WherryNice

Lovely old job! smartened that up a treat:)

Is that a rear view camera screen I can see on top of the 'dash'?

It's not that the signal is worse it's that the boat will be lower in relation to the land meaning the signal can 'go over your head'.

I had a look at her when for sale last year, cracking boat in my opinion!

A smart TV or Amazon Fire stick in a normal telly would be easier than the Sky dish/box combo these days I would imagine. I use my phone or tablet when required as space is currently limited due to the interior of my boat being somewhat dismantled but I may get a proper telly once it's done.

https://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/boats/dominica/ Is this the one?

I don't have Facebook but I can see it?? Did you click the link? *Update* Sorry, Scrub that, I can see it on my phone but on PC it asks me to log in without showing anything....ain't tekkernowledgy great!

Yes there are "no mooring" signs and the 'dyke' has been roped off. It does, however, say "water point only"(or similar)on the front so presume that is still operational.

Standard charge or on the meter?

There has been a fair bit of traffic on the Ant today, must all be up this end

I think 40l per 100km is about 7mpg if I have worked it out correctly. Tbh doesn't seem that bad for the speed. My V8 Discovery used to average 12mpg......

The first pic does feature a Broads boat though......

I had an old Ford Fiesta that was just like that when I went to adjust the valve clearances, took ages to scrape, hoover and wash it all out followed by an oil change every month for quite a few months with the cheapest possible oil to clean it out. It lived on though, for quite a while:)

I noticed it a few weeks ago, not a fan tbh but each to their own. It does make identfying boats harder but then I'm a bit of a nerdy boat spotter and perhaps not everyone would be bothered. It does give them an air of 'ex hire' (nothing wrong with that) until you can see the stern.

I still smart when I think how much rebuilding the 1GM10 in my old boat cost me!

I take your point about the 'strong arm' but my thinking was that it would prevent the incorrect helm being used to start with.

Would putting a stronger spring in the lever to make putting it into the neutral 'rev up' position harder do the job?

Well I would have a marker on the system to show that the customer claims previous experience despite not being on the system so that the instructor can tailor their approach(maybe call it a 'refresher' or something but other than that you just have to go through the system same as any other person. Might be beneficial anyway, brush up a few basics perhaps?

I won't quote Wussernames post as it will take up too much room but in response I will tell of the handover experience that was impressed with. Small Southern yard, a short break booked to explore darrn sarrrf only, late season. We, my parents and I, all boat owners of quite some experience, various boats and various engine configurations over the years but we fancied a change, hence the hire. We arrive and, when asked, announce our experience to the trial run chap(owner of the yard). He then goes through the boat and it's particulars skimming the more basic stuff but clearly observing our reactions to what he is saying(we pay attention to the bits we need, canopy opening, gas locker location etc etc). There was also lots of relevant Southern info given, moorings/tides etc etc. Then we go up the river for a few minutes under observation rather than instruction and that's it job done. We were happy to recieve an accelerated but appropriate trial/handover, the owner was comfortable enough with us to take his boat, WE felt that we had demonstrated our competence and that HE was qualified to see it. My other hand over was given by someone who I felt wouldn't really have known the difference but gleefully took us at our word when he asked if we had been before.... "have you been before?". ..."yes". .."oh good, I don't need to take you out then!" No further questions asked and no river trial. Didn't matter to us but I felt he would've taken anyone at their word which is not ideal. For the record I would happily go on any trial run that a yard wanted me to, it's their boat, their rules IMO.

It appears to be yes, though not named as such to begin with. http://www.broads.org.uk/wiki2018/index.php?title=Boat_Details&BoatId=2961

Another glorious old woody for us to ponder.....I wish I had the time/money/skills etc. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165460068686?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=WK0WXEh9TzG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=xK9VbnhyRDm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

There are a great many variable risk factors in boating but many of them are countered by the simple stuff; Hold on whenever you move about, don't move about when the boat is manouvering/mooring unless you are directly involved, ensure that ALL crew have a basic understanding of the controls(for example I specifically like to show newbie guests where the engine stop lever is and how to use it as I know most will just turn the key if I shouted to stop the engine). With regard to the fundamental safety of Low freeboard stern designs, I would think that it's just as easy to fall off a boat with a high stern, not many have rails and once you have slipped or been propelled over the edge the height doesn't seem to be a factor to me though I can think of scenarios where both types are worse than each other. The visibility of crew from the helm is probably more of a concern but then again, how well can the helm see a crew member standing on the stern of a 44ft Bounty fwd steer? I agree that push/pulpits are a pain on Broads cruiser to the extent that I removed the pulpit on mine as it hindered fore deck access quite badly. A simple(oversized) light system to show which helm is active might help in certain circumstances but I don't feel that there is an inherent problem there and adding more complexity to the systems may cause other issues. When serious incidents occur it's easy to look and say if this or that was different it wouldn't have happened and it is right to discuss and look into what could and should be done to help prevent future incidents but this needs to be done with care as 'fixing' one issue could easily cause others. My personal experience of hire boat handovers is a little dated now but I have been both impressed and unimpresssed(from a sample of 2) about the way they were conducted.

When we hired a newish dual steer Alpha 35(from Woods) there was no 'change over' lever, we just had to put the station into neutral before recommencing drive on the other one. Not sure who made the system or if it's the one Vaughan mentioned but they were side mount controls rather than top mount. Seemed a nice simple arrangement, minimal input required from the user. I dont think both levers moved at the same time though.

Welcome to the Safari gang guys:) She looks Peachy

Do you mean a whirring type noise? I would do the old screwdriver stethescope trick to listen for where it's coming from.Engine running, get a long screwdriver, stick the handle to your ear and the tip onto the body of any spinning items(alternator/water pump etc). The same noise will be amplified into your ear if you find the culprit. Be careful of course, make sure the tip doesn't touch the spinning bits or short any electrical connections....etc