.png.5ff10cca1d0967e44a17e4a2edde2a80.png)
kpnut
-
Posts
2,077 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
54
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Articles
Posts posted by kpnut
-
-
Troubleshooting my trickle charger this evening has me (well, really my son in law at the other end of the phone with me following instructions) diagnosing a malfunction between charger and battery. Junction box is the culprit for some reason unknown at present, seeing as it hasn’t had any work done to it. Looks like it’s deformed itself in some way.
Anyway, hopefully a simple fix in the morning with a new one.
He said he’s going to show me how it’s possible to top up the leisure battery from the engine battery sometime. Something to do with jump leads. Sounds just like a car in that case, but only using the positive terminals?
I do find all this stuff very interesting. I suppose if things didn’t go wrong, I wouldn’t learn!!!!-
1
-
-
Thursday morning.
The Wroxham bridge height was just about 6’7” at low tide this morning, so with both my guests on deck to keep an eye out, I went for it. Why had I worried?Next stop in the sleet was Horning. We got togged up and walked up past the radar museum, to Alderfen Broad where I can assure anyone worried about the coot population that it’s extremely healthy. On round via Workhouse Common and a visit to the very pretty St Peters church, Neatishead. And back to Horning where the lure of the Staithe and Willow cafe was just too much to resist.
So we used up the electric credit on the post to dry all our wet gear while we enjoyed lunch in the cafe. Finlay was very happy to lie in front of the woodburner, full of sausage he’d been gifted by the proprietor.
I’ve noticed for the last few months that my battery charge light keeps coming on, sometimes flickering, sometimes solid. Of course, having the solar panel and the shore power trickle charger I’ve not bothered to see to it - one of those “perhaps the alternator will sort itself out someday”!
Today, with no sun for the solar panel, and my shore power battery charger not wired up at the moment, was the day the batteries decided to start draining. We’re now being cautious about lights etc, until hopefully getting the engine started on the morrow and getting either alternator or trickle charger wiring sorted at LBBY. If we can’t start, they will come to us at Ranworth.
Oh well, all part of the adventure of learning about my boat. Thankfully we’re on the shore power, so not exactly roughing it.
We have Ranworth to ourselves and are keeping Pipedream’s slot warm for Simon and Katie.-
6
-
1
-
-
And none to speak of here at the boat, a slight bit of sleet and just manky rain all day. And now proper heavy rain with the wind blowing the water onto the boat, making a racket.
-
Done and assuming we’ve done it correctly ( which I do think we have and triple checked) it seems 6’5”, compared with the official 6’9” on the plate at the helm from her hireboat days.
I still won’t be going under Wroxham at a board marker height of 6’6” though, 6’7” yes as the pilot told me I’d be ok at that.-
4
-
-
Well I misjudged my day somewhat. A nice leisurely start after a short stroll at Coltishall and a fill-up with water at Bridge Broad boatyard and we were off to Horning. Or we weren’t, as it was coming to high tide and 6’6” showing on all boards. Oops!
So it’s either a cruise at dusk tonight or stay till the morning, which is what we’ve opted for.
We’re going to measure the airdraft on SR this afternoon if we can snap out of our dozey after lunch stupor.
-
1
-
-
5 hours ago, Mouldy said:
Sadly, we’ll be finishing our week on Moonlight Shadow on 21st April, so our paths won’t cross this time. Based on our usual experience, that means that it will be the beginning of a hot dry week, just as we go home! 😉
Thanks for the heads up Malcolm, I’ll put it in my diary for a trip down to the boat.
-
1
-
-
16 minutes ago, NeilB said:
Did you get a good look at exactly how he was adjusting the rate? - asking for a friend.....
I did have much the same thought Neil!
-
1
-
-
Early March trip 2023.
Springer’s Retreat has been at LBBY for some work for a while now, overdue for return but that’s another story.
So George facilitated my ‘borrowing’ of her for a while to honour a commitment to some friends who’d booked time off work for a holiday with me.
Various modifications to ‘work in progress’ means we have a working toilet and shower, along with a big hole in the main bathroom where a rotten wall is to be replaced.
But quite handy to use a temporary storeroom.
I picked her up on Friday 3rd, staying overnight in the yard and paying a visit by car to Sam and Graham and Desmond dog on Luna Aurora for a fish and chip supper at Potter, and setting off to Stalham on Saturday afternoon. Perishingly cold by the time I got back as I hadn’t checked the diesel heater before setting off and didn’t want to turn it on while underway in case something went ‘bang’. I’ve had a new fuel tank fitted and had forgotten to ask whether the diesel heater had needed bleeding, and if so, had it been.
Anyway, all’s well there.
