JanetAnne

It must be about time I got back on here and bought you all up to date. Its been a busy couple of months both with the build and other factors getting in the way. Boat shows, funerals, holidays, life in general etc have kept me away from the laptop but not too far from the boatshed. Last time we were here we were making the stem post. This is joined to the front of our keel using an 'apron' and a 'fore foot'... well thats what they are called in Robins shed! Something that has come to light, and been quite entertaining, is that we all seem to have different names for the various components that make up a wooden broads cruiser. There is a plank that runs along the top of the keel (I'll introduce you to that later on) called either a keel cap, a keel baton or a hog according to whichever one of us you are talking to! Then there's the shaft log or is it a tube chock? Even google cant decide.. Anyway, the apron. This chunk of wood joins the keel and the stem post together by means of bolts. It offers a huge amount of strength in the nose of the boat so needs to be a decent size. Back in the day, when Vaughan boat pictured above was being constructed, the apron along with similarly sized parts would have involved a visit to Darby's wood yard and the selection of a bough of an oak tree that had grown in a similar shape to what was needed. These days we dont have such luxury and so our apron will be formed and laminated. Taking the information from our lofting boards we are able to construct a former that will give us our desired shape. Then we manufacture seven lengths of oak plank about 2.4m long 175mm wide and just 6mm thick. Once again the West System and Colodial Silica are mixed and our planks are glued (both sides to allow decent soaking in and ensure no voids) and then its a case of simultaneously clamping and bending seven lengths of the most slippery wood imaginable together whilst not gluing yourself to the job... You need a lot of clamps to hold this little lot together! Heres a quick look at the laminations once its all cleaned up

Aunty Pat has asked me to thank those who donated through the funeral directors to Mike's chosen charity. Yesterday a cheque for £120 was sent to The Salvation Army in Mikes memory. We will be scattering Mikes ashes at his chosen spot on Saturday 21st October so raise a glass to him on the day wherever you are.

I am guessing you are referring to the yard on Lake Lothing that is now the 102 trust site rather than the hire fleet base in Commodore Road run by the Stratford's?

And the boat behind you (right hand side) B761, I can see right now! To the left is a Delight (as in a Water Rail) but I can't quite make the number out. B7 something, but most of them were b7 something!

I've been looking for some fun competitions to run at next year's BWBCS....

Come on the bike?

I believe Bittern is currently in storage.

No streaming , sorry.

When was that from? Gotta be a few years ago

How about going back to alternators that are geared properly so they attain maximum charge at 'normal' cruising speeds?

It is with great sadness that I have to pass on the news that Mike finally lost his battle with cancer in the early hours of this morning. Mikes love of the Broads came from over 50 years of boating, both as a hirer and then as an owner with Chameleon. Mike has been one of the this forums greatest friends and will, of course, be known to many of you, especially in the quiz room. I am sure you will all want to join me in sending your condolences to Aunty Pat via this thread at such a sad time. Dave

Check the BSS requirements before buying anything Craig. As a new install you are a bit controlled over what you can and can't fit. Try and find something with a fan cooled compressor, that brings the consumption down nicely. I have had one of these running on the houseboat for a couple of years now and just can't fault it, and it's fan cooled. https://www.justkampers.com/camper-van-motorhome-and-camping-accessories/fridges-cookers-dining/fridges-cooling/jkf50-jkf50-12-volt-compressor-fridge-freezer-black.html

Next year's event August 8th - 11th. It's our 10th anniversary in 2024 so we are looking for something to mark the event with Would love some ideas...

There were 32 questions but two were void leaving 30 and there was a bonus point available which everyone got! Anyway 3 people got a maximum 31 points and another 8 or 9 got 30 points. It was really close....

If you like

Piccys Lee!

This year's boat of the show

Young Harry was an absolute star. I witnessed him reading out the questions himself and yes, he did get the highest score (one of three who tied this year) Here's a sample of the questions. It's designed to get people meeting and talking to each other. I would hate to think someone came for the weekend and nobody spoke to them. The voting is very simple. You fill in one of these..... .....we hand out over 100 on the day, and the boat with the most votes is our show winner. They get a certificate and they have to lead next year's convoy from Oulton Broad

Not swapped...sorry, part exchanged. They took the calor bottles and sold us flogas bottles with £20 each knocked off the flogas bottle rental cost or whatever they call it.. Bottles had to be like for like as in 3.9 calor propane for 3.9 flogas propane.

Kirkley run service station Lowestoft We have swapped three so far

It's a recent policy. I reckon they needed to boost their stocks once calor pulled out of the 3.9 and 4.5 market

Flogas are now taking some calor bottles in part exchange.

It's true what they say about your aim then?

After that particular incident at Great Yarmouth there has been an enforced monitoring of procedure at handovers. Boatyards are now being extra vigilant and there is the QAB scheme, now adopted, that is being followed. Years of experience no longer counts for anything when there is a form to be filled in.