NeilB

I’m sure there used to be a shop immediately upstream of Brooms, can remember mooring outside early 90’s? When did that close?

Faircraft probably have a good relationship with Ferry marina! Not so keen on the aesthetics of Ferry’s new boats though.

There's a Magic roundabout in Hemel Hempstead as well, it has 6 mini roundabouts on it as opposed to 5 at Swindon. I don't live close to it anymore but it was quite easy to negotiate.

As promised earlier here’s a couple of photos of the grand union at Warwick frozen over. Kate Boats hire season starts on Friday- if they can move!!

Not much snow in Warwick, just a covering although pretty cold. I'm suffering from man flu with the addition of an ear infection - in both ears !! So working from home for a few days with the benefit of an excuse to ignore the wife as I struggle to hear her ! Pretty sure my hearing will improve when she announces the banana muffins she is baking are ready though !! If more snow appears today or tomorrow I'll wander down to the canal and take some boaty photos of it iced over. In the meantime it's time for some more antibiotics, they are the size of torpedoes and I'm not sure if I need to swallow them or hammer them into my ears !!

Nothing like this in the Warwick area - yet!! I can see a huge explosion in fly tipping.

I’ve just thought of a great business idea ! I could rent my mum out to single parents who want to cruise with under 18’s, she would need help on and off the boat though. She loves the Broads. She is happy to quietly sit looking out the window at the scenery. Doesn’t mind where you cruise. Doesn’t drink alcohol anymore or eat much food. Is a really good cook. Has good knowledge of the Broads dating back to the 50’s. She does know how to drive a boat but is half blind so it’s probably not a good idea to let her near a steering wheel. Knows it takes 190 turns on the winch to close the roof on Richardson’s San Francisco !! Lots of experience with children and has a frown that would stop a riot in Cairo !!

Yes I remember them ! Think they even made a few posts but cannot remember if it was here or the other site. 3 years ago I took my mum for a weekend break on San Francisco. She was 82 with wobbly legs and dodgy eyesight but is classed as an adult, I was effectively single handed. My 12 year old son is nearly 6ft, not far from me in terms of strength and probably a lot more sensible but far more helpful on a boat than my mum. I could still take my mum who is even more wobbly than before but not any of my children. I appreciate a line has to made somewhere but a little bit of discretion based on the hirers experience would be nice.

I wonder what these “incidents” were? We’ve all heard lots of stories about boat loads of yobs but I cannot recall any any issues with solo hirers.

Sounds like Richardson’s need to review their insurance provider, maybe ask Bridgcraft for a recommendation!!

Great topic ! My parents had been boating on the Broads since the early 50’s so I was sort of born into it really. First trip was apparently about 2 months before I was born !!! Since then it was usually a 2 week summer and a 1 week spring or autumn holiday, sometimes a boat & sometimes a riverside cottage and launch. When I hit 18 1/2 and finishing college / apprenticeship I started work in the marine industry and I’m still in it 27 years later! My wife is not too keen on boating but she does love Norfolk, luckily work provides the odd boating fix. Next trip is a short break in April & a week in August.

Never been seasick myself but only had 2 very rough trips. One was on a ferry across the bay of Biscay when I was the only one out of 4 still standing for about 36 hours, restaurants were nice and quiet though! The other was shortly after I started working for Volvo Penta back in 2002. Drove down to Plymouth in the afternoon and had a slightly heavy night with 2 colleagues and a couple of guys from Princess. Next morning I felt a little queasy in the lift so I was a tad apprehensive when I was invited on board a sea trial, on the way out they said it was a little rough but "should" be ok. It was so bad leaving the harbour you had to cling on just to stay in one place but I didn't feel the slightest bit sea sick. My granddad was in the navy from 1917 to 1930 and then in reserve from 30 to 39, back full time 39 to 45. Up to 1940 he was mainly in destroyers and apparently was always sick for the first day or so at sea, after this he acclimatised.

The infrastructure will need to be updated but I think electrification will really start taking off in a couple of years.

KPMG have just been appointed as administrators so it's now official - http://www.boatingbusiness.com/news101/industry-news/administrator-appointed-for-oyster-marine-holdings?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTnpJek5UQmhPRGMxWXpjNCIsInQiOiJWQkkrYVU3TTRBeWxZdFhPRDMwdVZBWmE2emthd1FQTGs1b0xHRzg5cUJSdmoxXC9obDFZWDRTbzJcL1RCNDNXb1MzVTJWb3BzZ2IxbCtlc0x4bnpEUGluVk1JNEVudEl2OU9jWGVtejNmRDRDNVd5K1NrOUFpMFdwd2VSWlwvaUZnTSJ9

I thought it would be around that, my guess was 3,300. I may have spent few minutes studying the engine spec sheets and passage plan though ! Still didn't win though.

About 160 at Wroxham apparently with the same in Southampton. Not sure we have the full picture yet - http://www.boatingbusiness.com/news101/boatbuilding/boatbuilding/oyster-yachts-goes-into-liquidation?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWVRJMlpHVTNZemRoTnpFeCIsInQiOiJjcXh3bkNGVk5CMytEQlpHMWxEekFrT3N2eTVPZklRU1pzKzhXRWYxeFg0K0NXdnpRekZUeSt2M1dKU1FDOW43TWhcL2RFb0t3TFNkclJiT3FFald5VHR0b1lnS1wvSjh4RllVWmNSck5uSnFkOXFXUkZ5cCt0bGxjdUhNcFVKaVwvTCJ9

Hope he did’nt cry about it

Nice to see another yard down south and building new boats. Wonder what will happen with Acle now?

Reckon they could make Australia by 23rd May !!! May need to up the sweepstake estimates though !

The boats I saw on Thames last year were a bit grotty, it was start of the season and you could see the exteriors had not been polished or even cleaned. The ones on the program looked ok but then they would be due to being on TV !

Put your foot down a bit, you need to use more fuel for my guess in the sweepstake !!

Put me down for 3,300 litres please !

Think it was the gears they had trouble with? Not sure what gears are fitted in this case, normally ZF or sometimes Twin Disc but there's usually a way of manually controlling the gear change solenoids.

Good luck with the sea trials ! Keep an eye out for this as sea trials are imminent and you could get a video scoop !! - http://www.mby.com/news/spyshots-reveal-secret-princess-superboat-89320

Happy belated 25th birthday wishes!!