[My Day]

Aside from the anxiety factor there are a number of reasons why you shouldn't let your tank get so low. The obvious is any sediment being picked up and pushed through to the engine, the less obvious is that modern cars and vans have the fuel pump located in the fuel tank itself. The fuel in the tank actually plays an important part in keeping the pump cool and prolonging the life of the pump. When you run low on fuel, not only is the cooling effect not as good, if the pump starts to suck in air it will run even warmer so a double whammy. Most fuel gauges are calibrated to allow a little leeway to ensure there is sufficient fuel to stop to much air being pumped, but the recommendation is not to go below a quarter of a tank too often.

Modern fuel pumps are ultra reliable because of where they are mounted and how they are cooled, but also a lot more expensive to replace as a result if they fail.

[Locks Geldeston]

The Locks Inn have temporarily closed their doors with immediate effect. No further details at present, but presume it is because of the pingdemic?

[Electric Cards For BA Moorings]

Just now, 750XL said:

We hired one of the Brinks Duet’s a few years back and the warm air heating would stop a minute or so after we tried to start it each time. Did call the boatyard a few times but we gave up in the end.

 

Come to think of it, don’t think we had the engine running each time we tried to start (generally at night). I wonder if this was the reason. 

That was more than likely the reason for the failed start. I should have added that if your batteries are in good condition, well maintained and topped up, then you shouldn't need to start the engine, but the current drain is at it's highest at startup and running the engine will always mask any battery issues.

[Electric Cards For BA Moorings]

45 minutes ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

Good point however would expect that draw to be pretty low much like a fan on a computer or am I wide of the mark.

Much more powerful fan than a PC fan as it has to push air a long way at times down quite a large bore pipe. Often 75mm or 80mm ducting. There is also a glow plug at startup which draws a lot. This is the main reason why some yards advise running the engine when starting the heater. A failed ignition will cause the heater to power back down again.

[Getting Provisions]

1 minute ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

Use a spoon instead of a knife then!

Tea or Dessert spoon 

[Sport Sport Spam Spam Spam Sport Sport Spam.]

Not too worry the games will soon be over, then we can look forward to the football world cup 2022 and the rugby world cup 2023 yay 

[Getting Pinged]

18 minutes ago, MauriceMynah said:

I have a different method, crowds keep away from me.

No crowds keep away from the old Nyx thinking you still own it. Got a while to go yet for the patina to establish on new Nyx. For now you'll have to resort to your best Victor Meldrew inpersonation. 

[Strangely Quiet On The Ant!]

We noticed two weeks ago how quiet the Ant was on a Mon / Tues. I suspect all the boats from Richardsons head straight down the Ant and the boats from Wroxham and Potter haven't made it there at the start of the week.

 

[Getting Provisions]

The one I really don't get is Marmite peanut butter. It's expensive and for me the two just don't work, but if you like it then your better of just using your peanut butter of choice and adding as much Marmite as you want on top.

[Sport Sport Spam Spam Spam Sport Sport Spam.]

42 minutes ago, grendel said:

oy, I resent that remark, it was the greeks, not the vikings.

Resent or resemble? 

[Hello Everybody.]

3 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I must admit that when at home I am partial to a couple of cans of Kronenbourg, its probably one of the better tasting lagers. Also I like to put some on the boat for when I am tied up on a wild mooring and cant get to a pub. 

I find that nothing quells the fire after a curry better than a Kronenburg, or maybe a Cobra. 

[Sport Sport Spam Spam Spam Sport Sport Spam.]

4 minutes ago, TheQ said:

Much more important than the Olympics or F1 is this weekend is the start of Horning Regatta Week.

Don't watch Participate.

I'd love to, but they get annoyed when stinkies take part 

[Hello Everybody.]

Welcome aboard. I see from your profile your a real ale drinker  more of a lager man myself especially the eurofizz 

[Sport Sport Spam Spam Spam Sport Sport Spam.]

Well Maurice, the good news is its Forumla 1 this weekend so you'll be finding sport on here as well come Sunday afternoon 

[Computer Security]

5 minutes ago, Cheesey69 said:

use PayPal or Apple Pay. No one sees your details then. 
If you deal with an unfamiliar company, check it out. If they take PayPal your covered. Don’t open accounts remain as a guest. No details stored then

A word of warning when using Paypal to pay for items with a credit card linked to Paypal.

Section 75 of the credit act means that the credit card company is equally liable along with the retailer when you make purchases costing between £100 and £30,000, which is useful if something goes wrong or the retailer goes bust. However you need to be aware that section 75 does not extend to agencies or indirect relationships. If you use Paypal to make the purchase you break the direct relationship between you, the retailer and the credit card company and section 75 protection no longer applies.

Incidentally the same is also true for purchases made on Amazon Marketplace where Amazon take the payment, they are acting as an agency and again you then have an indirect relationship with the end seller.

Paypal have recently introduced their own product Paypal credit, and if making purchases using that you are fully protected by section 75.

[Locks Geldeston]

5 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

Shirt and mug arrived in t post - Fast efficient service

Griff

Lucky sod, we only get a morning post where I live. 

