JawsOrca

Unfortunately it did fail, although not to badly: 1. The fuel tank doesn't have a "CE" marking ?!!! 2. The engine has braided hoses on it and they can't tell the fire rating of these ?!! 3. The engine has a plastic drain screw on the diesel filter, which isn't permitted. But we just went over the chandlers and got a new tank and the hoses (I need to order a screw).. I was to be honest expecting a lot worse.. Just going back to change this tank over.. more updates later

All done for you clive . Did you get your hands stuck in there?

(Sorry Clive you can't embed movies using the URL link unless hosted via things like youtube or on another web server )

Oh that would explain it! I've checked the flood alerts are they are active warnings pretty much for the whole coastline although it's only a little high so shouldn't cause too much hassle.. (Nothing for broadland rivers though ) Living afloat we never really pay too much attention to the tides so makes a change

Whoops we had a super duper tide today and Orca thought she was going for a swim.. The bsc chap is going to need some wellies tomorrow! We are fully tidal here so not quite sure what caused this.. The water ended a few inches up the chocks but no damage, our power extension got a wash so it's been moved to safety.

Thanks for this It should be bow heavy as you say considering theres no big engines ( I still would love to have twin v8's in there!!).. we are hoping it is though so then we ballast the stern down to where we prefer the waterline (within reason).. It's just the unknown (and now waiting) lol This is the reason why this leg is causing worry, Sillette told us to get the cavitation place of the leg below the bottom of the v, but we couldnt really do it (as it increased the changes of the steering bit being under water) but it's only 1 inch above it, so the prop is in clean water so it should be ok .. who needs reverse anyway? lol We will be fine

Hi Tony, Mr bodgit and Mr Leggit are very well known. From what you describe the cleats probaby are just screwed (maybe bolted) directly into the glass, these boats I believe/guess have a very thick layup so it should be strong enough to just be screwed through as they aren't intended to really take much weight. To fix them properly you will probably need to do a fibreglass repair depending how bad they are. Have you got any pictures? Access to cleats is always a problem so it's not going to be an easy job if you have limited access.. You should be able to get access though (inside a cupboard/behind a board). To do a proper job you want to bolt in through the fibreglass and into a chuncky piece of wood on the underneath which will help distribute the load. Although again your cleats aren't really intended to take too much load though so check your moorings lines aren't overly tight.

Hi Carol, There's nothing wrong with using something you are comfortable with. I had a quick look at serif webplus and it looks ok, there probably are better tools out there although if you know it then stick with it I'm still developing on a xp machine with office 2002 as is many large organisations around the world There are free software alternatives to office (openoffice for one and google docs (although the later is dreadful!), but both allow you to save in .doc(x) format). Adsense isn't brilliant and as you say you don't have 100% control but you can easily restrict things even down to individual websites and it can offer a good return if you have a lot of traffic for little effort (I was getting a couple of quid a day when i used it). I am with you on your reservations.. last resort It sounds like you are gearing more towards a donate button, I can see you have done this before for your DVD's. Again I'd say go for it, if you get enough donations you could even find someone to do at least the hard work for you Good luck

Lol I think it will be something like that Alan!

Hi Alan, Geez that doesn't sound fair!! But I guess its easily done??! lol. We have seen one boat at the here (owned by a plumber) take on water quickly from it's main seacock because he hadn't put any sealant on.. just dry to the fibreglass!!). Thanks Grace lol I'm not too bad but I certainly won't be happy until it's done! The main worry at the moment is because the sterndrive isn't intended for a deep v hull, i.e the steering arm outlet isn't watertight at all (The main baffles are though) (Pic: )so we need to ensure that the waterline isn't as high as the top part of the transom case... but I had a good google about last night at the same boats and the waterline on the stern does look a lot lower than feared, so I think it's ok. (this picture: http://www.watersidemarinesales.co.uk/images/gallery/88/03.JPG ) (the other worry is the gas compartment outlet is too low (but that can be filled and re positioned in a short time.. if the legs too low then thats a huge problem!!!).. proof is in pudding though!! Isn't boating fun?!

looks good.. have to try it.. have you managed to walk there from wroxham / salhouse? on google maps looks a bit of a trek from either.

Wheres the lodge Howard? not seen that one before?

Hi Carol, Firstly I love your website and you have done a brilliant job. It's a true asset I'm happy to help technical wise.. Please pm me and I'll see what I can do (although I don't have a huge amount of spare time right now but later in the year I should have). As for a redesign maybe consider using a free blogging website (such as wordpress (https://wordpress.com)) you should find it easy to set and manage and it's compatible with most browsers so takes a lot of the stress away. Obviously it's not fully bespoke in terms of design but you may find it adequate. As for advertising, I think most people are used to it now and I don't think it's detrimental to a website.. As you have discussed there's a couple of ways you could go down. 1. a donate button like this forum has which links to paypal. 2. bespoke adverts again like we have. 3. You could consider google adsense (http://www.google.com/adsense) it's good if you have lots of hits, it's easy to set up and maintenance free (I used it one website and It paid most of my hosting fees). I'm sure many people enjoy your website to and would without hesitation offer to help Best regards, Alan

Thanks for positive vibes guys! I'm confident on the BSC, I think we will be ok! I'm more worried about the float test although I have a good google image search last night and am now a bit more confident that the leg is high enough as to not cause problems! Shame you can't attend Grace, I can't reschedule either as it's a bit late lol but have a good day with your dad On Robin (London Rascals) recommendation earlier in the year I brought a little gopro type thing (The sj4000) so I'm hoping to record the events and share the movie.. If I can work out how to do it! I think there maybe two bottles of Wherry! I can't get too wasted though as it's always a school night

