socrates

Air draft is actually 6' 9" but more like 7' because we don't take the sliding roof back to the stops.

No, but I am fitting them when I am next down. Good idea, thanks.

Thanks for the diagram, I will have a closer look when I am down next week. As you say, it wouldn't take much air to stop a small pump. It may be that I could fit one of those domestic radiator vents on the matrix in the centre cabin. I would have thought they would all have vents as they do in a house.

Interesting, we have a header/expansion tank and you have now got me wondering the tank is high enough in the system or I have not vented it properly. I vented with the system open at the cold matrix but no water came out. Maybe not vented it for long enough? Will try it again and open the cap on the expansion tank.

Thanks Grendel, if you look closely at the bow, you can see where we had just been "bumped" by a hire boat. No major damage but it was a bit annoying having a "ding" on her for the rest of the season. Such is life.

Back on track. Seeing our ride and joy being loaded on a vintage trolly and pushed down the slipway into the water is a scene of mixed emotions. There is always that nervous moment when she slips gracefully into the murky water of the dyke and I wonder how much water she will take on board. As usual a large quantity of the Broads had to be pumped out and for the next 24 hours the new planks began to take up and reduce the intervals of the bilge pump (more about this later) running. Now the fun began. I had investigated various ways of ensuring the new water system was cleaned before use. In the end I opted for a good dose of Milton fluid and left the tanks full for 24 hours. The next day I ran the taps to ensure the system was flushed through and filled up again before adding some more Milton fluid. The increase in water pressure resulted in leaking tap washers, but this was soon solved by replacing all the old tap washers. We had never had water pressure like this on the boat and it was a certain novelty to be able to fill a sink without having to wait for the header tank to refill after half a sink of water The shower was amazing, it was a like a pressure washer. We then set about filling a commission the heating system. This went well, with a mixture of anti-freeze and water added to the system. The front cabin, rear cabin and heads became positively tropical in a short space of time. However, the matrix in the centre cabin blows cold air. The lack of hot air in the front cabin remains a problem to be sorted, this is despite venting the pipes leading into the matrix- any ideas? I am thinking the matrix is too high as it is above the level of the heater unit and there is possibly a big air lock somewhere. A good internal clean of the boat and the usual sorting took place before we met up with friends for a cruise. For the first time in a couple of years, we ventured north. Due to the new planks, Broadland Grebe was still taking up which meant a slow crossing of Breydon with our good friends on the Corsican acting as escort. We spent a week on the northern rivers visiting places we had not been since we hired boats. We met a number of people, but no members of the Forum. It was interesting to glimpse our sister boat, Lapwing at Thurne and meet the owner of the boatyard which restored her. Broadland Grebe made easy work of a fairly choppy Breydon on an early morning return trip South and a another enjoyable few days with friends in our usual haunts.

Nothing whatsoever to do with me or anything I have I have posted. Sometimes posting on here is like walking on the proverbial eggshells, hence my long absence from posting anything. Thanks for the clarification.

A joint French and Japanese venture, I believe. I have nothing against anyone and that includes you.

Thanks for your kind words, I know what you mean about these boats as we were attracted to the shape and history of them. There are indeed three Ripplecrafts on the water - the others being Lapwing (which is a few feet longer and moored at Thurne) and Swift (which is currently at Potter). It is most interesting seeing the other Ripplecrafts and how they have been/are being restored, each one has been done differently and in a different way. We have done our best to retain the original layout and "hidden" modern features. Lapwing is beautifully restored and very modern inside with bespoke design features throughout, Swift is similar with a completely reconfigured interior. The new engine was a necessity because the Lister died and it was not economic to revive it. Have to admit that we are very happy with the Nanni, despite what the purists might say. The new nav lights were purchased from Brian Ward, very reasonable and fitted with LED bulbs.

