Baitrunner

OK Alan, but it has taken me 2yrs to get the name put on her!! At the risk of sounding stupid (again) how do I buy one? I have seen the thread from earlier in the year and if you have any triangular ones I would prefer one of those please? And how much sand have you got to sell?

Hi Alan, Yes we have seen your boat around - very distinctive name. I guess I ought to post my boat details in the hope I get a wave (a proper wave that is). It's a Sealine S38 - Ridgeway Star A very early retirement purchase!!

Lively chat this one. In response to Little Sprite (sorry but I am sure you all have real names). Would it matter if the hire companies sent out DVDs in advance? I doubt anyone would watch them unless they were very keen - the folks on this forum I am sure cover a very small number of the people who cruise the Broads and I am equally sure take care of the hire boats and if not experienced have at least asked for help. The other 90% see it as someone else's property to fix when they give it back. I have helped loads of boats moor up over the years. Funny one was this summer a day hire boat down at Somerleyton. The front mooring line was just about long enough to reach the post let along tie off!! At least I could shout to them to turn round and come in against the tide. I also think a lot of people don't realise it isn't like driving a car - yeah you only do 6mph max, but it dont have brakes or go round corners quite the same. They also forget there is 20-50ft of boat behind them that in order to turn will go in the opposite direction. Let alone wind, tide and being cautious of ferries and other moored boats. Many years ago on my first hire boat experience (and I had been used to boats before) I did a lot of research on forums just like this - tide times, best time to cross Breydon, even refreshing myself on the techicalities of handling a broads cruiser (very different to a smaller boat with an outboard). And still felt I needed to take a lot of care. On later hires with friends, I can tell you their attitude was very different to mine - oh how difficult can it be to moor a 60ft boat at Yarmouth. One of our drivers insisted he could do it and managed to hit a moored boat on the way in. The following day he was still confident and hit the piling coming off the mooring. He was very complacent about it probably because the boat was hired in my name!!!!! By the way I would NEVER let him moor my private boat! As for bylaw 21 - never had a problem with hire boats, but private boats - On several occasions have had to take avoiding action because people either don't look or think they don't have to. If you hire or rent anything - car, boat, house - I can assure you only a very few people will treat it with respect like you would your own. That's from experience of all 3! I don't have an answer, but maybe put up the excess to deter the rouges, but then does that impact on your business. I will get off my soap box now!

I have seen otters on the Bure, in Surlingham Broad and on the Yare down river from Bramerton. Also seen the videos of some boat owners in Brundall who caught them eating their dinner on the swim platforms. Do they decimate the fish stocks in a river? Who really knows for sure. Any reduction in fish stocks could be caused by all sorts of things - cormorants, pollution etc. One thing about Otters is they tend to go for larger fish and will kill them only to eat a small part of them. Not sure it's good news if your worried about otters taking over, but recent research indicates they are not breeding as well due to a reduction in their penis size caused by pollution - who got that job I have no idea and who linked pollution to this god only knows. What I have noticed is a massive increase in the last 2yrs of signal crayfish in a part of the upper Wensum I fish. Last time I fished it a dead bait came out after 10 mins with 5 crayfish hanging onto it. Now they are a pain.

Reading and all that is good, but I really think with fishing you need someone to at lest show you the ropes. Knots are always a good source of pain!!! Nothing worse than losing tackle/hooks and not catching any fish. Cracking offer from Dave as there aren't many "modern" anglers who like to share knowledge or help people any more. If he decides to try for Pike he really does need to be shown how to unhook them as those teeth add a whole new dimension to it - and make sure you have the right unhooking tools - extra long forceps, pliers and cutters in case you have to snip the trace apart to get it out. And don't try and "gill" Pike. You will probably injure it at the very least. An unhooking mat will also be needed if you go for bigger fish. Sounds a lot of gear, but as us anglers know tackle catches more anglers than anglers catch fish

That is a nice fish Jon. Starting to plan a trip asap now.

Andy from Freedom boats has it nailed - if it ain't docked don't try it.

Like it. Do they do a tandem version so my wife can join me?

Best not post a picture of my boat then - We are up to 7 down each side at the moment! Admittedly they are all the same colour and I haven't opted for roof fenders for the low bridges yet. Revilo you will be buying up lots of fenders if you have any sense. Our fist boat got hit up on the North side and we upped the fender count when we upgraded.

I agree that if your staying on the Broads and dont need bridges swinging then save your cash. However, I have found it useful contacting the Harbour masters at Oulton Broad and Beccles. Especially if your on your approach and want to know were they are putting you. I know they have mobiles, but have found the VHF a bit more useful. Is it worth £100 for a hand held VHF and the licence fee - not unless you use them every week.

Hi Steve, Don't worry I will post details of my catches and hot spots - that be very posts you will see from me now!!

A bit late on the reply, but wind and tide at Reedham can catch a lot of people out (I had a devils own job getting off the moorings there last October in the high winds). Picture of an unfortunate sole from last August who managed to get everything wrong and ended up lodged on the ferry with the rudder caught on the chain with an outgoing tide. The ferry guys managed to get it clear after a lot of effort, but a few other boats did almost the same thing turning up tide, with the wind and too close to the ferry. I am sure we have all made mistakes (I know I have) and until you have had some experience or lessons both hire and private boats will get caught out I guess. As for protocol at Reedham, I always stand off and wait until I know the ferry man has seen me and waved me through before I continue. Not always easy if your going with the tide in a low powered boat, but then I have lots of power, twin engines and a bow thruster to hold me where I want to. Not always been this flash, and have had my share of hire boats that you just have to think a bit more about what your doing and when you do it. Sorry to hear your boat was seriously damaged and hope you get it sorted out. I like the idea of flashing lights even if it's only on the ferry itself before they move off.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. And Keith, I never said I knew anything about fishing -I just love boats, rivers and all that nature stuff - the fishing is almost an excuse! My little picture doesn't do it justice, but that was a lovely still morning in Feb - didn't catch anything, but how can fishing be bad with views like that?

Hi all, Just joined and looking forward to getting stuck in on the forum - hopefully can provide some answers as well as asking lots of stupid questions! I am local to the Broads, although still not a local by the locals standards. Have my clean boat (the one the wife goes on, although not too clean at the moment) at Brundall and the fishing dinghy on the trailer for getting to the hot spots (I wish). I will be asking fishing questions later. Good to be aboard.