watershed

Thanks viking23,lots of good info there. The lever type shroud tensioners sound like a good idea. I'm glad they're a tough boat,I've got a 25-30 mile trip ahead of me to get her home,including crossing the shipping lanes at Harwich! Oh what fun for my first sail on her.

Maybe he/she is going to rename her,"rainbow worrier"? Or perhaps the owner is totally colour blind?

That was my first thought,but being a cautious sort of bloke,i always seek second opinions.There's a lot to be learnt from others experiences,and I'm always ready to listen and learn., thanks

Thanks for the replies,I'll be joining the Loa in the next few days. My little boat is a twin keel,had to be to go on my drying berth. The Kingfisher project has got to go to make way for the 17. But theupside is that the 17 is pretty much ready to sail,any work will be because i want to rather than needing to. Lots more sailing time! I wondered if anyone has single handed mast lowering experience on the 17s? Thanks

Perhaps Lidl or Aldi will step in and fill the budget boating void.. ..

Hi all I've just bought myself a nice little leisure 17 yacht which i intend to bring to the Broads next summer. Are any there other owners of these fine little boats on the forum? Any useful hints and tips relative to sailing the Broads would be appreciated. Thanks

I hope that when you nodded off you didn't dream of the Broads? That would be akin to peeking at your presents on Christmas eve!

Ain't that always the way things go? Feel for you.

I know it's exactly how you feel. My boat is 52 years old,and not really a classic but i would never give her up without a fight. To me,she is freedom,a sanctuary,an escape from everyday stress.I step on board and smile

With you all the way,Frank. I'm sure a surveyor will be along to tell us you're wrong but i for one am in total agreement.

As one of the new members that tends to post quite often,i apologise. In my defence,it's quiet at work at the moment and the forum relieves the boredom! Fortunately my employers aren't boaty people so won't read this!

Think i might get me one of them!

Travel costs have to be factored in whether you hire or own,and whatever type of holiday you have

Makes you wonder,doesn't it? Why the hire companies bother,that is.

I can't afford wine because i own a boat( big aaaaah and violins please!).

£3000 p.a? £60 a week. I know of people who think nothing of spending £60 on a night out every week,or spend the same amount on fags.or both. And these same people say 'i don't know how you can afford a boat!' If you love something enough you will make sacrifices to do it.i know i have.

Your own pillows etc,priceless.your favourite mug,priceless.the freedom to go boating at a moments notice,priceless.the ability to extend your stay by a night or two,priceless.the pride and satisfaction in saying 'this is mine,my hard work paid for it,and made it what is is',priceless.

A lot of valid arguments, both for and against. I'm firmly on the side of ownership,yes it's generally more expensive but the boat is yours to do with as you will,when you want. You can equip it to suit your own needs and to the level you want.by nature,the furnishings/itinerary on hire boatsare a compromise to try and please all.on an owned boat you can leave a lot of the gear needed on board throughout the year and not have to worry about lugging it about/forgetting it

I'd be interested,depending on content/price. Wouldn't be keen if it had too many modern boats in it,they're covered quite well in the brochures,but classic boats in Broads landscapes would have me reaching for my debit card!

Fully appreciate and understand working the tides. At the end of our first weeks hire on the Broads,the guy at Richardson's couldn't quite believe how little fuel we'd used and how far we had gone on it. We had planned to have a following tide wherever practical,and kept well within the speed limits. We were there to relax and couldn't understand why some seemed to be in such a mad rush.

@Polly,totally agree re keep nets,horrible things. Around here( ne Essex) the Eastern Europeans tend to target carp,they set baited multiple hook lines and come back next day to take the catch. Mind you,one did get a bit of a wallop from a couple of locals when they caught him at it!

No one person can,or ever will,know everything about fishing. It's a vast subject and after 40 years at it i doubt if i know 10%! The John Wilson books are very informative and full of good advice. Be prepared for the unexpected! My 10 year old(at the time) daughter caught an 18lb carp from a farmers pond while fishing for tiddlers with a whip.I've never been allowed to forget that. And the other half had a near 4lb perch while carp fishing.same pond,same result!

That's plan 'c'/b***er I've left the fuel can in the car!

A big thumbs up for the 'like' button, i would use it more but i keep forgetting it's there! Never had it on any other places I've visited.