JawsOrca

Geez ok a lot of positive votes... I'm still looking around, There seems to be lots of good offers on being the middle of summer! I'll post back what I end up with!

Mum I second what Grace said! I forgot the first day and then thought it was too late. We don't really stop though so it will be all log! (Plus I think you would have kittens if you saw how much night passages we did lol!). Just print this off mum and put it in there

I must admit though I was surprised when we was up there last, to see most kids wearing jackets (Even adults) and even whilst inside (that does bring a smile though! - Importantly you should be careful wearing an automatic jacket inside though). It probably shows when we was up there 8 odd years ago no one wore jackets and someone is doing a good job telling people to wear them. Also too, I've never seen so many people swimming in the rivers.. a couple of boats in beccles YS the parents were even throwing the kids in (with and without jackets).. it was a hot week but the broads rivers really aren't for swimming in, certainly down as far as beccles the waters are shallow and I'm sure the muds thick... Please do be careful people

Thanks Robin (and paul) I've not seen these, they appear to be the same price as the deals I'm seeing on the other two.. I'm a bit worried about spending that money on an unknown (to me) brand.. do you know if they are widely used and parts are widely available? Thanks Alan too.. Whats a service replacement though? is that the main unit? (Do you know of a supplier.. I do like a deal lol).

Mark.. to be honest, I'm not a fan of gas heating as gas appears to add more condensation.. but I'll take a look at propex before I take the leap. We do like bargins but not on certain things so we are going new for this.. I'm really not wasting time and energy getting an ebay one working (as you say it could easily be a false economy), in fact I will probably get from JPC direct who advertise on here, I'm just waiting on a price for the full kit but they only do Webasto and I was leaning more towards Ebers but they seem to have some good deals on at the moment.

Lol sorry guys I was busy filling and sanding the shower room tray smooth.. covered in fibreglass splinters as usual.. in fact today I did mention I can beep beep wait to get it in norfolk, We really have broken the back of it though and it should be downhill from now on! We have reserved my folks boats for august bank holiday though just in case we need a mini break!

lol thanks Mark! glowing recommendation there! We do really want to use the boat out of season so believe we have to get one.. is there any alternative you would recommend?

I would have steered around them (I would have made it!).. Whilst sounding a continuous beep of our 160db airhorn altering to him to the fact that holding my course... (That would sound scare the fish off!)...

Weekly Update! We didnt do much during the week as it flew by however we did get the other bulkhead in place and reduced the size of the heads room.. We only took 1 inch off oneside and 2 inches off the the other.. it feels much better now and works well. This meant though the shower tray had to be reglassed in too. So that was done and its ready for paint now. We also installed the UFO mushroom vents this was a big job as the actual hole in the roof was too big (Rookie mistake!) but the vetus vents were only £5 on ebay so it was worth doing.. We just glassed some ply on the inside and filled/repaired/recutted/painted/installed! job done in a day and they look good... it was worth it as surprisingly they allow more air to come in. (Note: The mushroom vents before where 110mm cut out and I couldn't find any UFO vents this big so I wasn't just being tight! we had to fill really). We also installed the spot light and started on the maze of electrical work. We also went shopping yesterday and got lots of timber and finalised the kitchen design. I need to order the heating and cooker sometime soon too... So she's really coming along now.. wont be long Couple of pictures attached.

Hi All, I really need to get the diesel heating for the boat but I'm wondering if theres any real difference between Eberspacher or webasto.. Can anyone offer any help into which one to choose or should I just look at cost? Thanks in advance

Good topic Grace! I refuse to overnight at "Norwich, Yarmouth and Oulton".. yuck yuck and yuck! (We have before and ropes have been untied .. stuff thrown at the boat, windows hit late at night).. I would moor maybe if there was overnight patrols, I just don't feel safe there. I don't like mooring (and I'm not really a snob!) at what I call the council estates (disclaimer:! I lived in a council estate for 23 years), by these I mean stern on moorings where you are so close to the neighbouring boat that its like being in a tower block! (Beccles is nice and quiet although It really irritated me this year when someone moored right next to us although that's because kids where swimming in the water when they arrived). We always aim to moor on a mudweight or wild moorings.. Salhouse, Ranworth (malthouse), surlingham are all really special places to mudweight moor, the upper reaches of all rivers again are really nice to stay! When we stayed up there for 3 weeks on year we really didn't leave Salhouse for a full week and geez you can unwind in a week!

lol dave.. yup sorry i just posted all pictures I took on my phone.. The foot ones were for facebook as my friends where publishing "feet by the pool" picture from the usual tropical paradises .. so I did the same but with the broads in the background!... (They were genuine jealous when they noticed I had a better tan than they did! (Joys of the flybridge and 10 hour days!)

