MY littleboat

To even think that training does not replace experience is rediculous to even imagine. History shows us often that experience alone does not mean you are competent to operate a machine, however, it may give you a fair awareness of other factors that a novice may not consider. Having said that the novice may demonstrate more competent operation and handling because of the training they have received and assimilated. Oddly I would say that there is definitely a place on the experience curve where you go back and re-visit initial training material, both taking in information that had been 'temporarily forgotten' as well as having a far better of understanding what their initial training was! Never ever pretend that training is worthless and experience is all that matters as in the world of boats and ships experience is not enough on it's own and type awareness of the craft being operated and combined crew line-training are also very important so that all opearate off the same set of SOP's. I think today is a very good reflection of that as we remember those that died 100 years ago today. Having been involved in a very serious fire at sea I am glad that I worked for a company that had the procedures it had as less than a month later, a similar sized ship with less passengers suffered a similar fate and sadly many perished. - The difference was entirely due to crew training. Both vessels suffered similar issues with flamable painted surfaces, both fires were started in the same way and both fires took hold in stairwells of similarly designed ships. However, back on topic, and as I have said before, it is a shame that the service has stopped, but if rules and minima are set out, it is rediculous to think that in this day and age a 'blind-eye' can be turned for the sake of operating a 'service'.

The info in that article reflects what we were originally told. So what constitutes washing for H and S purposes? Just to clarify the answer given by Anglian Water, it is any occasion where you believ the build up of salt, green algae or other materials that YOU believe could interfere with the safe operation of your boat, not what someone else feels is acceptable. Just to reiterate, alot of the Southern Broads are covered by Suffolk and Essex water and not covered currently by a ban

Fair point, I had three years at Potter without even a hint of leccy! Hmm

100% agree Also, it is worth those who make acqusations that dredging is the cause to understand what lack of dredging does to the eco-system of a waterway that becomes shallower over time and what the benefits the removal of sediment have on the eco-systems of those waters - generally speaking as the water shallows, more light promotes the growth of algae etc, along with this land run-offs where fertilisers and other nutrients enter the water this adds to the more 'ideal' conditions of rapid growth. The fishing lobby is very powerful, alot like the Ramblers and the outrageously NERC act, where lobbying has banned motor vehicles from all but a handful of our green lanes, if we do not protect our waterways access we will lose it guaranteed

A really interesting post Stowie and not one I totally disagree with, however, whilst I agree that smaller boats are getting replaced by larger, it is also the case that many people, who started on much smaller vessels have invested, borrowed, extended their mortgages and just generally traded themselves into larger craft. I would say that although many of the people i know have between 27 and 45 foot cruisers, I would definitely say that on the whole none are particularly wealthy and rich, but are, totally dedicated to boating as a hobby and spend alot of time working on their boats when not out on them. Sadly from time to time a few of those friends have overstretched themselves a little and have had to take on either second jobs or more work where they can, but apart from the odd one or two, I would totally dispell the myth that they are wealthy. I think you are 100% right in that mooring is a finite resource. With companies such as NYA carrying on their trade as successfully as they do, many many new people are being introduced to private boat ownership - alot of those have hired previously and just decided they would like to own a boat. With what looks to be a 'bumper season' for Broads hire companies, I would also like to think that boat sales companies will also enjoy the enthusiasm that often spills over from those holidays, the likes of NYA certainly will as they certainly never seem to prejudge anyone who walks through their door (unlike some companies) and often show customers how they can afford to own their own boat. The face of business on the Broads may change over time, vessels may get larger - good news for BA as the tolls will increase (gross) providing a larger pot for the future, and also with people upgrading, sales companies will thrive hopefully. On the other side of the coin, if an owner has a smaller or different size craft and currently has a mooring, then why fear anything? As most marinas have free spaces and value their smaller customers as much as larger - in fact many marinas can make more money from two smaller vessels as opposed to one twice the size! Broads business seems to be on the up - that can only be a good thing for all concerned, but as has been mentioned in the post above, the face of that business may change and evolve in time. I am sure they were having the same conversation in the 50s as motor cruisers started flourishing, then again in the 60s, 70s and 80s as the hire fleets grew.... Just as a point OT - I am sorry to hear that the service has had to cease, however a business has to remain cost effective regardless..

We were there last monday and yes indeed half the mooring is ta[ed off = most still looks useable if you have to use it - ie waiting for a bridge swing, but I couldnt see why, it wasn't obvious, but then again it never occured to me to have a closer look!

If you get it finished before the end of the month you can race Broom to a new boat launch! Looking good clive - any thoughts for engines yet? I'm in Stalham a couple of times every week, can I have a look?

Ah John, you know I knew you had the answer. I totally forgot they had that winter deal thingy!

