EdwardCharlesMitchell

That's really interesting. That's a good old voyage. A really game undertaking. Thanks for mentioning. Great to know about examples of the trips possible.

I'll have a good look for that next time I'm visiting WW. What was your boatyard called? Posted December 22, 2015 Some of you know me, from the long debate on Thorpe Island. I have a personal interest as my parents were Cmdr and Mrs Ashby of Hearts Cruisers and they brought me up on the old gunboat, Morning Flight. I went on to have my own little yard at Womack until selling in the awful recession of the early 80's. I ran a yard on the Thames for a few years and have just finished 20 years running hire bases on the French canals. I have now retired and we live near Carcassonne, close to the Canal du Midi and in the heart of the vineyards of the Minervois. And people ask why we don't come back to Norfolk! Got it! You are the narrator of this gem!

I'll have a good look for that next time I'm visiting WW. What was your boatyard called?

Oh wow! Would that have been his Capricorn that he took to Paris? Believe she was moored at Womack Water, or close by. I'm re-reading Tideline at the moment for the nth time. As I get a bit further along with planning, I'd be really grateful for your offer of some more information. MUCH appreciated.

Thank you so much for both of your incredibly helpful messages. Really appreciate the time you've taken to share all that information. Putting a new diesel in the boat has possibly gone to my head! But I figure if Edward Seago could do it in Capricorn, then maybe Dawn Star could also! In any event, your intel is invaluable, and I now have some great planning to do when the evenings start drawing in! Many, many thanks, Edward

Wondering if anyone reading this has ever sailed their boat from Great Yarmouth to Paris via the French waterways system? Switching from electric to diesel has made me wonder if this trip next year would be feasible. Or I guess Plan B would be to travel to the French river system by land transport - which sounds as if it could be horrifyingly unaffordable. Your thoughts and input would be very welcome.

" " What a beautiful elegant boat good luck with the tow " " Thanks so much for your words! Really appreciate.

Thanks Andy! Appreciate the kind words. Oh I dunno. In comparison to having, say, a racehorse, a Ferrari, or an Italian model as a girlfriend - Dawn Star represents quite the bargain.

No worries John, I'm planning on being aboard the following weekend as well. Rail strike permitting. Cheers, Edward

Hi John, Ah. I'm afraid I do not have these facts to hand. I don't use a battery charger. When the boat is moored, she is plugged into shore power. But look, where are you based? Are you in Norfolk? If so, I will be aboard from this Saturday 2nd until Tuesday July 5th, not that far from Stalham. If you're local, I'd be happy to show you the engine/batteries. I'm not much of a technical/practical kind of bloke - but I am sure of one piece of intel. If you're contemplating moving from fossil to electric, choose a hybrid. Bearing in mind how few charging points there are, it'll offer you much more independence. Hope this helps. Edward

Agree 100%. If no diesel I'll consider erecting a mast and running up some sails!

" " I would have offered you a tow as well (if I had been in England!) as I also moor in Stalham. I agree that Toby and Daniel of Marine Transmissions do top quality work. I also know Peachments very well, having done a great deal of business with them in the past. I know that they will do a very good installation for you and I highly recommend them. " " Thanks so much for the thoughts! Much appreciated.

" " I have looked at my diary and looked again, if both me and 'B.A' had been available I would have quite happily towed you to Brundall. Hopefully you are now sorted. Best of luck with the engine installation, hope it goes well for you and I endorse your decision got go over to diesel Btw - Would it not have been a whole lot easier to move DS under her own power round to Marine Engineering here in Stalham opposite the MOB and have a new Beta Marine unit fitted? " " Griff Thanks so much for the thought Griff - much appreciated. I heard a lot of positive reviews on Nannis. Tracked it back, and heard the same about A R Peachment. All positive. I'm rather looking forward to the tow trip to Brundall actually! I'm staying on board for the tow, and Everitt's have made the whole process really easy. I'll be sorry to say goodbye to silent, vibration and fume-free cruising - but also can't wait to have the kind of freedom that a full tank of diesel (easily refillable everywhere) will offer.

Replying to Cambridge Cabby..... " "BTW Edward. I have just had a new diesel fitted by Peachments and have nothing but praise for the service we have received." " Thanks very much for this - really appreciate. I was pointed in their direction through a recommendation and I absolutely agree. In advance of the work being done, their responses to all of my questions have been swift.

