includes three lenses! On examination though I reckon these are simple convertors and not actual interchangable lenses. They screw on by the filter thread. So my question is do these actually work without loss to image quality? Or am I better just going for the camera and lense and adding other equipment as finances allow! http://tinyurl.com/pdd3ru I'm not sure if the tripods, flash etc are worth anything in terms of the price? Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

"Sovereign" is the same as "Royall Commander" which we have had a few times now. More often than not, will go under Wroxham and Beccles bridges if you get the timings right. Will only go under Potter when the levels are low. A great boat with a good layout and plenty of room but, as you have noticed, not cheap. "Clear Horizon" will offer as much chance as most other boats of getting under all the bridges. Both boats are from a good yard and you will get great service. My only caution would be to suggest that you spend the extra for the extra space as you have already mentioned, space restrictions and making up beds can be irritating! Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Or it just happens to be Newark Boat Jumble next weekend! One of the better ones as far as genuine "rummage" stalls are concerned! Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

I too share this enthusiasm for wood! I marvel at some of the boats I see and at the pictures posted here. However, with my practical head on, my ideal boat would (no pun intended) be a GRP hull and wooden topsides. Some of those Ernest Collins boats would suit me just dandy! Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

I regularly read PcPro and have quite a bit of faith in their "A list" and the way they review and grade equipment. The current recommendation for ink jet is the Canon Pixma iP4600. At around £70 its not a bad price but, as has been pointed out, the real cost is in feeding the thing! Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Its beginning to sound like The Ferry Inn at Stokesby! It must have been around that time that the extension come games room was added. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

I think you will find that is exactly what is happening. Old Mardler = Bill Maxted = Broadland Riverine Boatcraft = claret & cream boats needing a new lease of life! Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Reading between the lines from "another place" it sounds as though Maffett and Pacific are bringing some of the "Old Mardler's" boats back into service. Not before time either. They looked sadder and sadder year on year. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

What is the one that the Sea Scouts or cadets have up in Norwich? The one that's moored next to that hideous wooden floating Chinese eatery? Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

I'm sure most of these products do have some sort of value in use but I suspect they are a bit like all those multi coloured packets of bait you see in a tackle shop! They are there to "catch" the angler rather than the fish. All the promises made on some of the bottles would mean they are wonder fluids. Having said all that, I fell for it too..... I've been using a product called "Fuelset" for a number of years now and never had a fuel problem. Who is to say I would have had a problem if I didn't use it? I don't know........ Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Only that if you work for the NHS and have an NHS email address you can get a full 25% discount on all 2008 hires. Not that there is much of 2008 left! Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Out of all those mentioned I would think "Shining Light" would have the better chance but this is never guaranteed! I'm surprised "Royall Diamond" failed unless levels were above average. That being one of the lower air draft boats. Why not get a "Juliette" or "Silver Jubilee" from Martham?? They have ways of getting them under........ Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

That's also an odd coincidence....... "Rapide" was also our last hire from Alphacraft. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Don't really want to start an arguement..... honest! But I can't believe you think Alpha's "Phantom" is a good all rounder! I've ranted about AlphaCraft's "Rapide" elsewhere before. This is a similar boat to "Phantom" and should really be higher rated because it is only set up for four. We would not hesitate in saying this was the worst boat we had ever been on. Two supposedly double cabins side by side at the stern were very cramped with the beds actually being singles slid together. The stateroom was comfortable but the arrangement of the table and seating is such that once you are all sat, that is where you stopped until everyone was done or everyone had to move! The shiney silver pole suggested interesting entertainment though! The inside helm is so far back in the stateroom that visibility and any idea as to where the bows are is guesswork. Worst of all was the up top steering position. Chronic backache after five minutes of that. We had Alpha's resident engineer out to the boat and he actually said that it was generally accepted at the yard that this was the worst design Alpha had ever come up with. Oddly enough we quite liked "Thunderbolt" except we felt it was a tad expensive for what it was. We too have been through most of Alpha's fleet right from the early 70's and our favourite boat then was originally called "Samarkand" and later renamed "Jaguar". Sadly there are no decent pictures of this around except a tired old photo of the boat at Reedham which I had and is in Craigs database. Nowadays we have two favourites really. The "Juliette" from Martham for layout, handling and pure nostalgic class although this was let down for us by very poor maintainance on our trip. This has now improved in huge strides I must add. Currently its "Royall Commander" (2) which we will be boarding next friday for the fourth year in succession. Can't wait !!! Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Looks like the Waveney above Beccles to me. Not many other places where the banks rise as in this picture. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

I reckon that's Old Hall Drainage Mill just below Stokesby on the Bure. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

We can only go by what we find as far as pubs are concerned and the smoking ban. I tend to think they are suffering. Just look at the Cross Keys in Dilham! Trevor (Landlord) told me last summer that he was considering giving up because of its effect on his trade and now he has. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

Mudweighted in the corner of Surlingham Broad yesterday in glorious weather, dangled my hook for a few hours and caught not a thing! Very peaceful though. Trevor www.normanboats.co.uk

I've spent quite some time at Irstead over the years. I would not have recognised it from those pictures in a year of sundays! Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

If that is a clue then its got to be Womack near Hunters Yard maybe?? Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

Is it the junction where the Nth Walsham & Dilham canal branches off just topside of Wayford bridge? Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

I could do with some myself! i sat on my boat watching a fella at the end of the mooring catching a netfull of bream during the summer. He was using only float fished bread! I do think you need to concentrate around the heavy weed beds though. Trevor

You've not been climbing Woods tower have you Clive? Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk

I thought I had explored every navigable part above the bridge Clive! Reading your post has me wondering now. What draft boat did you wander in? Can you explain a bit more about "off deep Dyke" "back channels and far reaches of Hickling" please? I'm not sure that I know where you mean. Trevor http://www.normanboats.co.uk