[Hot Water]

Have you checked the condition of the impellor? It sounds like the coolant isn't being pumped properly around the engine and apart from low coolant, can only really be air lock, worn or failing impellor or jammed thermostat.

[Crossing Breydon, Other Than At Slack Water]

57 minutes ago, 750XL said:

Thanks everybody for the replies, varied opinions as always. 

Would the bog standard engine in a hire boat have the power to punch through a full flowing tide, for example through Yarmouth?

The simple answer is yes, however I would still caution against punching against an ebb tide.

A favourite trip of mine is to leave The Berney Arms or Burgh Castle moorings and just head out across Breydon Water, through Breydon bridge and then head back again. I'm purely doing it to be out on Breydon, with no intention of heading up the Bure and therefore will set off and do it no matter what the tide is doing and will not thrash the engine in doing so. On many an occasion I have set of with 1200rpm against the flood and by the time I reach Breydon bridge I'm doing no more than 2.5mph. It matters not I'm there for the journey, not to reach a certain point by a given time. It is not unusual to be doing 6 - 7 mph at the same  rpm on the return across Breydon.

Engine failures are rare but if you have one against a flood tide you are only going to get pushed back up river or back across Breydon. If you have one on a full ebb you are going to be carried fairly quickly down river. The worst place to have an engine failure would be between the Bure bridges and Breydon bridge on an ebb tide.

[The Falgate Inn Potter Heigham]

3 minutes ago, SwanR said:

Great post. Interested to know how you liked the Copper Smokehouse at Oulton Broad. 

The Copper Smokehouse was very good, I guess it compares very favourably with The Station Smokehouse Hoveton in terms of food, but there is a lot more space and it feels a lot more open. The service was excellent and food quality and portion sizes very good. We were a party of four and there were no complaints. I will certainly return again. 

I rated The Falgate as probably the best night based upon a whole host of factors not just the food, because there were some pubs and restaurants there as well as Gastro pubs so direct comparisons are hard to make. Food wise alone I would rate The Copper Smokehouse as being in the top half of the list above.

There were some surprising mediocre meals but I'm not going to name them because I would say that all the places without exception were trying their best given the circumstances. 

It just so happens that on the next week afloat The Falgate is top of the list for a repeat visit.

[The Falgate Inn Potter Heigham]

Whilst replying on The Bridge Inn thread it reminded me that I really must make a separate mention of the excellent service and food we received at The Falgate Inn recently.

We had decided to eat there on the Thurs 15th July and as was our plan for our week afloat we booked our table in advance. It just so happened that we needed to visit Boulters by car on Sat 10th July and as we headed through Potter on our way to Horning we were reminded to book the table at the Falgate for the following Thursday. My friend made the call and I could tell the line was a bit patchy but non the less the booking was made just as we drove past the outside of the pub. My friend actually joked when he was giving his phone number to confirm the booking, that he almost suggested they look out the window and he would wave as we drove past.

Next Thursday arrived and we were lucky to grab the last mooring on the BA public mooring and after showers etc, set off and arrived at The Falgate 15 mins early to find it quite busy and looking very promising. I understand it has recently changed hands and the food we saw on tables all looked good. Some people who entered just ahead of us were disappointed to be told that they were fully booked for food for the evening. We were asked if we had booked which we confirmed and explained we were slightly early. The barmaid goes off and then returns to confirm which name it had been booked under and for what time as they had no record of the booking. My friend then starts frantically scrolling through the list of calls made on his phone to show the barmaid he had in fact called, to which she replied, its no problem I believe you, we'll fit you in somewhere.

We were then shown around the corner to a table for two that had been quickly prepared for us and we were shown menus and our drinks order was taken. About 30 mins later my friend receives a phone call and I hear one half of a slightly confused phone call during which he says "no we're here already you seated us around the corner." "Yes we arrived about 30 minutes ago" "Yes we're just about to order". It was obvious the phone service was as patchy as the previous week and eventually the call cut out. My rather confused friend explained the call and showed me his phone which said that The Foldgate Inn had called. The penny dropped rather loudly when I explained how Falgate is spelt and that the area code was wrong for Potter Turns out there is a Foldgate Inn in Downham Market, so he at least had the right county 

Anyway the food was excellent, the beer equally as good and the service despite being obviously very busy  was also very good. Prices were extremely fair and all together I would not hesitate to recommend The Falgate Inn, I'm not in a position to make recommendations about The Foldgate Inn yet though 

I shamed my friend into coming clean with the waitress as we paid our bill and we all had a good laugh about it. Then the landlady came over and thanked us for our honesty as one of her members of staff had made a genuine error earlier which led to them squeezing in an extra table of five and the chef pulling their hair out, before we gatecrashed as well. She was really good about it and also had a good laugh and again thanked us for being honest.

It probably rated as our best night of the week all round. Bearing in mind it was in some very good company.

Thurs 8th The Dukes Head Somerleyton

Fri 9th Copper Smokehouse Oulton Broad

Sat 10th The Priory St Olaves

Mon 12th The White Horse Neatishead

Tues13th The Harnser Stalham Green

Thurs 15th The Falgate Potter

Fri 16th The Bridge Inn Acle

Sat 17th The Reedham Ferry 

[Acle Bridge Inn.]

