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ChrisB

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Posts posted by ChrisB

  1. Just watched my recording from last night of the Canal du Midi.

    Quite a bit of carnage. I know there is a whole film crew in attendance, but I do wish the old girl would wear a life jacket and not attempt to jump ashore. But I guess it is a whole lot better than Wallace Arnold!

  2. I was told by Mike the Skipper of Ra when it was based at Barton all sorts of facts ref. Barton.

    Firstly the river did not go through the Broad until the late 1700s when the cut was dug to what is now Barton Staithe

    That the wreck at the entrance to Woodsend Dyke was a Thames Barge and also that it had been established the one at Woodsend Staithe itself was originally an armament lighter as used by Woolwich and on the River Lea by it's type of copper rivets.

  3. This rebrand, name change, thin end of the wedge, whatever you call it is not enshrined in any statute. So whilst I understand a number of correspondents getting hot under the collar I think that their timing is ill advised.

    Surely the time to take up the subject is when we know who will still be MPs after the election. Before that they will only paylip service to the situation. After all the Lib Dems scotched many promised items last time. Think what a Green MP in the area could do! Yes I know they always come last. But I am old enough to remember when North Norfolk was for 25 years a safe Labour seat! Things do change.

    A petition is a very personal subject an to give the impression that not to support it even if you have serious reservations is somehow treasonous is wholly wrong IMO.

    • Like 1
  4. The RSPB have no shortage of numbers or cash. Membership is about 1085000. Income including grants £122m and the last figures for cash reserves that I saw was £93m (2010). Their promotional spend is in excess of £30m. All within a tax free charitable status. Powerful people with much influence in Government and the EU.

    Toll income has no guarantees associated with it. Revenue streams and expenditure can change, not overnight granted, but over time. The peaks, South Downs, York Dales, Moors etc have no such income and survive. One thing is certain the next twenty years will be an interesting time as the Broads enter yet another chapter in their long history.

  5. The last three posts really sum up what most of us who love the Broads really want. That is an Authority that is seen to be impartial and can, if found necessary, impose balance should any single interest group be found to be out of step with the rest. Maybe full National Park status with powers to cap boat numbers, protect heritage, landscape and traditions is the sensible or only way forward. It would be the selection of the board members that would require the wisdom of Solomon.

  6. I have just had another thought, quite frightening actually.

    Should some sort barrage be built to protect the Broadland landscape, properties and commercial interests. Then how would a non tidal Broads leave navigation. After all the definition of the tidal Thames depends what side of Teddington Lock you are.

    • Like 1
  7. Whilst Sandford may be unknown to most of the electorate, conservation is. It is also a good vote grabber.

    Away from this interest group, if asked, most people would say conservation is far more important than boating. One conservation group who are very active in wetlands have a million members and tens of millions in reserves. Who can say what could happen in a few years time! The EU could even get involved!

  8. When our boat was delivered with it's 20 hp Honda (same engine as the 15 hp but can rev a bit higher which you really do not need) it handled like trying to run with a tray full of marbles.

    The first service was carried out by Fineway in Wroxham who were then the Honda dealers and I mentioned it to them. Steve recommended the Honda Power Thrust prop which is much larger than the standard. The handling was transformed to the extent that I can cross Barton, when calm, hands off and even put the kettle on. The engine will now not reach anywhere near its maximum revs but the boat still easily comes up to hull speed. Consumption is about 1.25 to 1.50 litres per hour. Before the large prop was fitted going astern was also very difficult, now the boat steers astern easily. The low speed handling has also been transformed as you only need to put the engine in gear to move ahead or astern in tight moorings.

  9. For use on The Broads I think you would find 20 to 25hp adequate, especially if fitted with a high thrust prop which  improves low speed handling. Although the Hardy looks very chunky it still only comes in at about 1100Kg.

    I have always liked the small Hardy and the Bosun was very high up our list, as like you, we mostly day boat. In the end we bought a new Viking 20. The main reason was after years of small sailing craft full standing head room was a real help to our ageing bodies, also having the fridge, hob and oven below.

    We have never fitter a rudder because after trying a "Ruddersafe" on a similar boat I found the steering was alot heavier and I thought that it might not be doing the steering mechanism any good although one could steer out of gear. I thought about having hydraulic steering installed but as we had managed OK for a number of years gave up on the idea. 

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