tjg1677

Thanks Jean, yes I am very lucky indeed, since I lost my wife they have been fabulous and stood by me through thick and thin. I like to think that I am giving them something back by taking them on these trips and it works both ways as it also provides me with a crew as my boat is not easy to handle solo when mooring etc. Hoping to be back down again around the 13th Oct as I should have a bit of a lull at work by then. bye for now Trev.

Thanks alan, will watch out for that but more importantly, try it for first time with nobody looking....lol Trev

rrrrrrrrr thanks peeps...........

part 2. As it was such a lovely day, decided to go up to wroxhm and back to the moorings, didnt overnight out as my first batch of friends had an early departure next day. Oh the joys of a bowthruster, on my mooring I have about a 38 foot clearance ahead of me and a 42 foot boat, usually this entails a lot of slow delicate manouvering to get the head round to port and up the cutting, with a bowthruster easy peasy, must take a lot of hammer off the gearbox and clutches. The thruster is a 75 kgf vetus one and is fantastic. Because of space constraints it is set a bit further back than usual so took a bit of getting used to as it tends to swing the stern and has a different turning moment than that of a thruster mounted right forward, but a joy to use and very powerful. Because she is twin helm, I opted for the radio remote control and that thing is a godsend, can be used from anywhere, even ashore which comes in very handy. a slow run up to wroxham via the 2 broads, moored at Barnes yard and they all went shopping to discover the delights of the bazzar known as roys, leaving me to get on with a few bits n bobs of work on my laptop. Had to move berths and do some very tight manouvering again but was easy with the BT and impressed the barnes staff no end....lol. Watched a hire boat deciding that it was going to tackle the bridge without a pilot, then wised up at the last minute, executing an impressive high power turn and just missing , well about everything really, gave them a friendly wave as they came past - it was worth it for the entertainment! After lots of cups of tea, set off back to horning via small broad - one of my favourites, shame it is only open for some of the year as I think it is lovely there. There were only 2 other boats on it and my friends were very overawed by the beauty of it all. got back to horning about sixish and decided to go to the Sutton staithe hotel for a meal as we didnt get one from the swan the night before. Have to say, it is probably the third or fourth time we have been there and it was superb, food fantastic, service very friendly and the beer I am told - sublime. I highly recommend this eatery and give it a good nine out of ten. Back to the boat for another good nights kip ( I am usually an insomniac at home ) . My first friends got away early as planned the next day and we decided to spend the day working on some more jobs such as fitting inverters, alterations to the 24v system wich my boat mysteriously has and a few other bits n pieces. We let go about 5pm and took a nice leisurely cruise up to walsham broad, another fav place of mine. Along the way we were looking for NBN burgees but only saw one moored along the abbey moorings, so gave them a wave, I think it was cats paws. Lovely peaceful night spent mudweighted on walsham broad, a bit of fishing and some nice hornish pasties from the deli in Horning along with mash, carrots and peas - yummy !! A beautiful morning dawns the next day and it was a pleasure to wake up in the surroundings we were in - gives you that feelgood factor. On the subject of a sunny morning - solar panels - they really are the poodles privates. The panels were pumping about 5 amps into the domestic batteries, so well happy with them and recommend them to anyone. we spent a very lazy morning and early afternoon just fishing and watching the world go by, watching hire boats charging up the broad looking to be at the pub moorings early, only to realise they had the wrong broad.....lol indeed. Reluctantly we started up, weighed mudweight and had a pleasant trip back to horning and ferry marina. Was amazed by what speed the day hire boats can do, dont the yards tell them there is a speed limit???? Back at FM my neighbour had returned so had to do some slick manouvering to get back on the berth but it all went without incident. Sadly 7pm came around all too quickly and it was time to drive home because of that dirty W word - oh to be able to retire. Hoping to get down again around the 15th - do some more jobs from the to do list, and perhaps have a trip up to barton and sutton staithe. Happy cruising all nd I hope I havent bored you to death. Trev