Mmmm. Horses for courses, I guess.

" "A cruiser must have the capacity to maintain 7MPH for at least 4 hours before it loses power as the batteries become discharged. Any less than that, it is not safe to navigate through Yarmouth. I fear that this is one of the main things that protagonists of electric power are not allowing for in their calculations." " Now THAT is extremely interesting - and I know for a fact that currently I could not claim this. All of your posts have been extremely interesting and informative. What I've learned since I bought Dawn Star is that if I were local to the Broads, and therefore content to make modest explorations that fit within a weekend, I would leave the engine as it is. There is a lot of charm in silent, vibration and diesel fume free cruising. That part is very tranquil. On the other side of the balance sheet is watching the charge monitor running down pretty rapidly, and not knowing if you can guarantee finding a free charging post. Not so much of an issue during off season months, but during high season, it's an education finding a mooring spot at all, let alone with an electric post! This is not a moan by the way. I am just discovering as I go along. I count buying Dawn Star as probably the best decision I've ever made. But for the record, to make the trip from Stalham to Brundall in one go, without needing to recharge the batteries - I'm using the services of a specialised towing company. Something to think about maybe. In any event, all of your viewpoints and advice have been most welcomed, and much appreciated. Best, Edward

Hi John, Thanks for your message. I did give a generator a lot of thought. The conclusion I finally came to though was for one long term fix. I figured that a brand new engine, rather than modifications and additions to the existing equipment would be although pricey at the outset, a good route in the long run. Thanks again, Edward

That's it in a nutshell. In a couple of instances, I've asked the boat on the charging post if I can use a splitter, share their charge, and give them a cash contribution for doing so. Nearly every time the boaters have been friendly, and amenable. Nearly. I was genuinely surprised to find no charging points at Womack Water, nor at Thurne Dyke. Which means you're pretty much stuck between Potter Heigham and Acle. None of this presents much of an issue during the cold, off season months. Round about now though ..........

Interesting. If I lived locally, or could take more time off from work in London - then this would not be an issue. I've found it interesting that not only are there not enough electric charging posts but more, by and large you can't reserve time on them. My plan is for Dawn Star to join you all on the cruise in 2023!

"He has probably been reading all the latest posts regarding Breydon?!" Responding to Happy. Re Yarmouth and Breydon, it's a question of both range, and torque. I've been cruising the Broads for many years - but always with a diesel motor that I was confident had the power to tackle the Southern rivers and Breydon at any stage of the tides.

Also interesting that you can get from Stalham to Horning on electrics, but you are not willing (or able?) to go through Yarmouth to Brundall. Answering this Q first. I know I can reach Horning from Stalham with charge to spare. Bearing in mind I'd pick up the tow in Horning, so no worries re a return trip. However, I don't think there are anywhere near enough charging points yet to be able to set off in any direction without pre-planning. And when you do come across some charging points, often they are all already being used. A hybrid would be the ideal solution, but for my budget, installing a new Nanni is my best route. For the time being, I'm a weekend sailor, and I just want to be able to turn up, and head off down the river in any direction, without having to take stopping/charging points into consideration. happy to answer any further Qs.

Dear Clive, Good morning to you. Sent a reply yesterday via my phone - but that seems to have disappeared into the ether. Yes please to a quote. I can meet you with Dawn Star in Horning. The destination is A R Peachment in Brundall. They're installing a new Nanni. I'm going to be selling the current electric propulsion unit - returning Dawn Star to diesel. Look forward to hearing from you. Edward

G'Day Clive, Many thanks for your message. Yes please to a quote. Dawn Star lives in the wet shed at Richardson's and I need to deliver her to A R Peachment on Monday 1st August. She weighs 6 tons approx. Where are you based? If you could offer 2 quotes? 1/ Stalham - Brundall 2/ Acle-Brundall (I reckon I could get her to Acle with the current electric range of the engine - But if there's not too much difference, I'd be happy to go from Stalham. ? You towed the Zephyr ? That's a lovely boat. Cheers, Edward

Thanks very much for the info. Really valuable, and appreciated. Cheers, Edward

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. Really appreciate. Yes it is Dawn Star. I'm not moving her from her mooring - taking her to Brundall for some modifications. Wish everyone fair weather for the weekend.