chrisdobson45

Did you say coasters?

Pulls Ferry, Norwich I was able to identify and one of the few photographs containing people, including my grandparents (front left) and my aunt (at the back) she’s the only surviving individual of this group, which includes my father’s brothers

@ Vaughan, Is the Breydon swing bridge in the background of this photograph?

My only disappointment was that Golden Arrow III was in fact grey and not egg yoke yellow as depicted in the Hoseason's brochure (there were three Golden Arrow's, each having a different colour gel coat)

My first experience of The Broads was in 1977 when my parents rented Golden Arrow from Pearson Marine in Reedham and that holiday was very much an adventure. Our first night was spent at Oulton Broad, at a boatyard to the west of the yacht station, and we had to clamber over a rickety pier / plank to get to terra firma. We visited places that are now firm favourites (Coltishall, Stalham, Acle, Beccles). It was a holiday so different from the usual week in a B&B in Ramsgate (not that I’ve anything against Ramsgate), and set the tone for many future holidays afloat. From then on, until 1987, we had at least one holiday on the Broads every year and I then moved to Norfolk and spent eight years messing about on boats at the weekend, my then wife being friends with a work colleague whose parents operated a boatyard. Kath and I were able to buy our own boat earlier this year and we are discovering the Broads again. I was diagnosed with cancer last year and after surgery in August we decided that there was more to life than the 8-5, 2 kids, 1 dog routine and felt the need to make memories. We agreed that I had talked about owning a boat for years so it was now or never. It was probably the best (and most worrying) thing we’ve ever done and we’ve a history of doing things that have caused eyebrows to be raised (living in Saudi Arabia for seven years and having our son born there, working in Canada for three years, etc). Somethings have changed, others haven’t and there’s still glimpses of what I remember the Broads to be. We were in Reedham last weekend, we went exploring to the east of the Ship Inn, where 46 years ago it all started. PearsonMarine is long gone but there still remains the basic infrastructure of what was once there. Whilst the Riverside Estate in Brundall has changed significantly since the 1980’s, there remains some of the old sheds, we think we’ve identified where holidays started & ended with the likes of Bounty Boats, Brister Craft, etc. My life is full of circles, returning to Norfolk and the Broads is one of several, and whilst there has been change, the is sufficient that has remained unchanged to bring me comfort in what has turned out to be a challenging period in my life.

A few more, most places instantly recognisable, a few are puzzling me

My mum has boxes of old photographs, taken by my dad from the late 1940’s until his death in 2013. He chronicled everywhere he went, mostly landscapes and relatively few of people. Tonight I was handed an old album of photographs taken in the summer of 1954. He was amongst a party that hired two boats, from Hipperson’s of Beccles & Moore and Co, Wroxham. Here’s a few…

I'm currently quizzing the surveyor. During the trial she was helmed from both upper and lower positions, although manouvering within the marina was carried out from the lower helm, when reverse was apparently selected and used on both engines. If this turns out to be correct, it may be an issue with the cables / linkage from the upper helm through the Morse helm selector switch beside the lower helm throttles. Currently the view is that its an adjustment issue but this will be investigated during the servicing of engines and outdrives in a couple of weeks time (along with checking the fuel tank sender, the tank gauge reading about a third full which could be correct but doesn't tally with what the previous owner had told me about the volume of diesel he thought he had purchased before the boat went on brokerage, approx 80 lts, tank volume is 600 lts and he thought it was low when he refuelled).

Today was our first time out on Mystic Lady, so after an early dart down to Cove Marina from north of Nottingham, we got out onto the river, turning right at the end of the dyke and heading up river in glorious sunshine. This time was only to be a short cruise to Thorpe upstream railway bridge and back but we had a blast, not even spoilt by a minor drama when we returned to Cove (reverse wouldn’t engage on the port engine) but we’re back in our berth, no harm done. The engines are being serviced soon so the Morse helm changeover can receive some attention (we’ve forward & reverse when the lower helm is selected)

Who’s that coming down river??

Our first weekend at Cove, Saturday was great, sat on the fly bridge with a cup of tea watching, well, not a lot…. The fenders on the anchor were at the request of our neighbour who was concerned about his salon windows when returning to his berth. We’ll need to work something out but he was happy enough with our temporary fix. Supper at the White Heron, pretty decent pub food, but lacking something, atmosphere?? It was busy but appeared a little soulless, maybe it will get better later in the season.

