JawsOrca

Gramps.. as mentioned please don't stop posting and just lurk.. a forum by (my reduced) definition is a place to ask questions etc... no questions no forum. So you did nothing wrong by asking... I also can't stand when forums tell you "go away and use the search feature and look for yourself" so thankfully no one did that .. but apologies for the negative replies to your post.. Any further questions please just shout! (P.s.. Don't mention the bin problem too.. (All rubbish bins have been removed..perhaps because the broads are no now longer a magical waterway so we are free to dispose of rubbish in the rivers like the old days)... If you are a hirer you need to dispose in other hire yards.. if you have your own boat you need to erm.. we aren't sure yet)...

As I was typing I thought its not a great idea but it needs something there.. Perhaps just more props or something but they are off to a good start

We ventured north in the car on the way home and ended up in Potter tea room for the first time. It was either that or the fish and chip shop.. (I forgot about the lathams cafe!). Pleasantly surprised by the interior, nice size, nice atmosphere although could do with a telly or something extra. Bit expensive at £16 for panini, baked potato and two drinks but we enjoyed the meals and they got busy so it's certainly working out. The cakes looked amazing but I must try and eat better so walked away! Recommended will be back for the odd treat. (Good luck to them.. it's nice to see new ventures in potter).

JA if theres any spots free can we kinda reserve one for some friends.. they have an early thornycroft (and unconfirmed dunkirk little ship) called "Morn" (Sadly I can't find any pictures of her online although she's apparently like this http://s192.photobucket.com/user/drew5233/media/Dunkirk%20Little%20Ships/P1030856.jpg.html I've not even seen her yet). She's not broads based but only down at burnham so it should be an easy run up.. I can confirm closer to the date though.. Worst case she can take Orca's slot and we can moor round the corner or something though.

Lol yup pictures of me.. no chance!! We was doing OK.. well kinda .. but yup the finest moment wasn't when Steve said "Where's all this water come from"

JR if you create the post I'll edit in the link for you

this one... http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/interactive_map_reveals_the_best_and_worst_food_places_for_hygiene_so_far_in_2015_1_4130227

Linsey if you are on a computer. Click "More reply options" and then "Choose file" (A box will show up so find the picture from your computer", the "Attach your file" it should upload to the post. If you are on a phone or tablet using taptalk, click the "+" icon beside the reply box..

That's ok copy and paste all of that in and it should work

JR.. Your screen should look like link2 (image attached).. to add a URL click the icon in the "link" (image attached). A small pop up box should show up enter the link address in there.. i.e http://www.bbc.co.uk(as in link3 image attached).

Ok maybe not! two secs lol

Hi JR.. If you just type the link including the www bit it should auto work for you.. i.e www.bbc.co.uk

and from me Lesley. Despite the rubbish problem I hope you enjoyed your trip .. We love to hear more including any pictures you took

Good to hear you are back Gramps! Firstly I disagree with Grace.. the North is terrible! I'm dreading going up there in a couple of weeks (reminds me I need to order a ton of bubble wrap)... The south is were you need to be.. as mentioned the south are proud to host the (bi?)annual dragon contest in norwich (normal for norfolk..!) so that alone is reason to visit! Hopefully we will see you about we should be out and about although I hope you lot aren't too rowdy, the south is a quiet peaceful area Enjoy your trip and enjoy planning it

Guys.. Please keep it friendly though.. Personally I enjoy watching sailboats and love trying to get through.. if there's too many then I tie up and enjoy the show.. although with the tide behind us I've go no chance of controlling Orca so everyone would die if I tried to get through I've always been told to keep to the bank and the boats will normally give you way there although you will still get the "spoil sport" look but just smile back..

It's probably as close to heaven as you can get Neil... Dead quiet... moorings everywhere.. empty pubs. We will be out all winter this year and are even planning christmas and new years on Orca (we didn't spend £1500 on heating for nothing!!).. can't wait!! See you there

