JennyMorgan

They need the money to pay for all the extra plug in points and the fearsome crushed concrete walkways!

It is perfectly true, both on the Broads and along the coast. I have a cartoon somewhere with a number of small boats anchored up in an inlet and their skippers are all discussing the important matters of life, sailing, whilst passing the time of the day, so to speak. Some sailing boat owners tended to be a tad more modest than others and rigged a tent like structure over the forepeak, as in the background of this picture. Legend has it that one skipper, complete with the galloping runs, once directed his crew whilst racing during a regatta, ensconced on the heads in the forepeak!

Indeed, by and large the Rangers are very definitely the good guys. I suspect that the moorings might also be having their final check prior to us lot blasting the spiders and other assorted livestock from out of our engine compartments.

Perhaps they are training a new intake rather than doing their 'big brother' impersonation.

Very true story! Very sociable when moored stern-on against your neighbours. Up would pop the forward hatch followed by someone's head and shoulders. Folk are creatures of habit and a pre-cast-off crap is part of the routine. Said crappers could strike up a conversation with their fellow boaters, discussing their plans for that day. All part of the joys of boating back in the day.

Haven't we all, mentioning no names!

Many years ago my father had a restaurant at Oulton Broad overlooking the Yacht Station. From his office he saw all the boats coming and going. When the BIG Broom boats started to regularly visit the Broad he predicted that that would be the end of the popularity of Oulton Broad as a holiday destination. His theory was that the two fleets don't mix, that hire boats and large private boats are poor bed fellows. Maybe he had a point. Back in the 1980s I worked as harbour master at the Waveney River Centre thus I spoke to hundreds of holiday makers many of whom told me that they were put off by the antics of the water-skiiers, indeed some were in tears. Not many ski boats about now but there used to be. In both instances that was some ago but the hire fleets still tend to stay up North, for whatever reason. We have lost many down South boatyards to property development which has had a massive impact. In the past hire boats from down South headed North and those from up North came South. A stop-off for both at Gt Yarmouth being a big part of the adventure. I wonder if the current BIG hire boats are unsuitable for mooring or turning to moor at Gt Yarmouth. Down South has a great deal to offer but seemingly not enough to attract North Rivers boats.

All those long unused and un-serviced engines struggling to fire up, the acrid cloud over Brundall blocking out the sun!

Imagine the congestion & chaos if on a Bank Holiday they did all get underway, arghhhh, where would they all moor?

Where do old boats go to die? There have been several graveyards around the Broads over the years. Seems that it is a growing problem along the Coast. Some interesting points of view in the following link. Food for thought. All to often boats are seemingly abandoned. http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-wonders-about-the-future/

You needn't be, just come up with some new jokes!

Like Nick being at the back of the fleet and the sun being in the North at midday, subject to the position of the club house? Still, a good souvenir of both your parents and the artist. Could down a few pints, what with one leg being hollow!

Certainly although the synthetic ones tend to be white, with a few exceptions plus there is one white biodegradable BOD. I had considered having a pink one built and calling her Odd BOD but regretfully class rules insist that boats be called after waterfowl.

I was amused to read that we should use our boats outdoors! "Private boating permitted for recreation for a single household or bubble (if vessel is enclosed), or for 6 people / 2 households per boat (if vessel is open air, provided it is outdoors and social distancing can be maintained between people from different households)."

Or even Peg-Leg! Yes, I knew him very well, amazing character. Successfully sailed his Merlin Rocket racing dinghy single legged for a number of years. Not David but these pictures show similar Merlin Rockets.

I believe that there is a Broads connection there, namely a certain Broads wherry.

Imagine meeting this on the River Ant on change over day!

The foot of the mainsail lifts and the head of the sail uncontrollably gybes rather than the whole thing slamming over. A good British gybe should and often is a controlled affair.

I could, but I wouldn't . . . . . . . at least not intentionally.

I used to sail on Albion in the days of Ewan Anderson & Dougie Blewitt, long time ago, good memories. One trick Ewan had, when shifting the gaff and coarse aft and away from the mast, was to tip the mast head by a foot or so, take the strain on the throat and that way the gaff fell away from the mast, e.g. let gravity do the work. Mind you, unshipping the gaff was rare. Works on a river cruiser too!

It's called 'kidology'! Many years ago I used to sell jewelry in my souvenir shop. One line that I had was stainless steel rings from India, they looked very good too. Cost me literally pence, I thought that they would be a good line for teenagers. Needless to say that they didn't sell at my super low price so I hiked them up by what I thought was a mad mark-up and they started to sell by the box load! Reassuringly good seller, Gerald Ratner was right!

If anyone is considering replacing the timber of the transom then I would suggest that the wood is NOT glassed over. I would clean off the transom and then use a decent hardwood, decent bedding compound and stainless through bolts. Keep the timber well oiled and it should last until doomsday. The exposed outboard bracket on my Drascombe is over forty years old and is probably as strong as when it was installed. Encapsulated transom boards have a hard life, what with screws, mounting clamps etc breaking the integrity of the seal.

If you charge enough some people will kid themselves that it is worth it.

Thank you for your response, don't know that airfield but it did look familiar. Please keep us posted, we might even be able to help. If one forumite is stumped by your question then another one is bound to come along who actually does know what they are talking about. For example, if you want to know how to fit a wine chiller or handbag and high heel locker then we all know a man who can. Trouser presses and shoe polishers might have us stumped though.

I'm sure, Andy, that there will be something of a binge period before the grim reality kicks in. I would hate to be near or, worse still, up to my credit limits, especially at this time.