I'm sure I read somewhere that the UK are using the excuse.. you can't just get rid of the dye.. its so strong that even a drop contaminates the white diesel again. So any equipment that has used it will need to replaced (including our own tanks)! I personally think the UK should just turn around and say ok we will withdraw from the EU then, its a waste of money and a load of hassle anyway (hardhat!) :

We used masonry paint on our timber sailing boat decks for years and it always did a good job.. we used to mix in international non slip additive although you can mix in a bit of sand and it does a really good job

Lol grace she loves me really... Mother (she loves it even more when I call her mother lol).. You know I don't do directions and I don't do road numbers.. I only know of the two norfolk roads as the "Eye" road (what's the Eye festival like?) and the lowestoft road (and that one I sometimes go towards folixstowe because the road number changes)!.. We always do the lowestoft road because its prettier.. and we wanted asda in yarmouth so it made sense to use that... although the latitude festival in southwold slowed us down.. we didnt do too bad though. Have fun on the boat..as I say to dave.. keep it between the banks and don't hit the other boats!

I can't say I noticed John.. it didnt last long! lol

Thanks guys.. some brilliant tips there... I think we will be changing the door so i'll certainly put some thought into it I think we still want a rounded door though to add a bit of character to it .. but I'll let everyone know

Hopefully Clive Richardson reads this post and can help you out he's a member and sponsor of the forum Although as I say that's peak season and I guess demand will far outweight supply but don't ask don't find out

If Mr Richardsons can't do you a NBN discount then I suggest you try the independents; Marthams (proper woodern boats!).. http://www.marthamboats.com Maffetts http://www.maffett-cruisers.com, Pacific http://www.pacificcruisers.co.uk Freedom boats http://www.freedomboatingholidays.co.uk Obviously though this is peak season though so places maybe booked out.. We used to camp (in a tent) for an extra weekend although hiring although even camping is expensive these days! Good luck

Thanks Guys... Hopefully it will be good .. I suspect I may decrease the size of the door though... These boards are getting oak veneered and oak trims so it should look ok That room is the same size as the bath in my parents boat though so certainly no room for a bath!

I have the same feeling..although it's nice to finish them and see them afloat... if I won the lottery I'll just buy a boatyard!

Welcome Finny.. I hate restoring boats.. really I do ... I'm covered in fibreglass splinters considering it took a week to get over the last lot! I too love reading about others though and moreso the new builds! Welcome again

What happened to my thread?! lol Back to work today after a week in norfolk... Today, we largely worked on the shower/heads room.. The floor in there was level meaning that if we had a shower in there the water would just go everywhere so we had to make a sump.. We worked it all out and cut and made it up.. we left a bit for a nice teak (or something) grate to go over the top. We also made sure the loo fitted and despite earlier fears it fits perfectly (back in the box now!). Also made up the front for this compartment.. I'm not sure on it..I think its a bit oversized both the compartment and the door but it will do... Couple of pictures attached...

Lol. Glad to be back.. Kinda lol.. wish we was still up there.. its hard to leave norfolk! Unfortunately no nude cruising after all that food and drink I think we both are a couple of stones heavier! Although it was certainly hot enough to get away with it lol! The boats all good, I swept the floor and Graham again did do a brilliant job and fixed it. I forgot how small the bath is though lol! I think we will back over the boat tomorrow although it seems the yacht club have come up with a new excuse and want to move us.. can't wait to get it up to norfolk where it deserves to be!

