JawsOrca

Jonzo I can't either.. 404: Not found The file you requested could not be found

Oh whoops! doe's it really run that quick through there? that's surprising... I do wonder how my parents manage to get through yarmouth so quickly though whereas it me forever .. perhaps my parents have already worked this out too! tut tut

We got stopped the first time we had a hire boat.. some other hireboat had just overtook us and cut us up so we proceeded to get out overtake it (then quickly worked out why he cut us up).. the charming BA officer just told us not to do it again.. we asked how he notice (before speed guns).. he said the hire boat we was on was a semi planning hull and we was semi planning at the time!! (Good old silver melody!).. (disclaimer: we do not speed any more - My parents boat is too slow...)..

Mark.. you can't beat the broads.. we tried leaving...managed 8 years and are now paying for it... having spent 11 months (and 20 days?) rebuilding some old boat to come back to the broads .. so be careful if you do stray.. it's a nasty world out there!

I forgot to mention it could be its name!.. for interest though Alan whats the website you used to find this?

Clive.. I think it would be the ideal base for that "classic fleet".. don't you think?

Hi Lori, From what I remember after seeing these at the boat show a few years back.. Sea otter is the company.. they specialised in (or still do perhaps) aluminium boats.. i'm sure they did "work boats" as well as narrow boats.. although I believe they moved to focus just on narrow boats. If the boat is on the canal (and being quite long) I'd bet its a narrow boat.

Lol OK Paul.. I'll have a good look.. I think the weather for the weekend will be so wet and windy it wont be the ideal weather for antifouling (Hopefully lol).. I really think you need to teach my parent how to do it though. That way i'll get more inheritance instead of them wasting it on getting poor Graham (maffetts ) to do it! Thanks for the heads up on Cove though.. It's certainly on the list..

Hi Mark, I think Brundall Gardens is on the list although I was a bit put off by first contact with them and the mooring seemed reasonable value.. but there was a lot of addons.. although it's on the list to take a look at Same here Grendal.. blackwall is last resort! I've not been through for years though.. I'm sure my mum has added my car to her dart account Hi Paul! The problem with cove is that my parents are looking at moving over there so I don't want to steal the only spare spot.. (Plus the quietness will soon go when mum turns up! (She can't read smaller text..!) It's on the list to look at though.. I think we would prefer the north up by stalham as we hope to get lots of weekends so the north would be perfect (I'm also worried about flooding and would prefer the boat to be in fresh water) But I think it will be a case of "Beggers can't be choosers" so for the first year or so we will just be happy in Norfolk/suffolk! I'll try and take a look at your antifoul for you.. although I guess I'd only see the waterline so it wouldn't be a fair look (as that fouls up quicker)... I've seen and heard some good deals on haul out and antifoul in norfolk though.. I'm sure someone said around the £400 mark for a 32footer which isn't bad considering the pain! (Russell Marine. S.walsham I think it was).

Thanks Grendel I hope you manage to that conservatory fixed soon too Thanks David.. I am so looking forward to the weekend off! and it is certainly needed! Hi Neil.. Blackwall is in london though and I can't drive to london.. I get a rash! It's bad enough going to dartford! I think mum has put me on her dart tag so she's paying lol (Not sure shes thought this out considering next year we will be up most weekends!!). Thanks for the tip on cove marina.. mum and dad are trying to get in there though so we are looking at stalham!!! although I do think cove is on my list to take a look at.. (I think I have about 10 on the list )

Thanks guys.. certainly looking forward to a weekend away.. it's the first since july! It's a big pain that it's leaking although it has chucked it down all day.. so much so that the yard is flooded and a mud bath.. We can easily fix it.. in a way at least it's leaking now and not when it's in norfolk.. although we are getting covers put on the front windows soon anyway so that should reduce the chances of this later.. But we will run round and tighten the screws or replace if they aren't catching then creeping crack fill.. Mum.. I just drive over the bridge? Does dad want anything?? x

Hi Tony, On the houseboat we have a standard household loo connected to a standard (240v) macerator (like a saniflow - although a cheap one from ebay (£90)) which pumps out above water level (although is connected to hoses to position the outlet below the water level.. we don't want any fixings below the waterline - glamorous stuff ey).. you can use a standard jabsco loo though although a macerator is a requirement for our marina. If you are going into rivers then you will probably need to pump below water level and consider putting a Y valve (and a tank at some point) (or as others mention put in a composting loo etc) I think you should be ok to pump overboard but it may just be worth checking with the harbour master, if there is such thing at maldon or check with locals.

