Wussername

I have often wondered who was in my spot. So it was you all those years. More years than you I have to say. Is the NWT a commercial enterprise as such. I thought it as a charity. I do agree however that the NWT centre on Ranworth Broad is an ideal place for its permanent residence. I have no issue with regard to the NWT advertising the centre and its boat trips on the Malthouse staithe. Andrew

Eeek! That outboard looks a bit vulnerable to those who like the challenge of reversing into tight spots.

Hi John Is it a day boat or a picnic boat. A day boat is a basic type of craft. The picnic boat will have a toilet and a sink on board. There are no firm rules, you can moor anywhere on the BA moorings, however the day boat is well suited to the dinghy dyke. I prefer the stern mooring for the picnic boat on the main Quay. Andrew.

I cannot remember having read so much gobbledygook in all my life. It is in a river, on the broads. A hazard. A danger. It is not high season. Is it not beyond the wit of man to move it. Surely the BA have the resources to deal with this matter without all this silly malarkey. Why are we even discussing the matter. Just move it. Old Wussername

When the wind is in the East it is neither fit for man nor beast When the wind is in the North a prudent man does not go forth. Old Wussername.

AEJB. What has been done.? .Why? Where ?

It is my understanding that the Liana will be moored at the top of the dinghy dyke opposite to where the NWT boat used to be moored. If the Liana was to be moored towards the end of the dyke it would inevitably be hemmed in by day boats and assorted dinghy's and tenders. Liana would not block the corner but I would question why it is needed at Malthouse at all. After all the majority of visitors come by boat. In my opinion it wold be best suited at its original mooring at Hoveton and taking people from Hoveton up to Coltishall. A most delightful trip. As for the NWT boat if moored at the end of the other dyke it will effectively take up two moorings. The side on mooring and also blocking the corner mooring at the end of the dyke or preventing access to that mooring. As for the NWT why not moor it at the NWT visitors centre on Ranworth broad. A pleasant enough walk along the board walk for a visit to centre and a chunter round the broad and a gentle poke about Malthouse.

Paddle boards and the new on the block, the bycycle boat is completely incompatible on our rivers. Is there know one who recognises the issues, the safety problem.

I remember it well. Bungalow Lane if I remember correctly. The cottage or rather his bungalow still stands. Together with a shed which used to seve as a mortuary for those unfortunates who decided to end their lives from the misery of the Asylum. Nobby's knowledge of the tides was valued by the authorities with regard to the recovery of these poor unfortunates. But that is another story. Andrew .

A good result. And I have to say one in the eye for the doom mongers. Wussername

The Navigation Committee under the auspice of the Broads Authority have decreed under regulation 45, subsection 2(a) and 2(b) of the dictate dated the 12th March 1984 that the use of the so called Mud Weight will be withdrawn from Hire Boats and from private boats as from the 1st July 2021. This edict has regrettably come about due to the intransigence of the boat owner/helm/crew and general know alls that frequent The Norfolk Broads National Park. The incidence of Broadland Back and Holiday Hernia has increased dramatically over the last few years. It should be remembered that the Mud Weight is in fact a misnomer. It is in fact a Muddle Weight. So defined by our forbearers of years gone by. The boat yard owners of the time used to meet, on a Saturday, in the morning, at a local hostelry. Thus avoiding having to meet the returning holiday maker at the boatyard with his inevitable moaning and whinging. This leaked, that leaked, this didn’t close, this didn’t work. It was relentless. Delegation was the key, the boat yard manager. That was why he was employed. There was no other reason. However there was a problem. The Saturday meeting had a identified a serious issue. The lack of mooring space. A Mooring Muddle. So The Muddle Weight was born, together with another useless bit of kit , the Rond Anchor. The boat yard owner returned with rosy cheeks, and a remedial disposition mid afternoon to wish his new customers bon voyage. Complete with 1950 technology. The Mud Weight. It soon became apparent that the bloody thing did not work. On Salhouse it skidded about on the bottom. On Wroxham Broad it caused much consternation especially when deployed on the start line of the cruiser race. In a river it was useless, like an ash tray on a motor bike. Bargate at low tide was good, as the tide started to rise so did the mud weight and that imperceptible drift towards the graveyard of boats of yesteryear, on the east bank, like a denture of old wooden teeth poking above the water. Old wherries, don’t you believe it, a mud weight failure more like. Barton, for the brave, on a post, just outside a post, or inside a post. Will the wind get up? A desolate place at night. The only consolation is that you will not founder on a rock. Now Malthouse Broad, Why Malthouse? Ranworth surely. Ranworth Church, Ranworth Village, Ranworth Staithe, Ranworth Green. You can blame the wherry men. They went to The Malthouse on Ranworth Broad. It was then called by them as Malthouse and in the passage of time it was called Malthouse Broad. Now here is the nub of it. Ranworth or Malthouse is the very crux of the matter. The only broad in the whole National Park that is ideally suited to the Muddle weight or Mud weight. Prior to the introduction of the toilet, the toilet tank, on all boats , hire or private, all went into the river. On Ranworth Broad, some 20 boats would be moored on the quay. Some 20 boats would be moored on the broad. Forty boats. Shall we say four people on each boat. 160 people each morning. 1120 per week. Between the hours of 7am and 9am there would be The Great Easement. On Ranworth Broad. This provided the ideal medium for the Mud weight. Think of blanket. This was the only place in Broadland where the Mud Weight worked. We must therefore welcome out of the box, blue clear sky thinking, leverage of goodwill and commonsense, the Kimino of our ideal and giving 110% to our learnings to our mission. Thus we must surely embrace the banning of the mud weight.

