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Davydine

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Everything posted by Davydine

  1. The problem is that people don't see the danger, the boats are travelling slowly (compared to a car, which is why, I think, so many novice boaters speed) the sun is shining, they are confident swimmers, perhaps a lunch time beer takes the edge off peoples sense of danger, you can see how people with limited experience can do daft things. Last time we were on the broads, we witnessed a child (aprox. 12 years old) fall in from the stern platform of a twin helm hire cruiser whilst reversing to a mooring at Gays staith, Dad was on the helm and couldn't see the child, child swam straight back to the stern to climb out, when he realised what was happening, dad gave a burst of power to stop the boat. How leg and prop didn't connect i have no idea. It was the stuff of nighmares, the family just laughed it off.
  2. That made me chuckle! We have hired from HW a few times now. Lets just say I know what to expect! We have always been very happy with the service, but the older boats are, exactly that, older.
  3. Thanks Matthew, that was my first thought too. Strangely, Caribbean is the cheaper boat, but is the one with a bow thruster fitted and the pictures make the interior look slightly more modern. I will show them both to local management and she will tell me which one I like best!
  4. Nice choice! We have hired Dazzling Light a couple of times with friends and a very fine boat it is too. Have a great time!
  5. I hope those front mooring cleats are strong, must be a heck of a load towing it at that speed!
  6. Hi everyone, I just wondered if anyone had any experience of either Astral Light or Caribbean light from Herbert Woods? They look similar, just a very slightly different layout and the description says Caribbean has a bow thruster, but Astral doesn't, have I missed anything else? Thanks David
  7. David, are you looking on the hoseasons site or Richardsons? When I look at the Ricos page it says “this unit is no longer available” where the availability calendar would normally be. very strange!
  8. Hard one to answer. There are so many types, Lead Acid, Gel, AGM, lithium, all with a very different price point. How long they last will depend on how they are used and abused. If they are looked after well (kept charged, not discharged too much etc.) they will last much longer than if they are looked after badly. i don't have a boat, but the 75aH lead acid battery in my caravan is about 7 years old and is still holding a charge well, but I try to keep it fully charged and use a solar trickle charge over winter.
  9. Naive in as much as I don't know what is required to make a boat suitable / safe / legal to be part of a hire fleet. Barnes have taken boats that are already in a hire fleet, which may be easier to make ready for hire, than the example I gave, which is currently in private ownership. I know one of @C.Ricko's new boats was in private hands but it looks as though they have had an extensive refurb before joining the hire fleet, certainly not a quick engine service and ready for customers. My own opinion is that demand for UK holidays will remain high through 2022 whilst people gradually regain confidence in foreign travel,
  10. Yes, I suspect my view is somewhat naive! Having said that, Barnes do seem to be making hay whilst the sun shines...
  11. Absolutely Andy! I would imagine that most boatyards would be looking at what's for sale that could be given a quick overhaul and added to a hire fleet to make the most of this summer. A 25 year old boat has done most of it's depreciating so as long as the condition is OK will hold its value reasonably well. Something like this: https://www.boatshed.com/faircraft_entrepeneur_34-boat-301476.html That could be on hire within a month and would probably mostly pay for itself within a couple of years and then be sold for nearly the same price.
  12. Davydine

    Next Please..

    Thanks, were they checking people in from their cars and then directing them to their boat?
  13. Davydine

    Next Please..

    Thanks Andy, we aren't booked with Ricos until next year, so hopefully things will be a little more relaxed by then, but obviously we shall see what the boatyard ask us to do. we hired from Herbert woods last month and they were very relaxed about our arrival time. David
  14. Davydine

    Next Please..

    Oh heck! Must remember to get there early! What time was this, may I ask? David
  15. For us, firstly it's what is available for the dates that we have available (tied to school holidays) Secondly , accommodation to suit our party, our kids like to have a cabin each and we like it if they are not fighting Thirdly, I agree with Griff, the helm needs to be raised, so either a centre saloon with sliding roof or a dual helm, sorry, I know ! Fourth, price, we are not really bothered about luxury, quite happy with a basic boat as long as it works We had Flash of Light last weekend and it was great. Bit rough round the edges but 3 cabins, 3 loos, heating worked, we had a great time!
  16. I do like an early start, before the rest of the crew wakes up, nice cup of coffee and heat the water for a shower!
  17. Thank you Clive, I am sure she will look stunning once your team have fettled her. David
  18. She looks Lovely, Clive, are you planning any more hireboats or is that it now? David
  19. Going south you can certainly go through before the slack water time, but remember the tidal flow past Yarmouth yacht station will be strong and it will be difficult to stop in a hurry if someone else does something daft, so keep your wits about you. going north is harder because you would be pushing against a spring ebb from the river Bure. It can be done but expect to have the engine flat out an barely be making any way over the ground. My concern is that if you want to avoid going up and down the same stretch of river, you will be spending a lot of time plodding between Yarmouth and Acle and in my opinion, this is not the most stimulating stretch of river on the Network! David
  20. If you are looking at the same tide table as me, the tide time are in BST but the sunset is GMT, so the sunset time is 19.47, but still tight for time.
  21. A couple of thoughts... 1) Going south through Gt Yarmouth on Wednesday, sunset is at 19.47, make sure you have enough time to get to somewhere else if there is no mooring available at Burgh Castle 2) Going North through Yarmouth on Friday, there will still be a strong ebb flowing out of the Bure for some time after low water, the cruise from Yarmouth to Acle may be against a tide for a while. Have you considered staying north and trying to explore up to Coltishall as well as Horning, Ranworth, Potter Heigham. We cruise with friends and have 4 kids on board and find that stopping regularly having a run ashore and then moving off somewhere else. Pubs and takeaways can be found in lots of places but there will be more around Yarmouth, Horning, as well as the white horse in Neatishead and the Lion at Thurne and the Maltsters at Ranworth. Have fun! David
  22. When we had a boat of our own (not on the broads, sea going, sailing thing) we would use the VHF, call on 16 and then move to a working channel, but conversations were kept to what was required. That might include which pub for dinner but kept brief and not chatting. I once helped to sail a yacht across the Bay of Biscay. The chat on the VHF from obviously drunk officers of the watch was frightening and the reaction when they heard a female voice when my Mum in law had to make a call was utterly appalling.
  23. I honestly don't know. I don't really like the idea, but I can't really explain why.
  24. Thank you, yes PMRs are exactly what I am looking for. I had seen the Motorola ones and they look great value for money. I guess We will just need to find a channel no one else is using! Thanks, David
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