vanessan

Following on from Hylander's post, Beggars Belief, I think the majority of us were hirers at some point in our boating lives but how many can remember back to that first time on board? I can only remember being shown how to do a round turn and two half-hitches but I'm not sure the hire companies do that now judging by some of the cats' cradles I have seen draped over posts!! So, given that handover time seems to be somewhat limited for most boatyards, what do members think are the 6 most important things to show new hirers?

I would suggest you head for Paddy's Lane (Barton Turf). It is fairly sheltered there, not too far from Richardson's and you will be able to get unpacked and settled in. Also time to read the Skipper's manual for those all important details and tips. Have a super holiday and don't worry about the weather.

I think Whitlingham has been known as a country park for a number of years now, it is a great place to stop off and walk around. It has a lot going for it.

Welcome from a maid of Kent!

Beat me to it! There had to be a joke there somewhere.

A while ago I invested in some brushed cotton fitted sheets and duvet covers for the boat. I now have no need for a hot water bottle which I used to love. Mind you, goose down duvets help too! I can't abide heavy bedclothes so the lighter the better. We are lucky I think these days to have the luxury of fleece blankets too, gone are the days of eiderdowns!!

Good decision Carole. I hope thingamybob is still somewhere in the background and will reconsider too. Just a thought. If something is said that someone doesn't agree with or doesn't like, it may be better to reply in a more general way rather than a direct reply to the member involved. I think there is less chance then of causing offence. Of course if you know the person concerned well, go for it!!

One for me please.

If I may answer that question too, the water has been very high recently. In the south, many of the moorings have been underwater at high tide, Reedham, Oulton Dyke and Langley Dyke to name a few. We had planned to go to Geldeston last week but shortly after low water there was only 6ft clearance! Hope that helps.

My post was tongue in cheek and posted in fun, I hope you took it that way Griff. My husband actually commented on the boat that slowed on going past, it is such a rare occurrence.

There we were, quietly moored at Hardley Mill on Sunday when two HW boats steam by leaving us rocking (well, only a little!). A short while later, clearly chasing after the HW boats, comes Broad Ambition! Very courteously he slowed down (well, only a little!) leaving us rocking again (well, only a little!). I very much doubt the HW boats were caught before they reached the pub though - was it the Reedcutters you were heading for or the Beauchamp Arms?

Really enjoyed your write up Helen. Your photos are lovely, I think you could make up the NBN calendar for 2018 all by yourself! We hired Fair Regent back in 2003, I think it was fairly new then and there was only one of them. I thought it a lovely boat and I would think the things added over the years have improved it even more. When is the next trip?

Welcome from me too Gary. We were moored at Langley Dyke on Saturday night, it's one of our favourite moorings as it is so quiet. (Unless of course the pump is going full pelt and the wind is in the wrong direction!) Hope you enjoy many great trips out, solo cruising or in the 'fleet'.

So it really is a lack of dredging that is the problem. It is probably a good thing to keep some of the larger boats away from the upper reaches of the Thurne but it's getting to the point that only dinghies and canoes will get under Potter bridge! I suppose that's what the BA have in mind anyway, well JP most certainly.

I meant to add that a small radiator is left on low as well. The boat is in a boatyard and is monitored so I think we are lucky to have that choice. It's been that way for 8 years now and no problems.

When we passed Reedham Ferry Inn yesterday morning, the ducks were swimming merrily round the lamp post near the entrance. The board moorings (empty) had almost disappeared and I did notice a big reserved sign in the middle of them. I wonder if the boat crew changed their minds!!

We take ours out for 4 months every winter. We don't live close by so it gives us less worry when the weather is bad. If we lived close by I am sure we would use the boat during the winter months.

On the pontoon at DTG Oulton Dyke at present, certainly an interesting night. More to come over the next few days I believe.

That sounds an awful lot of work. I have found that just washing the curtains normally has done the trick. Last month I found the bathroom curtains badly spotted so hand washed them and that worked ok too. Maybe you have particularly c****y spiders, what do you feed them on?

Lakeland Spider Catchers, brilliant.

Many moons ago we hired a boat from Faircraft, I think it may have been one of the old Fair Entrepreneurs. One evening when I was cooking the handle fell off a saucepan. (Actually the saucepan fell off the handle as I was trying to strain the contents but you get my drift...). When we got back to the boatyard I took the pan and handle to the office to show someone rather than just leave it on the boat. My husband had looked at it closely and seen that it had previously been welded together. Well, talk about third degree! 'What were you doing with it?' the lady asked in a very shirty manner. 'Cooking!' says I! (I have wished ever since that I had said that I was bashing my husband with it!) After another couple of silly questions, I think the lady realised I was getting a tad annoyed and backed off. No apology though and I bet it went back to the workshop for further welding.

I never mind hearing the slapping of the water against the hull and I can honestly say it's never kept me awake at night. The last few days have been so windy I would think most boats out would have experienced a fair amount of slapping at some point. Herringfleet was always one place where the water seemed to slap continuously but it used to make me smile when we hired as I was on the Broads again! We don't stop there now as there is nowhere to walk the dogs so I have to settle for the 'Somerleyton Slap'!

Lovely pics and a very enjoyable read.

It occurred to me earlier that one or two other forums I have looked at seem to suffer from the odd 'stirrer'. By that I mean a new poster whose first post seems designed to cause trouble and argument. Or the ones that just pop up now and again with some comment clearly made to upset others. I think the way members behave on the NBN and the way the mods stamp out anything untoward goes a long way to deter such posters on here. Long may that continue.

Clashes of opinion are what forums are all about, that way by getting all points of view you also get plenty of varied information. There are one or two very unsociable places best avoided for various reasons. Well done NBN.