floydraser

But then it didn't take much to write off a little Datsun, slamming the door would do it.

Mrs working at home, not going out - I reckon I could buy Sandersons with what I've saved. If lock-down goes on much longer I may have enough for Cove!

Airbnb describe it as "built in the style of a signal box". Fooled me. A very good fake with realistic brackets inside and out. If you didn't know, you would think there may have been a siding between it and the mainline.

There are a lot of classic cars out there on the road which have been restored by unqualified amateurs so if you see one, run! Enthusiasts know what they are looking for though, and as a result, most classic cars are now better built than when they left the factory, especially if they're British Leyland. You may be glad to know that my old TR7 into which I put a V8 engine hasn't been taxed since 2014 (shame) but the Formula 27 "kit car" I built from a set of plans could still be out there. Isn't is a similar situation with boats? I would have thought restoring one is chucking money into that big hole in the water and you would be hard pressed to make a profit? And if you did sell it on, the buyer would be likely to want a survey which should show up all the secrets. Then there are those who just don't care what the end result looks like as long as it floats, but they are easily seen and avoided. Houses are a bigger risk IMO. It seems that there must be a lot of properties out there which have been through the hands of someone out to make a profit. Cheap wiring and bodged repairs are easier to hide in a house, and a good way to make money. And of course, plenty of TV programs encouraging you to do it!

Ok, some of you don't seem to be getting the idea so I'll try this: https://what3words.com/moons.snug.shuttle Not sure if it'll work. Hit the world symbol in the bottom right for the satellite view. Edit: yep, works.

What3words: ///moons.snug.shuttle

There's a thread on here (I think) with some photos of the old railways around Yarmouth. Hopefully someone with a better memory than me will be along with a link.

I think what you're saying Peter, is that if those boats in France had been good ol' Norfolk Wherries, we would be discussing how to repair the bridges not the boats!

Sorry Vaughan, with the greatest of respect and at the risk of incurring the wrath of the whole forum, I have have to disagree. I have stood in a freshly moulded hull and superstructure and you are correct, it is flimsy. Or at least it would be if it weren't supported on the outside in preparation for the fitting of the bulkheads, which was my job. Like any other material, grp relies on it's use as a structure. We don't know exactly what damage was done but as a whole, each boat complete with bulkheads would be a very strong structure and the "bouncy castle" would also flex to a degree, soaking up a bit of the impact. If we don't re-use the mouldings, what do we do with them? There's a cost to disposing of them financially and environmentally. What is "perfectly"? The result may not be exactly as original but so what? If someone has to make a slight detail change but acheives a smart, functioning and perfectly useable boat then good them. Perfectly adequate gelcoat repairs are achievable but I think reference to de-valuing the boat doesn't apply to a repaired write off; economically we're starting at zero and adding value. Correct, working inside the moulding allows more practical overlap to restore the original strength. It depends how many of the internal bulkheads are actually moulded in grp (one of the things I don't actually like about modern boats but can't argue they are probably cheaper to make and stronger) but wooden ones are replaceable if needed; they won't have been under water for that long if at all. If buying one of the wrecks one would argue all the bulkheads and fittings need replacement. In practice, one would use as many of the original fittings as possible.

Well I never! I've been using that site for ages and never spotted the side by side option. I always used the overlay version: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=5&lat=56.00000&lon=-4.00000&layers=1&b=1

Absolutely, which is sort of where I was going earlier. Car's identities are on record with insurance companies and write-offs are categorised. You can repair a written off car but it's history will always be with it, officially. Is that the same for boats? I've never been asked for anything more than the name and make of a boat and as far as I am aware, that name is for me to change if I want? The grp structure of a boat is extremely strong and to a degree, easily repairable to it's original strength. Then it comes down to economics. Recovered wrecks have to be stored somewhere at someone's expense. The longer they are stored, the more of a waste of money it is. A lot of us are currently learning the cost of storing a boat that can't be used! I hope they all end up in a place like the Barry yard for old locos where you could go and take your pick!

From what I've heard I think there may have been a large degree of panic booking towards the end of last year. We usually do our main booking just after Christmas and this year is the first we have been unable to get our chosen week. The booking clerk did however say that although fully booked, there are a lot of cancellations and advised if we wanted to get a different week it may be worth asking again.