Thank you, “found” the shop tag at the top of the page, ordered…

Mystic Lady is now ours and will be relocating to Cove Marina this week. We now need to recommission her after being at NYA since September 2022. We will be having the engines & outdrives serviced (last serviced in 2022) and she needs a good clean ( nothing serious, but Kath wants to give her a thorough going through. There’s approximately half a tank of fuel in the tank (300lt). She ran ok on the trial last week but is it worth a dosing of fuel additive? What can we use to sanitise the drinking water tank? I believe the tank is empty at present and will refill at Cove. we spent a great day at NYA yesterday, finished the inventory, re measured the galley for storage and lifted all the hatches in the floor to find everything. Only remaining puzzle is where the TV takes its power from as it appears not to be plugged into the sockets. It’s dead at present, the power lead passes through a hole in the top of the built in storage and disappears into the carcass with a USB lead, arial lead, etc. No idea where it goes from there. I’m hoping there’s a hidden power socket we’ve yet to find. Photo of offending TV… Superb lunch(again) at East Hills Cafe, it’s becoming a firm favourite. Last question (for now) where can I get a NBN pennant from? I thought I had previously seen something posted but now cannot find anything

10ft 8inches with the arch down so the Yarmouth bridges are certainly achievable with the right tide. We intend to make the Southern Broads our home for the foreseeable future and see how it goes. We intend to make Mystic Lady our home for the school holidays in the summer so the space was an important consideration, I need to be able to work when I’m on the boat without being in the way of everyone else

Another busy day yesterday, left home at 5.15am and arrived at Brundall at about 8.10am, with a quick stop at the Co op for coffee, croissants and a bag of apples. Mystic Lady looked great, a hunt through cupboards and storage lockers resulted in us finding a set of window covers and the “missing” curtains for the forward cabin and heads. We then went to Cove and met Clive & Victoria, mooring arranged. We went to the East Hills cafe for lunch, the chowder was excellent. Kath wanted a quick trip to Wroxham to look at some tat, pleased to see it was busy. I finally met the forum legend that is Griff, with the lovely Purdy. Broad Ambition looked resplendent in the afternoon sun. Back home for just after 8.30pm, having carried out a duty call at the in-laws in Boston, who believe everything they have thought about me in the last 28 years is true (buying a boat was confirmation that I’m insane). Ian Lumley emailed Mystic Lady’s survey to me last night, a couple of minor issues but nothing that will prevent me making payment of the balance this week.

Survey & trial was carried out yesterday so I'm now waiting for the surveyor's report to land (should be later today, even though it's Good Friday), and the next few hours are going to be the longest... Initial reports were that the survey went well, 20 knots achieved and the broker thought the surveyor believed there were a few more to be had and only a few little niggles to address. We're in Brundall tomorrow to agree a mooring, do some measuring (for curtains, etc) and generally take it all in. Hopefully better weather than last week.

We spent the day at Brundall and Horning, got two soakings but it was great to be back. Had a decent lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn, lovely staff and great to see hire boats out and about

Thank you very much, we’ll keep you updated…

Kath & I are about to commit to a boat after dreaming for a decade or more. Can anyone recommend a surveyor? The boat is currently moored in Brundall and is a 35ft twin diesel engined cruiser. Thank you in advance

Good luck Ian. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February and am now 11 days post op (robotic assisted radical prostatectomy) and radiotherapy as some spread was found during the procedure (I am part of the NeuroSafe study, a pathologist was present to examine both removed prostate and surrounding tissue). I’m feeling both positive and also terrified at present, and the temporary incontinence issues are really getting me down….

You're right, it's number 368/1500, still, an excellent read. The other book is definitely 1892 vintage...

My wife found it on the Oxfam website, completely by chance, when looking for something else. She also purchased "The Land of the Broads" by Ernest R Suffling. It's not in the best of condition but there's a hand written inscription on the cover sheet "Norman Macleod from Miss Baley (of Pakefield), September 1892". The pull out map is intact. This book appears to be a cruising guide, covering: (i) Norwich to Yarmouth; (ii) Up the Bure to Acle Bridge; (iii) Acle to Aylsham; (iv) Up the Ant to Barton and Stalham Broads; (v) The Ant, to North Walsham; (vi) Thurne Mouth to Hickling & Martham. There's then a section for the Broad District in each of Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter and a final section regarding the characteristics and dialect of East Norfolk Natives. There are some lovely illustrations, mainly landscapes and churches, so all in all a really good find.

My wedding anniversary present this year is a beautiful book "Norfolk Broads Holidays Afloat" from 1947, complete with slip case and 1948 supplement (a schedule of prices & terms). I cannot believe the condition for a 74 year old publication. There's an introduction, guide and then details of boats for hire (including houseboats and wherry yachts). The tear out booking form is still intact. There's a few colour sketches (including Oulton Broad, as below). Many hours of (careful) browsing ahead...

I now have that very same notice as my bookmark, courtesy of our holiday a couple of weeks ago...