John, just a quick question. Are the guys at Oulton going to be making space for the NBN boats on the floating pontoon as they seem to have quite a large number of residents there at the moment? Also if you missed the video of the last meet here it is:

Well it wouldn't be a holiday period if Network Rail didn't have something up their sleeve to screw us over...again: BROADS AUTHORITY NOTICE TO MARINERS No.4 of 2012 Notice of closure, Oulton Broad Swing Bridge Notice is hereby given that Oulton Broad Swing Bridge will be closed during the following periods for work to be undertaken on the bridge on behalf of Network Rail. During the following periods the bridge will not be able to open: 23:30 28 April – 05:00 30 April 2012 23:45 4 May - 05:30 7 May 2012 23:45 11 May - 05:30 19 May2012 At the above times vessels normally able to navigate through the bridge in the closed position will still be able to pass but should be aware that the normal opening will be restricted by a further 3 metres. Vessels should navigate the area with care and caution. Angie Leeper Assett Officer Broads Authority

An hour to DRINK a pint of it. Whilst we are now talking about serious beer again, I would beg to point out that certain brews require eating! And nothing takes an hour to get through when faced with a hungry and thirsty gav! Lol

Mild? what are you talking about Nog? Down Southways us real men don't drink it. Instead we go with the heavier stuff whilst Kuching on a bar of wrought iron to entice the hair on our heads to give up and grow elsewhere! Apart from that, good effort Tipple now concentrate on brewing tge real beer! Lol

On the other hand Mark, I would have loved to have seen you let him transfer the money (Usually shows for a short time but is cancelled almost immediately) You could have then routed it directly out just to see what happens lol Read about similar scams to this before - remember when Andy was selling his, he even found an advert for his own boat online!

Maybe I should elaborate on that a little as it is a little vague. I have fairly regular contact with a 'corporate lending manager' - sorry I used the term 'business' by mistake and have been already wrapped across the knuckles for that. You are right in what you are saying and yes it is all about security. Because they have specific targets to meet regarding lending to business, the way it has been explained, is that many new businesses and expanding businesses that this bank lend to tend to be either a part of a much larger business or an established business group. In the persons words it is highly unlikely they will be lending to new or a 'stand alone' business. Hope that clears it up, and no they are not in this current scheme. And for the record, I am thrilled that Ricco's have secured this funding. I pass his yard almost daily these days and am always amazed at the number of boats jammed in there - I can't imagine what the first official hire day of the holiday season would be like - madness or mayhem - somehow I doubt it, but do smile at the thoughts of 'keystone cop' type antics as everyone attempts to leave at the same time!

Also sadly The business is much more a medium sized business and I doubt that a small company with less than 10 employees will see any funding Knowing a business lending manager with a major bank very well I find it sad that predomantley the banks will lend to SMEs that are subsidiaries of much larger companies Am pleased that you secured the funding Clive but as you said. You didn't need it and if you did you probably wouldn't have got it.! Interesting point!

I'm pleased that you have secured the extra funding Clive. But there is a fair comment on the press release. How exactly did you secure the funding on the same day that the scheme was announced? I can't imagine the plan was submitted overnight and decided upon before the start of business the following morning!

Just reading through the above posts, sadly due to being posted via an iphone a substatial amount of stuff got shanged, not least the villianous SUSTRANS - the organisation behind the work on the bridge. Sadly, as mentioned, the longer more explanatory post, disappeared as timed out.. basically all the info is there though. The work which was origianally planned for May will probably now take place in November, these works are additional works that have just been notified

I have tried replying twice but timed out both times. I can't be bothered writing it again tonight and will update and PM you after tge weekend

Sadly none of the stakeholders in this project seem to have much time for broads boaters. Sustains are a lobby group that campaign mainly for cycleways and footpaths, Railway Walks is there company set up in order to preserve this little piece of their 'heritage' in order to stop our boats bashing it and that particular piece of waterway beneath the yacht station is tge responsibility of Gt Yarmouth Port Authority (Eastport) who probably haven't even looked at it in the past 20 years. BA are just bystanders in this but there has been a heck of a lot on pressure to change their work schedule being placed behind the scene - much to the disgust of the Eco-lobby I understand

Yes but why edit out the link to the story - makes no sense?

No I have been speaking regularly to the guys at Yarmouth about this. I could post up the correspondence but is quite lengthy. The work being carried out is not the work that was originally scheduled in May - that has been moved to November - thankfully! This is purely remedial work and initial work, being carried out by the same company - May Gurney - in preparation for that work that will go ahead later in the year. What amazes me is that again, lack of discussion or adjective pretending 'we dont know about it' has meant that very little information has been available. The first weekend definitely impinges on the last week of the Easter School holiday!

Norfolk Fire Service are reporting that they currently have nine appliances attending a major fire at the Cantley Sugar Factory. The factory, a prominent feature located next to the Reedcutters public house on the River Yare, reported that they had a fire in a cooling tower just after 1500GMT this afternoon. The Eastern Daily Press are reporting that 'one appliance from Acle, two appliances and the aerial ladder platform from Great Yarmouth along with crews from Carrow, Earlham and Wymondham are tackling the fire.' and that the fire is now under control.

So Trev, do you carry the 2 and borrow the '1'? I'm confused??

The best thing to do is to look at the tidal difference between any given day and add that to the mean clearance level published. It won't be exact but will give you a very good idea what bridges you need to get under. However beware at low water springs there is no guarantee you won't be digging a trench under your hull or picking up a rogue shopping trolley. Especially around Yarmouth

Incidentally the work originally notified will stillalso be carried out but is now likely to take place in early November 2012.