[Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O]

2 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

I wouldn’t want to think forumites would avoid the venue because of our experience.

I'm glad you posted that Griff, because I think it's important that people make up their own minds in these situations, based upon their own experience.

I'm gonna play devil's advocate a little here, please bear with me. You've said you spent £150 in there over the course of the day, and I don't doubt that for one minute, but was the manager aware of that?. or possibly did he see a boat moor for the majority of the day and see a large number of the party on board go missing for a large part of the day, whilst they went to Bewilderwood. He may not be aware where the other members of the party went, for all he knows it could have been The New Inn or The Swan. So is it possible that what he saw was a prime mooring being used, a large group departing whilst one man and his dog propped up the bar for a while? Just playing devil's advocate you understand.

I do seem to remember that the same pub has signs in the car park, I cannot remember the exact wording, but it is along the lines of car parking being free for patrons of the pub, as long as they remain on the premises. I seem to remember a long discussion about it some time back either here or elsewhere. How they enforce that I'm not really sure.

I do understand your frustration though and not being a fan of double mooring can see the difficulties. Would you really want a large, possibly rowdy group trooping back and forth across your boat, on the other hand with the young ones and Purdey you didn't want to be the ones trooping back and forth across another boat. I think in your situation I might have been tempted to head to the mooring opposite if there was space and take a walk up to The Fur and Feathers, though possibly a trek too far with the young ones after an active day at Bewilderwood.

 

[Electricity Cards]

Taken from the BA website, although I'm sure I saw somewhere that it was being reviewed sooner than May 2023. At 4.4 units to the £1 that is very cheap. With the October price cap increase you won't even get 2 units to the £1 at home.

"The electricity units in each £1 card for the period April 2022 to March 2023 is currently 4.4. This figure is reviewed each year (next review approx. May 2023) and reflects the current rate from our electrical supplier."

[Electricity Cards]

[Electricity Cards]

27 minutes ago, andyg said:

I am bringing a few up next week I had left over, I was wondering if they had a shelf life..

The cards tend to last as long as the metering technology does. Previously the cards were paper that you inserted into the meter, then they changed all the meters a few years back and the plastic cards have been used ever since. As long as these meters continued to be used the cards should work, but as it is only putting a £1 credit on the meter, as the unit prices get changed it will not last as long. Previously when they changed the meter technology they took the old cards back and exchanged them for the new ones.

[Fishing On The Waveney]

10 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

So it depends on your view of who exactly is being "evicted" from a purpose built mooring, that they have paid for?

My view is that fishermen should always make way for boats looking to moor at a BA mooring, however do you rub salt in the wound by then setting up your own fishing gear and fishing off your boat, that was the only point I was making. There is no doubt that you have the right to do so, but is it the best course of action?

And to be fair most of the fishermen I have met have not been aggressive, so don't know where you have been mooring!

[Electricity Cards]

Both cards are current and the 1 represents £1 of credit. How long that lasts will depend on the current unit rate set on the meter. I read somewhere the unit rate is due to change either very soon, or it may already have.

[Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O]

44 minutes ago, BroadAmbition said:

Three adults, three grandsons off to bewildwood leaving me n Purdey onboard

Urm, onboard or in the pub? 

[Boat Running Costs Ideas]

A tip I learnt from a long standing forum member, to save money on running costs was not to clean it, saves a fortune on boat cleaning products and polish apparently. Hi MM 

[Fishing On The Waveney]

1 hour ago, rightsaidfred said:

is it  BA moorings which state anglers must give way or on private land, whatever you can still fish from your boat.

But should you? Would be a bitter pill to swallow if you come in to moor and ask an angler to make way so you can moor up, as is your right, only for you to then fish from your boat, whilst said angler is busy packing his kit away having been evicted.

[Creating A Cd]

Off course you will only be making a backup copy for your own use of tracks which you already have purchased. 

[One For The Drone Pilots.]

29 minutes ago, Wussername said:

Some of this future technology will filter down to the private sector.

Yes it will, but the laws and regulations are already changing to keep pace.

A few years back there was no rules.

Then there was the drone code.

Now it has been superseded and laws are in place and registration with the CAA etc.

If you still own a toy, below 250g you don't need flyer or operator ID.

If it is not a toy, still below 250g and has no camera you still don't need flyer or operator ID.

Once you add a camera or go above 250g, basically anything that is not a toy, you need to abide by the rules and be registered.

The rules are changing and becoming increasingly complex and will keep up with the advent of technology.

The most intrusive thing about drones is the irritating noise they make. As for getting a close up of you in your Speedos in the back garden, that's more likely to happen from a slow moving boat.

[One For The Drone Pilots.]

38 minutes ago, floydraser said:

Of course we are all paranoid about drones flying overhead, especially our homes; they have cameras and we never know which way they are pointing.

Generally speaking if a drone is over your property, and it is videoing or taking pictures, due to the angle etc, it is probably taking footage of your neighbour, not your property. I'd be more worried about the drone flying over your neighbour's property. 

[One For The Drone Pilots.]

50 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

If so, that's a new one!

It was in The Byelaws 1995, so not that new!

