Ray

Good idea about the owners club Griff, thank you. Although only 25 feet they can be a bit of a menace to manoeuvre, once you combine the poor visibility reversing and the way wind affects them. In every other way she is the perfect boat for us but as our joints are just starting to get a bit creaky a means of mooring that doesn't involve my better half leaping ashore to an uncertain landing may prove a boon and less of a drain on the NHS The hull painting really is me just guessing from things I have read and half understand Above the water line still looks pretty good, a few fender scuffs etc but clean and presentable (it's white by the way) but I thought it was recommended that below the water line should be cleaned/painted/ anti fouled regularly, although I have little idea about what's involved or how often!

I'm thinking ahead and sooner or later our Safari will need to be lifted to repaint the hull. I believe I'm right in thinking that once a hull has been painted it needs redoing every few years. My main question though is have you, or anyone you know of, fitted a bow thruster to a Hampton Safari? Given it's size and shape I wonder how practicle it is to have fitted and how effective it would be once installed?

Brilliant.. I would have liked to buy Uncle Albert / Your Dad a pint (or a tot)

Yes indeed, thanks everyone I feel better for your replies. Dare I say I'm back on an even keel!

That's a good straight forward way of dealing with it Chris, I'll remember that.

I'll take her!

I'm getting into this now, how about torpedo tubes like the MTBs in WW2?

Available at all good chandlers?

I like that one too

There was a long break between our last hire holiday and retiring here and buying our own boat last year lol You're right of course, I guess I wasn't prepared

Just had 3 days out and about and as usual on the broads nearly everything was well mannered with happy people enjoying themselves. Waving, smiling and giving way with good natured thank yous and occasionally sorrys as appropriate. I say nearly, as twice we were surprised by some less than polite behaviour from unexpected sources. In the first case we were legitimately overtaken by a private boat who then turned to port only to discover their way blocked by a temporary closure to their route. They then crossed back into the starboard channel right in front of us. When I say right in front I mean our bow was within spitting distance of their stern. They had reduced speed to make their manoeuvre and not increased it when rejoining hence it seemed appropriate to simply pass him, which I did without changing my speed or breaking the limit in force which was 4mph on this stretch. As I passed the helm was having a fit and holding up 4 fingers to indicate the speed limit. My gps speedo is as accurate as any but I accept his may have differed but given his previous movements I was only expecting to exchange a wave not misplaced abuse! The next day we were gradually coming up on a yacht, although I don't sail I love them for their graceful, quiet beauty and always give way and respect their requirements and pass to their stern unless they direct me otherwise. They were keeping to the starboard bank and appeared to be running along nicely and I was happy to sit back and wait until they needed or wanted to change tack. I know nothing about the technicalities but when he turned hard to port and gave me no signal throughout I thought it was safe to assume he was tacking and it would be a good time to pass behind him and increased speed slightly. His manoeuvre turned out to be a complete 360 degree circle and it was tightly done so within seconds he was bearing down on me. If I stopped he woud have hit me, if I had gone hard to port I would have hit him, all I could do was go full throttle as close to the starboard bank as I dare. I don't have years of experience but I made my best call and it worked, it was very close and we both had a scare. I looked at the helm to make eye contact and he was screaming abuse at me! Given that he made a very unusual move and didn't direct me although aware of me at the very least I didn't deserve that! I'm usually pretty thick skinned but I confess to have these events on consecutive days made me wonder if I really did commit some unknown navigation sin?

Mine's blue MM.. so it must be completely different

Like the idea of a list Baitrunner ?

I have to agree with the concept of prevention is better than cure. As a new owner my plan was/is to simply have a service once a year. Would the impeller be automatically changed during a boat yard service?

Good tip, thank you.

Sounds like a very good set up, a long way beyond my abilities (so far) No woody either (so far)

Good idea about the meter.. my bilge pump by the way is only live when the isolater switch is on, maybe something else I should look at.

That makes sense, thank you both... this sort of advice is invaluable, learning how to do things and doing them yourself is so much more interesting and rewarding than getting someone else to do it ?

9 years! Time for an extra pint then! Thanks again for the advice, I have a good idea how to proceed now. Time to look at radio/cd/mp3/Bluetooth/DAB thingys!

That's what I was thinking, as my better half just said a radio/cd would be nice. Sorry for complete newbie question but how am I sure that I'm on the switched side of the isolater? Do I simply join both my live wires in effect making one?

Thanks dnks34, I was thinking phone charger.

Oops cross posted, sorry Yes I see what you mean about requiring both live wires.

That sounds like the perfect answer, thank you very much. Whatever I fit I'd prefer it to be definitely off so I can ignore the keep alive one... trial and error should identify it!

Before I bought it my boat had a car type radio wich the previous owner removed. I have found the wiring to it which was cut off with pliers and taped off. I will either fit a new radio/cd or simply use the wiring to fit a new accessory socket but I could do with some help clarifying the wires (leaving aside the speaker and aerial which are easily identified) From the radio to a panel on/off switch is a red wire. Back from the switch back to the fuse is also a red wire. From the same side of the fuse a brown wire leads back to the radio From the radio to the main board marked "battery negative" is a blue wire. Depending on what I fit the switch is not a must have, although probably useful. So I have 3 wires and in my (limited) experience most accessories etc. have 2 terminals. How would I use these wires please?

Yes please Chris! I'll message you