PaulN

I realise that, but it's how I feel, I just feel alienated by the whole direction of the B.A. 13%toll increase; so much maintenance not carried out in the winter months when it should have been; Ranworth extracting more money out of it's cash cow to finance their hair brained schemes, for example £6k on a phone box on the Thurne as an information centre (what a joke). The recently renewed heading at Neatishead Staithe (carried out this season, not winter, with the moorings closed) only 50% done with footpaths of fine grey grit. Clearly no comprehension of what it takes to look after a fibreglass boat. From what I see, there is no joined up thinking at all.

I agree with you rightsaidfred, the B.A. can't be compared to a Local Authority. For a start, the latter is democratically elected by those they tax and provide services for. I don't quite understand the argument about the Broads not being a National Park, when the Government's own website has the Broads as the first on it's list. Having said that, I have visited many of the other National Parks and have never been charged for the privilege. In my opinion, if it is a National Park then let it run solely on Government grants with a separate Navigation Authority to maintain the navigable rivers by toll's alone, which would then be much lower. Iv'e stopped going to Ranworth, which we probably did at least a dozen times a year, always using the pub and shop and JP has changed my view of the Rangers, whom I always regarded as my friends but increasingly feel they are the enemy.

I have had a Volvo Saildrive and no complaints at all, no 'A' bracket and no cutlass bearing and stuffing box. However, that was on a yacht with a keel and deep rudder so no chance of it running aground and punching a hole through the hull. I wouldn't have one on a broads cruiser though, as too vulnerable and a weed catcher.

Hi Simon. I see you are moored on the Side On Moorings at Gaye's Staithe. I heard a rumour that the side on moorings and the 2 end moorings are now private and no longer BA 24 hour moorings. Is there any truth in this?

That was my immediate reaction £10 to moor at Potter Heigham now, as the BA have an office on the Thurne. I wonder if you can make free phone calls by tapping out the numbers on the receiver rest like some of us did as kids. Alternatively, having just received the exorbitant toll charge, can we press button B and get out money back!

Just had a look, I didn't realise.

Ours has gone up by £78.40, they are slowly killing their cash cow.

No, only to the end of 2023 at present

Plan to be on board early next week, for the first time this year. Yipee!

Yep Happy Daze!

Afraid to say I always use the tide tables from our Forum's rival which calls themselves 'Official' fro some reason. The tables are excellent for passing under bridges and crossing Breydon as they give low water at various locations and slack water at Great Yarmouth. They are corrected for BST although sunset and sunrise are in GMT.

Fabulous boat Ray, congratulations. I believe she was Paul's own boat, so is no doubt in excellent condition.

I agree. Our boat was built by Swancraft and the 'behind the scenes' engineering is the highest quality and so neat and immaculately installed. Those that know Paul, are aware of his high standards. Before we had our own boat, we hired from Richardson's from 2008 to 2018, we had fabulous holidays and were always impressed with their service.

Agreed. I seem to remember reading in the EDP last year that they got Norfolk Pub of the Year or some such. The landlord was very proud to show me the article picturing the staff. After shopping at Tesco last year we went there in the pouring rain and spent a lovely afternoon in one of their little zip up dining pods in the courtyard (tables inside the pub were full). Highly recommended.

I do think hire boats should be sent out with their blue polyprop mooring lines knot free. Whenever I take ropes from mooring hire craft they have knots in them pulled so tight that they can't be undone. This is a problem when mooring to rings. It's best practice to pass the rope through the ring and make fast onboard, so that casting off can be done without stepping ashore. This is prevented when the knots foul the rings.

OK, that was a random guess. we are only 6'3", but its the width that's the problem. "Never mind the Quality, feel ...."

I think it would be a good idea in order to reduce traffic and preserve it for ever, to try and sell it to the Americans who could dismantle it and rebuild in the Arizona desert like they did with London Bridge. Then replace with a modern footbridge with a ten foot air draught. A modern road bridge already exists.

Welcome onboard. What a lovely sailing history, I will look out for Nancy. I also loved the Arthur Ransome books, albeit I am 16 years younger than you. I was sailing from the age of 7, started on the broads where I learnt to sail, before sailing offshore and abroad for many years. Retired now and have a motor cruiser on the Broads, also based at Horning. Hope to see Nancy and get a photo to post here.

I've been on this boat a couple of times and like Flying Fortress, know the owner, I've never heard mention of leaking window though. The stern and forward 'well' covers were made last year and I think the side window covers were added as an extra and when used in the winter stop condensation I believe. I think the stern thruster was also new last year. A cover over the forward access well is a good idea on these boats for the winter, as the floor level is below water level. This means it has to drain into the bilge and run along the hollow of the keel moulding to the stern, where it is pumped out through and automatic bilge pump, so there must be reliable shore power and battery charger. I have the Alpha 36 version, which is the same mould but modified in 2002 to give a small tern bathing platform which improves access when moored starn on. My engine is a 38hp Beta with a shaft. Basically the same block as the Nanni as they are both Kubota based. It can achieve all speed limits in all tides. Great boats that get under all bridges except PH, the advantage with a private boat, which doesn't have access to the hire fleet yards, is that you can always find a mooring at Wroxham. For stern on mooring I use the stern camera, which I consider a must.

It is a very poorly constructed fb page, with all sorts of junk on it. Other fb groups I belong to are exclusive to the group and only give information that is relevant. They look more like our forum than the fb page of this group.

I ue facebook but only for closed private groups, such as my local residents group and a small group of friends. I don't give a regular account of my life, letting people know about my holidays and hence when leaving my house empty etc. I have never had any junk come through from other sources and so I am OK about it. I thought I would have a look at the action group being discussed here, with a view to join and so logged onto the link that Ray kindly posted above. To my amazement, when I accessed this fb page for the very first time a few minutes ago, I found I was already a member and cleared to add posts, having joined last Sunday. How can this be?

I agree. If the BA want to save money, then do away with the information centre and Rangers at Ranworth, the centre is little used and I doubt that selling publications produces any significant profit, if at all. I'm sure that the majority of day visitors to the broads do not rely on these so called information centre, but rather research online prior to arrival. If publications on the broads are required then go to the nearby Norfolk Broadland Trust building. I agree that the ranger we see running around with a boathook, provides no significant service and had better not come near my boat with it. The other rangers just seem to walk around recording registration numbers to check for 24 hour transgressors and this is a recent thing. Other 24 hour moorings don't have this so why are these jobsworth's necessary. Whilst I can see the value of someone assisting at GY and Reedham, to tell people to come in and leave the moorings against the tide, this does not apply at Ranworth where the tide is minimal and the main influence is the wind which applies to all the unattended moorings as well.. The moorings at Ranworth are stern on and so when reversing between two other boats, with plenty of boaters to help as a rule, then by the time mooring ropes are within reach of the bank' it's job done! Next do away with that 'Edwardian' Launch 'Liana' that takes up a 24 hour mooring albeit permanently. I must have moored at Ranwoth about 20 times last year and never saw it move. What a waste of our money. The open launch moored on the other side of the green also with a reserved 24 hour mooring, I assume is owned by the NBT and not the BA. Are we also likely to see charges at Hoveton, where there is again an unnecessary (IMHO) B.A. information centre, albeit for reasons best known to the B.A. overlooks Roy's car park rather that the River.

We would go if mooring fee was redeemable against the restaurant bill. Diners are not charged for using the car park, so why moorings. Oh yes, boat! / marine! involved

Wow Rod she looks great especially the Branded dashboard. Look forward to having s look next time we meet up. Thank you for the kind words about Bon Bon.