Having never been abroad, am I right in thinking that the majority of foreign holidays are NOT self-catering? We had a group on a campsite last year who were clearly not enjoying themselves and nobody around them either. It was probably their only choice to be fair.

No, but enough to set up a new business. I suspect LeBoat would want those boats re-used or gone for good.

There have been discussions before about the environment in relation to the disposing of old GRP boats. Surely it must be practical to repair/refurbish/rebuild most of these boats. I know it may not look like it at first but just the saving in new mouldings must be worthwhile, especially for the hire industry. Claim on the insurance then all the wrecks would be sold off as projects. Would that flood the market with cheap boats later on?

Well would you believe it? I wouldn't. I've just had a very interesting conversation with the son of the original owner, Peter Hornor, and gained a bit insight to the early years of Gipsy3/Denham Owl. John Eastwood, a personal friend of Sam Hornor, was responsible for the specification. The auto helm and navigation gear were never fitted by the first owner. She was always Gipsy 3 in his ownership. The heavy duty davits (and no rear access) were there because she was always to be used at a jetty with side access. Now brace yourself........................... Peter remembers his father telling him Gipsy 3 had been sold to "Disc jockey David Hamilton". I've done a little bit of digging but DH seems to keep his private life private so there's not much out there. I just hope he's got the right 1970's disc jockey! Anyway, Peter has very happy memories of Gipsy 3 and will be reunited with her whenever it becomes possible.

Found the playlist link. 28 videos so far.

Well it's been a while but with lockdown I've been finding other things to do... Thanks to a thread on this forum I have now started to use Shotcut software to edit my videos. It's not as intuitive as the old Microsoft Movie Maker but with MS withdrawing support it was inevitable that I would have to bite the bullet and learn a new system. It's easier to be a little more creative but I consider my stuff to be documentary and therefore the emphasis is hopefully kept on the subject matter and not someone pratting around with a camera and software. Anyway the main news is that thanks to Robert Newman I am now in contact with the son of the original owner and can confirm that the boat show pic was taken at Earl's Court in 1970, when I was running around being 13 years old. Edward Heath had just been elected Prime Minister, visited the show and stepped aboard Gipsy 3! Apparently he was very impressed. Can I add a nought on to the price for Edward Woodward and another for Ted Heath? Would Mrs Thatcher be worth two noughts? (Don't get political!) I have only recently learned how to put together a public playlist on Youtube, so I have done so for the Denham Owl series, including the previously unlisted early vids. All you have to do is learn how to find it!

I could be available on a consultancy basis......

An interesting thought indeed.. and directed towards this forum... Equal shares - so at anytime during the year there could be a few people wondering around like they own the place. Policy meetings would be interesting. Easy to find 75 people round here with a spare £20k as we're all loaded but not sure you would get anywhere near that number of people who aren't in a permanent state of conflict with Yare House. Not a basis for a good business model. And as they say on Dragon's Den: ..And for those reasons, I'm out.

I can't fault him. If he installed a manager he would still have ultimate responsibility hanging over him while on the beach somewhere in Barbados. He's had 20 years at it this time, expanded it, and it sounds like he has made a good reputation for himself and the place. I don't know him but I say well done sir! I would have sold up earlier.

Some youngsters seem to have replaced "please may I have?" or "May I have xxxxx please?" with "Can I get xxxxx?"

Damn! I thought you were a Dior stockings girl. But for the booster jab you'll have to get up early to beat me, Smoggy & MM now you've given the game away. And don't try changing; I'm sure you're image will be imprinted on the retinas of all the staff at the centre if that's how you turned up!

Thank you Vaughan. Your post should be printed out in a large font and displayed at every retail business for all to see. I often mention Ms Rantzen when discussing customer service. She lit the fuse by teaching us all how to complain, but then she fired up the ordinary person's latent megalomania by inferring that anyone in business is a crook. Some people's favourite anecdotes are usually about how they spoke down to another human being trying to do their job. I've always found the best way is to make the effort to be a good customer.

Probably because they would have to justify their actions somehow and let's be honest, if there were no accidents and they increased tolls to prevent them, I can imagine the reaction here! I think it's the compensation culture and as Pally points out, the fear of corporate responsibilty is the driver here.