IEatFish

Hello, my 2nd month in to boat ownership and still afloat with surprisingly no problems! Enjoying the forum and thanks to the home team in managing this. I have a blue canvass type canopy on my boat that is pretty stained to the underside, however it appears water proof, rip free and the bulk of catches and press studs in place. I am planning to take this off when (if) summer returns and clean down and re-water proof on a bright day. Has anyone any advice as to what to clean this with, primarily to the underside and the best re-water proofing agent to use externally? Must dash now as off to my village church to pray for better weather tomorrow and Monday. Thanks

Thanks for the advice. I should be fine. I think the most shallow part of the Broads I have found (on the southern broadS anyhow) to date is Surlingham Broad on the west exit/entrance and I survived and the engine intake strainer wasn’t choked up. Not been on the Waveney yet so looking forward to exploring this. Got all the pubs nicely highlighted.

Well I am on my third voyage tomorrow with Mrs IEatFish and the two Fish Fingers, heading to the Waveney Centre and then poking about the area for a few days. I am sure something will happen that will be worth reporting. I have not been to the Geldeston Lock for many a year (by road only). Is this section of river deep enough - I have a 3ft draft - to moor up at the pub? Thanks

PaulN, we are pretty new to broads boating and ventured to NYS for a night with Mrs IEatFish and the two IEatFish children (the fish fingers). It was a Friday night. We moored up at the far end where the power feeds are (there aren’t any near the main Yacht Station). The sun was shining and there were a few boats already moored up. We looped up, locked up and wandered off in town for dinner. Came back at 10.00pm ish, the boat was all fine. Had a cuppa and settle down for the night. Now I knew it was never going to be a peaceful night as the road noise is strong and you are in a City. But what I did not appreciate is the public seating bench at the far end of the mooring, just outside the Station fence. This is obviously where the local drunks decide to put the world to right from 11pm through to the early hours. And of course it gets louder as they consume more meths. Painful. And one of them did try to get on the boat at one stage; however one shout from Mrs IEatFish and they went back to their bench! It was an interesting breakfast that morning as the Fish Fingers asked their father what certain words mean..... My advice, echoing others, miss the weekend, don’t moor up at the far end near ‘the bench’ and don’t expect a quiet night! However the trip in to Norwich is well worth the effort.

I think I will be out one evening this week with a straight edge and tape measure and will measure the height exactly. However Mrs IEatFish always says I always struggle between inches and cm so will double check this. I actually have a folding radar arch (I think that's the terminology) on my boat but looks a mare to drop as the roof canopy framework and canopy is part of it, however rather than a forced 8 hour wait I think I may have a fiddle with this in the mooring to see how this works. So if you do see a boat with a stuck down radar arch you know who it is......

Cheers all - really helpful. At just over 9 foot it’s gonna be exciting. Mrs IEatFish asked if we could let some air out of my tyres......how do you respond to this!!

Evening, third week into boating and enjoying it. We are heading to the Waveney Centre next Sunday from Brundall and have 9ft air draft. Looking at the bridge height on the published data with high water and the height clearance can anyone give me a steer on approx current clearance levels at low water? And assuming we are too high what is the current status on the bridge being opened; I am getting mixed reports at the moment on the efficiency and timing of openings. With thanks.

Hi Felicity, I acquired my first boat a few weeks ago and sought insurance. Upon recommendation I spoke with Alan Boswell boat insurance and within 5 mins had it all done. £190 for a £40k boat and me a first timer. I am insured with Navigators & General. Boswells were great and very helpful. All policy docs with me by email in a couple of hours; and all completed with no errors! As with all insurance, you only know whether they are good or bad till you make a claim. Hopefully I will never need to make a claim but having a broker with a dedicated team gives me some comfort I would be looked after. Good luck.

The engine was serviced in Jan 20 and I have just got it antifouled and new anodes last month. To be honest every thing on the boat seems to work fine, except a flickering fuel gauge! Starts up first time and the oil temp and engine temp run constant. She has performed well including a 7 hour run from Wroxham and a clear out out over an empty Breydon. I plan to run through the winter this year as a novelty so will be getting some tube heaters and de-humidifier etc and will re-service the engine in Jan 21. One further question is that the boat has a hook type anchor and I plan to get a mud weight. Does the ‘one foot per pound’ ratio sound right?

Thank you guys. Hopefully with good care of the boat and proactive maintenance I won’t need a call out, but having cover will keep the better half happy.

Just a quick note to say thank you for the acceptance to the forum and to say hello. I have just acquired a diesel single engine boat, moored at Brundall, and am very new to boats and river life. The forum has been very helpful and provided me with some great advice and assistance already. Again many thanks to the numerous contributors. I have an initial question, and apologies if this has been requested before, I intend to roam the southern broads this year and was wondering if any of the boat yards covering the southern broads area do a ‘RAC’ type breakdown scheme that I can subscribe to? Any positive recommendations, or any advice who not to approach etc. welcomed. Thanks in anticipation.