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We did wonder how they were going to get back. We were almost three hours before high water when we edged under. There were boats moored waiting for bridge height then. We decided to edge up and have a look as the highest point is quite far back on this boat. We ceramic wouldn't recommend it to people who dont have a decent amount of boating experience but in this case it worked for us and got us where we wanted to be tonight. I think Richardson's have a fair few staff at the bridge at the minute!

And pictures from today. Acle back to Stalham. We had hoped to get moored on Stalham Staithe but that 24 hour mooring is full of the same scrap boats that were there last Saturday when we picked the boat up. So it is a night in the boat yard tonight and a take out curry from Oasis later. We have been into town for a few beers in The White Swan then back to the boat. Watching a turn around day is fascinating. They have a great team here at the yard. We also had wander around the museum of the Broads which is a great dog friendly attraction. We have had a great great last day despite the weather. Bridge clearance at Ludham was interesting again. Gauge said 7'6" boat is min 7'9" we edged under with about 6 inch clearance with half a tank of fuel and half a tank of water.

Pictures from yesterday. Reedham Ferry to Acle. The meal in the Acle Bridge was fantastic last night. No complaints at all.

We dont usually eat out as much but it has just turned out we have this week. We are at the Bridge Inn, Acle tonight. Not been yet this week so decided to go here instead of Stokesby again. We try our best to support the local pubs. They are what make the area special and need our support to keep them going. Struggling with internet reception today so the pictures will be posted tomorrow.

Dont worry about the drift of topic guys. It's making interesting reading. Although I do disagree with some of the points of view and agree that hirers really should report any problems they have had with the boat when they hand it back at the end of their holiday. The yards can not possibly check every last thing on every boat in the few hours they get between a boat coming in and going back out again. As for the food at Reedham Ferry. Well where to start? The pub is shut on a Monday and Tuesday. We got there 4pm Wednesday to find it doesn't open until 6pm. The menu is very limited to say the least. We both struggled to find anything we wanted to eat. In the end we were saved by a group of locals at the next table who were offered steaks (not on the menu!) Liam had a steak and I had the beef cheek. The food was nice but it was expensive for what it was and the beer was atrocious. A shame as we have in the past always enjoyed a stop here. We probably wont bother next time! We are heading back across Breydon today and up to probably Stokesby.

We had an Indian delivered to the boat last year when we moored at the basin. It was delicious.

This morning we had a steady run down to Great Yarmouth so that Sydney could let off some steam on the beach. After a long walk around town we headed back to the boat. Our intention had been to head back upstream to Stokesby for another evening in the Ferry but a last minute change of plan saw us heading across Breydon and to the Reedham Ferry instead. We will have a meal in here tonight and then head to Stokesby tomorrow instead.

Exactly that. Still not hungry this morning!

The food was delicious as always. Not had a bad meal in there yet. We did order far too much again though.

Yesterday was an altogether better day. We even had some sunshine. We stopped for breakfast at Cockshot Dyke before heading to Ranworth for a dinnertime pint at The Maltsters and then onto Acle for our evening meal at Pedro's. Sydney loved watching the world go by from the fly bridge and barking at the yachts! We rang the yard yesterday and told them that we are happy to continue our holiday with this second set of batteries as they are much better than the first set were. No point changing these ones.

To be fair to the engineers it has not put us out at all. We have not been sat around waiting for them, they have visited when we have moored up for the evening first at the pub and then here at Salhouse. Today they are meeting us at Pedro's. We dont expect any compensation, it is just one of those things that happens and it has not stopped us enjoying our time onboard. With regards the batteries Swancraft had fitted he said it was the physical size and weight that was the problem. They were big heavy duty batteries not the rebadged starter batteries you get now.

The engineer who came out did say that these Swancraft boats did have huge batteries but they have been swapped out for more typical batteries as they could not be replaced by one person.

I dont think putting these batteries on charge would do anything. They are that shot they cant hold any charge. As soon as you were moored up somewhere away from shore power they would fail. If anything the shore power would mask the problem further.

Quick update. Battery bank 1 is shot. Luckily this boat has 2 domestic banks we are now switched to bank 2 which isn't in the best condition either but better than bank 1. We are getting two new banks of batteries tomorrow when we are in a more accessible location. The engineer is a lovely chap and was very apologetic. Not his fault of course.

I agree there is no excuse for the stern gland leak. The heater not working we are pretty sure the previous hirers had encountered this as the thermostat was turned right up to 32 degrees probably in an attempt to get it working. They can't have mentioned it to the engineers. We have never hired a boat that has had good batteries at the start of the holiday but they do usually improve after a few long days cruising. These have gotten worse. Again the previous hirers must have noticed this. The engineers in the yard probably should have as well.

Looks like we are having a second visit from the engineers tonight. The batteries on this boat are shot. We did a few hours cruising today and have just had the engine running for a few hours while moored up, which we hate doing, and still they are only showing 12v when the engine is turned off. Credit where it is due the engineers are on the ball and talked us through a few things it could be. None of which it is but they are now on their way to us despite our less than ideal location for them to get too us. Should be a quick fix all being well.

We moored in NBD yardthis afternoon for the first time. Wasn't a bad spot to stop. Had to wade through the car park to get out though!

It has been a considerably better day today weather wise. A bit grey perhaps but much drier. We have had a steady run from Potter Heigham to Wroxham to do a spot of shopping and have then plodded back to Salhouse Broad for the evening. We are both surprised how quiet the Broads seem this week so far. Loads of moorings everywhere. Even Horning staithe had a couple of spaces at dinnertime!

Suits the mood of the day!

Sydney has bedded down on a miserable Sunday.

What a thoroughly miserable day. After a very leisurely breakfast at Stokesby we have had a very steady run back upstream to Potter Heigham and it has not stopped raining all the way. We have grabbed a mooring by the bridge. Probably the last one a biggish boat will slot into with how the moored boats are spread out! picture uploader The plan had been to head down to Womack later but given the very limited visibility from the inside helm on this boat we will give it a miss today unless by some miracle it stops raining later. That seems doubtful though! On the plus side Swan Ranger is a very warm and dry boat. Perfect for days like today. We will have to do what we hate doing later and run the engine for a bit while moored up as we really have not gone far today and the batteries were none so clever this morning when we got up.

It being a bit choppy wouldn't really bother us. We are used to that on the coast. But we dont really see the point in trudging all the way up to Beccles in the pouring rain to sit on the boat at the other end because it's raining. Will be a much better run tomorrow.

Yes. Excellent pub. We are going back in shortly for breakfast. Slight change of plan for today. Really don't fancy crossing Breydon in this weather today so we are going to head back upstream a little and head for Potter Heigham and Womack today. Will head South tomorrow instead.

We stopped in Wroxham for a coffee yesterday afternoon and at about 11am the gauge was showing 6ft.

We had 7'6" on the gauge at Ludham yesterday and managed to get through. According to the yard staff at Richardson's they had a few van loads of blokes at Ludham during the week to weigh the boats down and get them through and back to the yard. Some of the bigger boats had to wait it out at Ludham yesterday.