thought I would share my first real long weekend aboard Giddy Kipper. I took ownership of her the day before starting a week long hire on Sunlit Horizon on the 25 Aug, ( I know, bad planning but it was take the holiday or lose the money ), so didnt have much time on my boat except for 2 very frantic nights after the holiday kitter her out with all the stuff needed on a boat as she had literally nothing aboard. She had been in the FM workshops having a bowthruster fitted as well as a set of solar panels, money well spent and FM did a brilliant job. Arrived at my mooring after a four hour drive on tuesday night only to find the boat not there. Apparently the yard had forgot to return her, so after a frantic 45 mins trying to find her, she was tuched away behind the boatshed / workshop. Now heres the awkward bit, was on crutches due to a mildly sprained ankle. Acess to the boat stern on - easy, but she was moored alongside and anyone who knows these boats will know that there are a bit difficult to get on from the side. After about 40 mins trying to get on board and lots of naughty language, managed to get on and get the electrics and gas switched on. after a long rest and a cuppa retired for the night and had a good nights sleep. Up early the next morning when the yard staff started to arrive ( I am not a morning person ) found Graham the chief engineer and he arranged for her to be put back on her moorings whilst I drove the car round. I had spent the weeks in between visits drawing up a to do list and list of bits required to do it all, my postman hated me as it was mostly mail order............... On a bright and sunny wednesday morning made a start. Now the to do list read like war and peace so it was a case of where to start, so to condense what was done - bunk lights fitted, led strip lights in galley areas fitted, more 12v outlet sockets fitted and a few other bits aside, first batch of friends arrive mid afternoon. Had been trying to get them on the phone but I could not get a signal for love nor money on either of my mobiles ( virgin and EE ) nor on my laptop dongle ( three ) no, nothing. As I run a business it was somewhat embarrasing not to be in touch so I had to go get a vodaphone pay as you go phone. This was a wise move as the signal is actually very strong at horning ( thank you to the chippy man for that advice ) and everywhere I went subsequently, it proved to be a good signal - well chuffed. Why the other networks did not connect I really dont know, it was fine last time I was down with 2 - 3 signal bars on virgin ? Anyway, I digress, my friend are here and he is a very skilled carpenter and joiner so we looked at ways of altering the access doors to the bridge, which are ridiculously narrow - some 19 inches - and I am emphaticaly not !! Came up with a plan to replace the alumiium doors with new mahogany ones and reframe and rehinge the lot hopefully giving about a further 3 inches clearance, will see how it works once the new doors are manufactured and hung. By tgis time it was getting on and my second batch of friends arrived, so we decided to go to the swann inn for a meal, got there a fraction before nine only to be told by a surly waitress we were too late and could not eat. The horning chinese was shut for some reason so we ended up at macdonalds in Wroxham. Back on board afterward for another good nights kip. Wednesday dawns lovely and bright so it was decided to have a leisurely bacon butty breakfast then go off on a river trip as one half of my friends had never been on the broads at all. Just run out of time here so more to follow later..... trev

OK, had chance to try it this weekernd, saloon cabin windows very steamed up on friday morning, said to my friends - look at this new gadget I have bought, promptly demonstrated it and looked a right idiot. This gadget certainly sucks the water off the glass, however, it then proceeds to spray every last drop out of the motor vent holes, covering a radius of about 6 feet in the process - including me! so you can imagine I am stood there water dripping from nose and my friends rolling about the floor laughing . Lesson learned, dont be a cheapskate, have now ordered a karcher one, he stated sheepishly . trev

They charge per metre and it is ( I think ) going to be £240 per metre next year.

Thanks for that. May one looking very good, July a possibility but september unlikely. Look forward to meeting you all and thanks again for the info. Trev.

Thanks for the info - Going to put that one in the diary for sure as i am pretty certain i can make it. Give me a chance to ply poor unsuspecting victims errrrmmm sorry, lovers of fine wines, with my home made sangria, its the poodles privates, or so i am told but oddly never the morning after. Have a great autumn meet Trev

What an absolutely fascinating, absorbing and brilliant thread and the films & commentary just sublime. Thanks everyone for a very entertaining hour, it was like going back 30 plus years and reminded me of listening to tales from the newsons yard foreman, a very colourful character indeed. And semi rotary pumps, wish i had a tenner for every one of those i have stripped cos it wouldnt prime! Thanks again, i love living history. Trev

sorry to but in, slightly off topic, would have loved to come to this but have to travel home on the 24 about lunch time - work beckons, hope you all have a great time. Are you planning a spring meet anywhere and if so, where and when please? thanks trev

Hi Alan, yes indeed what you say is largely true but to put things in perspective, when I had my narrowboat, I paid £14.50 per foot per year. Full facilities, clubhouse , bar, electrics, water et al. Dont get me wrong I dont mind paying for something if it is value for money but I am beginning to question if that is case now at FM and feel that I can get better value elsewhere. I know Hull marina very well, it is a super posh development right in the city surrounded by yuppie apartments and hotels, very nice but 11K - really ?????? trev.

