Dreamer

I'd post a picture of her if I had one, cause even looking on Google Images just now, I don't see any exactly like mine. It's all original Hardy fitments though. I think maybe she's one of the rare posh versions of the time. On this version you have a full-sized four-part louvre door entrance into the cabin, where you have plenty of headroom, and is where the galley and cockpit etc is situated. Then as you work further towards the bow, the height drops where it enters the seating/sleeping area. Now on some models, they have a little door seperating the seating/sleeping area from the main area of the cabin, but on this one, that door is not there, because it has a main set of doors used for the entrance instead (which the others don't have) - giving a much larger, roomy cabin. She has two hatches, one above the seating/sleeping area, and one in the larger standing area of the cabin. The one in the larger area is more like a big sunroof than a hatch. There are also two deeply recessed port-hole type windows that have an opening mechanism on the inside for ventilation. It's true that Hardy are respected for building very seaworthy boats, and I think this version was an attempt to make her interior space more suitable for longer periods aboard. Regards any condensation etc, there will be none once I've done what I intend to do.

Before I forget again, I need to ask about something Scrumpy mentioned, that being "Fresh Water Points". I've looked all over the Broads Authority website and was not able to find a single map with the free water points marked out. I'm not "paying" for water when I have an annual licence. On the canals, once you buy a licence, you're entitled to use of the moorings, water points, waste diposal points, and even showers. There's no additional charge for any of it. All of this stuff is clearly and professionally marked out by the Canal and River Trust on their website, but I can't find anything like that on the Broads Authority website, not even the simplest things, like were 's the Broads Auithority map for free water points? Regards the gas stuff, I don't see what difference it makes whether the device is designed for cooking or simply heating the place. It makes no difference whether that gas is heating-up a pan, or heating-up the air around it (which happens naturally while heating-up a pan anyway). It's the same gas coming from the same bottle, and it's entering the cabin through the same device. If the device is deemed safe for cooking, then it is safe for heating as far as I'm concerned. I'll invest in a detector though, obviously, and I would never leave it running when I go to bed anyway. I'm unaware of the brand of stove, but I think it came with the boat cause it's professionally fitted in a way that the openings in the wood are designed for the stove. I could be wrong about the setting used on the stove. I'm basically just repeating what I was told, which is what the guy I got the boat from was told. To me it makes no difference what the setting is used for, cause as far as I'm concerned, it's just a simmer setting (and probably is), something to be used to set-about that wonderful aroma of smoked bacon in the morning! Thanks for the concern though.

Oh, no worries there, I'm one who loves wildcamping (proper wildcamping in a tent), so I'm used to extreme temperatures! At the moment she's not insulated at all, but that's one of the first things I'll be seeing to once I'm over there. Beautiful boat that she is, I must admit she's looking rather tired both inside and out at the moment due to previously being used as a sea boat. But I will change all of that. I'm a skilled designer and it'll give me something to do inbetween working on my electronics stuff. By next summer, she could be the sexiest Hardy Family Pilot SE to ever have graced the Broads For now though, I'll just bring an arctic-grade sleeping bag, and maybe add to that a hot-water bottle. That's plenty warm (probably too warm). For general warmth in the boat while awake, the built-in stove has a special setting used for keeping the cabin warm. I'm expecting to get through at least a few small gas bottles over the winter, put it that way. I also intend to stock her with some non-perishable food as well as the usual stuff, just in case I happen to get caught out somewhere remote in the middle of a river freeze-over! Being caught out in something like that would be very enjoyable for me, wouldn't bother me in the least. I'm odd like that, I'm always excited at the thought of being cut-off for a period of solitude, and the more remote, the more it excites me! Love it!

Thing is, once I move aboard I'm going to be doing some upgrading and changing things and I'm not sure yet whether the petrol tank will be staying where it is. So for now at least, I've decided against putting another hole in the hull in case I move the tank. There's a smaller locker than where the tank currently is, so I'm hoping it will fit that one and free-up the larger locker!

Thank you both, and since I've settled on someone to do the BSS now, I've been asking questions. It sounds as if my gas locker is ok, and thankfully, even my petrol locker. I was told there's no need for a drainage hole in the petrol locker, and that the portable petrol tank does not have to be fixed down as long as the locker is not massive enough to allow excessive movement of the petrol tank. So it looks as if she's all ready for the BSS, I just hope she passes!

