Mouldy

Window ledge was glossed yesterday morning, so just the door to rehang - easier to take it off and avoid covering it and the hinges with paint. All units constructed and secured to the newly painted and papered walls, TV attached to the wall bracket, hi-fi set up and the wife now happy (and so am I, to be honest). Perhaps she’ll stop bending my ear about decorating and allow me to relax a little, but I fear that may be asking too much as I’m sure she’ll find some more little projects for me to undertake! Roll on 8th January, when our new settees are due to be delivered!

We hired Hilight when it was about a year old, from Russell Marine at South Walsham. She was in beautiful condition then and had been built to a near private boat spec. Sadly, she’s not worn the intervening years well.

I get failing to distinguish between two four cylinder diesels, but spotting a five pot should be quite easy, shouldn’t it?

A lot of the Ocean 29’s I’ve seen advertised, seem to have the 5 cylinder, 62hp Nanni fitted and as @Bikertov said, the price premium is quite high. The ones advertised on The Broads usually are on the market at 75 - 85k. Although, with the folding screen and hood, they will be able to access more of the Broadland rivers, the internal fit-out from the saloon/galley forward appears very similar and I don’t really understand the huge price difference. Ours has a PRM box. I also understand that they’re fairly commonly fitted on Broads cruisers.

I believe it was a suggestion made to smooth the renewal of the lease on the moorings. Not sure that it’s in force, but to be fair, you could fit many more dayboats, who’d stay for far less time than most cruisers during the day, which may serve to increase the footfall at the cafes and restaurants in the area. Don’t get me wrong, losing more BA moorings is not a prospect that I find palatable, especially in view of our ever increasing tolls, but I can see the attraction of such a scheme for the Parish Council to potentially aid their businesses.

Yesssssssssssss! Decorating finished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . well almost! Still have to gloss the window ledge, which was left on purpose until the blinds and carpet had been fitted. I now have a sizeable heap of units to construct (thank you IKEA) and fit, mount the TV on a substantial wall bracket set up the hi-fi and possibly inflate an air sofa, depending on what the wife wants until our new settees arrive in January! When I’ve done all that, I can catch up with the gardening and cleaning the cars. Did someone say retired? Before and after shots including the awful artex pattern on the ceiling that was skimmed over!

Our holding tank is on the starboard side under the engine hatch. The original loo was a manual flush small bowl Jabsco number, with river water flush, which has now been replaced with a Dometic macerating loo with freshwater flush.

Our 29 Sedan had a diverter under the hatch in the floor, the saloon side of the door to the forward cabin. The seasick was just aft of that. Although not so easily accessible, it was only a few seconds work to lift the hatch and switch the valve as necessary. I wouldn’t want a load of additional pipe work and valve on view in the heads. One day, the boat may be back on The Broads and keeping the aesthetics right would obviously be of benefit in the event of marketing her in the future.

Got it in one! In garden chairs. Sadly, the decision on colours and furnishings meant that by the time we got round to ordering the new suite, the delivery date isn’t until early January!

Get that Ian, but every advert on the TV now is Christmas related. I’m 67 years old and Christmas Day has always been on 25th December. I know when it is and am already sick of having it rammed down my throat. I really feel for those people who have been so badly affected by this current economic crisis, who are struggling to pay their bills. How must they be feeling, looking at all of this tat in the shops that they can’t afford? Sadly, Christmas has become a huge marketing occasion and the true meaning of the day has been lost.

Gracie, let me just explain something to you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . There are twelve days of Christmas and none of them are in bloody November!!

Only 37? Really? Norfolk Lady, like most of the ex Emerald Star/LeBoat Broom 29 Sedans were fitted with a 50hp Nanni. Fairly certain that I mentioned to you that we re-propped NL over last winter as she was fitted with an 18x10 when we bought her and now has an 18x13, which has made a significant difference to her performance.

I bought a Karcher Professional Window Vac. It works really well, including upside down, which is essential for getting to the bottom of the windows. It wasn’t easy to find and wasn’t from Amazon, but was worth paying a bit extra for.

Better?

I don’t like getting started and I don’t like doing! Just getting the boxes of necessary tools out of the garage gives me palpitations! I’d love to meet the bloody cowboys who decorated our living room last time. Undoing their shortcuts has taken far too long! That and filling where the electrician chased the walls out to install additional sockets . Still, I reckon another fortnight should do it . . . . . . but I’m already two weeks in! 🤨

Good point, well made. I’ll shut up and return to my decorating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . have I mentioned that I hate decorating?

I have a couple of spare fenders, but when the river levels are high, I allow them to float horizontally at the water level when deployed. That way, they prevent the hull from hitting the quay heading.

Hmmm! A survey suggested . . . . . Is there an owner on here who has either completed a survey or even been asked a question regarding how much they spend on maintaining their boat annually and what percentage of that amount do the tolls represent? I know I haven’t and unless I have additional works carried out, my toll charge far exceeds 10% of my annual costs.

Just seen an advert on FB offering up to 20% off Le Boat boating holidays in 2024. Seems a novel concept - wonder if it will catch on over here?

Careful. It’s difficult to pass a chandlers without buying something when you’ve just bought your first boat!

Might be stating the obvious, but there’s only one way to find out! 😁

Sorry Gracie. It’s still October and I don’t care if the lights are up in every ruddy town in the country, it’s still more than two months to 25th December, so forgive me, but I will give no thought to the Yo-Ho-Ho until December arrives. In the meantime, I shall consider any mention of the C word as abusive language! 😉😁

I couldn’t hire it even if I could afford it. The Ant and The Chet are two of my favourite rivers. I know sometimes that we cannot pass under Ludham Bridge in Norfolk Lady if the river levels are too high, but we can still access everywhere else that the airdraft allows, including Rockland, Surlingham and the others that are prohibited due to the beam of some boats.

Congratulations on joining the empty wallet club! I hope it brings you as much fun and pleasure as Norfolk Lady has brought us!

Sorry to hear of your loss, Smoggy. I lost my mum last year and have yet to deal with some of the things we found amongst her possessions - they’re still in storage whilst I drum up the enthusiasm and frame of mind to tackle the task. Maybe when I’ve finished decorating our living room . . . . . .