[Hire Prices - Yikes!]

Prices that go up don't tend to come down again, I just hope that the golden goose that lays the golden egg isn't shafted.

On the other hand I don't see package holidays returning to pre-pandemic/pre brexit prices anytime soon. 

I've long regretted that the less affluent are being priced off the Broads as regards to private boaters, looks like it's the turn of the hirers now. 

Sadly there won't be enough holidays to go round so prices will inevitably rise.

[Hire Prices - Yikes!]

Supply and demand?

[Turning To The Broads]

Got to say I also find heaters firing up in the early hours annoying. Okay, perhaps, when there is snow on the decks but this morning, whilst cold, it's bright, blue and gorgeous. Just get up, drag your coat on and go, it's brilliant, treat it like camping afloat. Have a dirty weekend! 

[Toll Comparisons]

31 minutes ago, marshman said:

But how can you get from one river to another without using the canals???

The same applies to the Broads, not everyone can transit all the rivers simply because of the low bridges and sometimes, like the canals, beam restrictions. 

[Toll Comparisons]

For most folk their season is 26 weeks so for usable weeks so to speak a £500.00 toll is twenty pounds a week, if you get my drift! Anyway, that aside, the costs of maintaining both the canal system and The Thames must surely be much higher than the Broads. For example both the Thames and the canals have numerous locks, the Broads has just one which we pay an additional charge to be able to use.  All the Broads bridges are paid for by outside agencies, unlike a large proportion of canal bridges. Apart from being wet there is little to make a direct comparison with. 

[Boat Fenders]

Left dangling they do offer a handhold should someone fall in. Personally I like things to be shipshape & Bristol Fashion as the saying goes. I know that some folk scorn etiquette and tradition but I think that they are a valid part of the enjoyment of boating.  We are a maritime nation, we should celebrate that fact!

[Toll Comparisons]

44 minutes ago, Cheesey69 said:

The canals have vast stretches of tow path to moor on.

Free toilet facilities and provided water points. To be honest, based on my experience, Canals are very much better but then again, most canals run near services.

canals have more infrastructure to maintain.

But i think the canal trust gets a hand out from government.  

Its a close run thing but I guess the canals focus is on the boats because the canals was built for the boats rather than everyone else.

If it wasn't for commercial boating, wherries and lighters, I don't suppose the Broads would be what it is today.  Perhaps not created for boats but certainly dredged and in many cases, adapted for boats.

[3 Prosecuted For Navigation Offences]

23 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

'Richard Cranium' is a well used term and fits quite well 

Griff

I met him the other day!

[3 Prosecuted For Navigation Offences]

5 hours ago, Hylander said:

Oh right - met a few of these in my lifetime I can tell you,  especially at work.

The Acle Straight and the M25 around Harlow seems to me to be rich hunting grounds for cockwombles!

[3 Prosecuted For Navigation Offences]

1 hour ago, Hylander said:

Have you noticed that all three boat's names have a certain ring to them "Disco Volante"  Beaver Las Vegas" and "Yeah Buoy".

Sometimes such names are quite clever, Broad Ambition for example. 

(Broad as in US slang !)  

[3 Prosecuted For Navigation Offences]

1 hour ago, Hylander said:

Go on then -  I'll ask - what is cockwomble?

Cockwomble (noun) A person, usually male, prone to making outrageously stupid statements and/or inappropriate behaviour while generally having a very high opinion of their own wisdom and importance.

[3 Prosecuted For Navigation Offences]

3 minutes ago, Paladin said:

You appear to have forgotten, or are ignoring, that the toll for a motor cruiser is already 26% higher than that of a motorised sailing boat of equivalent block area and 39% higher than an equivalent sailing cruiser. The last thing we need is another wedge driven between boaters.

I rather hoped that the explanation marks, as well the final comment, would have been sufficient to indicate a tongue in cheek comment from yours truly. 

[Quay Assistant Reedham Quay]

16 minutes ago, BroadsAuthority said:

Hi Peter,

Our Rangers and Quay Assistants have first aid training and all get trained up to a RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification. We have in-house staff in the Ranger and Visitor Services teams who are qualified/certified RYA approved instructors and are able to train others.

Hope that helps!

Thank you, Tom, very positive.