Looks like I found someone to do the BSS, but can you clarify exactly what you mean by self draining? In the locker where the the gas bottle is kept, right at the bottom, there is a hole in the hull leading to the outside. Is that what you mean by self draining? I assume so, but just checking. I've been going through the BSS checklist, and one thing that has me puzzled is the situation for "portable fuel tanks". The boat has an outboard fitted, and the petrol tank is removable with a carry handle built in. The fuel tank does have it's own locker, but there is no drainage hole in that locker, nor do I read any requirement for one. Is there anything I need to be aware of regards portable fuel tanks? The only thing I can find is that the tank must be located in a locker that does not allow leaked fuel to enter the rest of the boat. So is that it for portable fuel tanks? No need to fix them down etc?

By the way, what sort of price is considered reasonable for a BSS? I've never had one done before. And what if it fails, does it include a retest like an MOT or do you have to pay again? Just trying to get an idea of what sort of prices to expect so that I'll know whether I'm getting ripped-off or not.

Thanks Alan! I just noticed Polly added to her post too. That's perfect, exactly what I wanted. Looks like the browser I used the other day was stopping that stuff from coming up, cause it didn't even have a drop-down last time I visited. Looks like Mike Boulton and Richard Fee are within acceptable distance, so I'll give them a call and go with the best price. Thanks again!

Thanks all, and well, I haven't a clue what I'm going to do then. Ideally I'd like to get the BSS done where she is, while she's out of the water, so I can get the insurance and an Annual Broads Toll paid ready to just bring her to the Broads (by road), and lower her into the water using a slipway. I have no idea how I'm going to get a BSS done in the Hornsea area. I checked on the official BSS site and nothing comes up in the search for that area. And it's not like I can just take it somewhere either, cause I'm having to hire a 4x4 to get it there. I have someone to drive the 4x4 and take the trailer back with them, but the 4x4 will be hired. Regards the mooring, I don't need one. The whole idea of me having a boat is to cruise and explore, and I'll be living aboard her anyway. Whenever I'm not moving, I'll be moored-up somewhere quiet, likely often mudweighted away from the crowds. I plan to avoid the moorings whenever possible cause I don't fancy being moored-up along-side holiday makers all the time. Like I said, I'm coming for the peace and quiet. I want to be able to concentrate on my electronics without distractions (or as little as possible), and when I'm not doing that, basically just take in the tranquility of the place. I think the only time I'd ever use a mooring is when I need to do some shopping or whatever. And the only time the boat won't be in use is if/when I decide to take her back home, so I don't need a mooring, my summer and winter berth address is to take her back home. But back to the BSS situation, if anyone knows of anyone in the Hornsea area able to do a BSS, please let me know, cause I can't see any other way around it without going to considerable expense. It looks like I'll have to get her BBS done where she is, which would be perfect, but I don't know how I'm going to make that happen! I just saw Polly's post in time to post this, and yes, the insurance requires a BSS certificate. I will look into LBBY as suggested but I can't imagine they'd let me stay on the boat in their boatyard until the BSS gets done. That would be ideal though, would be even easier than me looking for a slipway. Thanks again to all for your help with this.

Hi, I'm planning a stay on the Norfolk Broads (a long one), somewhere I can relax and work on my electronics without interruptions. I've been planning it for a while now, and have almost everything prepared. However, I was stopped in my tracks the other day when I read something in the insurance policy I was about to take out. I'll explain the situation as clearly as possible, in the hope that someone here might be able to advise me. The Situation: - I have a Hardy Family Pilot SE. - She is currently out of the water and located in Hornsea. - She does not have a BSS. - There is no one local able do a BSS on the boat (as far as I'm aware). - The insurance policy requires a current BSS to be in effect. - I need to move her from her current location no later than 14th October 2017. - I plan to bring her to the Norfolk Broads on that day at the latest. The Questions: - Do I need to have insurance to get a one-month Broads Licence? - Do I need to have a BSS to get a one-month Broads Licence? - Is it correct that I can get the cost of a one-month Broads Licence deducted from the cost of a 12-month Broads Licence if I upgrade it before it expires? I'm hoping I don't need insurance or a BSS to get a one-month Broads Licence, because it would allow me to bring her to the Broads and give me a whole month to find someone to carry out the BSS. Unless I'm able to do that, then I fail to see how I'm supposed to go about this. So that's the situation in a nutshell. I would appreciate any advice as long as it's correct advice, cause time is running out and I need to move her no later than 14th October 2017, so I really can't afford to make any mistakes.