JanetAnne

Oops, missed that bit! There were three deep v hulls produced at 40ft for sea going use. Two of these had the standard superstructure and the third was built as a large corniche. The hull mould had a false bottom insert that converted it to river use with a shallow bottom and keel. No 45's were built as sea going.

25 Ideal 40's and 22 Ideal 45's No, the moulds are not in the stuff still at Rackheath.

What you need is an accumulator tank young Tim. If you can fit a demijohn type airlock to the tank in question you should be able to syphon all that, now flammable, hot air and collect it in the accumulator tank. With some careful plumbing this will allow you to direct said hot air to your hob giving you free gas for your cooking needs. Once its all installed, the space saved by no longer needing the more conventional gas cylinders can be turned into a 'safe area' where, with careful use of armour plating, you can protect yourself should the sh contents of the tank become too volatile. Hope this helps?

Beautifully put agreed Just to add, we have one of our tanks just over 12ft away from the loo. Never been a problem - so far! Someone mentioned smell from pipe and the more pipe you have the more smell is possible. Have a look at the Butyll hose from ASAP (I'm sure its available elsewhere as well). This stuff is brilliant. Very easy to use and seals perfectly. Not a whiff in use which is a vast improvement over the commonly used white plastic based hose.

1- Remember to move the dinghy currently tied to the bow back to the transom after leaving your stern on moorings or you could run it over... Fortunately for the people involved its painter broke and it popped out the side before it went right over. 2- Once the roof and screens are down for the bridge check the tv aerial as well. 3- If other river users are pointing as well as waving try to work out why. We all look at each others boats as we pass and will see things the helm may not be aware of - a trailing rope, the dinghy is sinking, the kids are hanging off the bow trying to kick the bow wave etc. If someone is pointing meaningfully and nobody is stood on your bow in a mankini then its worth checking what they are trying to tell you. Just a walk round the decks saved us a rope round the prop when one of the stern ropes had fallen from its coil. Somebody passing pointed it out to us.

That name underneath the chap looks like a caption! Or a suggestion?

They are already on in QD's! There is a 6ft Santa singing carols in their window as well. Has been for a fortnight...

A very good point sir. And there are many businesses and individuals who rely on the non boating visitors for their very existence. Not sure what there will be left to visit should the tolls paid for the right to navigate dry up with the loss of the actual navigation though?

If I am playing sardines on a mooring my fenders stay up! You rarely need two boats worth in the one space between them and repairing wooden decks when the fender eyes have been ripped out is far more work than we need.

I meant on broads boats Trev. In fact, a couple of years ago, a chap was selling loads of 12v Eberspacher heaters, fridges and assorted other stuff at the Norwich Boat Jumble. I think it was Barnes Brinkcrafts van behind him. It was certainly all ex hire boat from upgrades to 24v. We had a couple of heaters and were well pleased with them.

24v is far more common than you would think. Basically, and somewhat crudely, if you double the volts you half the amps so everything runs a bit cooler and safer. Wiring thicknesses are reduced because the loads are halved and so it all gets a bit cheaper as well.

Just what we need, more walkways so we can all walk to the broads and point at what we once navigated on! Access is not a problem, there are plenty of boats. It's the broads, a water based activity centre ideally accessed by boat. And don't forget the damage we can save the environment by not shipping in all those chippings and signage.

Its a lovely run to Beccles with not only a choice of boatyards to have your pump out done (Hippersons and Derbys) but you can also arrive back at Oulton Broad with fully charged batteries without gassing the rest of the Oulton Broad Yacht Station residents.

So, if I read Timbo's most excellent explanation correctly, more boats out on the network mixing the upper and lower layers of the water would be beneficial to the clarity of the rivers and broads? Now that sounds like a plan!

The Waveney is clear from North Cove to Geldeston, though Geldeston is usually clear all year, and has been pretty much since mid August. You can certainly see the bottom in the yacht station, it needs dredging by the way! And welcome from me Mr Dredger sir!

But then we wouldn't get those excellent holiday tales as they happen. And I just replied to this sat in Beccles Yacht Station...

Brilliant news. That'll make it so much easier.

That's also a huge concern for the full size woodies. There are very few youngsters out there willing to learn how to plank and putty with a view to taking on the family heirloom () when the time comes.

Trev. She is still BMC powered (did you know they were originally Lister air cooled engined!) She is 32 foot long so I guess the pictures I grabbed dont do her justice. She is currently moored at Harleyford Marina on the Thames and in the care of my son. i finished her restoration in 2012. In March this year we rescued one of her sister ships... Gutted to hear about Emerald. One of two boats that we have actively seaerched for and really hoped to find again. We found the other one, but that's a whole new story!

I own that! Here she is more recently. Been looking for Emerald for years now. She is one of our favs but just cant find her. Found Topaz and Amethyst but Emerald still proves illusive.

The Broads Society support the Campaign for National Parks and are hosting the National Park Societies Annual Conference in October. However in their what we do section they state as one of their aims " To preserve and, where appropriate, improve facilities for navigation"

This forum must represent quite a big user group of the broads. Maybe it is possible for us to speak as one whilst being represented as and seen as a couple of thousand? Is it a case of us all wanting different things from BA and this forum or can we agree on, for arguements sake, navigation/dredging and an increase of 24 hour moorings as our priorities? Maybe we should look at policing of 24 hour moorings as our main aim? How about on the spot fine type enforcement for people overstaying? Would that help the mooring situation enough? I'm not smart enough to lead but will be right there with my full support as a follower. Vaughan, bring it on!

Sometimes there just aint enough hard hats to protect you oh Pesky one!

Would that be when we embraced 'elf n safety to way beyond its intended remit?

Enjoyed your write up very much here as well. Thank you.