Mouldy

Access when stern on looks to be good, as the bathing platform is central, so the raised sides would be helpful at somewhere like Rockland where there tidal rise and fall make access for us a little awkward sometimes. However, where we benefit from the bathing platform extending to both sides, is when moored side on. At most locations on the northern rivers as well as a few on the southern side, it’s easier to step on to it from the bank. As I said, swings and roundabouts - as with all boats, there’s always a compromise somewhere.

Norfolk Lady does have a high freeboard, which can make access difficult when moored side on, although we can step onto the bathing platform at the stern from the bank. Mooring stern on, makes access easy on the northern rivers, but at low water on the southern rivers, it can be a challenge. Moonlight has no bathing platform, so it can be a stretch if the river levels are high, but possibly easier if they’re low. Personally, I think it’s a case of swings and roundabouts for access. As for handling of the boat itself, Moonlight has a bow thruster, but we have no girly buttons on NL, which can make her a bit of a handful in a stiff wind. On balance, MS is probably easier to handle overall.

If you’re approaching Somerleyton from the New Cut, I’d aim to be around low water, especially if the river levels are high at the time. If, however, you head straight across Breydon and onto the Waveney, you’ll have to get to St Olaves Bridge at low anyway. I believe Belmore has a quoted airdraft of 8ft 10ins, so clearance will be even more restricted than ours. I try to arrive at low, to save any delays waiting for Somerleyton to swing, but they are contactable by phone now, so it is easier than perhaps it used to be.

Hi Howard, yes and it’s still called The Mermaid.

Don’t the months fly by? I’d intended to update this thread a few weeks ago and forgot! We did spend most of Easter weekend aboard NL, and we were at Beccleson the Saturday night. The weather for Monday wasn’t looking great, so we headed back to the Ferry House at Surlingham to meet up with our son and his family, who were using our week on Moonlight Shadow! It seemed wrong for us to use it, as it fell within a school holiday, giving them an additional opportunity to use the boat We enjoyed a meal there on Easter Sunday evening and also met Smoggy and Mrs Smoggy, who were also moored there. It was our intention to go again the following week, however strong winds and generally fairly unpleasant weather put paid to that, however we did manage to go last weekend, travelling to Brundall on Friday afternoon. With our bits and pieces safely on board, we headed out onto the river, proposed overnight destination Hardley Mill. Under broken cloud, with a few sunny spells, we made good progress, helped by the falling tide, arriving at the mill to find the moorings empty. Safely moored, Deb took Harley for a walk whilst I prepared dinner. We watched TV for a while, thankfully Have I Got News for You providing a few laughs, before retiring. Low at Somerleyton was due around 09:30. I’d figured that from Hardley it would take around an hour and a half to get there, so we woke and got ready, Deb took the dog for a stroll and had breakfast before casting off. Again, progress was good, travelling with the current and we were soon through Reedham and onto the New Cut. The weather was surprisingly good, sunny with a light breeze, but forecast to get stronger later in the day. My timings were just about perfect, as joined the Waveney and arrived at Somerleyton fairly much on time. With our airdraft and recent issues with high river levels, I’d hoped that there'd be clearance at the bridge and there was. We continued on, reaching the pontoon moorings at Oulton Broad just after 11:00. I’d hope to moor stern on, on the outside of the pontoon facing the broad, but the space there was booked. There was plenty of room inside the basin (again on the pontoon), so we settled for a spot there instead. We had a wander round the park and to the shops. We needed some rolls for lunch and returned to the boat to find a couple more boats had arrived. I’d intended to wash and reproof the canopy in the afternoon, but realised that I’d left my bottles of Renovo at home! What a plum? I went across to Jeckells, feeling certain that they’d have some, but only had the proofer in stock. What a shame? With that plan on hold, we spent a quiet afternoon reading, before walking over to the park again, where we sat in pleasant sunshine, enjoying a coffee in the cafe. Any thoughts that we might get a late booking for dinner in the Copper Smokehouse were thwarted, so fish and chips it was, then. The sun was beginning to go down as I walked to the chippy, but as predicted, the wind had got up and it was blowing across the broad, from the entrance. I was grateful that the we couldn’t moor where we originally wanted - I don’t mind a little wave action against the bow, but aided by the wind, it would probably have been too much! The fish and chips were good and compared to others, the price wasn’t too bad either. Again, we watched TV for a while, but by about 21:30, I was struggling to keep my eyes open. We had a hot drink and went to bed. There seemed to be a lot of noise, which seemed to emanate from the Wherry Hotel. Maybe they had a function going on, but I drifted off to sleep anyway. We were both up early on Sunday again. Deb, as usual, walked the dog whilst I made the bed, vac’d the windows and got the kettle on. With the immersion on, we had breakfast, before Deb went to get showered, before casting off around 09:00. The plan was again to catch Somerleyton at low which was at 10:20. As it happened, it did matter, as the bridge was open when we arrived, but there would have been plenty of clearance anyway, although less than the previous day. I guess the wind was playing a part in that. Progress back to Brundall was good. I had a shower as we went up the New Cut, giving the dubious pleasure of helming through that exciting stretch of waterway to the wife! There were a few craft moored at Reedham, although still space for anyone wishing to moor. The rest of the cruise back to Brundall was uneventful, although the river levels looked high as we went past Cantley and we arrived at the yard shortly after 13:00. Last winter and the associated rain had seemed never ending and despite the wind, it had been a really pleasant, relaxing weekend. We were both grateful to have been back out on the water again.

