JennyMorgan

Watershed, have a read of this link: http://shoal-waters.moonfruit.com/ Shoal Waters cruised the Essex Coast for very many years without an engine. Who needs an engine, especially a big one?

That's Zingara, over a hundred years old.

No typo, just a case of using the tides. Ebb from Oulton Broad to Yarmouth, flood from Yarmouth to Martham. Certainly couldn't plug the tide with a 3.5 but why not take advantage of nature's free fuel? We fairly hoss along with the tide & 3/4 throttle, good day's run. I say 'day', but to take the tide might mean crossing Breydon in the dark, great on a moonlit night.

Between bridges, yer gotta larf! I have often taken a 28' Broads sailing cruiser, complete with a 3.5 hp outboard, from Oulton Broad to Martham for her winter lay-up, comfortably in a day. When I have hit the ebb at the Yacht-station, when coming off Breydon a bit previous like, I have found myself going backwards! Get it right & it's a doddle.

The time to buy is just before the marina's mooring fee lands on the door mat!

My local Tesco garage used to be quite diligent in regard to petrol containers but it has finally sunk in that boats with outboards sometimes have 25 litre tanks and either the garage's policy has changed or they now turn a realistic blind eye.

David Beckham, never heard of him!

John, with respect, and one of whom three out of four great grandmothers were Scots, I do realise that for many of us, 100% Scots too, that this is a serious matter. Serious or not the Scots that I know are great leg pullers, and sometimes very droll they are at it too, so, for once, the leg pull is on the other leg, so to speak. Your concern is noted, but I suspect that if the poll answer is 'Yes' then the humour floodgates will open!

You can hardly miss it!

It's often forgotten that many of us with outboards use petrol so petrol boats are not that uncommon on the Broads. There is some debate about the environmental friendliness of diesel but in practical terms diesel rules on The Broads.

The Broads is included in the list but the fact, as I wrote, is that the Broads is NOT a National Park, however desirable or undesirable that fact might be. As I said, 'If we take the wording of it at absolute face value', on that I rest my case. I too can see no gain in continuing this debate but we must not forget the fact.

Charlie, my bit of dried seaweed got it absolutely right, which was rather worrying!

I have nothing but high praise for the pub. As for the moorings, just be careful, that said I've never had a problem.

Be interesting to see what ensign is flown on Scottish shipping?

As you enter onto Oulton Broad it is the bay immediately on your left, you'll probably see a group of three bling boats moored against the bank. Further into the bay you'll see so many masts it look like a 1920's backstreet with all the linen posts.

Oh, but there is! If the Scots choose to defect from the United Kingdom this week will Iain, as a newly created foreigner, still be a moderator on a British forum? Just curious! Indeed, will we need to replace our Red Ensigns?

Poppy, just curious, is you SWMBO a Yarmouth lass?

Have finally managed to gain sight of the document to which Paladin provided a link. If we take the wording of it at absolute face value then The Broads, NOT being an actual National Park, just a mere member of the family, then the Broads is ineligible! Sorry and all that but I didn't write the blurb nor set the rules!

The brown sail navy, in this case a flotilla of Drascombes, will be descending on James at the Waveney River Centre this weekend for a rally. We hope to visit Beccles on Saturday & Oulton Broad on Sunday. Keep your eyes open for us and your waving arms at the ready. The brown sail navy term originates from Holland and refers to the masses of traditional and traditional style boats they have over there.

Got to say that Bargate aka Surlingham is my favourite spot for mudweighting. Other spots include the mouths of dykes leading to pumps on the marshes, numerous ones to choose from but it does pay to mudweight at both sharp and blunt ends of your boat. Oulton Broad's North Bay/Borrows Ham is another popular spot for visitors.

Thanks, Barry, you know where I should have gone!

Exactly! Be careful what you wish for.

That Malanka is a tasty boat, nicely maintained too!

Frank, fair point but that's not just a Breydon thing. I've had a sea-mist come in on Oulton Broad & I've been dependent on a compass, not something many hire boats have.

If visitor tolls were lower then perhaps resident boat owners might then be tempted to buy their licences by the week rather than by the season. I do have some sympathy with the Broads Authority on this one, whatever they do it'll be a wrong for someone. However, I do think that the toll for a small, outboard powered boat is hugely unfair compared with the toll of a large motor cruiser. Thought for the day, approaching half your toll goes towards Broads Authority overheads rather than the navigation. Now, I think that that really is a rip off.