PaulN

Over the years I have had several boats and up until the latest (broads cruiser) have all been yachts on the East Coast, which had manual flush sea toilets, mainly Jabsco. The problem with salt water flushing was that when left for a while, the residual water with micro marine life left in the waste pipe, would generate a hydrogen sulfide smell (rotten eggs). The solution was to use the shower on its hose to flush with fresh water, so I would never flush with raw water. I now have an electric Tecma macerating toilet and would never change. There is a **** on the back of the control panel which controls the amount of water coming from the fresh water tank, which I have turned right down so that it just seals the trap in the toilet pan when it has finished. If it needs additional water for a strong flush 'due to contents' then again I use the shower hose, which fortunately reaches. A pump out is never required at less than 1½ weeks for just the two of us. So my vote is for electric every time.

Lets hope it remains as a pub. We have been there quite a few times, although only twice this year and have always found the food good. However, reading the comments above, is it just me? I've never received a smile or a welcome from the landlord, nor any encouragement to want to come more often. Also I could never understand having an office consisting of a load of paperwork spread across a long table in the bar seating area, looked such a mess and of of place. As I said, hope it remains as a pub, plenty of scope to improve in my opinion and lets hope that shallow step goes too!

Should COP 26 have been held in the UK? We generate a little less than 1% of global carbon emissions. Perhaps it would have been more prudent to hold it in China or Russia whose leaders chose not to attend as they represent the countries that could contribute most, or Brazil whose leader didn't attend either, yet their deforestation could also be worthy of discussion. I think the whole process of this event has been lip service from the world. Looking at my own situation, I would like to install solar panels but he cost would jeopardise being able to continue running my boat on the broads, as we live on our pensions. I have recently bought a car and having wanted to purchase an electric one, I found the cost too high and I wouldn't be able to drive to our boat if the outside temperature was 5 degrees with heating on or 30 degrees with air conditioning on and perhaps a hold up on the A 12. I therefore had to rule that out and bought another diesel which qualifies exemption in the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone. So still a way to go on technology. The UK is really not a big offender, yet we seem to be taking the global situation upon ourselves, with our children being brainwashed that we can make the difference that will save the world. I can remember when we had coal fires throughout the winter, yet in the 50's my mother managed to build an igloo in the back garden for myself and sister to play in, and riding our toboggan was a regular annual event. My point being that unless the booming economies that rely on coat to produce their energy and oil for their plastic exported products, there is little that we here can achieve. Or just maybe, the planet will sort itself out as it always does. Final controversial statement: The world population that has boomed so much is probably the biggest source of carbon emission.

Well spotted Neil. If it helps, this is the link https://www.richardsonsboatsales.net/

Rear view cameras have been a must have this year in my opinion, with crowded rivers and many day boats trying to overtake up the inside, also hire cruisers overtaking when oncoming traffic is 2 abreast! The one we have gives a great view of the river behind but is mounted low down, so gives a perfect view of the approaching quay heading coming up when mooring stern on. The boat was built by Shadow Boats (Swancraft), who mounted the camera in a recessed moulding to keep it protected, great idea. (Photo shows just left of the boarding ladder.)

Great news, we moor with Clive at Horning and moorer's at Cove will no doubt experience the same friendliness and good service

There is only the one mould I believe, just a different internal fit out.

I was with Navigators and General but they didn't want to increase my boats value when I went to renew, which I felt necessary due to boat resale prices since the pandemic. I am now insured with Alan Boswell of Norwich for the value I wanted, better terms, less excess and yet still with the same underwrites, Zurich.

We hired from Richardson's for many years prior to buying our own boat and always found the service excellent. We tried another yard one year and the boat was disappointing so went back to Stalham. The only time our own boat was damaged, was fortunately by a Rico boat and the damaged rubbing strake was repaired (on our mooring) and was invisible. Other than report the damage, we didn't have to do a thing, Rico's just sorted it.

Yes, the boat was moulded and fitted out by Viking, who were subcontracted by Barnes Brinkcraft who own the moulds. BB commissioned and handed over the boat having taken the order from the original owners.

Barnes Brinkcraft webcam currently showing just under 6' under Wroxham Bridge https://www.barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk/webcam/

Thanks Griff, having thought it through in advance, it only took me a few hours to install. I will adopt your regime for cleaning, I had no idea that this could be done. All these parts were ordered online from asap supplies and delivered free 48 hours later, great service. Thanks smoggy but as the photo shows, both vents are on the same side of the boat, any other route would be a nightmare.

