Soundings

Welcome

Basically, just that Dave. Turn off seacock and suck through a 50/50 water/antifreeze mix. My boat is staying in this year so we just sucked up the antifreeze until it was ejected from the exhaust thus proving it had gotten through the entire raw cooling system. We did use "green" non toxic antifreeze.

We are thinking hard about it, Hylander, but I am not so sure we will stay. We hardly cruised at all this year, due to the weather, and last year was not a lot better. Then there is the peak season (school hols) and I certainly do no extended cruising then - it really is hard work then. Add that lot together and it starts to look less than cost effective.

All true Hylander and I think we may now have had enough. Bad summers, reducing "wild" moorings and he odd whack is making us wonder if owning is really cost effective - that is in terms of personal time, money and stress. I think we might well sell up and either go back to the canals (Steele boats are hardier) or just become a hirer.

Except when a boat thunders past at 100mph

Hi Mark (MBA), yep pump is still working fine...or was when I tested the heating about three weeks ago. I'll email you outside of Forum and sort some dates, it would be great if a way could be found to render the raw cooling system more accesible for winterising.

Thanks Mark. That is kind of how I see it, all things being equal of course Winterising my cooling system is a pain at the mo dues to the location of the sea cock being under the battery bank. May need your expertise to help design an alternative layout or a simpler way of winterising the raw water cooling.

I am off for a couple of weeks starting 13 Oct but not on the boat (leaving the rest of the gang at home!). We hope to use the boat for a few days on my return at the end of Oct. My worry is whether or not I should really winterise now or will it be safe to wait until I get back. I know this is not a science but forumites views would be appreciated.

Now sold.

Having upgraded to a Nikon I am selling the trustee A300. It is in mint condition but not boxed and I doubt it has taken more than 1500 or so pics. It has the 18-70mm kit lense, Steady Shot and a tilt screen with Live View. Charger etc included. Offers around £80. If interested please pm me.

I use craftinsure.com.

Alan (Ranworthbreeze), have just heard from my insurers and there are no problems as far as they are concerned. My insurance covers me and the excess remains the same. That, at least, is a relief. Colin

Hi Clive, That makes you the good guys then as you are offering a helping hand. Well done Colin

Clive, I would submit that if one is mooring on the outside of my boat then it is my boat that is the mooring and I as I own it I have to give permission. Why should someone presume they have a right of way across my property? As I understand it even the BA are saying permission should be sought and from what I have read re insurance some companies are saying that the excess doubles if a claim arises from a rafting when the boat is unattended - that seems quite a powerful statement as it presumably means you cannot safely leave your boat and go out for lunch without increasing your risk exposure cost-wise. What happens if I am moored up at a designated rafting point, go shopping and somebody decides to tie up on my and outside causing damage in the process. I am not against rafting and have benefited from it many times. I have always sought permission though and understand if it is not forthcoming. The current position seems to arise from an oversupply of boats and/or an undersupply of moorings. It is that that need to be addressed as far as I can see. Richardsons help by making overnight mooring available to all (subject to turn round days). That is really good - do all yards do that?

Rafting is ok by agreement but are not the BA saying you have to if there is no space? Making it mandatory seems wrong (very) to me.

What's happening to Lady Linda, Jonny?

Good man Jonny

Even Tom Jones showed what a professional he is, unlike the early rubbish that came on. All in all I enjoyed the show but nearly switched if off at the start!

It is a great shame for everybody and could well impact adversely on the hire industry. The summer last year was a wash out from end of June and this one has just been a wash out. The idea of being stuck on a boat for a week or two in this weather is an awful thought. When was the last good summer?

According to Countryfile weather will be terrible for the entire week, excluding tomorrow, and possibly beyond. Makes one wonder if boat ownership is worth it in the UK

I have never believed it was just hire craft. There are many reasons why these contacts happen, overcrowding being one as with crowded moorings and rivers impact is almost invitable at some stage.

Hope you are right Poppy for if things stay as they are we will certainly move from the Broads (probably will give South a try first). We certainly did not buy our boat so it could be wacked nor did we invest in the Broads on the basis it would become something of a no go area

We all complain about this behavior, the minority spoiling it big time for the majority, but how do we stop it? There is no doubt that booze cruises/party drinking and boats are uneasy bedfellows. We have seen examples of it on most occassions we are out and about, some of it from a distance fortunately. It will imho eventually kill the Broads as a place for familty holidays, making them somewhat like the no go areas that some of our city centres have become. How many family holiday makers have already decided not to return I wonder?

It is fair (very fair) to say that not all wacks come from hire craft and that not all booze laden boats are hirers. That antisocial behaviour is on the increase across the spectrum cannot be denied however and I really do believe something needs to be done to stop it. Reports can be filed with the BA etc but that is always after the event when what is really needed is a deterrant that will stop it happening in the first place. No idea how that can be achieved though; it is not an easy one. Maybe the forthcoming pricing rules re alcohol will help