oldgregg

I've always assumed the styling was based on one of these..

That is one of the Funnell boats.... And after Haines have tried to make it a bit less ugly. Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

Nice boat. I heard a rumour that Jonathan Greenway actually borrowed the Alpha mould tools and laid their boats up himself. I have no idea how true that is, though.

John Moxham was the architect they used for the more recent stuff, and I guess perhaps the 80's boats too? The Bermuda hull was the basis for them all, though, just with the length altered and the gunwales built up a bit.

Is that the one which recently came back from the Thames?

Yes, NYA have the site and are leasing the workshops to Vogue Marine which is the boatbuilding arm of the Broads Boating Company. https://www.nya.co.uk/vogue-marine-move-brundall/ The boats will be new designs based on Funnell hulls, as most of the Alpha mould tools were sold to Brinks.

If you haven't already got the mobile app then you may find that handy for uploading pictures snapped on your phone. Simply search for 'Norfolk Broads Network' in either Google Play or the iOS App Store.

I think they are considered to be fairly solidly built, yeah. If you're looking to remove much of the internal structure, remember that it is the bulkheads which give the boat its stiffness and stop the roof from sagging etc. Where strength is being removed then it needs to be added back in.

Plex? Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

There are a few jobs on the list which I think the tech team will be doing in the next few months when things are a bit less hectic. The app can't really be changed, though, so there is a limit to what can be achieved. Any changes need to be made on this side. Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

You and me both!

Unless you need REALLY high network performance, I'd suggest looking at a dedicated NAS appliance from Synology or QNAP. All configuration is done through a browser and they can automatically backup to cloud accounts while you sleep and generally use so little power that they pay for themselves over a couple of years. There's a ton of media and sharing functionality too but I sense you are just after the basics.

Dare I ask why a file server is running a desktop OS?

Would it be the wierd dual-steer sedan thing they did?

Yeah, that's just the boatyard stating what they allow. I think there was an incident in the summer of '98 where a lot of boats got stuck the wrong side.

They sure were. Out of interest, do you know who designed them for Faircraft?

Ah, the Jaguars... If Coltishall were very lucky, several of them would run at the same time

Compare this https://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/boats/viscount/ with https://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/boats/swan-renown/ But basically as Jimbob88 has shown above. The old angular design was totally reworked to improve the aesthetics, but the angles were what gave such impressive interior space. Also take a look at https://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/boats/highland-gem/ - Unlikely to win any beauty contests, but massive inside for a 38ft boat.

Probably wise. I saw a Bounty 27 moored down there about 10 years ago and I thought "rather him than me". Haven't ever seen anything else down there though.

That has mostly been my experience of such groups too. There were a few out over the weekend and it all seemed like good-natured fun. I saw more issues with small private boats which were being used by far more people than the boat would get a hire license for...

I think the main benefit is that the angular stuff is more spacious... Take an Alpha 35 C/C from 1995 and then compare it with an Alpha 35 c/c from 2015. There's a LOT more space inside the 1995 model....

There was a sign there over the winter, so perhaps someone has clouted it? Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

Hard to fault Honda or Toyota, although Hondas just seem to have a bit more soul. Gotta love the VTEC!

Great car to drive, we used to have one. They corner like they're on rails though they can tramline a bit on motorways. Actually pretty reliable too (though ours was a petrol so you'd expect that).

The benefit of there being lots of GRP is that there's less wood to maintain. Each to their own I guess - I'd prefer an older boat to have lots of GRP than masses of wood to replace or re-varnish.