Today was a bit annoying. The rain was just nasty so trying to neat, tidy, fiddly timber work around windows wasn't the best idea.. as the rain came down we noticed a few leaks annoyingly two on the front cabin windows but theres not much we can do until the rain stops.. it should cause any damage though but it's certainly not ideal.. the windows in the wheelhouse were also condensating but we got most of the timbers cut and finished.. it's just a bit cold and damp to varnish really so they have been taken down and will be done in the week or weekend. Next weekend though we are taking off!! and spending three long days in norfolk.. the idea is to have a drive around some of the marinas and try to find a mooring for next year (and relax!)... so no blog next week! Pictures attached (as off this morning, we just did the more fiddly trimming around the windows today).

Thanks again all, I think the 23mm is a bit big for us but the 10mm (Furniglyde) is probably perfect.. certainly in the dining room. again all.

and welcome from me!

This weekend we are tackling the interior sides of the wheelhouse, We are using utile (Mahogany) faced boards, unfortunately our local timber merchants couldn't supply so I have to order from Robbins timber in Bristol (for twice the price of the oak boards?!). Thankfully they arrived yesterday in the back of a van but thankfully all in one piece. They aren't bad cuts either... A nice "c" cut to the veneer so lots of character. I was hoping to get them all cut today but the shapes are a right pain and not straight forward although we done both sides today leaving just the windscreen tomorrow..but they will need varnishing, backs epoxied and installing. I put a thick covering of varnish on the boards we done today before leaving it this evening and they do look very nice.. I'll put some pictures up tomorrow! Once these are in the wheelhouse the dashboard can be fitted and we can get the remaining electrics all completed.

Excuse me but that picture should have an explicit warning.. She's very very pretty.. brilliant work Barry..!

Thanks to you both. Expensive stuff it seems maybe we don't need curtains.. considering we do lots of mudweighting lol .. people will only look once! (I like the one in your last link though maxwellian).

Thanks chaps.. Thanks Clive. I don't think we are going to be able to catch up anytime soon though and I want to tick this job off soon..I also want it as low profile as posible as I hate seeing curtain fixings.. Frank I'm going to try a local caravan store.. although you may want to try the caravan place at blomfield.. I don't think I'm going to find alloy ones for anywhere near £4 a meter though

Hi guys, So we went with foam backed for a couple of reasons, mainly the little bit of foam provides an extra bit of insulation. I think it also looks nice (I know it's slightly outdated now perhaps but I still like it.. it also feels nice if you hit your head on it!). I found that its also easier to install than non foam backed because it gives you a 3mm or so margin for error (If your boards are a bit badly cut small Disadvantages, of foamed you really will need use the right glue as to ensure it stays up.. I can't recommend hawke house enough as they have glue made for them and for this purpose. You may hear rumours that the foam breaks down and falls apart which it does, although the new stuff (From hawke house, toomer and Hayter) should last at least 10 years which is more than enough! Non foamed it may show up air bubbles easier though so it will be harder to cover the boards compared to foamed As for the boards, we protected the backs with (http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Painting+Decorating/d150/Exterior+Wood+Care/sd3176/Lumberjack+Triple+Action+Wood+Treatment/p34502).. an alternative would be 2pac epoxy (which we have used on the bulkheads) or a good non-waterbased paint). You may find HH headlining fixing guide helpful (http://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/headlining-fitting-guide). Make sure you use stainless steel staples too. If you don't choose to go with foamed headlining can I suggest you go with a felt type material which is what most modern builders seem to be doing and looks lovely! Good luck, it's a nice easy job if you have the boards already.

Hi Neil, Thanks for the comments We should certainly be around that week although drop me a message the day before just to make sure we don't need to run out and grab parts or anything and will be about. My folks don't really come and visit that much as they live a few miles away and it's a bit of a trek plus that close to christmas I'm sure they will be out shopping for my pressies! They do spend a lot of time on the broads though so I'm sure you will catch them soon! I'm sure the boat would look very different from when you last saw it and hope you will be impressed with the current finish! although it's still a long way off so don't look too closely

Thanks guys.. will certainly be trying these next year

(I love kingfisher.. one day lol)...

Hi All, I'm hoping you guys can help me.. I'm on the hunt for the ceiling mounted curtain rails.. Hawke house are charging £8.64+vat a meter which sounds a lot (when I need 8 meters of it!) (http://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/accessories/curtain-accessories/curtain-track-ceiling-hung.html).. we have thick curtains so I probably do need metal rails or well built plastic ones and I want them as small as posible as they will be visible in the forward cabin.. It's not something I've brought before so I'm unsure of using anything too cheap.. can anyone recommend a supplier (anywhere)? I'd rather be paying £4-5 a meter ideally. Thanks all

Sounds lovely Alan I've never had a chinese take away on the broads.. where's the best one (close to a mooring)?