Lol.......... not stereotyping then.......

Well tbh it has got me thinking now. Before all this i was borderline happy to stay there, however, not so sure now, dare i say they seem to want the high income bracket types ( no, not trying to be offensive here, just factual )as opposed to 20+ year old cruiser owners. My moorings next year are going to be in excess of three k, compare that as a pro rata percentage to what the boat cost to buy and it gets a bit eye watering. Does anyone know of a 42 foot mooring going spare from next march??????

yes Jim, they seem to be sacrificing the facilities for a new members lounge, I wonder how much use that will get as opposed to the use the facilities being withdrawn had.

tell me about it !!!

Similar situation with me Iain. Got two phones both on EE, the nokia smartphone is hit n miss but my ancient samsung clamshell type phone is a lot better. Strange isnt it? I too use three with a dongle and I would say it is 70/30 successful in getting a signal, although sometimes I do have to put it on a USB extension lead and hang it out the window! trev.

there walks a very very brave man indeed !!!!!

Hello everyone, Just a bit of minor news, Ferry marina, at the end of this season are permanently closing the swimming pool, fish n chip shop and laundrette. The swimming pool doesn't really bother me but the fish n chips were quite good and the laundry was very useful indeed. Quite why they are doing this I dont know but I guess they will have their reasons - oh! and the moorings are going up too. Just for information trev.

No I didnt know that they were originally lister powered, I thought they were petrol jobs. That is one great restoration job IMHO. What was the sister vessel you rescued, was it the terrier - i think that was a sister to her. I seem to recall the others in the dog class were a bit bigger werent they ? dredging up the old memory here....lol. Dont take it as gospel about the emerald and please dont give up on her, that was just what we were told when we handed her back, in fact we were asked if we wanted to buy her but that was out of the question at the time. It would be fantastic if you could find emerald, she was a lovely boat and quite a big one too, seem to recall she was around 42-44 feet long if i remember right. Would really love to know the story of the other one and which one was it? great remeniscing with you and keep up that fantastic work. bye for now Trev.

wow, that is absolutely amazing, what a co-incidence, I honestly thought she would be long gone now, it is wonderful to see my first boat is still on the go and whatsmore , looking lovely - she is a credit to you. Funny thing is I seem to remember her being so much bigger....must be a kid thing !! Has she still got the original BMC commander engine in her, I think when we hired her she had not long been converted to diesel from the old morris petrol engine. Whats she called now and where is she moored, I will have to keep an eye out for her! Re Emerald, I have a horrible feeling she was scrapped but don't quote me on it. The last time we had her was in 1985 and she was getting very very tired. The yard owner or manager, cant remember which, he told us that she was being withdrawn the next season and they didn't know what to do with her, in fact he gave us the spare wooden name board off her stern as we departed to go home. I haven't a clue where that is now sadly. She was in quite a state and a lot of drying out cracks were appearing in her superstructure and decks, in fact the decks were sealed in many many places with copper tingling to cover the cracks. She couldn't half shift though, left everything standing over breydon. Thanks again, it is just great to see the cairn is still afloat, made my day that has. Long may may she serve you well. trev.

That is sheer genius - much respect.

That was wonderful to watch, so reminds me of my first taste of the broads in about 1974/75 on the aston cairn. The bermudas were causing quite a stir then as there were still an awful lot of traditional boats about, i seem to remember marmite syndrome with the bermudas, they were either loved or hated. The next boat we had was emerald from newsons in oulton broad. Thanks for posting that up, brought back some great memories of my first time. Trev

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391299956323?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT try this one, ordered it about three days ago but not arrived yet so I cant comment what it is like. trev.

Actually JM has a very good point here. I was there on aug BH weekend this year and went up to Sutton Staithe in the hope of getting a mooring. No chance and more to the point it was probably full of 90 percent private boats firmly esconsed there for what appeared to be the weekend. trev