Hi All, Back home after a week on the broads.. Here's a little ships blog.. Day 1 (saturday 19th) Arrived in the afternoon after aiming to get there for 9am but done the lowestoft road because mum said avoid the norwich bit.. but there was a festival in southwold so we should have stuck with the norwich road (or done the halesworth one). At the yard parked in the yare pub because eastwoods is a building site (sad to see), bumped the ocean 44 getting out (sorry again lol).. Stopped at hardley windmill (opposite cantley) and was in awe, the volunteer guide was brilliant and got the sails turning and showed us around.. truly amazing to see one turning and working.. certainly well worth a look (well worth by far the £2 fee - We gave a donation - They also have car parking and a little canteen area.. go look!). Headed slowly down the chet but shocked to see every mooring taken by a club event, although pacific cruisers were empty and requesting for an overnight mooring the owner said you can but unfortunately it's a £5 fee (he could have said £30 fee but we wouldn't miss loddon for anything!)... lovely overnight quite spot though better mooring there! Nice walk into the village and had a good look round.. followed by 3 course meal in The white horse (really really nice! One of the best restaurants on the broads). Day ended by a pretty lightning storm. Day 2. Slow cruise up through yarmouth, Lovely weather, breydon smooth as glass as always ! Stopped at stacy arms for an icecream and some lemonade for the shandys.. the shops good there now although lots of tourist gifts. The goats said hello and were good at winding up those afraid of them! Potter ham for an afternoon wonder. Quick visit to QD stores (sorry lathams - Bring back lathams - it's got so crap now!). Quick walk round the boat sales.. we still like the freeman step up hulls oh well.. Thurne dyke for overnight .. showed off turning round with no space under engine whilst others struggle with overuse of bow thrusters! Nice meal in the pub chatted to the landlord and they may have mooring for us next year (undecided though if its secure enough for us). Day 3. Grey overcast morning.. up at 8 and most hireboats already vanished (where do they go?!).. Southerly wind holding us to the bank though.. took some effort to unstick 4th attempt I made it though.. (jealous of those hireboat bow thrusters lol!). Stopped at st bennets... looks good.. not been there for a few years and forgotten a lot about it also nice information boards up there now.. good walk around.. sun cleared so up the ant.. busy slow passage.. got a bit annoyed by a day boat refusing to over take a tacking boat.. eventually the hireboat infront of us barged through followed by us! Stopped at Gayes staithe for the first time and walked upto the board walk.. Long walk but nice walk. Upto neatishead for lunch but pub jammed with "water rats" band so settled for icecream in the little shop. Onto stalham for supplies..the little public staithe was jammed.. mooncraft had "go away" boards so (sorry Clive) sneaked into Richardsons! Had a good look in the boat building sheads to how the real boys build boats and really captivating! The smell of resin reminded us of home.. could easily have gone in and picked up a roller and gave them a hand! Walk into the village.. pass tescos (I refuse to shop in Tescos in stalham and beccles.. hope they both burn down!).. so generally food in the little local shop (Big shout out to this little shop.. any visitors to stalham go here! It's non for profit and only sells local stuff - we found last years and make a beeline for it now!) Then meat from the butchers.. fresh bake on the boat pastry's from the shop next door. Left the yard followed the richardsons cruisers zig zagging their way at 2kts downstream (To be honest though we watched the induction whilst moored and it seems a lot better than we first received and the hire people were very polite coming out asking if I wanted to overtake .. telling them not to worry as i'm in no rush we slowly made our way to a "wild mooring" for a BBQ! Just before dusk I wanted to take a quick look at wayford bridge (its a place I'd like to put our boat).. Thankfully there was a spot beside the bridge.. Off to the pub for a pint (or 2.. 