sgbatyork

Completely agree. We have had one of their inverters on board for a good few years now. Being based in Norfolk they are readily accessible for components, service and general advice of which they offer in abundance face to face or over the phone. They are also happy to work in partnership with other suppliers as an example they have worked with Brooms to spec wiring upgrades on Lightning.

I would like to offer our sincerest condolences on behalf of everyone in the Lightning Syndicate. I have personally regarded Alan as a role model since I first met him and Tan in 2013.

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Brooms uses GTL which is more expensive anyway. However, charging 1.90 must be very recent as I seem to remember filling Lightning last weekend at 1.57. I would imagine that the retail price is cost + margin, whereas all inclusive will be at cost only.

You mentioned that the hoses have been replaced. Is it possible that the flow and return hoses to the calorifier have been connected the wrong way around? I understand that the system is tee'd and given that the keel is the lowest (and coldest) part of the boat then gravity will prioritise in this direction if the hoses are the wrong way around. This might also explain the apparent loss of coolant as any trapped air will be forced the wrong way through the system and is likely to get stuck somewhere until it expands enough to get moved or escapes through the filler cap. Just a thought. :-)

Just to add another perspective. We have found that no matter who cleans the boat and how well they do it, the interior gradually goes into decline so that by the end of the season everything looks a bit tired. Not dirty, or shabby, just tired. Nowadays we have Lightning deep cleaned annually which entails having her interior removed and cleaned off the boat. It is around £450 including having the oven professionally cleaned also. This is well spent in the eyes of our syndicate considering that the cost is spread across the membership.

On Lightning our arrangements are similar. Call Rob on 07867 862489. Not sure if his prices have changed this season but used to be in the same territory as quoted by YnysMon above.

Hello Everyone Just to let you know that we have secured insurance for Lightning through Geo Underwriting. Following advice from colleagues at Broom Marine Services we engaged an independent broker -Coleman Marine Insurance- and we are extremely grateful for their legwork in securing some cover for us since Towergate pulled the plug. I have been told that most, if not all, underwriters have now either retracted from the syndicated boat insurance market completely, closed their book to new business, or restricted cover to syndicates of no more than four shares. All the best

Thanks everybody for getting back to me. Looks like it is Navigators or MS Amlin then. There is another exTowergate syndicate in the same predicament also and I will let you know how we get on. Simon.

Hello Everyone I have been a member for a good few years but never found the need to post anything until now! This is a bit of a 'heads up' for broads based syndicates plus a request for advice. Our marine insurer (Towergate) has just declined to renew our policy as their underwriter will now only cover a boat with no more than four owners. I have been informed that a disproportionate number of claims this year in the Med (go figure) has had a knock on effect on the whole syndicate book of account. This means that a number of underwriters have either withdrawn from the market completely or are now only covering boats with a severely restricted number of owners. We have had our renewal declined and I am aware that another syndicate has had theirs declined also. Brooms have put me in touch with an independent broker who has confirmed that a lot of the syndicate insurance capacity has vanished literally in the last few months but they suggest not giving up hope as they are still looking. MS Amlin looks like a possibility - fingers crossed! The request for advice is - would anybody recommend an insurer who would most likely cover a syndicate owned broads cruiser as of now? The 'heads up' is for other syndicates to be watchful at renewal time as there might be an unwelcome surprise coming. Thanks in advance. Simon Blythe Chairman: Lightning Syndicate 2008