LadyPatricia

JM you idea of having a stainless fitting fabricated is very interesting. I will make some calls during the week to see if I can find anyone local who would be able to do that sort of thing and the costs. having spoke to Mark at MBA he has advise a 15hp outboard would be the one to go for if we intend to use her North and South. Steve

Update it appears that the engine I've been looking at does not fit on our sail drive. We have a Volvo Penta 110s drive. Can anyone suggest a place to contact/look to find one that fits? alternatively how much work would be involved to convert to an outboard? Lots of fibreglass I would think but just trying to way up our options. steve

This is our transom on Lady P. As you can see there is a 'tunnel' that the saildrive is situated in forward of the rudder

Strowager, I'm leaning towards the 21hp as the Volvo penta currently fitted is a 23hp. unfortunately we can't get the parts needed to repair it so it's either pay out for new engine or scrap the boat. Alan, we do like the odd trip north and seeing as she will go under all bridges we do want the option to use all of the rivers . Steve

Thanks JM. do you not have to take into account the type of hull though? I believe Lady Patricia has a semi displacement hull, I stand to be corrected on that. i seem to remember reading somewhere that for a sail boat it's worked out at 5hp per tonne, a displacement hull is 10hp per tonne and so on, again I stand to be corrected. Steve

It appears that our little Norman 24 is probably going to need a new engine. ive been in contact with a company that will supply an engine and an adaptor plate to fit to our saildrive. My question is will the 2 cylinder MP-214 be man enough for our boat, it's a 14hp, or should we go for the 3 cylinder MP-321 which is a 21hp unit? http://www.marine-power.net/micro-14hp---21hp.html any advice from those in the know will be much appreciated Steve & Deb

A little respect for your mother please Alan

Just caught up with this holiday tale Dave. Glad you had a good time mate. I think the photos bring a great image of the broads to all of us that haven't visited for a while. Already looking forward to your springtime blog cheers

This gets me thinking about the need to replace the diaphragm on our saildrive. Not sure when it was last done and Volvo suggest it's done every 7 - 10 years. Would hate to think of Lady P in that state

Alan (RB), Peter at Northgate marine is doing the whole job on the blocks, hopefully he has a good reputable company he uses. The blocks down in Dorset didn't materialise and the 'gentleman' I was dealing with down there told me many 'stories' over the phone. Every conversation was full of contradictions to details in previous conversations. ian, it would have been great to meet up, can't wait to have a go on scoot Alan (jaws) as you know mate we really hope this works. Get this done then everything back together and cross everything when she is fired up We may also have found a nice mooring the other side of 'that' bridge Steve

Update on Lady Patricia both cylinders have been removed and we are going to try and braze the cast iron cylinder blocks that are cracked. Several people have advised that this should work if the job is done correctly so fingers crossed. Deb and I are taking a break in the Kings Lynn area so today we decided to go get our broads fix. Hired a day boat for a few hours and ventured under 'that' bridge. What a fantastic part of the broads it is. Neither of us had been through potter before so everything was new. I really can't wait to get Lady P up and running again and take her up to Hickling and Horsey we had lunch at the pleasure boat, what a lovely setting that is steve & Deb

at least it will help with the memories

Humpty Dumpty is on Twitter? I must follow, I bet he's a good crack.

I'll be putting the kettle on at that point mate. You leave me at the helm and this will be me

Don't think they could have 'placed' it there any better than that.

If you ever get stuck Grace

Many congratulations to you both, here's to many years of happiness together

Is that Mary Poppins helming a boat

IMHO, 5hrs is the MAX any fish should be kept in a keep net. I use to do a lot of match fishing and this was a rule around the lakes / rivers I fished. Some matches, if people were available, Nets would be emptied. and weighed every hour. Cheers

to the forum from us. Enjoy your break, it's a lovely place to wind down a relax

My lips are sealed on health grounds

Great pics Jean. It certainly does sound like you had a lovely few days. We've never visited the cathedral but it looks like it's somewhere we should add to our list. Cheers

More proof that people don't read handbooks or listen during the handover. I think most hire boats now have stickers at the helm saying pilots must be used at Wroxham and Potter.

And the fire extinguisher is tucked away under the helm seat Iain cheers

http://www.hawkehouse.co.uk really helpful staff too