Broadland Grebe went into the shed for annual maintenance and continued restoration in November 2018. As usual the defect list had expanded during the course of the season. The main priority was to replace two soft planks which we knew about and check the hull from bow to stern. It was judged that it was also time for some creature comforts in the form of a power shower and a heater. Given that our tea and coffee was tasting like it was made in a diesel submarine, it was perhaps prudent to replace the water system. I know there are a few others who may have had a brew in one of HM'S O class submarines, for those who never had the pleasure - think of Compo's wellie boots and the inside of an Italian bin lorry. Yes, it was that bad. The water pipes were original to the boat and had started to decompose sometime around the time the Berlin Wall came down. The other tasks were to add a starter battery, some new sockets, nav lights and make a start on restring the centre cabin. Much ink has been spilled on discussions about heaters on this forum, by the time we came out the water, I had read and listened to as many opinions as there are grains of sand on Southport Beach (well it seemed like it). Just when I thought I had decided what to go for, someone else would kindly give me their opinion on which heater and how it was to be installed. In the end we went for an Eberspacher D4 with a wet system and a matrix in each cabin including the bathroom. A nice bit of kit which did not come cheap. The day we fitted it was probably the coldest day of the winter, so fitting was delayed until the permafrost departed from Somerleyton. We opted for the narrow boat kit and used easy to assemble flexi domestic pipework purchased by a plumber friend of mine. We also fitted a 55 L calorifier in the engine compartment. The domestic water system rubber pipework was replaced with modern blue and red plastic hose throughout the boat. The old system was gravity fed which meant water pressure would drop off as the tank drained and refilled by the struggling pump. It was not the best system in the world but was of its time (circa 1960). A new domestic pump and accumulator was fitted to provide a far more effective flow of water to hot and cold taps and the shower. Meanwhile 23 feet of planking was put n the hull port side fwd by Mark at Somerleyton boatyard. A splendid job it was too. However, we discovered another rotten plank which we decided to leave until 2019. It seems that someone had been squeezing all sorts of propriety filled into a gap just under the galley and a whole variety of sins resulted. Deep joy, a constant drip of water which kept the bilge pump busy (more of that later). Whilst avoiding discussion on the virtues of night cruising, nav lights were judged to be important enough to invest in. These were appropriately fitted to the screen and stern of the boat. Another item to blast Grebe into the 21st century was the fitting of USB sockets - whatever Sir Christopher would have made of our mobile telephones, laptop and security camera which are powered by these new sockets? We also fitted a new battery which gave us 3 domestics and 1 starter. Up to this point, we only had 3 batteries in total. The usual paint, varnish and anti-foul was done and Broadland Grebe returned to the water on time. The pictures show the engine bay with the new calorifier (yes, I know it is one of those French engines!). The hole and new planks port side fwd. Nav lights fitted to screen. New heater unit fitted under seats in main cabin.Some internal stripping has been started - this was all delightful brown garden furniture paint.

Following several conversations with people who have clearly read the restoration thread, I have decided to dip the old toes into the waters of the forum. Firstly, it is with sadness that I found out the previous custodian of Broadland Grebe "crost the bar" a few weeks ago. Some of you who attended the old Wooden Boat Association meetings at Beccles may well remember him, it was where we first saw Broadland Grebe and became friends with her owners, little did we know that we would eventually become the custodians of her. It was an honour and privilege that we were asked to conduct a memorial ceremony to celebrate the life of a man who loved the Broads and his boat. I will provide a restoration update in the next few days. The toast is to all our absent friends......... The photo is of Broadland Grebe at Geldeston in the Autumn mist.

I am not condemning, merely describing the current state of the showers and toilets. My suggestion about the finances are based on my knowledge of the financial pressures experienced by the majority of councils in this country. Despite their best intentions, councils of all political persuasions are severely restricted by financial restraints. As someone who visits Beccles on a regular basis, I look forward to improved facilities.

Toilets and showers are still somewhat "medieval", which would suggest that, despite the good intentions of Beccles Council, the showers and toilets have not been subject to any restoration, refurbishment or TLC. I would suspect that, at the present time, the Council do not have the funds available for such a refurbishment.

Totally agree, why I don't bother either. It is getting rather too much like The League of Gentlemen television series at times.

Back on the day (and it may still be the case, although somewhat bigger than the Reedham version, which ran between Devonpoort and Torpoint. Several Royal Naval vessels with experienced and qualified officers (at least we assumed they were) in command collided with the chains of the ferry. If officers in command of HM Ships can make mistakes, so can the rest of us. To err is human.

The keyboard captains on social media are in full flow. Perhaps we should abide by the rules of this forum and avoid speculation, condemnation and codjutation on the subject? Except to say the ferry is out of action, no one is hurt and there is nothing to see.

Vaughan, perception is reality. You were not there when we endured the insults and remarks. I respectfully suggest that you discontinue your attempts to calm a situation that does not actually exist. We are mooring on the opposite side and have no intention of throwing anything at anyone. Former member Ricardo and our other friends will be on board, all are welcome to interact with us should they so desire. Indeed, we have already invited Broad Ambition and Timbo on board and look forward to their company. What is the problem?

Just what are you trying to say Vaughan? If you are attempting to insult me please talk in pain language. I feel you are having a personal dig at me, and you are out of order here. Please look back at how we were insulted at a previous event. I have done nothing to offend you, so why the personal attack? I do not know you, and actually enjoy reading about your knowledge of this area.

We are happy to go where we are told to go. Harbour master rules. We go by what he says. If anyone wants to talk to us, please feel free to do so. We have a crew of five.

We are also very much a work in progress. We have followed your thread. I just hope the pedants are not as harsh with you as they were with us two years ago.

I refer honourable members to our restoration thread in the hope that it will clarify our feelings toward a MINORITY of members toward us and our boat. Yes, we were insulted, and no we are not being over sensitive. We were embarrassed, humiliated and insulted by certain people. I would suggest that you actually meet us and talk to us before you pass a judgment.

No problem. We are there on a vintage wooden boat, but not part of the “clique”. Feel free to say hello because, unlike some people, we are actually inclusive. Our friend - former member Ricardo will be part of our crew. Past experience of this event tells us that people like us are not welcome. I can’t see why not but hey ho that is how life is.

I think you are mistaken because there was plenty of space available when we phoned the harbour master. We are booked in and will be happy with the company of our own friends and will enjoy viewing the splendid wooden boats. We are more than happy not to be part of the “clique”. Thanks Broad Ambition, please come and say hello and have a glass or two with us.

Thanks for the offer but we have friends with us. Hope to meet you though.