I have to disagree. One of her last offerings was captioned ‘ . . . . . drama as boat hits barge at Ludham Bridge.’ Clickbait title designed purely to increase views to satisfy some folk’s predilection with seeing others struggling or embarrassed. We all know that Ludham Bridge on a busy weekend is going to be the scene of a few people struggling. Many will have just set out on their first Broads adventure from the largest yard on the network and find themselves inadvertently starring in someone’s YouTube video and the object of some unnecessary comments. Going back to the video mentioned earlier, someone posted ‘True idiots on that boat.’ A not very pleasant comment that hadn’t been deleted. I doubt that a video showing families moored at Salhouse or Ranworth, enjoying time on The Broads would attract the number of ‘clicks,’ so gain less potential revenue. There is a reason that Ludham Bridge is the central focus for their attention and I think it does little to enhance the appeal of a boating holiday. I wonder how many folk who watch these videos from the comfort of their armchair, realise that although at times the rivers are busy, nowhere else on the network is the scene of this kind of ‘sport.’

I wasn’t referring to the thread on here. Without going back through the thread, I don’t recall any mention of blame, however anyone who looks on Facebook will know the type of post I was thinking about. Some people seem to thrive on feasting upon the misfortune of others, offering nothing constructive, just commenting on the stupidity of the crew involved. I didn’t see any mention of this particular occurrence on FB, although it was mentioned, so can’t comment on it, but there are plenty of posts following yet another boat wedged under Ludham Bridge last Friday, some of which were not particularly helpful.

Ah, the joys of social media! There’s always someone to capture a boater in difficulty on film and post it on Facebook or YouTube, apportioning blame, without actually knowing what’s gone wrong. Just wait until someone goes outside the markers crossing Breydon, running aground and witness the vultures name calling. Very occasionally, it may be justified, but if a crew has lost power, or suffered some other issue, they don’t deserve public vilification.

We did think about using MS over the weekend, returning home on Monday morning, but it seems an awful lot of grief for a couple of days, when all our stuff is on NL. Looking at the weather forecast, I’d say the river levels aren’t going to drop anytime soon. Strong northwesterlies forecast for tomorrow and brisk winds from the same direction for the rest of the week aren’t good. The BBC forecast shows northwesterly winds to last until next Monday. Just hope the winds change direction before the next spring tides.

Ludham Bridge and a visit to The Dog or Neatishead (or Gayes Staithe) and The White Horse would be my choices. I used to hate the last night in the boatyard, when we were hiring.

Just block them! Easy.

In my opinion, the biggest issue was the cash accumulated by house sales through the ‘Right to Buy’ initiative was not reinvested in social housing. Sadly, private rental is expensive, far too expensive for many and housing associations are not charities. There have been and will continue to be people who cannot afford to buy a property and with rents so high, they’ll never be able to save a deposit. Affordable housing is needed, as is social housing, but all developers seem to want to build are increasingly expensive ‘executive’ housing, far beyond the reach of many.

Here is a link to the Project Troll website. According to their aspirations, they are installing electronic measuring at all Broadland bridges, but at the moment, only a few are covered, including the ones at Yarmouth. https://www.bridgeheight.com/index.html

Yes, that’s the idea. Turn the rudder to steer the bow into the quay to kick the stern out and use the opposite bow thruster to push the bow out. I’ve done that before on Moonlight Shadow. No such luxuries on Norfolk Lady - no girly buttons on there! I’ve just learnt to use the tide or wind to my advantage where I can, or swear a lot if I can’t!

Certainly won’t boost the popularity of Sutton Staithe as a mooring. Can’t help thinking that the overall appearance of it can’t be helping business at the boatyard or the hotel.