What is the best way to "lob" a mud weight. Employ a Geoff Capes stance at the bow with said mud weight under chin. (Some might prefer a bit of a "run up" along the deck). The SL approach is favoured by some. The Swinging Lob for the uninitiated. Stand with feet apart and swing the said mud weight by the attached rope in ever increasing momentum. Having reached optimum velocity and desired projection one lets go. The mud weight should quite literally sail through the air. Where it ends up is a bit of a lottery, in the bobbing up and down stuff, or the windshield. Do not under any circumstances delegate this task to a crew member of limited vocabulary as his reaction may upset crew members of a nervous disposition in the latter being the result. There you have it. For me a gentle lower, in consideration of my dear wife who will be tasked in lifting it up and out. Old Wussername

Well said PN. There is so much CCTV, Mobile phone information, car number plate recognition, ATM information, computer information with those little cookies which we all press and agree. And that is what we know, or should I say what we think we know. But do you know what, I don't give a hoot. I got caught for speeding once, no I tell a porky, twice. Once a month my parents and I used to visit Aunty Ivy and Uncle George in Lowestoft. They used to go the Marquise of Lorne. Uncle George used to let me look at his naughty magazine collection. In todays terms it was very tame stuff (we are talking 1956) I can also remember collecting birds eggs.....not very proud of that. Stopped at a very early age, about 12 or thirteen. So I have to say I would welcome an identity card. Nothing to hide really. Could well be a benefit with regard to name, address, medical issues, medication in the event of being in distress. A bit of a non entity really. I cannot fathom why anybody would be interested in me in any respect whatsoever.

Seems to be grey here in Norfolk.. Every day Ian. Need a bit of sunshine.

That is a big ask Andrew.

You are a brave man CC. I was going to mention but thought better of it!

Why do boats turn green. How do you prevent them turning green? How do you clean them? Do you need to clean them? Do wooden boats turn green? Why not paint all boats.........green. Why is it that only private boats turn green?

The day boat is an innocuous thing. Crewed by people of little or no knowledge of boats, indeed, even the one that they are in. I have been in one. Driven one. I can only remember it as one of the most uncomfortable experience I have ever paid for. Never again. For others, a one off, a bit of a laugh. And that defines the bit of it. They I suspect, had a wonderful time, but never to return. Thankfully they do not travel far.

Practice makes perfect . I find side mooring not a problem the stern on mooring is a challenge. Somewhat unpredictable.

It is a worry for some if no toilet exists.

I am under the impression that there is a subtle difference between a day boat and a picnic boat. The former will hold four or five, no toilet, gas or water. The picnic boat has all these facilities. However this comes at a price. Approximately £260 for seven hours. The picnic boat will hold 10 people. For some it may well be the first time they have had control of a boat or indeed been responsible for such a large number of people with limited experience, families in many instances with a vast range of ages and abilities. The trial run will be limited.

More Picnic Boats thats for sure. Some will have up to ten people on board and can cost up to £260 per day but is the same price if just for two or four people. As to the experience of the helm is somewhat debatable.

I hate gardening. With a passion. But I do like cruising, or sailing, on the Bure, the Ant, the Thurne. Or the mighty Yare. That is my garden. That is where I feel safe,relaxed, free of the demands of those who wish to influence my way of life. To influence by intrusion. By phone, by television, by email, by post, by the Web, or by political ambition by the media in general. The Broads provide a seclusion for those who know where to find it.

Viva la France, cest magnificent!

I do not recognise the Reedham that you have described. But I do recognise that you have not visited for some time. It is a most delightful place. A place of history, of tragedy. Of importance in it's day. Please don't belittle it Marshman, it is worth more than that.