As I said in my last post, I decided to purchase 2 No. Vetus filters for waste tank breathers as advised by Griff (Thanks Griff). These are fitted under the starboard deck behind the double bed headboard. Attached is a picture of the end result. Griff, you say your maintenance is to take out the filters, clean and dry them. Does this mean I don't even need to replace them every couple of years. Thanks everyone for your help, my wife and I are now looking forward to our 'Sundowner' on the stern deck, enjoying the fresh Norfolk air.

High Jbx5 I don't see how the tank can work properly without a breather, as when you use the toilet the air in the tank has to be displaced and the only way yours can be is back through the toilet pan. Likewise when being pumped out, how can the air get back in the tank other that via the toilet which should be sealed either by the closed off outlet in the pan or a water trap similar to a domestic toilet. Not sure which is your boat, but will have a good sniff next time I walk down the pontoon to my boat!!

Thank you to everyone above for your valued assistance (although Smoggy's solution of drinking less beer was a bit too radical for my liking) We had a pump out at Sutton Staithe last week and you are right. This was the best pump out we have ever had, with the tank being thoroughly flushed. Surprisingly, Eddie who did the pump out had been following this topic on the forum and was pleased with your comments. We always use blue, but have bought some more so that we can double dose in the future. Today I have ordered 2 Vetus waste tank breather carbon filters, as recommended by you, which seem the best opinion due to compact size and the fact that the carbon element can be replaced. Unfortunately I've had an added expense, as my tank has 2 25mm vent outlets. Having spoken to the boats builder, this is because the tanks size (80 gals = 363 litres) needs a minimum of 38mm vent and there would be inadequate space to bend the pipework at this diameter, it therefore has 2No. 25mm vents. Thanks again everyone, you will soon be able to moor next to me with your windows open

That's great news. Our mooring is in Horning and The New Inn use to be our favourite in the village until the last 1½ years. We called in about 3 weeks ago to give it a another chance, only to find there was no food being served that day, only one cordoned serving station at the bar with a single file queue out the door (albeit 3 staff behind the bar). Needless to say we walked out and had drinks on the boat. In fairness though, The Swan was closed completely due to staff shortages.

Watched it on My5 catch up TV last night and Wow- Our boat was shown moored at Womack!!

When our holding tank gets to about half full the is an external foul smell coming from the vent which is embarrassing when moored in close proximity to other craft. Has anyone else experienced this please and what is the solution. Is there some sort of filter I can add to the vent hose for example. Any help will be appreciated.

Sounds like another big bill for the Toll Payer if they take the police I.e. The Crown to court. Listening to BBC Norfolk this morning they interviewed the BA's newly appointed Carbon Reduction Manager , whose brief is to carry out a study to get all boats on the broads electrically powered for propulsion, heating, hot water and the charging infrastructure to go with it. He said NBD were the representatives from the hire boats, to assist with this. Good luck to him. I suspect the only feasible way to achieve this will be to have small nuclear reactors in each boat. The boat safety scheme test should be interesting!!

Horning Pleasurecraft polished our boat (Clive Rico) The result was superb.

Thank you everyone for your contributions. Much appreciated. Such a shame there are no public moorings before the bridge. Our boat will fit under the bridge some times, but more often than not there has been insufficient clearance for our air draft over the last couple of years.

When we can't get under the bridge at Wroxham, is there anywhere to moor a private boat apart from Hotel Wroxham? When we moored at at Oulton Broad a few weeks ago, the person next to us said they go into NBD Faircraft Loynes, however when I enquired there a couple of years ago they said they couldn't accept private craft due to insurance. Does anyone have an answer please?

Ludham has the thumbs up for me, love the range of their shop made sausages. The wife can go to the butshers while I can order a pint and a gin and tonic at the Kings Arms almost opposite to save time!

I can't see electric powered engines in boats being an option in my lifetime and the availability of Diesel should be ok for the foreseeable future, as I can't see HGV 1's being able to economically carry enough batteries for long haul any time soon. I have had a number of diesel cars for mileage economy and my latest has two tanks one for diesel and one for AdBlu, the additive which pretty much neutralises the pollutants. I know little about the technology and although our engines and exhausts are water cooled, is it possible to use catalytic converters and AdBlu to reduce our carbon footprint on our boats, for engines designed in the future. I'm sure we have engine techies out there who can advise.

Hi Simon. Just read the specification online for Sheer Elegance aka Pipedream, absolutely fabulous Should be the cleanest boat on the broads with wet shed mooring and full winter cover. I remember earlier this year helping you out of the corner berth at Ranworth with an onshore wind, no problem now with bow and stern thrusters like us! Look forward to seeing her.