Ray

Thanks everyone, 2 good recommendations noted ready for when the time comes. (I tried to "like" everyone's contribution but I exceeded the board's limit, but all of your advice is much appreciated)

Many thanks all, it's always good to have a recommendation!

That's really useful to know, many thanks for your reply!

My first BSS is due in April, are they similar to a car's MOT in that you can have them done up to a month early and keep the same renewal date?

That's what we thought, we will have friends and family aboard of course but we live near enough the mooring for them to stay with us at home and go on day cruises, only Gill and I will be overnighting aboard.

Me too.. 4 weeks and I'm hooked, as soon as I got aboard it was love at first cruise. Nothing beats being "on Safari" :)

There's just something about them isn't there? :)

Thank you all :) Ian, we are at Potter in Herbert Woods marina. The guys there really helped us out when we had our 'false start' and it's only 15 or 20 minutes drive from home. It's almost like mooring in the back garden :)

Hello everyone, I joined in mid December and should have introduced myself before this! My better half, Gill and I retired last year and moved to Norfolk which has always felt like our spiritual home. Our first holiday as a married couple was on a boat called Conquest from Stalham Yacht Services, getting on for 40 years ago and so began our love affair with Norfolk in general and the Broads in particular. After a false start due to inexperience having bought a boat that didn't suit us we now are the proud owners of a Hampton Safari Mk3 which we love and suits us perfectly. We took ownership just before Christmas, having our first short cruise out on the 23rd December, lunch in a nice pub and home. Best Christmas present ever. Members here have already been generous with advice and I look forward to quietly fitting in with such a great group.

A checklist is a very good idea, you know where you are and that the important stuff is taken care of. I guess that's why they are used in flying.

I'll find the video and do that I think, thanks for the tip.

Both the standard self inflating type had a replace by date in 2011... For the time being we do have a couple of the older style bulky ones. I'm very grateful for the advice I've received here, especially when you consider I can't swim!!!

Thank you Smoggy

Thank you Alan So glad I joined the forum, here was some important safety information that I wouldn't have known about!

Thanks for that advice, I didn't know about being in date! I will have another look when I go back to the boat, probably at the weekend, and take a photo of the D ring ones at the same time. Will the standard ones have a date stamp of some kind to look for?

We inherited several life jackets when we bought our boat, 2 nice self inflation ones in good new condition that fit which is a nice bonus. I've just had a look at the other two to see if they will be OK for guests and can't make out how they work! They look new but instead of clipping together at the front they have 2 D rings and as far as I can see no way to join them. Are you supposed to tie them perhaps or is it something intended for yacht crew, clip to the boat itself maybe? Any clues as to what to do with them and their suitability for a Broads motor cruiser gratefully received!

There's nothing like seeing it happen to make you realise that it could be you if you don't take sensible precautions. Thanks for the reminder... I'll keep up with my antifreeze!

Looks like a beautiful day for a cruise! I'm based at Potter too and run 50/50 antifreeze into the cooling system at the end of each cruise but often wonder if it's really needed given the fairly light and short lived frosts we have.

Be open minded.. our first boat was every thing we were looking for and was such a mistake we sold it a month later. Our current boat is the one type I had decided I wasn't interested in.. it is perfect for us and I love every minute aboard her. Good luck and have fun!

Maddy gets lulled to sleep by the engine... but she hates birds so we have yet to see and hear her do her noisy best at keeping them away from "her" boat! As others have said, keeping her shut in during mooring and casting off seems to be the key to boating with the family dog.

Snap! Quite a coincidence, we did exactly the same at the same time. The only difference is that we did retire first :)

Many thanks Charlie, it's great to be here!

Me, my wife and our dog are fairly new to boating, although a bit reluctant to board she loves it once we are under way. The sight of some tasty treat is usually enough for her to find a way to clamber aboard. The same works for our dog ;)