[3 Prosecuted For Navigation Offences]

Well done to all concerned.

The spin provided with the report is misleading, namely:

“Maintaining the 126 miles of navigational waters is expensive, and all the money raised from our boat owners’ tolls is spent on maintenance, dredging and navigational improvements”.

All the money, is none hived off for so called 'overheads'? It certainly has been in the past, to the tune of about 40%.

Interestingly non of the miscreants are sailing boaters! Just a thought, perhaps the motor boat toll should be raised to pay for possible prosecution, surely you'll all agree to that!!

[Quay Assistant Reedham Quay]

3 minutes ago, marshman said:

PW - not sure what Dayboat Level 3 is - do you mean PB level 2?  I don't think the latter is a necessity as if you haven't got it, they will put you through as they have, I guess, in house instructors.

Titles have changed since my antique times! Why I have suggested a high level of qualification is that offshore boats are a regular occurrence at Reedham. A very serious question, is the BA in anyway qualified to put Rangers & Quay attendants through relevant training? There was a serious incident at YH last summer resulting in a death. Might it not be sensible to have staff who are able to step aboard  and take over? I have witnessed hirers go into panic mode and thankfully folk have been on hand to help out. If the BA is genuinely serious about water safety then I suggest that formal qualification of their staff rather than in house training is a reasonable requirement. Bring back the likes of Mark Wakelin. 

[Quay Assistant Reedham Quay]

2 hours ago, RS2021 said:

seems to be taking it away from someone who would need the income.

My thoughts exactly. 

[Quay Assistant Reedham Quay]

I suspect that the post might already have been filled but the BA is, I believe, dutybound to advertise it. 

[Reacting To Government Announcement- New Holiday Plans]

57 minutes ago, SwanR said:

And who knows, if we get a sunny day maybe we can throw in an occasional day boat. 

Jean, have you tried the dayboat from Southwold yet? You can go for a blast out to sea but there is also a super trip up to Blythburgh, very sedate it is too, highly recommended.

https://coastalvoyager.co.uk/the-trips.html

[Quay Assistant Reedham Quay]

I am surprised that there doesn't appear to be a requirement for such as an RYA dayboat level 3 certificate for example. First Aid experience might be useful too. 

[Would You Come On A Boating Holiday If The Pubs Are Closed?]

5 minutes ago, SwanR said:

For anyone worried about the pubs being closed I can announce that MacDonald's inside Roy's has reopened for takeaways ... 

Without which no holiday could possibly be complete! 

[Berney Arms Update]

2 hours ago, marshman said:

I believe you will find that Albion, surprisingly, has a Jenny just like that depicted on a  certain individuals avatar!

Incredibly alike, as they are one and the same!

[Berney Arms Update]

13 minutes ago, Meantime said:

I seriously doubt there ever will be an application.

Not even yet another futile one? I suppose that he will argue that since there is now a bistro on site that the pub building is redundant as such. I would argue that since there is a bistro there that that indicates that there is trade to be had on that site thus the pub should be retained as such. Seemingly he is adept at clutching at straws.

[Berney Arms Update]

I note that Olive Court Properties, the company making the application, is owned by Mr Hollocks, living in America. That  gives me no great confidence that this project will make any progress but there we go! I assume that his son is acting on his behalf in the UK which reduces my confidence even further. It does seem to me that Olive Court Properties is working in reality bypass mode. I only hope, both for that company's sake, and that of the Broads, that he is seeking sound advice both from a reliable architect and an able solicitor. At the moment he does appear to be going round in never decreasing circles and the Broads community continues to lose out, as do the people that could be working and living there.

[Berney Arms Update]

4 minutes ago, annv said:

There was/is lorry access as the dray lorry used to deliver to the pub until it stopped as they said it was to difficult. John

I well remember a time when direct deliveries were stopped for whatever reason. Those nice people at Johnson's boatyard at St Olaves took to making deliveries with their workboat. Mind you that was fifty or more years ago but it does illustrate that the access question is nothing new. 

[Berney Arms Update]

4 hours ago, Vaughan said:

Them grit ol' catfish, they don't dew so badly on it, dew the now?

So called 'rock salmon' are apparently very partial to a 'doins'. One reason that I can never understand our city cousin's desire for 'rock and chips', urghh!