Would be nice. Might be a bit soon to get too excited. The forecast shows it to be breezy (15 - 20mph) for most of next week mainly from the west, although northwesterly at times, which won’t help river levels to recede. Theyve been known to get it wrong. Let’s hope that it is this time.

Most of the FB Broads groups share any Broads Authority announcements. Otherwise, call the lads at Yarmouth Yacht Station. They should be aware of any issues concerning Breydon, as they will be stopping hirecraft from progressing under the bridges and either getting them moored safely or turning them back up The Bure.

I usually use Unibond. I did all around the vanity unit and behind the toilet in Norfolk Lady not long after we bought her with it and it’s still good now. Others may have their preferences obviously, but I hate silicone sealant and applying it, as it usually goes everywhere, so if I do it properly and just once, it suits me just fine. Sorry about the thread drift Kate!

I was at HPC yesterday morning, arriving just after 11:00. I’d arranged to meet a new owner at 13:00 to give him a ‘familiarisation’ of the systems, electric breakers etc., but also had to re seal the shower tray in the aft heads, where the existing silicone had split away from the gel coat. When I arrived, the puddle that seems ever present in front of their reception and shed was still there, but I parked my car near Moonlight Shadow, where the ground was dry. I quickly set about scraping away the old sealant and having cleaned it down with some isopropyl alcohol, resealed it using a good quality silicone. With that task finished, I tightened the handle on the oven door, that I noticed had come loose and took a couple of photos, for an addition to our very comprehensive boat manual. My phone rang and it was the owner I was waiting to see, who had been delayed at the Dartford Crossing and then at the roadworks at the Newmarket Puddle. He estimated he’d be with me by 14:00. I decided to pop back to Hoveton to get some lunch and a coffee, but discovered that I had to paddle through rising water to get to my car. By the time I returned from my lunch, it was high water and I found a solitary dry(ish) spot to park, near the boat. The owner arrived at about 14:15 and by the time I left the yard about an hour and a half later, the water had started to recede. I’ve been to HPC on at least a dozen occasions since October and have yet to see the yard dry in that time. I wonder how long it will be before the river levels return to what they were last summer?

Which is why we spent a bit more and bought a Karcher Professional window vac. According to the blurb, it can be used at any angle, even upside down and it actually works. No leakage, even used upside down. I just checked and they are still available, but the price has escalated dramatically since we bought ours. No real surprise, I suppose, given how much everything else seems to have gone up! I’ve seen a few programmes on TV covering the stuff. I can’t believe how much it’s being pushed, but saving money on heating by insulating your home seems to be at the forefront of some folk’s thinking and they get sucked into buying it. I like answering the phone and putting it down, whilst they blather on, then block the number! As Mark said, sorry for the thread drift!

Yep. Witnessed my mum doing the same. The equivalent job today must be sitting making cold calls, trying to get folk interested in having solar panels or spray foam loft insulation! I guess I average receiving about five calls a week!

Just checked the government’s flood earning website and it’s quite colourful for the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

Listening to the radio earlier returning home from Horning, where I’d been giving a new owner a familiarisation of Moonlight Shadow, I heard mention of potential coastal flooding around the Norfolk Coast, due to high spring tides. I’m guessing the weekend storm will have adversely impacted tidal rise and fall. Obviously, with no lock gates or other forms of tidal control at Yarmouth, The Broads will be at the mercy of sea levels. Any amount of dredging won’t prevent water from entering the system, although it could be argued that it will slow its escape. As for the bridges in Norwich, the only one that may be an issue to a high airdraft cruiser, is Trowse Railway Bridge. We’ve always been able to get under on Norfolk Lady with our airdraft of 8ft 3ins, although there has been less than 9ft on occasions.

Not sure that Hunsett Mill is an Air B&B, but it is a holiday rental and has its own website, http://www.hunsettmill.co.uk Be warned, it’s not cheap!

If only that were the case. In 2007 I had a Subaru Legacy 3 litre and was involved in an accident which necessitated replacement of the n/s/f strut amongst other components. The car was sent to the local approved repairers and when it was returned, I noticed a knocking from the near side front area when on full lock in either direction. The car was returned to them for checking and it was pronounced to be all okay. Not satisfied, I booked it into the nearest Subaru dealer who stripped the n/s/f suspension and found that the strut had been replaced the wrong way round. They gave me a written report, which I sent to the insurers who reimbursed the cost of the inspection by Subaru. From a customer’s perspective, one would hope that an ‘approved’ repairer was at least competent and able to repair a vehicle to the correct standard.