3...4).. Dessert menu looked too good so we had dessert.. forgot what it was but I think it was yummy! Day 4. Woke up back on the boat so didn't get too drunk.. Again all hireboats vanished at 8am! Slow drive past Jons yard but didn't spot anyone (Some really lovely wooden boats in there though).. Slow drive down the ant (more zig zagging Richardson boats again all again very polite and doing a good job on that narrow river). Stopped at how hill for the pastry's brought at stalham.. lovely! Stopped again at Ludham bridge and had a walk round.. not much open though for some unknown reason and stocked up so no look in the little shop. Lunch stop in horning.. new inn welcoming to the boat as always (My parents live in there pretty much!).. Slow walk around NYA boat sales.. not much of interest though. Spent a few hours though.. Headed for Wroxham for a curry in our favourite curry house! Struggled for mooring but hotel wroxham good as usual and allowed us to short stay. Left wroxham at dusk for salhouse broad.. first time navigating northern rivers at dusk and truly magical it was (pictures not brilliant but gives some idea) (Note to readers.. This is my Parents own boat (I hate the word private) so we have Nav lights and therefore can navigate after dark.. hireboats can't - But I think they should as its brilliant!).. Arrived into salhouse just as the last bit of the light vanished.. Dropped mudweight.. lovely little spot just around the corner. Day 5. Smugly reversed the boat from its mudweight spot onto the main stern on mooring for a walk around.. nice new boardwalk and BBQ areas looks smart there now! Unplanned day though but considered heading back up the ant.. Quick look in ranworth first though... seeing a queue of boats waiting to moor.. no chance.. Deciding its getting busy up here (boats everywhere!) and noticing the tides was good for yarmouth we decided to head south.. Tad early so done a few turns on the way down.. windy day though and wind meant breydon was a little bit more active (wouldnt say rough) but we turned around a few times "playing" dread to think what the proper conservative "Privates" thought! lol Was aiming for Beccles but did the maths and it wouldn't be possible that side of midnight! so stopped at Burgh castle but a bit too hot for the walk.. so back aboard and headed for Reedham.. ferry inn as its been a few years since we been in there.. Moored just infront of "Ranworth Breeze" but I don't think it was Alan and Tan aboard and didnt quite work out who was aboard .. Dinner was fish and chips. service was still slow although the waitress said the chef just walked out (Hope they got them back though .. food was good and we will probably be back! Day 6. Off to Beccles.. Poor tide planning and the tide wasn't being nice.. So beating through reedham (Testing Grahams fix! - All good Into Oulton broad and moored up with no problems.. Lunch in the wherry hotel (they didn't have Woodfordes wherry?!!) but nice lunch.. will be back.. Slow walk around the park and looked at some of the moorings there.. looked nice.. maybe.. Off again stopped at Waveney riverside complex.. every time we go there its doubles in size.. looks smart though.. ice cream in the shade.. Left for Beccles.. Made Dave helm and I sat on the front all the way... was nice.. he did ok.. kept between the banks and didn't hit anything! Nice walk around beccles and Dinner in the Waveney house hotel.. we like it and it was nice.. Day 7. Back up the hill to beccles in the morning.. Market day so fresh bread and breakfast. Walk around lathams number 2 (QD stores) - Dave brought a spot light for Orca. breakfast by the river before heading off. We left beccles at about 11:30.. and the tide again wasn't being helpful. Made it somerleyton squeezed under the bridge.. could of inches spare (left our radio at home and it said 8.2) bit tight for comfort but all ok.. Moored up as I wanted to take a look at the marina there.. watched a couple of real "privates" trying to moor their "marina only" type boats up with the current.. bow thrusters and twin engines all being used to their extremes.. Walk over to the marina looks good.. maybe! then upto the little shop for an icecream. Headed off hit Reedham at what I think was full flow out so we had to stop.. BA mooring guy really cool though and agreed that we should head for the pub and come back later! Hour later after a few beers (shandys ...) the tide looked no better.. although a couple of sail boats where sailing up and if they can do it "sweet kingfisher" can... they soon overtook us though! Into Rockland to thankfully an empty mooring (the southern broads again where packed out!).. Showing off again though I turned the boat around on a dime with a few people watching! Off to the New inn there for dinner.. another brilliant meal and lots of beers! (the mooring and easy stumbling distance). Day 8. Two hireboats again vanished at it was only 7.30am.. Back to Brundall. Refuelled at Brooms and had a long look round and a chat to the guys there.. the hireboats are really lovely! We had a good look around NYA here and even went on some of the big brooms with the aim to swop our steel barge for a nice plastic boat.. thought provoking though.. (Orca first..) Getting late we headed south straight away lunch at pin mill though near ipswich.. last feeling of east anglia.. air con on though and home to a cat that still loves us and is snuggled up beside me... Couple of pictures attached. I didn't take my camera as I normally get carried away.. Thanks for reading