[Diana!!!]

I guess today we would have thousands of people seeking professional councelling suffering from "Survival" syndrome!!

Me I sought the solitude of my boat to get away from the endless media hysteria.

[Danger Concern Over Weed On Hickling]

Just as you begin to think one side has persuaded you towards their augument the other side pops up with an equally compelling post.

Long may debates like this continue as it helps educate us all in the complexities of managing a fragile landscape.

 

[Triple Mooring Thread]

Being modded can feel a bit personal on occasions but usually it's because someone has taken your written word to mean something that you didn't intend.

Some time ago I had a phrase modded, I had been referring to the time honoured slang word for cigarette in the Uk and the mod thought I was refering to an derogatory American term for homosexual.

On asking my younger family why the word was frowned on I was told that that word is a no no!  Oh well you live and learn.

But "Cigerette ditritus Lil" wouldn't have sounded quite right for the lady that used to play the joanna at the Ferry Boat Norwich.

[What Boat Would You Choose?]

I'm not sure if thinking of getting a boat is more exciting than getting one.

I think i'm fairly convinced on rear cockpit for ease of mooring & outside space.

Based on armchair browsing my thoughts have nestled on:

Shadow 26 (there seem to be some in my price bracket).

Broom 29 (I would need to keep saving but they look very nice.

Sheerline (sadly I think most 26foot +) are beyond my price range but they look an ideal match.

As the boat will be shared with younger family members I think the older style boats, whilst great value, would be less appealing to them.

As most boats in my price bracket are pretty old what cost might I incur re: replacement engines, rewiring & replacement batteries.

Worst case senario, but assuming the hull is sound, I envisage the above items might raise their heads above the parapit.

cheers

[What Boat Would You Choose?]

27 minutes ago, MauriceMynah said:

I meant to add that it's the time it takes to get from Helm to ropes to shore that will dictate the ease of solo handling of a craft. I would aim for less than 5 seconds from helm to shore (with ropes in hand) 

Good point .... it starts to make rear cockpit an attractive option, this usually has the sort of outside space i'm used to as in my old peggy.

[What Boat Would You Choose?]

Hi all

Many thanks for your input it really is very usefull to listen to the experience of others.

As I said at the beginning I'm really at the "thinking about it" stage at the moment.

I used to have a pegasus 700 sailboat which I regularly single handed without issue. I realise these are much easier to handle then a broads cruiser as they can turn on a sixpence.

I regulally cruise solo so it is very important that I can handle the boat alone. My experience todate suggests that the most important part of solo cruising is well thought out mooring lines of a good length.

I've drooled over a few boats on-line.

I quite like the brooms cabriolet type, and have seen a nice broom 30 with dual driving positions although it seemed very pricy for a 37 year old boat.

The alpha single level types seem tempting but I'm unsure if a sliding roof will give that outdoor feeling that I would require.

Anyway I'm enjoying my armchair browsing and when/if I decide to give it a go I shall look forward to the challenge of mastering the manouvers in a quiet/tranquil spot.

One question though, do you think a bow thruster would be a useful addition or is it just the case of getting to know your boat well?

Regarding size I'm thinking max 35foot ...... is this too ambitious for single handed cruising?

 

[What Boat Would You Choose?]

Hi, I've been letting my mind ponder as to buying a boat for the Broads.

I know many of you have loads of experience with lots of boats so could you share your thoughts regarding the following requirements.

I would need to handle single handed.

I like outside space.

Must have dedicated sleeping quarters.

Oh yer .... a mobo.

The space/experience on-board is more important to me than being able to pass under all bridges.

Budget 10k - 30k.

So what should i consider and what should I avoid?

Single handed cruising is MOST important.

Your thoughts/recommendations would be most appreciated.

[Dog Rescued]

My dog (on lead) was recently attacked by a loose dog in the park. The owners, who were hiding behind a bush, communicated that their dog doesn't like dogs on leads and will attack them.

I politely pointed out that maybe their dog needed to be excercised in public on a lead.

The point is if your dog is known to be likely to bother people, other dogs or livestock when on walkies then they should be kept on a lead.

[Tear Down Nelson!]

To be honest in those days unless you were a member of the gentry conditions for the plebs & slaves were very little different regardless of skin colour. They existed to obey and serve their masters.

[Dog Rescued]

25 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

Re Oulton Broad's Everitt Park, I'm not sure, will have to check although I thought that leads were the order of the day. Either way isn't there a requirement to keep a dog under control in public places?

Yep, Dogs should be kept under control in public, on or off the lead, but I just wondered if leads were a requirement in st everitt's park.

As most parks are empty for most of the year (with the exception of dog walkers and a few others) perhaps a "dogs on lead" control during the summer holidays (as on some beaches) would be appropriate.

 

[Is There A Limit On The Number Of Likes?]

8 minutes ago, KingfishersTime said:

Just wondering as I seem to have run out of likes? On the electric charging thread I have liked a couple of posts and it doesn't seem to be taking effect, although others have been able to like the post?

I hope your not crying wolf just to increase your "Love" tally!

[Dog Rescued]

12 hours ago, JennyMorgan said:

Why wasn't the dog on a lead, especially as both owner and animal were in a public park?

Are there signs stating that dogs should be kept on the lead? Some parks do others don't.

[Tear Down Nelson!]