"Working Weekend" 26th June 2015 Sadly I couldn't work from home today.. I work the other side of the world (or at least it feels it) and typically the M26 was pretty much closed so it me a couple of hours to get home for work. Quick pack back in the car and the traffic was still heavy so we didn't arrive into the marina until about 10pm. Arriving at the yards we spotted what looked to be some outboard motor thieves... all dressed in black.. hmm dodgy.. Steve (ladypatricia) said hello and what time did we call this lol.. (Apparently he had been there since 2pm.. working hard but Debs he looked very comfortable talking and drinking).. Steve jumped on board and we had a chat and a tin of some danish export for an hour or so. 27th June 2015 Despite saying to Steve I won't be awake until lunchtime I was up and about at 7am! It was a warm morning. Dave made a quick start on the boat. We had done 45 hours on the engine and at 50 hours the engine needs a big service, Dave was happy that we was close enough considering the guy before us had probably ran for a few hours and the engine was starting to get warm anyway. The service included loosening and re-torquing the cylinder head, which alone required the rocker gear to be removed and refitted and valve clearance to be adjusted.. Plus the usual fluid change.. So knowing I was just going to get in the way I thought I'd go and watch Steve do his jobs on Lady P.. Firstly we both scratched our heads trying to work out how to get the watertrap down the non-exsitant gaps beside the engine. Steve worked out we may get it behind the engine and pull forward... yup thankfully that worked! Next he cut the exhaust pipe.. fingers were crossed it was in the right spot.. He then connected that up to the waterlock and said something really stupid "That was easy"... Yup that was easy.. The outlet didn't want to work..us both covered in bilge slime trying and steve's hands dripping in blood.. so he cut a bit off the exhaust off.. at the same time the hose from the engine seacock feel off "Steve keep bit safe", I said.. "the seacocks off aint it?" "yeah... the exhaust pipe is going to go on if it killlls me". Eventually it went on and Steve said "Where's all this water come from"... "Don't say that Steve, where's that pipe?" "It's down here". "Erm Steve, is the seacock off?" "No?" " lol.. "... Thankfully Steve has portable bilge pump and after 15 mins the bilge was dry again lol.. Engine on Lady P sounded like a normal boat again! Yay.. Dave appeared Orca was all fixed (Yup so in the time me and Steve had played around and almost sunk LadyP he had half stripped and rebuilt the engine!). Last task for lady P was the enhaust pipe, she has a downward pipe and we suggested cutting it so it's straight out as so you can properly see the water pumping. Steve had talked about using an angle grinder but we suggested bringing a recip saw (although it's not the easiest thing to use), but Dave quickly cut it off and yup the water pump can now be seen running. Waving good bye to Steve leaving him to simply finish the radio wiring we wanted to give Orca a test run to make sure the head won't blow!! Orca immediately felt different a lot more meatier and more responsive.. So he clearly did something.. He mentioned that it's likely the head may have been on its way (hence tightening) and I guess the valve clearances helped. Upstream out the marina we headed up towards oulton.. without admitting too much online.! The engine was tested lol.. the head didn't blow.. she's not as fast as we hoped but more than capable for the broads. Oulton YS was busy but we slotted in just beside the Albion wherry who's on her southern tour. We wondered into Lowestoft for some shopping. Back to oulton I noticed there was no geocaches nearby so found a spot I hid my first cache in norfolk (find it here: http://coord.info/GC5Y9WR)then it was off to the wherry hotel for our first woodfordes ale trail stamp and some grub! Back to the boat to watch a lovely sun set over the broad and the end of a very warm day 28th June 2015 Awoken by the un-forecast patter of rain it was immediately evident that it was a much cooler day. Thankfully the rain quickly vanished and we was soon under way and heading back to the marina. The run back to the marina was all good but it was noticeable how the southern broads are, which is good to see, certainly for southern businesses! I told Dave to practice a mooring as he's not done any and the strong current just outside the yard makes it much easier.. he didn't do too bad.. tad fast but no damage done, I will make him practice more. I took the boat quickly into her berth and with the engine now performing well we got her tied up without any problem. Sorry not many pictures this weekend as it was really a working weekend but I took one on my tablet and played around with the formatting and it came out well.

As I mentioned I agree, think it's fair to say; "You sit there and sort out your own recovery... It's your boat this week".. and a charge of £xx is due every day it's sitting there over the hire period.. I'm sure this would stand up in court and a judge would deem as fair.. There is no way the yard should pay for this..

I do worry about the guys at alpha craft at the moment.. they certainly are having a very rough time. As I said I think this should be more than taking away the deposit it should certainly be criminal proceedings (It is literally almost against the railway track on the bank) moreso if they were all drunk. Good luck again guys (good to hear the tow job will be kept in the maffetts and co family ) at least as MM mentioned it's spring tides on the way.

We just saw it. It certainly is a long way up the mud and I believe its spring tides at the moment. Certainly also sounds like these lads were being stupid and I personally think they should be made to pay for cost occurred as this isn't lack of experience but stupidity. Thoughts to alpha and any future alpha customers whom may be inconvenienced by these idiots. Good luck too to wehlau and maffetts. Hope its a safe and easy job.

Lol not bad Steve. Almost home and ill do ny version lol. Least you got a few bits and as I said debs will just have to hum to herself for niw

So steve lol looking forward to today's write up lol...

You lot have lost it ... Seriously cuckoo....

The day they get a mobile phone signal... I'm leaving...

Hi, If you mean using solar water heaters, I understand they are very very expensive and probably not a solution afloat. We heat our water on our static houseboat using a Morco gas instant heater (http://www.cnfoutdoors.co.uk/morco-d61b-water-heater?gclid=CMCjhMz8rMYCFQ6WtAodkKcLqg) works well but you need a good pressure supply. I'm not sure of the BSS implications as we are on a coastal mooring and don't require BSC. Alternatives are diesel heaters.