[One For The Drone Pilots.]

4 hours ago, Vaughan said:

Yes, and if the drone is to be considered an "aircraft" it must also conform to all the applicable regulations.  Such as the over-flying of private property.

Not correct, there is a whole host of regulations on the CAA website that need to be complied with, but they can fly over private property with the correct registrations and regs being followed.

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

13 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

Congratulations.

Now translate all that lot into one of Richardsons' average hire boats and imagine how long the trial run would have to last.

Also, the plaintive cries on the forum, about "lack of tuition"!

Simples, for your average hire boat, ensure enough good batteries are fitted and if necessary two alternators to ensure the batteries are recharged as quickly as possible. If a fault occurs send out an engineer to change the alternator. The upside of two alternators is extra load on the engine which results in it warming up quicker from cold, which in turn results in quicker hot water. 

I've planned my boat out to ensure it meets my needs and to ensure I don't need to run the engine at moorings and to keep me mobile in the event of most minor breakdowns.

A hire yards needs are slightly different, but the basic principles of good design and planning are all relevant to helping to minimise the need to run engines at moorings. As is plainly demonstrated with the hybrid boats and the removal of gas for cooking, they are going in the wrong direction and making the situation worse in many cases. No one should have to run an engine to boil a kettle for heavens sake.

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

2 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

For me, the sound of an engine running at a constant slow speed is all part of being on the water on a boat.  We can hardly call the Maltsters' quay a wild mooring, can we?

I have to say I've gone to some lengths to provide sound deadening in my engine bay and actually find the noise of my own engine a little tedious after a long cruise and am glad when it's turned off. Having strayed over to the dark side on a few occasions (a Hunters boat) I do really appreciate the peace and tranquility that being under sail can provide. I can imagine how galling it is to get to a mooring under sail and moor up, only for the peace to be shattered by the constant throb of engines.

I never understand why engines need to be run at moorings. To illustrate this, last week I was on the Yare for a few days break. About 2hrs after leaving the marina the 12V gauge started flicking between 12.6V and 14V and the rev counter started to flicker in unison. I pulled over at the nearest mooring which happened to be Cantley and investigated. All wiring checked and no loose wires found and I decided it was probably the regulator breaking down. What to do? Head back to the marina and cancel my trip? No I disconnected the charge lamp wire going to the alternator, which also acts as the alternator startup and restarted the engine. All good the gauge is sitting steady ay 12.6V. The alternator is spinning, but providing no charge. The important bit, the fan belt is still driving the water pump so there should be no issues with continuing my trip other than not recharging the 12V batteries.

However due to design and engineering and more than a little planning, the boat also has a 24V alternator. It also has a small invertor connected to 12V to provide power for a TV and recharging laptop and phone etc. It also has a much larger invertor connected to the 24V batteries for running the microwave and the immersion element in the calorifier should I want hot water on a mooring without running the engine. I also have 4 stage battery chargers for both 12V and 24V for when I'm connected to shore power.

So I was able to turn on the 24V invertor and the 12V battery charger and recharge my 12V batteries as needed. I didn't need to plug into shore power at any mooring. I didn't need to run my engine at any mooring. My batteries are in a good enough condition that they could handle the extra load of having to charge the 12V batteries and more importantly I didn't have to cut short my trip.

The very scenario that happened was planned for when I enhanced the fit out of my boat. I even have a temporary fan belt on board in the event that the 12V alternator was to have a bearing break down or seize then I could use the temporary fan belt to just go straight between the crank and the water pump and remove the 12V alternator altogether. Should the 24V alternator ever fail then I can again recharge those batteries off the 12V invertor and 24V charger, although the 24V tends to be less important to me than the 12V systems.

I continued with my trip and upon the return to the marina removed the 12V alternator and took it home for further inspection. Having stripped it down and cleaned it, I'm reasonable confident I have found the culprit, a loose crimp on one of the connections on the regulator. This weekend I shall be returning to the boat for another trip out for the bank holiday weekend. The alternator will be refitted and hopefully the problem is cured, but if not I shall simply disconnect the charge light wire again and continue with my trip and worry about further fault finding upon my return.

[One For The Drone Pilots.]

Whilst this is a light hearted discussion, or at least I hope it is, it's worth remembering for anyone tempted to actually shoot a drone down, that they risk being charged with endangering an aircraft, exactly the same charge as if they had taken a pot shot at a real plane, and they can face a prison sentence.

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

4 hours ago, Mouldy said:

Bit of a dodgy subject imho.  Whilst you may think it needs to be removed, I don’t.

How would you feel about a sign that said "No loud music to be played at the mooring between 8pm to 8am"

On the surface a very sensible suggestion, but it also suggests it is acceptable therefore to play loud music at the mooring during the day.

As RSF has already said, Byelaw 84 is enforceable and states:

"The master of a vessel shall not permit the vessel to emit smoke or fumes or make any noise or nuisance which gives reasonable grounds for annoyance to any other person."

So rather than adding a sign which has no backing in the BA's own byelaw's and suggests it is ok to run your engine at moorings during the daytime, in contravention of their own byelaw, why not publish Byelaw 84 on the mooring signs?