I  can only assume that the lady in question was knowingly trying to cause outrage ..... these types are best ignored.

Nelson will remain atop his column!!

[That Deserves A Medal!]

Very well done indeed ..... seconds away from tragedy ...... The lttle girl could easily have been crushed between a boat and bank.

There are wicked tides flowing through there.

[Interesting New Sign]

1 hour ago, MauriceMynah said:

Yes, I think we all understand the potential dangers Hylander, but as we all also know, we have a duty to look after ourselves, and on a boat, that's all the time.

I usually know in advance if my boat is going to rock due to boat wash, I either saw or heard the speeding craft go past. Yes I know they shouldn't do it, but they do and have done for as long as I remember. Think "Hullaballoos" of Arthur Ransom fame. He knew about them back then.

Incidents where scalding type injuries have occurred owing to speeding boats are mercifully rare. Yes, they have happened, but rarely. Given that the smaller the boat the rockier it is, and also given that these smaller boats are most frequently private ones, where the owners are aware of the risks, steaming cups of tea are handled with due caution.

I have said it many times before, Boating is dangerous. It involves water in which one can drown or on which is an unsteady platform. Lets face it, we can drown, be scalded to death by a really hot cup of tea (other beverages are available) be gassed by the fumes from a neighbouring boat or even sliced into mince by any one of thousands of whirling props, and whilst the fault may lie with the idiot who was on the other boat, the responsibility to stay safe is your own.

But back to the problems of speeding boats, if no effective answer has been found in all the years that motor boats have been about, my guess is that it never will be.

Having said that, I can offer two fool proof solutions, either of which would be very popular with certain people, though not the same people.

Remove all speed limits, then there're are none to break, or remove all motor boats as sailies are exempt.  :)

I applaud all of the above.

You shouldn't go boating if you want a completely stable floor.

[Interesting New Sign]

I think we need to add another sign

"Fly posters will be prosecuted"

Assuming, that is, it has been erected by a non person.

[Running Engines Are Not The Only Pest!]

it's cats that get my goat!!

[Tv Licence]

I did, for a long time, think that the publically funded beeb was an asset ..... no more.

It does have irritating adverts ...... for it's own programmes.

There are settees full of "knowledgeble" pundits commenting on the sports coverage ..... usually at the expense of actual coverage.

and Cliff Michelmore's "Tonight" has morfed into the sterile "One Show".

I think the rot started to set in when Chris Trace (Blue Peter) behaved a bit badly!!

So sorry beeb ..... It's a big NO from me!!

[Running Engines Are Not The Only Pest!]

It's an odd thing but has anybody noticed that when you get into a huff about something, doesn't matter what it is, the more "whatever you are in a huff about" seems to occur?

and when you stop getting the huff it doesn't seem to happen so often?

[To Moor Or Not To Moor?]

4 hours ago, JennyMorgan said:

Is it just me but what's happening to the give and take, and liberal, common sense attitudes that used to prevail on the Broads? 

 

I think this is a very astute observation and may be a contributary cause for the discontent so frequently published.

The "Broadland environment" that many moaners & groaners seem to want to enforce would be a very sterile & unwelcome environment to me.

[River Waveney (Warning May contain Trains)]

I think we are approaching an era when public transport will be increasingly asked to provide an affordab;e and attractive alternative to making a trip by car.

So I do believe trimming minutes from a journey may well help to make public transport more appealing but I think it is essential to reduce the cost of tickets to make it attractive for families to use public transport in favour of leaving the car behind along with the high cost of ever decreasing parking spaces.

[Lynx To Be Reintroduced To The Wild...]

Personally I found Hi Karate would drive the girls wild.

[The Games We Used To Play]

The humble stick.

Could be a sword, a gun, a bow and arrow, a boat, nail two sticks together and it could be a plane.

All you need to play "cowboys and native americans" (see what I did to avoid causing offence)

[Smelly Out And About Last Weekend]

Yep,

I had a couple of days on the Northern Broads at the weekend. Very busy around Wroxham.

I'm pleased to report no dramas, no terrible tales of unruly behaviour.

Just the opposite infact, two very accommodating crews willing to budge up to make space for me, even in the rain. Two fisherman happy to give up there swim to let me moor and lots of friendly bantor.

The day boats are definatly governed to a max speed of 5mph and even have a gps speedo on board.

So .... nothing to moan about i'm afraid, not even any dog poo or discarded rubbish!

You never know I might even give it another go. You have been warned.

[Sailies-which Way?]

When I used to sail I tried to make way solely by sail power pitting my wits against wind & tide.

Usually I was out to sail not to get to the next pub or mooring as quickly as possible.

That said in tricky conditions, going against the tide and heading into the wind the next corner could be a real challenge .... particularly if a distant tree was upsetting the wind at a critical time.

Under these conditions I needed to use as much of the river as possible to continue to move forwards instead of backwards with the tide. I tried to always indicate to other mobos which way to pass and on most occassions got a friendly wave and thumbs up.

Sometimes an ocean going, privately owned liner would come by (i'm not jealous, no not at all) and occassionally they would steadfastly assert their position. This didn't result in a dangerous situation but by putting in an early tack I could be swept back with the tide many yards meaning I faced a further half hour of slow progress towards that damned corner.

Now I could have switched on the engine and chugged round the bend in seconds ..... but that would be cheating and where's the fun in that.