dnks34

Im not sure I totally agree with the weak lock theory, yes breaking a cheap weak lock may cause less damage but on that sentiment why bother locking our front doors or our cars etc etc I would fit a sturdy looking lock in the hope that any would be burglar is going to take a look at it and decide its to much hassle when there are five boats either side with cheap weak door locks! This was my theory when i fitted a lockable fuel filler a number of years ago which is still intact and hasnt been ripped out of the deck yet, probably because most other boats moored nearby dont have them! In saying that door locks specifically designed for marine use are very expensive, this link may be of help: http://m.seascrew.com/index.cfm?MARINE-MORTICE-DOOR-LOCKS---LATCHES&l=0000001011 but if you post a photo someone may be able to offer you better advice.

I must be wrong then!! Could have sworn Id read something but obviously not.

Part of my thinks theres been a thread in the past about Ensigns and im sure theres a reason they shouldnt really be displayed on hire boats....but someone please correct me if im wrong. Whats wrong with the traditional skull and crossbones anyway?!

In my opinion the best thing you can do to eliminate cold calls is this. Aswell as registering with the TPS you need to get yourself a telephone that screens your calls automatically. Obviously you have to spend initially for the hardware but there should be no monthly subcriptions on top of your phone bill. We have a BT8500 twin walkabout phone with nuisance call blocker. Basically any phone number you havent entered into the machine as VIP will be screened silently, the caller will have to state their name and if they do you will be alerted. If its a person you need to speak to you can add the caller to your VIP list and answer and if its a nuisance call you can block the number without even answering. We have had it over a year now and 99.9% of nuisance callers just hang up and dont even bother, from getting probably 5 nuisance calls a day we now get none and callers we wish to speak to still get through. It didnt cost the earth and while we shouldnt have to go to these lengths we feel it was money well spent. Edit, I have just thought you will need caller display for it to work and that might be an extra monthly cost!!!

Hi Phil please dont think i intended my comment as any criticism of your work. You listened to the critics and the solution youve come up with has knocked it out of the park! Brilliant But just as a thought, you say its been tested by some heavy engineers, have you tried a 6 year old child as they can break anything in a matter of seconds!

That must be a unique thing you are offering there and a great incentive in my opinion. A few years ago we moored at an expensive southern yard, we were there a few years and eventually got anoid with the constant jockeying for space on our particular riverside section of 4 side on moorings. Anyway, we moved on in a November knowing our mooring ran till the end of the following march. We knew we wouldnt get a refund as we agreed to the original mooring terms however we were incredibly miffed to find another boat was put in our spot a few weeks after we vacated! But it is very comforting to know there are still some businesses around prepared to act in the better interest of its customers!

Thats some contraption! The idea is very good but I would say it might benefit from a few further refinements. Hide that metal frame which is visible on the rear of the back rest for one as its not very attractive, a nice polished stainless panel might work. It does look robust and I reckon its improved the driving position and comfort no end.

You cannot say fairer than that! Great offer well done ricko's!

Nothing would suprise me after this years Toll Increase.....if it is being funded from the Nav budget you can bet they will get away with it. My opinion of the upper echelons in Yare House just couldnt be any lower.

This is what I feared!! But thankyou for the advice!

Thanks for that Alan I hadnt realised the bleach would harm the stitching! Do you mean cap full......or cup full?!

I got the bleach / mild detergent recipe from a canopy makers website. I was sceptical also and tested it on a small area first, the canopy doesnt look any the worse for wear for it but it hasnt helped remove the mold, in theory it should have killed it easily. It did get all the green out of it quite easily. Id say the biggest risk from the powerwasher is to the stitching and I have been cautious with it thanks for the tea tree oil idea I will give it a go.

Ive spent a lot of time cleaning our canopy of late, most of it has come up lovely but annoyingly on the top of the canvas (when in situ) there is some sort of mold/mildew/fungus that keeps coming back up as its drying. I have powerwashed it on a flat surface a couple of times (naughty I know!) but it got the bird mess off. Washed it 3 or 4 times in a diluted fairy liquid / chlorine bleach solution and let it soak and then again powerwashed to rinse, it is quite a weak powerwasher! As a last resort I soaked it in a 20:1 solution of HG mold remover and water. This stuff removes mold/mildew/algae from patios and driveways. It did say to leave on for 36hrs but I didnt want to risk that on the canvas so I left it on a few hours then hose pipe rinsed it off but still the mold returns! When the canvas is dry i can scrape at the mold with a fingernail and it does comes away but it is literally all over the top of the canvas! The canopy itself is around 7/8 years old, underneath this substance the canvas is still in fairly good condition (even after my aggressive cleaning attempts) I intended to reproof it but dont really want to fabsil over the mold, can anyone suggest a surefire way of shifting it?! I am starting to consider brick acid as a viable option!!

In that case give and take applies!

Given it was a match there could well have been pegs there also!!

This was today anyway, rightly or wrongly.

The tell would be when 3 boats all unable to fit under the bridge arrived at the same time looking to moor, and quite rightly so when they pay their over inflated toll! I suppose till somebody comments on that happening I cant really adversely comment. Im prepared to give and take and usually happy to do so but with the BA's take take take approach I do wonder if match fishing from a free BA 24hr mooring is a fair and appropriate use of that mooring. Im not aiming to start world war 3 with the good local fisherfolk honest im not it just occured to me...... what does the average non boat owning or toll paying fisherperson actual contribute financially to the purse? Just saying!!

What are your thoughts of fishing matches taking place with pegs seemingly being sited on the free 24hr BA moorings namely at Beccles (before the bypass bridge) I dont want to open a them and us as I do fish myself and I realise its off season but i noticed it when passing over the bridge today and have seen them before also. Fisherman with kit spread out across the moorings and then other pegs running up and down the bank either side of the bridge, evidently a match? Would they make way for boats wishing to moor when fishing a match or are the moorings officially booked out for these events?

I am in total agreement with paying last years amount plus 3% but this doesnt seem like its going to be possible. If you cant change the payment amount in the system online then I imagine over the phone they will refuse anything less than payment in full and sending in a cheque may not even be presented and then its non payment. They have it totally sewn up dont they!

I do agree with what your saying JM but what concerns me is that we will again be facing the same level of increase next year purely on the basis they have gotten away with it this time. I have absolutely no faith in the BA and i am rapidly loosing interest! People are likely to be hit with increases from every angle this year and its all just getting well out of hand.

Ours is up £78.24 on last years, almost 17.5% increase. Outrageous starting to take the enjoyment out of it.

Meanwhile on the norfolk coast....

I would like to think anyone wishing to moor with no requirement to use an electric supply wouldnt moor right next to the post if there was space available away from it. Or is it just I was brought up to be "moor" considerate than some.

I thought some boats were advertised as shore hook up now or have I got it wrong?

If a customer is going to go to the lengths required to bring iffy fuel with them or fill it up with cooking oil/water or such like to save a few quid at the end of the week are these the sort of folk you really ought to be letting your boat out to anyway! The problem with locked filler caps becomes clear when the fuel thieves come along in the winter.....not only lost fuel but a damaged deck!