Thanks Barry I'm trying to be positive but I'm a worrier lol.. Quick update so the light at the end of tunnel is obviously coming really quickly now. The curtains are done!.. I've worked out how to do the curtain poles on the bottom of the windows so I've ordered the poles and will collect on friday evening. The foam is with daves mum who will hopefully tackle these in the next couple of weeks and cover for us using matching material from the curtains (although a very dark blue instead of grey for the curtains!), We will probably install the curtain poles on sunday. This evening dave has finished the last bits of electrical bits (The weekend we noticed that two busbars were missing covers so an emergency ASAP order arrived today and my guestimation was spot on and these fitted he also installed the battery boxes ) So the boat is now all ready for the BSC this saturday! But still fingers crossed everyone please and positive vibes! (if it passes I've got a bottle of wherry on standby ) This sunday we will fit the leg which is finished just needs assembling and oil inserted and test run it in gear (in a bucket). One of our friends hand carved some timber with the boats name which will go on the sides (In a "Hardy" boats style), Its a little tribute to the boat "Orca" from the film Jaws which the boats named after (Again Dave named this one not me!!), I've also now got the boat name vinyl stickers for the transom which is in a similar font to that found from the movie). So these will be installed on Saturday too The next Saturday we have the denaming and christening party, I've spent a lot of time organising this and it's turning into be a big day.. I'm even dressing the boat up bunting and it's going to be a good day! I'll take a ton of pictures. A boat blocking us is also being moved out the way tomorrow and I've booked the slipway, hoist and tractor driver for 7th March (2015!) the plan is to let the boat float in the travel hoist so we can ensure the legs high enough, the gas bottle drain outlet is high enough and to get a rough waterline so I can antifoul. If all is well with the bsc and float test I can confidently arrange (and pay for) a mooring and transport to norfolk. We are aiming on moving to norfolk over easter. Although we aim to install the synthetic teak flooring in the wheelhouse and install a helmsman seat before it goes up. Exciting yet nerve racking days.

If you are going early in the season too take a car window scraper as so you can clear the condensation.. the last thing you will want to do is wait for the windows to demist...

Geoff, its a huge shame you are missing the southern broads they are the best in my opinion! But don't worry you will be back.. in fact I bet you will book your return before you leave norfolk after your first holiday!! The trip into norwich is also brilliant and well worth doing (smell the mint sauce from the old colmans factory lol (shame its not mustard but Mint smells nice lol).. The yacht station does do a day rate so worst was visit by boat during the day and find a quieter spot elsewhere (I'm sure Andy at freedom just around the corner would offer you an overnight spot!) Fact: Broadland is the safest place in the Uk (2013): https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-peace-index--broadland-norfolk-most-peaceful-lowest-violent-crime-lewisham-highest-113029109.html

Ok I feel bad now.. this is all getting very negative and I dread to think what newbies/potential visitors must be thinking! As we all know there are far far far more positives on the broads which far outweigh the smallest chances of anything like this happening... lets turn this back to the positive!! Good luck to norwich for these improvements.. I can't wait to see what improvements they make and I so can't explain how much I can't wait to get back up to the broads!!

Hi Clive, we should have finished our boat project by then so if you need any help.. just shout... happy to help

Steve google about before going to force 4.. I know they are local but they aren't the cheapest.. and don't forget Brian wards you get 10% off using the kind "NBN" discount (which helps!)...

Hi Steve, If you want to do that, I wouldn't but the plug on the boat as then the BSC chap may see it as an installed system etc etc.. You can plug the end of the multiplug directly into the bollard on shore. This wouldn't be seen as an installed system then.. it's RCD protected so it's "safe" (although I wouldn't leave it unattended). If you want to go for a permenant 240v system then you need much the same set up as in your house. Which I can't advise any further. We don't have a 240v system installed in our (toy) boat and I don't want one as 12v does all you need really Your DAB and phone chargers should run of the 12v system using ciggy lighters.. So I'd look at this first.

Matt its not a low bridge though is it? I don't see what a worry could be (although it's a long since I was last there). I guessed the problem with stopping navigation for hireboats is the water levels are a bit low .. is it the bridge that is the cause then? Iain the last thing I want to do is put people of going anywhere on the broads, when i say safety it's unfounded for me really.. We've stopped here probably 5 times (ok not alot) but only once did we have someone knock on a window.. as you say for ropes I pass also my back as a matter of course and drop the heavy thing down too but I doubt the boat would go far without the weight anyway.. i don't really like mooring near people anyway and I'm not a city boy anymore so don't like cities hence doing boating!.. but I think I may overnight in norwich if I was to find somewhere in the city where there's a quieter corner (the river winds on for quite a bit until the mill doesn't it?). As you say I'm sure one day it was busy but as the citys moved on.. I think the moorings should too.. I think just beyond Bishopsgate bridge around the corner it quietens out quickly.. maybe one day

Enjoy your trip Howard.. looking forward to more pics how long are you out for?

Geoff.... Please I'm stuck in work (Bored) .. dreaming about a holiday.. the last thing I need is broads videos... Thanks.. hope someone enjoys then (I've not seen the top one so I'll have to watch that one.. the other is very very well made and brilliant - Enjoy!)

I think part of the problem with Norwich is the "yacht" station is in the wrong spot.. stuck between the train station and clubbing district.. nice! I don't trust the safety there to stay overnight (although apparently it's ok). Personally I think get rid of it and allow passage beyond the bridge (for hire boats) and allow boats to tie up further along (or towards the football stadium). This would give the area more of a canal/river feel.. I'm sure there's a ton of access problems/safety/insurance etc but thats my opinion..