socrates

Socrates Broadland Grebe 2/4 (tbc) Fri/Sat/Sun

2250 litres

How about the winner gets an NBN flag to put on their boat? I would love one of those flags on BG.

TBH I have never worked out why sailors should feel the need to do lots of things.

Did you test main broadcast alarms? Close all screen doors and the wardroom scuttles? Both watches of seamen muster on the flight deck? Funny how these things are stamped on our DNA. I suppose one is not permitted to say "seamen" these days.

I for one hope it is a "bumper season" on the Broads, local businesses deserve it because they need to keep going over the winter. Talking with the landlords of our favorite pubs, we really gained an insight into the often precarious nature of running a business on the Broads. Due to early retirement, last year was our first as more or less "continuous cruisers" from May to October, apart from the first two weeks of the school holidays we had very few problems. Admittedly we were hit by a hire boat, encountered the ubiquitous speeders, rude people and late night engine runners, but these minor irritations did not spoil our enjoyment. We avoid the hire boat honey pots during the busiest times and with careful planning we found there was plenty of moorings. This meant booking ahead at places such as Oulton Broad and Beccles. We are based at Somerleyton and due to several issues with BG, we stayed on the Southern Broads, thus we did not encounter the so called "lager louts" apart from our own who we confined to our specially designed brig.

With a boat the size of "HMS" Independence, it might prudent to warn everyone on the Yare that She is going for a pump out. To quote Captain Oates: 'I may be some time'. The sight of her majestically gliding toward the pump out point will generate feelings similar to those I have when I see my wife going into the bathroom. Like the BA crew ,We also downloaded the BSS manual as a point of reference, whilst this was useful, some of the items on the checklist are open to liberal or rigid interpretation seemingly at the whims of individual inspectors. Hence the matter of the green sign, and the labeling of the obvious knobs and excrescences. Whilst I totally agree with the need for a BSS; but, like health and safety, such regulations provide a potential for a veritable feeding frenzy for pedants and job's worth's. The BSS website is a useful source of information, and there is even an application form should one wish to become an inspector.

Had our first BSS earlier this year, the previous one was still valid when we purchased BG. It appears, like surveyors, that examiners vary in standards and quality. I went by recommendation and found the examiner to be fair and knowledgeable, he spent a considerable amount of time poking about, shining his torch and explaining what and why he was doing what he was doing as he went along. Gas safety and CO2 was, quite rightly, a priority. The BA sent us a reminder along with our toll demand so they seem to have a record of BSS dates somewhere in their systems. Both our marina and insurance insist on photocopies of the certificate, which is not a bad thing. The prices examiners charge seems to vary somewhat, I would be interested to see what other people have paid. I assume that the cost is related to the size of the boat and the number of gas appliances on board. But then again, who knows? I thought £100 was a fair price for what was around two hours inspection and advice. Another thing he was insistent on was that everything was labeled: the battery box was labeled "Battery Box", fuel and water likewise clearly labeled. He did say that we also needed a green sign saying "escape" fitted above the door to the main cabin - talk about stating the obvious! This task has now been added to the very long "to do" list.

I am always after bags of saw dust for when BG goes back in the water, saw dust is very useful to when the boat "takes up".

I love these films, 1981 seems so long ago, I was still in my teens and playing on Mrs Windsor's (well,Thatcher's) much bigger boats!.All those yellow life jackets, the Zenit camera, and the glass coffee cups certainly take me back. Do any groups, other than families, ever go on such adventures these days? With all the regulations and H&S, I suspect it would be too difficult for anyone to arrange. Then again, I suspect few young people would be content with the simple pleasures of boating. The boats on these films are ( in my opinion) much more aesthetically pleasing to look at, they don't resemble the floating caravans of much of the current hire fleets. Then I would say that!

As long as the "posh boats" do whatever they like to do without interfering with those of us who are not in "posh boats", then I can't see a problem. Let them play with their toys, and let those who want those sort of boats get on with it. As long as they don't harm anyone or the environment, then live and let live. I have far more of an issue with certain other people than I do with Broom boats. If someone wants to spend their money on a boat the size of a battle cruiser it is up to them. However, I don't think the Broads is a suitable place for such vessels. It is not unlike blowing one's nose on a napkin, one can do it but it was not designed for such a purpose. I have seen such boats being "tested" on the River, but they kept well out of our way and appeared to have a large sign indicating that they were exempt from the speed limit. I wonder if my similar sign, written in blue crayon, will be accepted by the riparian constables.

i joined a Broads related FB page which claimed to be "official", it soon became apparent that this page was not all that it claimed to be. Having posted a comment about something fairly uncontroversial about running engines late at night, I was subjected to a tirade of abuse. Furthermore, the abuse turned into racism and homophobia! It became clear that certain members of the group held somewhat dubious right-wing political views that were nothing to do with the Broads. I simply left the group and blocked the people involved.

