JennyMorgan

The impression that I get with some yards is that some only service when an engine actually breaks down and then in a customer's time. I think that we actually need a 'horse's mouth on this one.

I've already checked mooring lines for possible chafe and my buoy for wear and tear to the top end of the chain, put extra springs on dory and Drascombe, checked furling lines on jibs, pulled stuff above the flood level, will sleep happily enough now!

Polly, a roller on the side of your stem head would solve the problem: https://shop.classicmarine.co.uk/hull-94587/stemhead-fittings/bronze-stemhead-rollers/side-fitting-stemhead-roller-gm-516-chain.html Such a fitting would mean that your mudweight cable could be lead aft either to a 'handy billy' or to your jibsheet winches or snubbers, if you have them. Alternatively you could have a short bowsprit which would allow you rig a block and tackle to its underside and even to stow the mudweight there. All quite simple really.

I don't doubt that that blue barrel is for biofuel rather than alcohol based products!

Ricardo, thanks for reinforcing my reminder. Breydon itself is a perfectly safe piece of water, for well maintained boats & folk who choose their crossing times wisely.

The yellow boat with the drop down bow looks very much like a rescue boat that we see at major race events at Oulton Broad speedboat races. The topic of breaking down private boats on Breydon popped up between myself and a marine engineer the other day. Seemingly he spends quite a lot of his time dealing with water in fuel tanks. The chop on Breydon rocks a boat thus stirring up crud and water in fuel tanks. Apparently it doesn't often happen to hire boats those being better maintained. Seemingly it's down to evaporation in the tank, old fuel and lack of maintenance on private boats. I was told that it's not uncommon for a private boat to have several pints of water in their fuel tanks. No way of knowing if that's the case with this particular boat, but whether it is or not it's worth privateers having their tanks checked. Well done to the rescue teams. We were talking to the Coastguards when the alarm went off. Off they went in their four wheel drive, sirens on, that was ear splittingly loud verging on painful.

But where's the beer pump and spirit optic?

No idea!

Quite right! It wasn't dragging in the tide!

Honestly, you really wouldn't want to know!

Why come to the Broads when, if you sit tight, then the Broads will come to you! Those old BODS sure get about. One raced in America during the summer and on another occasion several went to India to race against a local class out there that had been designed by the same designer, Linton Hope. Previous to that two sailed to France and another sailed in the Caribbean. I suspect that there have been other foreign trips that I don't know about. Norfolk Wherries have also gone far and wide, The Albion to the Fens, Gypsey to Holland and Ardea to France and back whilst several went to Portsmouth, some coming back.

The herrings and roe were excellent, just wish they'd stop repeating themselves though!

Got to say that I sometimes go in bow first, sometimes it's easier to reverse out rather than reverse in, especially if the wind is blowing hard from the shore.

That first one, I just hope that no one actually buys it. As Clive has suggested, probably beyond repair, at least economical repair. She's ready for the knacker's yard.

Arghhhhhh, that fender!

So what else is 'bad form' in the boating world? Just suggestions you understand! Wonky Waterlines, Engerland St George flags, stiletto heels, headlights, steering wheels on the right, bunting rather than signal flags, pirates, running engines before ten o'clock on a Sunday morning and not using and abiding by the encyclopedic Ashley Book of Knots.

One particular restaurant has always stood out in my mind and that was Scott's in London. We had gone to the Earl's Court Boatshow, it was a few years ago. Our coats were taken and we were sat down, serviettes placed on our laps and our orders taken. When all was ready hot plates were put before us and then several waiters came in, silver service, placing the most fantastic steak & kidney pie and many veg on our plates, only I didn't have a plate, not one of the waiters noticed! We all sat there deadpan and amazed, my father eventually indicating to the waiter that I had no plate! I thought him a spoilsport, he thought me a heathen! What the maitre dee thought we never did find out but his reaction was instant and deserved of the applause we all gave him & his team. The meal was out of this world but it was the lack of a plate that made it for me!

Polleee!! Groping Christmas, whatever next? For a couple of years I had digs in an uber posh part of Bosham in Sussex. According to the few remaining indigenous locals it had been known for generations as Stink Finger Lane. I doubt if any of the second home owners knew that, one of which was a well known 1960's actor, Oliver Reed, who used to roam the village in his pyjamas, the flies of which were not always as secure as they might have been!

The lock keepers probably wondered if she needed an inflation job!

Yes. Ideal for decorating your 'man-cave' though.

Timbo, will this one do? If not Gracie might like it!

Some of us wouldn't be seen dead in white socks, others of us wouldn't be seen trailing fend-offs or having a blue one dangling from the stem head, others wouldn't wish to be seen with a Red Ensign on the stem head or cabin top, all a question of values and or outlook. Personally I see getting it right as being part and parcel of the fun of boating, each to their own.

No different for a hire boat or a private boat: http://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/cruising/Web Documents/Regulations and Safety/FLAG ETIQUETTE AND VISUAL SIGNALS - PART I.pdf

But why not a Red Ensign?

When one considers what the British merchant fleets endured during both world wars then being able to fly the same Red Ensign that they sailed under is surely a great privilege, one that really we should all uphold and be proud to do so.