JennyMorgan

I understand, with some certainty although I could be proved wrong, that the SOB is an officially declared rescue facility, that was one of the justifications for both her creation and her high cost.

What is number 20? A Yare & Bure perhaps? How on earth can anyone manage to sink one of them? Thankfully everyone is safe.

Re Gimp, quick & easy. My son in-law works for a company called ILM, boyhood dream job he reckons, and it seems that he uses Gimp a lot which, for me, is a first class recommendation.

I can see it now, with Cromer emblazoned across her transom, her deeply satisfied owner with a smug look on his face http://www.broads.org.uk/wiki/index.php5?title=Boat_Photograph&photo=z740_14559&BoatId=9077&BoatHistory=14559

Of course, if you were artful and underhand, then you could re-brand, sorry, rename Poppy as Cromer, it has been known to happen before, go there as much as you like then.

It's hell. what some men have to go through to go sailing when conditions are better than perfect. SWMBO, M-in-laws, sisters, the Queen, the prime minister, all female, all telling us men what to do, Fortunately my SWMBO likes sailing. Time to make a stand, if you dare!

Poppy, you need to grow a pair! Cromer is for wet or windless days.

We'd just fitted backstays to our Waveney, as I cut past that very same post the leeward stay lassoed it, the mast broke off just above the pole shroud! An unfortunate position for a bar.

Phewww, glad that I'm in England. Off for a sail in a moment!

Not a hint of white in the sky at the moment, summer's here, at last! We took our grandson to Pettits of Reedham yesterday, so very hot, even the meerkats took to sunbathing! By the way, if you have children one to ten years old then I reckon it's a darn good day out, we thoroughly enjoyed it, even the heat! Bang next door to the Humpty Dumpty brewery and shop, hic!

That Rose, now, where have I seen a similar image? I know, ooh how rude, under the cat's tail!

The sad thing is that this catalogue of double standards and funny handshakes is based on a harsh reality. Unfortunately the Authority is, by national standards, of insignificant importance, just not worth bothering about, and the 'executive' takes full advantage of that.

http://www.broadsnationalpike.com/2016/07/blessed-punishment-beatings-continue_17.html

Exactly! I talk as one who set off out of Lowestoft harbour mouth in my Fireball without first putting the plugs in the transom drain holes. I lived to tell the tale!

I don't think for one moment that anyone, least of of all me, is criticising the life boat. Once called for by the Coastguard it is obliged to go. I don't have a clue as to who called the rescue services but the report states that the boat had only run out of fuel, no other problem. This suggests that the owner either told a passerby who then dialed 999 or that he called for help himself. I doubt very much that there was a walker along the bank at that time of night, although it's certainly possible, however there might have been a passing boat but then surely they would have offered help at least or even better a tow or a lift. Equally there could have been a moored boat, a member of that crew could have called, who knows? All largely speculation, of course, but the bloke was able to walk across the car-park and into McDonalds so he was at least reasonably fit! My criticism, and I think that of Marshman, was the ill preparedness and lack of forethought by the casualty and apparent unwillingness to help himself. Boating, especially at night, is not a risk free occupation, even on the Broads, it does require a reasonable degree of preparedness and common sense, as well as self reliance.

And not paying tax on it either!

Ponder on this, GRP boats are not, as yet, recyclable. Nor is the fuel that they burn exactly green . . . . . . . . . unlike the fuel that sailing boats use.

I well remember the debates surrounding sewerage and the Broads during the 1960's. When we were installing the new pump-out toilets on our boats for the forthcoming season we had a visit by a delegation of environmentalists and scientists from America's National Geographic magazine. Whilst they applauded our efforts they were puzzled at our reasoning. It was explained that the raw, human waste was not the problem, nature was more than capable of dealing with that, rather it was the phosphates in the soaps and detergents that were the problem. That shower and bath water was pumped directly into the rivers, and in most cases still is, is the very real problem. There was also very real concerns as to the chemicals that were being used in pump-out toilets as it could/would destroy the natural operation of sewerage farms, as subsequently it did at Burgh St Peter, indeed it happened at least twice. Once when I managed it and again when James Knight bought out the company that subsequently owned it. We are very good at solving one problem by creating another. That the Broads are cleaner today is the fact that Broadside houses and estates no longer discharge directly into the rivers and phosphate stripping has become the norm.

Even I have been glad of a tow on occasions, it's the way of The Broads and long may it continue. By the way, unless they had run out the Waveney River Centre at Burgh St. Peter sells petrol, albeit probably not late at night https://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/marina-and-boatyard?cmsr=marina-and-boatyard

Vet, just commenting on the reports both in the media and from the lifeboat crew themselves. As the report is from that crew I'm content to take it on trust. That the gentleman who ran out of fuel subsequently wanted to be towed up towards Beccles, possibly some ten or so miles away, suggests to me that he was more than ill prepared for his proposed journey. However, as to where he was actually going IS pure speculation. Anyway, let it be an important lesson to us all, a dip stick is an invaluable tool, as is a reserve can of fuel, or a paddle. Heaven forbid that people start dialing 999 every time they see what they suspect to be a broken down boat on the river. Sorry John, but I think that both Marsh and myself should have a right of reply on this one.

I'm not quite so enthusiastic, great job by the lifeboat crew but surely the casualty, if we can really call him that, should have helped himself. He could probably have kipped aboard for the night and thumbed a tow in the morning. Alternatively he could have moored for the night, left his boat and either walked to Oulton Broad or Burgh St Peter, depending on which bank he was moored to. Calling for a lifeboat has become the easy option but the clue should be in the title LIFE-boat. Was he really in danger, or just a silly-billy for running out of fuel? From this side of the computer screen it seems to me that it was just a good job that the life-boat wasn't actually needed for a genuinely serious casualty rather than a tow home for someone who forgot to keep his fuel tank topped up. Rant over!

Perhaps we can all go to the zoo at nearby Kessingland, excellent day out, to see just what mummy & daddy tigers do.

You mean that there were eight bells aboard a sailing ship and once in every twenty four hours the crew would ring a plain bob minor?

Oh dear!

Picked up a book in the charity shop the other day called Fishing with Emma, surprisingly good! In the fifties it was Peter in shorts with Mr Crabtree, now it is Emma, occasionally in shorts but generally in jeans, politically correct skin tones, and right up to date. Judging by the prices on E-Bay I did very well in paying only £1.25. It's a cracking 'how-to' book, well illustrated and very well written. On a par with Mr Crabtree? Well, I think that it is. Emma knows her stuff and how to put it over to her readers in a very readable manner. Illustrations rather than photographs it's probably aimed at teenagers but even us old gits with years of experience can learn with this one. Buy and enjoy! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishing-Emma-Barbel-Catfish-Zander/dp/1906122504/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468520930&sr=1-1&keywords=Fishing+with+Emma