Ray

Moved to the city and bought a plane of course...

Always planned to retire early, move to a house on the coast and get a boat on the Norfolk Broads! And guess what?

Hi Griff.. sounds good. I'm hoping to put 2x8m lengths on the bow and I guess 2x4m lengths at the stern! Would you have that much available?

Seems to be a couple of years since this topic last come up, at which time the concensus seemed to be 12mm polyester but not polypropylene due to the latter going stiff and filaments breaking after a year. Would this still be the recommendation? I'm looking to replace the mooring ropes on my Safari.

As a recent first time boat owner I didn't get a survey. I asked questions, spoke to the owner and the broker, looked at service receipts, asked other people who weren't selling me a boat about osmosis (another interesting thread running here at the moment) and took the plunge. Part of my decision was simply that finding a boat that was really what we wanted and suited our circumstances had not been easy and that if we had to spend some money (or a lot of money) on repairs then saving on the cost of the survey would help towards it. Regarding insurance companies requirements ours asked for details of the survey in view of the boat's age, it was built in 1975. When I told them there was no survey they waived the requirement in favour of a small extra premium and said they would be happy to do the same each year, although the additional premium would increase slightly each time. It really was small though and not a consideration against buying the boat. If asked I guess I would still advise someone like me to get a survey, but that's mostly because I'm not qualified to give advice..

Spring is in the air and I'm raring to go! :)

Just to follow up on this discussion, the BSS inspection was yesterday. She passed and the examiner was everything you said, he sorted an issue, gave me lots of good advice and went the extra mile including pulling the fridge out to view the fuel tank. It felt like having a more experienced friend round showing me the ropes rather than an inspection :)

This is a good subject, I love this stuff. To be taken aback I believe is also derived from nautical terminology. If the wind veers 180 degrees suddenly under sail it is the sailing equivalent of putting on the emergency brake, a ship will shudder, perhaps lose a mast, even break up.. it will certainly be taken aback.

Luckily my sphere of influence ends at the Norfolk border I do feel sorry for those guys though!

Only 2 weeks ago, what a difference! It is my fault... I'm sorry

Thanks for your really informative reply, much appreciated

Well I think my question is well and truly answered... although I'm not ready for Rod's method just yet, I'll try anything to enjoy tipples in the saloon :)

You know when you see a whole line of stern on moored boats and there is just one boat sized gap in the middle of them. There is a bit of cross wind, maybe like me stern mooring is not your best and you really don't want someone's mud weight rope round your prop so you decide in the end to cruise on by? So, if you have a nice bathtub like my Safari mk3, why not just moor bow first? It wouldn't take much to run a mooring line to each side of the bow and drop a mud weight off the stern. If you aren't actually underway the bow and stern are virtually interchangeable with a door each end. I've often seen it done and done it myself in home marinas but would I be in danger of appearing ridiculous if I just simply "parked" my boat under the circumstances described?

It does make a difference this time of year for sure!

Beautiful weather so we ran down from Potter to St Benets, had a picnic lunch on board and then walked the dog round and had an interesting chat with some guys who were conducting a detailed survey of the ruins. A dead slow cruise round South Walsham Broad taking in the peace and general loveliness, then back up to Potter and finished the day with one of my rare half decent stern moorings! Does it get any better :)

It'll get a good shake tomorrow, thanks again

Thanks for your replies everyone and thanks for your kind offer Smoggy, as mine looks like it has just been unpacked and the guage is in the green I think I'll just leave well alone after all.

I have found that my fire extinguisher should have been serviced about two and a half years ago! Is it worth having serviced or is buying a new one an easier option? If servicing is best do you have any recommendations for someone that could do it please? My boat is at Potter Heigham.. but I have a car too :) As the boat is new to me and with a BSS due soon I've been going over everything both for the certificate and to learn as much as I can at the same time.

12 years old, Dover to Zeebrugge, journey length twice what was expected. I actually died of sea sickness and am writing this as a spectre of my former self. True story lol

Welcome Katie, I'm a recent member who arrived knowing little and have had much good advice kindly given already. One day I may even know enough to advise someone else! Lovely group of people here :)

That's going the extra mile to be helpful! I'm feeling a whole lot more confident about this now

LOL thanks Paul

That's reassuring, thank you

I have one on order :) Thanks to Alan's earlier post. Soon I will have the locker clean, the tube fixed and a guage fitted! I can't say I'm looking forward to the BSS if I'm honest although getting prepared for it is a great way to learn about my boat. I have the galley empty at the moment, took everything home to clean and sort as the boat is new to us, would it be best to leave it this way until after the inspection as there is access to the fuel lines underneath the galley locker and I assume easy access for the inspection is helpful to the tester?

Very timely advice, thank you! My BSS is due in a couple of months and I will be booking it in a few weeks time!