JennyMorgan

The sea water is pouring over the top of Mutford Lock at this moment, the Broad is flooded and water topping the river walls. Judging by the water in my garden it is as high as the historic 1953 flood. I only hope that Richard (NBF) and his dogs are safe on their mooring at Oulton Broad Yacht Station. As for me by road I'm cut of from civilisation unless I want to go for a paddle. Brrrrr, it's freezing so no way!

More poorly worded postings. I do wish people would read their proposed postings as others might before pressing the 'send' button. Personally I think this thread is out of character for this forum, a great shame that it has gone the way that it has.

Marina, I have no doubts whatsoever that everyone concerned firmly believes in what they have written. As you rightly say there are two sides to every story, I also have no doubts whatsoever about the truth of that statement!

A Lowestoft lifeboat crew member has just told me that he is on stand-by as are other East Coast RNLI crews. Doesn't look good and if it is like 2013 then we can expect sea water inundating Mutford Lock at Oulton Broad about 9.45 tonight.

In reverse?

I waddled down to my moorings at what was supposed to be low water. Low water, ha ha, it was higher than a normal high water by at least six inches! Apparently it will be as bad as 2013, see photo:

That should increase bridge clearance then!

http://www.suffolkgazette.com/news/deliverance-norfolk-broads/

I can relate to much of what Labrador has written, not least the comment about angler's leaving maggots in the bilge. Why oh why do they do it? No excuse unless they think it's funny. The hirer's manual, unless things have changed since my involvement with the industry, these are constantly updated and would most probably, surely, have reference to the bilge pump switch. I wouldn't expect first time hirers to know about these switches but, unless folk are in the Horning area, help and advice is only a phone-call away. Very often asking other hirers about problems will elicit a helpful answer. Back to nasties left by previous customers, dog hairs have to the number one complaint followed by pubic hairs in the shower. Re high tides, bridges do have height guides which hopefully people are aware of. There is a great deal for hirers to be aware of but it's all on the internet and in the manual.

Actually I can imagine Colin at Silverline being a tad abrupt and down to earth. just his manner. It would help if customers would fill in 'special requirements' at the time of booking. Turn around days can be really hectic & chasing around at short notice can be a problem. The other thing, if we take pillows as an example, no dig at Seamaster, perhaps there had been a number of similar requests and that there were no spares. Advance notice would have given the yard an opportunity to buy some in. Brundall is a long way from the shops! However, a 'Sorry Sir' might have been appreciated at the time. Bad manners do cost customers whilst good manners cost nothing.

Not out on the 'beat' today then Stuart?

Amazing! Predictable though.

Seamaster, I have no problem whatsoever with what you have just written, a very honest justification for being disappointed. Being wise after the event it is just a pity that you did not justify your complaint the first time around.

Vaughan makes a valid point re inter-reaction with customers. Anyone who sells a product or service soon becomes aware that if their face doesn't fit with a customer then they don't make money.

Blinking 'eck, the snow is now laying, the flakes are huge, the end is nigh! It's actually rather nice to see, real Christmas card snow flakes but no white-out. We have a weather alert at the moment but if this the worst that we can expect then great, I'm looking forward to it.

I hope that we can now allow folk the opportunity to relate their obvious discontent as we normally do. Constructive criticism is no bad thing. For me, as a local, I do see the condition of boats from various yards and from those observations there are inevitably yards that I would recommend to my friends. Conversely there are yards that I would personally avoid like the plague but then that is another story.

Arghhhhhh, it's snowing at Oulton Broad! The schools will be closed on Monday, trains will stop because it's the wrong sort, shops will go into meltdown as customers panic buy, roads will be clogged up as people drive at three miles an hour. Meanwhile I'm ready for those seasonal calendar shots of a lifetime, best go out and tidy up my mooring so it looks all pretty!

Two wise postings well worth considering by all of us.

This thread has taken an unfortunate turn, as some of us feared that it would. I'm not preaching censorship, or even moderation, but there are times in life when chilling is the wisest option.

The few complaints re Silverline started off with a 'I wasn't made welcome' comment which sometimes tend to be an opinion rather than a fact. I wonder what Colin thought of his customer? However, if a customer is upset because a boat was poorly prepared in any way then I agree, we should have balance if relevant to the debate. Having met John Wilson the TV, celebrity angler and writer a number of times I will say that I never grew to like the man and perhaps he never liked me either, but he's a damned fine angler and I've learn't a great deal from him, for that he has my respect but there is no way that he'll ever be on my Christmas card list.

Is it well formed? So long as it doesn't hinder navigation

John, paint the roof of your boat orange, stick big 'R's on the bow, decorate the roof and decks with empty lager bottles, turn up the boom box to full, push the throttle forward and waggle the rudder. I guarantee that the racing fleet will give you a wide berth!

I well remember a certain Gentleman of Yorkshire that retired to his bunk at an early hour, turning his back on the thrill of listening to booming bitterns and deserting the deck. In fairness he was fairly early to rise but I think that was only because in his slumbers he'd remembered another vintage joke that he had to regale to the crew before he forgot it again. Seen here 'entertaining' all and sundry including the swans swimming past us.

Re black tar varnish, Stockholm tar, Paddy's brightwork, call it what you will but it is awful stuff, in my experience. We had it on Spray and it built up over the years so we decided to remove it. Traditionally it's burnt off but Marthams boat-shed insurance forbade that so I scraped it off. Didn't realise that tar dust melts at skin temperature thus it coated my face and hands and stuck fast. Wow was that hard to wash off & I stunk of turps! Hi Sambo, which banana boat did I come off, the leg pulls were many! It's cheap and cheerful but impossible to power sand as the speed of the tool melts the tar & sanding sheets very quickly become clogged. I can not think of a less pleasant task than cleaning off the tar from a boat's hull.

Regarding Whitham's white marine gloss, have now used it for eight years and am hugely impressed with it. I apply with foam rollers which I can do quickly & efficiently on both a grp & a wood boat. It flows well, stays on and stays white, I always enjoy using it and inevitably am pleased with the results. From Whitham's trade counter at Lowestoft it costs about one third of what International costs and it does the job, in my experience, just as well.