Costs versus the sheer pleasure of owing a wooden cruiser which is part of the history and heritage of the Broads. Pleasure wins hands down. I only wish more people would take an interest in wooden boats so more of them can be saved. Good luck the the searchers -consider a wooden boat.

Lift out and back with power-wash is about £28 a foot at Somerleyton. £120 for engine service, has to be done by agent due to warranty on new engine. Anti foul comes in a tin for £30 ish, you can get it cheap if you shop around. DIY anti-fouling is messy but I don't mind doing it. Not sure if it needs to be done every year but we have done it every year whilst the precious owners hardly did it at all. As we are in the process of restoring a boat that had, up until now, been neglected, I can attest fully to the old saying: a stitch in time saves nine.

This is at the back of my mind, we have already done a re-wire due to the dangerous nature of the wiring that was in BG. It may simply be a case of putting on another jumper when the weather is cold.

I don't understand why this is such a "strange request", I am simply pointing out something which is a potential hazard to river users. Those waiting for the Bridge, to open are sometimes oblivious to boats leaving the marina at Somerleyton. All people need to do is to wait clear of the entrance, I would have thought this was a fairly simple thing to do. Forgive me if my relative lack of experience of boating on the Broads has misjudged the perilous possibilities of a disaster for a boat waiting a few yards away from the entrance in order that she could be seen in good time by those leaving the marina. Furthermore, I hardly think your suggestion to "...paint double yellow lines across the marina entrance." is practical or permissible.

Does that mean the current semaphore style signals will be replaced by lights? There is something much more aesthetically pleasing about the semaphore signals. Whilst I would not consider myself a railway enthusiast, I do rather enjoy the sight of an old diesel locomotive throbbing across Somerleyton Bridge past the semaphore signals, it contributes to the atmosphere of the Broads.

My resolution is to wave to people on the River, and not be a grumpy old man. Won't last long

Thanks very much, maybe you could pass it on. When the tide is running fast, boats can come out of there like a cork out a bottle, they can't always see what is outside until too late. Not everyone comes out slowly because the entrance is narrow shallow at the sides so the bigger boats tend to go out of Somerleyton at speed.

Madam Captain and I had a boat meeting this morning and the decision was made regarding heating BG. We have decided to endure another cold season on BG and install heating next year. In the meantime, we will be looking at what other more experienced people have installed in their vessels. Many thanks for your comments.

As someone who moors at Somerleyton, this is very interesting. Fortunately, we are able to get under the bridge at most times. Would like to add a little something for those who own big boats - please do not sit "circling" across the entrance to Somerleyton Marina whilst waiting for the bridge to open, this happens with annoying regularity. Thanks for your co-operation. No doubt this comment will provoke some incoming shell fire from the owners of the battleships!

Welcome from another new member. Hope you enjoy your browsing and cruising.

Lovely pictures from back in the day, thanks for sharing them. I also enjoy watching the many film clips that have been posted on Youtube, they show the Broads over a period of many years and are very interesting, especially the wooden boats. Surprising how many men wore a shirt and tie whilst boating. Also, how much smaller most of the boats are compared with the current hire boats. I have not seen any pictures of our boat, Broadland Grebe. However, someone sent me some of Ripplecraft boats, not sure if I am allowed to post them here because I do not have the copyright to them.

Thanks for all the replies.Following another look around the web at the names mentioned, it seems that boat heaters are a lot more expensive than we first thought. I suppose you get what you pay for, and our budget for the work on BG this year will probably not extend to the heating system. The priority for this year being deck and cabin sides. Looks like the heater will be on the list for next year, which would make sense as next year is when we are starting on the interior of BG.

We are now considering installing a heater on BG, and are having a look around at various options. Currently, there is no heating on BG, the previous owners had installed (badly and dangerously) a domestic gas heater. Needless to say, the heater was disposed of in the correct manner. Our preferred option is to install a diesel heater, but these seem hideously expensive for what they are. Does anyone have any sensible suggestions? Many thanks