8 minutes ago, Oddfellow said:

How else do you think a business can get it's temporary messages out to potential customers? A full page in the daily press? Town Criers? Cold calling? 


 

I would have thought the business needs to ring any potential bookings it needs to cancel, which I understand they did in this case. For everyone else in these uncertain times you either take a chance and turn up and hope they are open, or ring ahead and make sure.

We walked from St Benet's to The Dog Inn at Ludham two Mondays ago only to find it closed due to staff shortages, so we carried on walking and visited The Kings Arms instead. We also walked to The Pleasureboat from Sutton and found that closed for renovations, so visited The Greyhound instead. If I'd bothered to ring ahead or in the case of The Pleasureboat checked Facebook I would have known, but whilst a pint after a walk was nice it wasn't essential so we took our chances.

On the other hand all the evening meals we had during that week were pre booked and in some cases two weeks in advance.  

[Crossing Breydon, Other Than At Slack Water]

First the important bit, what I'm about to write is based upon my observations and experiences of crossing Breydon many times and at many different states of the tide. Absolutely non of it should be construed as advice and ultimately any helm making the crossing is the person responsible for the vessel and people on board whether in a hire or private boat.

There are many things to consider when crossing Breydon. 

A flood tide will always have to fight some form of ebb, or drainage off the land (recent rainfall and quantity will increase or decrease this, but it will always be there to some degree) and therefore will never be as strong as an ebb tide which consists of drainage of the land as well as the draining of the last flood tide. If I have to go against the current, I would much rather go against a flood tide, than an ebb tide. Furthermore consider that if you push a flood tide, once you get around the marker at the end of The Bure you will then have the push back inland again. If you go round early with an ebb as you turn the marker you are going to end up punching the tide and if you get an engine failure there's only one way your going to head, which is more than likely towards Haven bridge and the open sea.

The ebb coming across Breydon is actually draining two valleys The Yare and The Waveney. The ebb down the Bure is only draining the Bure valley. If I had to fight an ebb against my best instinct, I would rather fight an ebb on the Bure, than Breydon and the lower Yare, or the lower Waveney.

There are actually two periods of slack water. Slack low water and slack high water. If you can fit under the bridge at slack high water then again you will not fight the tides too much. Also consider that if high water is at 1pm at Yarmouth it is going to be increasingly later as you move up river, so it is possible to keep pace with the slack water as you move up river, or even ride the very last of the flood all the way up river.

Many people consider the Lower Waveney, Bure and Yare as boring because they only see it at low water and see endless reeds either side. If your in the vicinity at close on high water you have a much better view over the reeds and surrounding land.

In the past when low slack water times haven't suited my plans, or there is not enough daylight hours I have headed towards Yarmouth and aimed to arrive about an hour before high water. For me is is always about the journey rather than getting from A to B quickly, so I just allow longer for the journey, don't thrash the engine and sit back and enjoy the elevated view over the reeds. As you get towards high water you tend to find the current easing off. I always check the bridge gauges carefully and as long as there is enough clearance proceed safe in the knowledge that I'll have good steerage under the bridges and that once past the marker I'll have the last of the flood to carry me across Breydon and on my way. It has happened in the past that I've arrived at Yarmouth and found there is not enough clearance under the bridge, in which case as you are fighting the last of the flood it is easy to moor at the yacht station and re-evaluate your choices. Normally for me this means waiting until the tide starts to ebb and then proceeding under the bridges resigned to the fact that I'll have a steady plod against the tide until I reach my destination, but nothing beats slipping under the bridge against the last of the flood and getting out onto Breydon and seeing it full of water. It always seems three times the size when there is water all the way out to the edges.

When making the reverse journey from South to North on a high tide  I allow more clearance under the bridges on the lower Bure because as I fight the last of the flood across Breydon I know I'll get a push up the Bure once I turn the marker and need to be 100% sure I can clear the bridges as I won't have the tide against me if I need to back off.

[Acle Bridge Inn.]

27 minutes ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

Wasn`t it on the news that food staff can do a daily self test now. 

I believe that is people in the food supply chain right up to, but not including supermarket staff. I'm fairly certain is doesn't apply to hospitality which as much as I like to visit a pub, could hardly be considered essential.

[Acle Bridge Inn.]

That's bad luck for Phil and the team at The Bridge Inn. We spent a week afloat last week and booked all our evening visits at least a week in advance due to our suspicions that shortage of staff would lead to less covers at most places as well as the social distancing that was still in place last week. On Monday the 12th July we walked from St Benet's to The Dog Inn Ludham only to find it closed for the day due to staff shortages.

At present if planning a walk to a pub it is worth ring ahead.

We also walked from Sutton Staithe to The Pleasure Boat only to find that shut, but that is due to renovations running late, rather than Covid.

[Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O]

1 minute ago, Cal said:

Does that not defeat the object of having a dual steer boat if you are sat outside in the rain 

Not really I much prefer being outside, but on a centre cockpit boat end up closing the roof to protect the interior of the boat from getting soaking wet. Off course you still have the choice and can steer from inside if it gets torrential.