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

14 minutes ago, Wussername said:

You cannot delegate responsibility. Ultimately it rests with those in authority.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. As an example last week I was on the Yare approaching Thorpe when coming towards me was about 12 children all in canoes with a couple of adults. Some kind of organised outing. They were three or so abreast and covering more than half of the rivers width. The adult at the back was shouting instructions to them all and as I got close to them he shouted for them all to start paddling backwards! The lead canoe didn't hear and carried on straight forwards and the rest which up to that point had been heading in reasonably straight lines were now paddling backwards and heading all over the place, towards each other and in one case straight across the river into my path. 

I judge that the two adults present were responsible for the safety of the children in their group and I judge it was irresponsible of the adult in charge at the back to shout for them all to start paddling backwards when there was a large river cruiser closing in and they presumably had far better control paddling forwards as they had been up to that point. The children were relying on the adults present for tuition and ultimately their safety. In turn I'm guessing the responsible parents had entrusted "delegated" their children's safety to the responsible adults providing the tuition.

On the other hand I am responsible for my boat and my safety, the safety of those on board and trying my best to look out for the safety of those around me. I had already upon seeing such a large group adjusted my speed accordingly as I always do when passing more vulnerable river users and with the command to paddle backwards with the ensuing chaos I throttled astern to halt my progress completely and let them sort themselves out and the adult at the back then issued the command to paddle forwards again and once they were all past me I carried on ahead again.

I know that part of the river well, you get rowing club boats moving very fast with the accompanying safety boats, canoes from the pub and paddle company, stand up paddle boards, day boats from Thorpe Green,  the occasional wild swimmer and sail boats from the Norwich frost bite sailing club. It is my responsibility to be aware of those around me and helm my boat accordingly.

However to quote you from earlier again, " In an area of 3 ton boats helmed by complete novices." had such a boat been in the same location it might have been a different matter. Ensuring that complete novices are not in charge of a 3 ton boat without full and proper tuition is the responsibility of the hire yard and ultimately the navigation authority. 

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

1 minute ago, Wussername said:

I do understand your concern.

Last year at Ranworth there were children on rubber rings, lilo's, swimming, paddle boards. A lido. In an area of 3 ton boats helmed by complete novices. Trying to secure a mooring. 

Would you please explain to me a child's perception of responsibility.  

Sooner rather than later there will be an incident. I hope that I am wrong.

So it is up to the responsible parent to look after their children especially if in the water and unknowingly you have probably hit the other nail on the head. 

Quote "A lido. In an area of 3 ton boats helmed by complete novices."

I also hope your wrong, but if things don't change, they stay the same unfortunately!

[Hijinks On On Hi-jinks]

1 hour ago, CambridgeCabby said:

we are already paying a premium price on their goods due to being waterside .

It's probably fair to say though they are also paying premium prices to their Landlords for being a riverside business. Business rates and rents will reflect their location, thus so will their prices.

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

1 minute ago, Wussername said:

but not responsibility, the latter is elsewhere.

Responsibility works both ways. If you wild swim in a navigable waterway make sure you have a bright float and can be seen. If you helm make sure your capable, sober and keep a good eye out. Make sure of your surroundings and above all else SLOW down when you pass canoes, paddle boarders, wild swimmers, oh and also moorings!

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

25 minutes ago, andyg said:

How on earth is running an engine bad behaviour...

Because it's anti social and shouldn't be necessary.

 

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

1 hour ago, Vaughan said:

I must say though, I don't know what that bathing platform on the back is supposed to be for.  Are they suggesting swimming in the Yare?  Or perhaps in the lilies on Rockland Broad?  Or do they come towing a paddle board, as a tender?

I'm surprised that you of all people would suggest a hire yard was suggesting that! 

For clarification I have copied the relevant section from their Ts&Cs and the capitals are not mine.

"NO PERSONS PERMITTED ON THE FRONT DECK OF THE BOAT. OR ON THE REAR DECK ENGINE HATCH AT ANYTIME, OTHER THAN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR M.O.B.

NO PERSONS ARE TO ENTER THE WATER FROM THE VESSEL UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY ONLY OR M.O.B.

NO SWIMMING FROM THE VESSEL. LIVE PROPELLER UNDERWATER.

BUOYANCY AIDS ARE TO BE WORN AT ALL TIMES ON CRAFT INCLUDING SMALL INFLATABLE CRAFT.

The stated maximum number of passengers must not be exceeded. No further passengers to be collected or board outside Of Buccaneer Boats, all members of Hirers party must be present on commencement of hire and end of hire at Buccaneer Boats."

I really cannot fault their ethos and I hope they do succeed in their endeavour. With any luck a few other yards take note and maybe think there just might be another way of doing things. One that protects their investment and that of others who also want to enjoy the Broads in peace.

[New Hire Boats For 2022]

19 minutes ago, andyg said:

We've hired new picnic boats from herbert woods and ferry marina both boats cost a great deal more then these to build

With many of them showing a fair few scars after only one season. Makes you wonder about the quay headings and other things they've hit during the course of the season. The Buccaneer boats still look virtually immaculate.