My friends duly arrived on time and our first overnight stop was Dilham. Within a few minutes of setting off we spotted our first kingfishers, other spots on the way up were a couple of herons and a muntjac.
We had the moorings to ourselves, with a hireboat arriving on Monday morning just as we were setting off.
Sunday afternoon was spent on a good walk round to Tonnage Bridge and up to the disused lock at Honing and back down the lane to Dilham. That path by the canal to the lock can be extremely muddy, but surprisingly it was the best I’ve experienced for a while. Finlay did get blathered up though, so a swim in the turning circle at the moorings was in order, then to be dragged out by his lead as the water level is low!Our excursions warranted a tasting session of the various concoctions onboard, that made the evening pass nicely!
Wayford Bridge had plenty of headroom, showing well over 7’ on both journeys.
Monday, in on and off drizzle, we motored along to Wroxham, with the board there, halfway between high and low tides, showing over 7’ as well. Mooring on the electric at St Johns we had the visit to Roys and a stop off at the Hotel Wroxham. I wouldn’t have dared go in there (would have thought too posh for the likes of me!) without having previously been introduced by SwanR, so many thanks Jean for that last autumn.
A late start on Tuesday as we wanted to buy a dvd from the charity shop to test out my newly installed TV. We can’t actually watch tv on it until I sort out the aerial situation, but with my limited knowledge of how electronic things work, I did think a dvd probably doesn’t need an aerial and I was proved right.
We visited Belaugh church, mooring at the parish staithe on the corner and having a nice chat to two fishermen who were cooking sausages and making us feel hungry. And then on to Coltishall lock where we met them again. We only stayed a while to go for a walk, as the idea of being hooked up to electric on coltishall green on a night forecast to be below zero was too enticing.
and so if proved to be, a wonderful full Lenten moon last night, followed by frosty decks by 8pm.
-
8
-
-
I remember those photos of the Ferry house at Surlingham at the time Mouldy.
On 18/02/2023 at 08:18, Mouldy said:Getting a mooring there, to visit The Archers, was always something of a lottery even when the extended moorings were in use that have since fallen into a state of disrepair.
Was the pub you mentioned, the Archers, what is now the Reedham Ferry or was there another pub there too?
-
2 hours ago, MauriceMynah said:
I'm sure I've asked this before somewhere on the forum but do we actually know how much the BA is charging per Kwh?
I can’t answer that exact question but I had a very interesting encounter yesterday.
I was moored at Hoveton St. John’s and spied a young man in an official looking uniform ‘fiddling’ with the electric posts. Thinking he might be a ranger emptying the recycled card slots, I asked him if he had any cards for sale, seeing as the broads info office was closed for a refurb.
He wasn’t a ranger (and no, he had no cards) but he worked for a company contracted to the BA to service the posts. He’s the only person who does this and serves the whole of the broads area himself.
He was using what looked like an Allen key to twizzle something on the ‘card’ side of each outlet. I asked him if he was twizzling so we got less electric for our £1 and he said ‘quite the opposite, the price has actually gone down and I’m adjusting them all so you have more for your money, your card will last longer’.
Stupidly, I should have asked about prices etc but didn’t as was so amazed that1. The electric posts get adjusted manually, I’d have thought they were linked to some central button to press in an office somewhere and
2. There’s only him to do every post on the broads.
We then had a good discussion about the BA wishing to electrify the system and our conclusion was on the extremely dubious side due to many of the issues already discussed on here re infrastructure etc etc. We agreed what was needed was to ‘walk before you run’ or a ‘bottom up’ solution rather than ‘top down’ ie get the basic infrastructure in place first.
I asked why the BA weren’t starting now, if they’re so keen on the idea, with more posts at the ‘easy’ places, like where I was standing at Hoveton, the viaduct moorings, Ludham bridge, Coltishall etc. I was thinking anywhere with nearby access to electricity already (not withstanding the issue of substation capacity etc).
The BA is ‘soon’ going to putting more posts at Great Yarmouth. They have get permission off the council first. So I suppose that’ll apply in a lot of other places.
-
4
-
-
I had been looking forward to the rounds last Friday, they sounded interesting, but sorry Mike, I got waylaid by joining the good folks on Luna Aurora celebrating a birthday! And very nice it was too I might add.
I love the sound of your quiz this Friday coming Jean, will do my utmost to be there if I get a good signal somewhere and don’t get sidetracked with my friends on board. I’m planning it into my itinerary!!!
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, BroadAmbition said:
There are some proper cold temperatures coming, here's hoping those afloat don't get iced in
My thoughts exactly. I’m hoping February warmed the water enough to keep the ice at bay.
I’m out and about this week, ‘borrowing’ my boat from LBBY who haven’t quite finished the work on her. At least it gives me a chance to troubleshoot any snagging jobs.
