[Independence - Updates | Maintenance & Care]

On 15/03/2018 at 17:21, chrisdobson45 said:

My first day of full time work was on the day after the "Great Storm" in October 1987. I was a newly graduated Engineering Geologist and had accepted a position with a Norwich based site investigation and piling contractor. I was to meet my new boss at Trowse and then we were going to travel to Fakenham for a day's trial pitting for a new commercial development. We couldn't get out of Norwich, trees were down across all the major routes to the north and west, so we gave in and went back to the office for a cuppa.

 

It must have been pretty horrendous on a boat!!

Let' just say it won' be forgotten!

[First Night On The Broads]

8 hours ago, JanetAnne said:

Not my first night on the broads but one of the more memorable was being moored on the quayhead along from Martham Boats waiting to be lifted out. Its quite exposed along there and the wind always blows across the fields no matter what the weather is doing elsewhere in the country. Anyway, it was late October and had been raining all day just to make everything nice and slippery before the wind got up about towards midnight.

It blew an absolute hooley of course. The boat was being thrown against the quay with the fenders screaming and then back out into the river ready for the next assult. I was in the front cabin in the berth that 'didnt leak as much as the rest of them' (new cabin sides were on the list to do once out the water) listening to the wind howling, the fenders playing football against the hull constantly and the drip drip into the saucepans in the bed opposite me!

The first attention getter was the sound of splintering wood from the aft deck. Up and out into the cockpit to discover the aft spring lines cleat had pulled out of the already rotten deck (also on the list, lol) but confident the doubler would hold on the 'good' side. The bigger crash was the dinghy, previously taken out the water and on the bank, catching the hull as it was returned to from where it came. I didnt get up figuring I wasnt about to chase it down the river in the pitch black. It had a name on it, someone would find it in the morning.

Then the canopy on the yacht behind me let go turning into a proper flappy thing partially attached to a flappy thing. I have never been so keen to see daylight.

The following morning I found the dinghy. It must have landed on its side in the water because it was sunk under the boat. The only clue was its painter that had caught a mooring rope on the way past and was somewhat tight leading into the water. Of course, the day before, I had removed all the bouyancy tank lids to dry the condensation out ready to trailer it home... typical eh?

All in all an excellent night

 

That does sound like a night to remember, we were lucky in that there were no canopies on the boat and Loddon is quite tucked away.

[First Night On The Broads]

On 15/03/2018 at 17:21, chrisdobson45 said:

My first day of full time work was on the day after the "Great Storm" in October 1987. I was a newly graduated Engineering Geologist and had accepted a position with a Norwich based site investigation and piling contractor. I was to meet my new boss at Trowse and then we were going to travel to Fakenham for a day's trial pitting for a new commercial development. We couldn't get out of Norwich, trees were down across all the major routes to the north and west, so we gave in and went back to the office for a cuppa.

 

It must have been pretty horrendous on a boat!!

Yes pretty hairy, remember driving towards the A11 out of Norwich and it seemed like every tree was laying by the side of the road. Luckily all the trees in Loddon were swaying in the wind but staying upright.

[First Night On The Broads]

After putting a post on the Independence thread that I had had a few weeks on the Broads over the last 25 years I thought about the dates, soon realised that it is actually 30 years since that first night and it is easily remembered. October 87 and that storm, we got on board our new boat at Bells yard Brundall and decided to have our first night at Loddon under the trees moored stern to. Up in the night tightening ropes with blue lights flashing in the distance. No way that anyone was going to sleep.

Let's just say it is not easily forgotten, pre mobile phones we thought it was confined to Norfolk. It was only when we returned home to Watford 3 or 4 days later that we realised how bad it had been. Neil

[Independence - Updates | Maintenance & Care]

Thanks for all the welcomes, have been following Robin on Motor Boat forum and as someone that has spent a few happy weeks on the Broads over the past 25 years thought it would be interesting to look in so to speak, Neil

[Independence - Updates | Maintenance & Care]

Robin, don't rule out dehumidifiers, the cost to run is minimal and they keep the boat dry and welcoming, nothing worse than damp and cold upholstery and bedding when you have not been on board for a few weeks. I would not have a boat without one, Neil