vanessan

Could you get one of the big buttoned mobiles which has speed dial buttons? You could then programme in the main numbers she uses and put a different coloured sticker over each button.

I really do think that ship has sailed (sorry!), I am sure I would be a liability! You see, I would want to be involved not carried as a passenger and that would be dangerous - for everyone.

We meet up annually with some friends who hire the same yacht each year from the Swallowtail Boatyard at Ludham. They are lovely boats and so well looked after. If I was younger (a lot younger!) I would be very tempted to give sailing another go and hire from Swallowtail.

Fishing tackle and boats alike have changed almost beyond recognition over the last few decades. I think the same can be said for much of mankind. We don’t seem to have the give and take there used to be. Luckily I am married to a gentleman who knows how to be courteous and goes out of his way to rub along with other folk, whatever their disposition. Sometimes I wonder what we are doing cruising on the port side of the river, then I realise we are avoiding an angler (or three!). On the very odd occasion we have even got a wave of acknowledgement. In 36 years of boating I cannot remember ever being given instructions by an angler, not one we could manage anyway!

And probably requiring an electric post at every mooring! I think Robin is probably spot on with much of his thinking but as for saying it will become a rich man’s playground, I can’t make my mind up on that. I do think however there will always be a place for budget boats, I certainly hope so anyway. Broads boating must stay accessible for everyone.

Davydine- I did warn you there would be quite a few different opinions! Glad it all turned out ok and you have enjoyed fantastic bank holiday weather.

Playing devil’s advocate here, where ‘inland’ would you choose bearing in mind we are (I think) talking about a visitor centre and education relating to the Broads?

I think you may be right, I do believe I saw Wild Thyme last year at Rowan Craft. That is a lovely peaceful and pleasant spot, if the purchaser of the boat could also keep the mooring, they would be onto a winner I reckon!

Just something I have heard at some time. You are usually the one who appears to put people straight on various things so no doubt you can answer your own question.

I saw that around a few times but it was about 2/3 years ago. It looked a nice boat. I like the play on the name!

The BA allow fishing from some 24 hour moorings, that’s doing something surely? I have also heard of the BA putting cash towards fishing platforms too although I don’t know how true that is. The EA leases land to the BA for moorings so, indirectly, they are charging boaters.

I think we are back to what some hirers expect - home from home. Ray, well done for looking after your other half. I feel the cold more than my husband does and that half hour with the heating on when it is chilly makes all the difference. The only time we have ever had a problem was when the batteries were nearing their end of life. Other than that one time we have never had to run the engine to start the heating.

Having looked online, the best I can suggest is either Norwich or Great Yarmouth where there are a number of RC churches. A website you could look at is rcdea.org.uk which may give you a contact number where you could find more info. There may of course be a member come forward on here with more info in due course, I hope so. Good luck and enjoy your holiday.

Now I can’t make up my mind if you are being flippant, sarcastic, serious or just plain argumentative!

Fair point but that ‘contribution’ is for their benefit mostly surely?

Flippancy, on a forum. Disgraceful!

Not the same methinks, they normally help a boat in and smile - very different.

I have always wondered what bankside anglers give back to the BA given that they can use the 24 hour moorings. They roll up in their cars, cart a tremendous amount of tackle etc to the bank side and set up in the middle of the moorings very often. It’s always seemed a bit unfair to me. I know they give way to boats (sometimes!) and I don’t think it is nearly as bad as it was 7/8 years ago. So what do these fisherfolk give back to the BA?

If you had the other boat’s details, I think maybe you should have reported the incident to both your boatyard and the other one. Although not an emergency, (how easily it could have been!) if both boatyards had details they could act if they wanted to. I guess you would have an emergency number to ring although just an answerphone message would probably suffice. On a private boat, a message on BA’s answerphone and one to the hire yard I guess would be the way to go. Although we hear of, and on the odd occasion see, hire boats navigating after dark from time to time, I can’t recall ever hearing of a serious incident. I hope I never do.

But now you have come up with an entirely different set of circumstances! There is no argument re insurance, the topic is about what you would do if you saw hirers navigating after dark. Thinking about it even further, I believe these incidents should be reported. The BA is not going to lock ‘em up and throw away the key for heaven’s sake, they will just have a quiet word and point out the dangers as well as the fact that they are contravening the bye laws. If the hirers get caught again, well that’s a different matter.

These are ‘accidents or mishaps’ though and, as you say, would be covered. But supposing you didn’t hear about it, or heard at a much later date. Would you then advise the BA? I think if you do have the boat name/reg number then you need to act asap. After all, having navigated in the dark once quite successfully, the hirers may think it’s a jolly good way to make the most of the day and continue doing it.

I should have added there that this is something that does crop up from time to time and there are differing views as to what should be done. Some take the ‘live and let live’ attitude while others take the ‘that’s prohibited and could be dangerous’ view. That’s why I said your choice. Sorry, good question though.

If you were able to get the name of the boat or reg number, you could report it to the Broads Authority the next day. They would no doubt have a quiet word with the hirers. Navigating after dark in a hire boat is not permitted and they could be a danger to themselves and others. Or you could just turn a blind eye as has already been suggested, your choice.

My post was in jest, hence the . In fact, a couple of pages ago I mentioned rugby players who will never conform to BMI principles. Horses for courses! I guess heavyweight boxers will probably be in that category too.

Now there’s an idea. Easticks did have a yacht station but was limited and not a YS like Norwich or GY. I think grendel should put a plan in, maybe a consortium of forum folk could come up with something? Call it a visitor centre but in truth it’s really a yacht station.