I warned my two friends, who have only been in June and Sept before to expect something rather different, especially as the bathroom has no wall under the window at the moment so is a good escape route for any heat we input!-
2
-
-
You’re all making me feel queasy! please stop. Xx
-
1
-
-
42 minutes ago, YnysMon said:
I didn’t make pancakes today
There’s still time Helen!
-
You read my thoughts Grendel. I very nearly posted a photo of my yummy pancakes, lemon and sugar for me, never anything else. And Tony doesn’t like them, so ALL MINE. My once a year treat.
Had to go to two shops yesterday before I could find any eggs, mind you. Should have asked plot neighbours at the allotments.-
1
-
-
That's a lovely colour and very smart
-
1
-
1
-
-
37 minutes ago, BroadAmbition said:
I'm still in a 32" waist and have been since my early twenties. took me years to get up to an acceptable size.
Lucky so and so!!!! But granted, lots of exercise/physical work is one key factor I feel, and by lots, I mean far more than what is doable for most. I certainly am losing the battle.
My son’s like you Griff. Trying to buy trousers long enough, but with a 28” waist is near impossible. He’s filled out now to 32” and it’s much easier. He even moaned to the gp once about why do people wanting to lose weight get all the help but there’s no help for those needing to put some weight on. I put it down to his job too, playing a trombone for hours a day must take up masses of energy, arms, lungs, heart, diaphragm, and he doesn’t replace it with beer which is the downfall of most burly brass players!!!-
1
-
-
18 minutes ago, ExSurveyor said:
I am still waiting for kipper ties and flares to come back. 😁
Flares are back, based on my experience of trying to buy some jeans last week!
-
1
-
-
22 minutes ago, YnysMon said:
they really think that future generations will think exactly like today’s ‘accepted view’?
I sincerely hope not. It’s all a bit bonkers at the moment, is that what the word ‘woke’ means?
I commented to my pregnant daughter, whom I hadn’t seen for a month, that her bump was bigger than I expected for her stage of pregnancy. I got such a telling off, for what I’m not quite sure. I had somehow invaded her sense of privateness about her own body I think.
Why are they so sensitive nowadays? My two certainly weren’t brought up to be ‘flowers’!-
1
-
-
I also found Jackson’s leisure good value compared with some others. But instead of the domestic crx80, the cre80 was ‘the same’ but without a salad box at the bottom and at the time (over a year ago) about £200 cheaper. Seeing as I didn’t fancy paying £200 for a salad box, especially as I’d have had to take it out to fit the dog food box in, I chose the cheaper option.
Does all the same stuff - exactly the same dimensions, reversible handle, removable freezer box if you want more fridge room, and we found some way of other of fitting a 2way switch so it can go on shore power or 12v, did it use something called a ‘dropper box’?if you are replacing an old Waeco vex80, keep a shelf and a door shelf as both now only come with one shelf and one small door shelf (along with the door box for milk etc).
Looking just now, Jackson’s still seem good, cre80 is £680, crx80 £800
-
Balmy
in Broads Chat
I also agree. The shop is definitely not on my ‘must go to’ list any more. I have a look if I’m there. I don’t tell friends to save their pennies elsewhere in readiness for a visit.
-
2
-
-
And lastly, in case anyone who needs to know isn’t aware, water turned off at Reedham and electric posts wrapped in bin bags for the winter. I think someone said earlier in the winter it’s cos it floods.
-
A last walk to the Ferry Inn along a very dry riverbank and I saw a man dredging someone’s private mooring at the last house (most westerly on river) in the village, amazing how much stuff he’d managed to pile up. Then a bit later a little flock of very friendly sheep. No doubt they’d been bottle lambs or similar when young.
The chain ferry was docked and then set off a bit later with its load of one car. The pub was shut for its holidays it said on the window but there were some men inside so maybe some work is being done. The moorings were very muddy, even the ones on the stone pub frontage. Do they flood? The grass ones are ok Helen, slightly broken in a couple of places, but the posts are extremely short.
I liked the fact they are wooden moorings, not concrete. I’ll give it a go sometime.
What I really needed was Mr and Mrs Nog in my pictures. I missed them by a few days I think, based on their holiday tale. Very few boats about. I think it was about 4 today and none yesterday.
By the way, and probably irrelevant by now, Potter Heigham bridge was showing 6’7” on Wednesday just about on low tide.
-
2
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, Chelsea14Ian said:
💙 is the colour.
Of course, but not for the team you support 🕊as near as I can find to a noisy, white marine bird that likes to eat chips!
Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers
in Holiday Tales & Blogs
Posted
I was pleased to see plenty of swan couples on Halvergate marshes the other week. So just cos we don’t see them on the rivers doesn’t necessarily mean there are none.