kpnut

I am spoilt for choice with a wing mirror on port side and a reversing camera! (both fitted by previous owner) so in theory should manage fine. One shows everything nearer than should be and other makes things look further away so took some getting used to. Mine is a swivel seat, I did try it once when I wasn’t on the move, as Vanessan says, a bit dodgy to say the least! I would much prefer a double bench seat so the dog can keep me company, he liked that on past hire boats. Looking forward to watching that video, I don’t have a centre cleat which I think I might need, another thing on my wish list. As for ropes, I took a rope to the fence posts at my allotment, along with videos and practiced. I have had a bit of a mental block with ropes since being in the brownies/guides where it always seemed overly complicated, so I just switched off. How I wish I’d taken more notice! Thanks everyone for your welcome, back home now to reality.

Bluebell, I was there too last night, on springer’s retreat. So was that you opposite me? Fishing at the back when I spoke to you? What’s your boat name? In future, I’m going to ask everyone if they are on the NBN so as not to miss anyone! Sounds like we picked a quiet night, I did hear the HW boat too this morning. I think tonight there’s some sort of gathering at the White Horse, maybe that’s why it’s busy.

Thank you Vaughan. I did say to someone the other week I either needed to grow taller or get a box to stand on to stick my head out of the sunroof! Your idea is much easier.

You watch-after all this talk of practice, advice etc, today will be the day for making a blunder! Back to home mooring and then trying to remember everything I need to do for leaving her safe for a few weeks till next visit. Funny how each boat has its own individual quirks - no wonder people get so attached to them.

There's 4 of us tonight and only two at Gaye's staithe when I walked round there just before dark.

Took me a bit of angst working out about the quote thing! Floydraser- I've managed most of the time very well on my own. But was talking to Lulu this morning about making a right pig's ear of it yesterday morning at the BA moorings at Stokesby, where the tide was running extremely fast. I thought it through beforehand but my thinking was way off. Just glad someone had offered to help anyway. I've spent quite a bit of time out on Barton Broad finding out how the boat handles and pretending I'm stern-on mooring to a marker post. I'm sure many folks must have been wondering what the orange boat was doing going round and round, mainly in reverse! Go for it, read and listen to advice, go slowly, think it through before and after a manoeuvre to learn from it, practice and go to 'easy' places for a while. I certainly wouldn't go through Yarmouth on my own, Just in case I needed to moor up unexpectedly, but am happy to do so when others are on board. I had a lovely 11 days in September 'down south' and will make it a once a year venture I think. Kate

Lovely meeting you Sam and hubby (?, I am very sorry I didn't get your name) and Desmond. I've been re-reading your log about Desmond's first experiences on the boat. Finlay springer took to it immediately when 4 months old. Now nearly 4, he has developed a now ingrained habit of wanting to bring me a toy/slipper etc as soon as we set off. Never bothers the rest of the time, just lies on sofa watching me or nodding off! And stays lying there while I moor up, although I used to tie him on a line attached to the sunroof handle and now try to remember to shut the door when I shoot out to grab a rope. Nice and snug here at Neatishead on electric. I've decide it's cheaper to use electric heater than the diesel heater with the price of diesel at the moment and the fact you have a pound to use up anyway. Hopefully we'll meet again, I intend being on the boat regularly over the winter, even Christmas if I can persuade hubby and family, and I look forward to meeting others in the forum too. Kate and Finlay on Springer's Retreat (ex Richardson's orange bathtub!)

I know nothing about guns, not being a shooter myself, but I do know a bit about gundogs. Finlay springer is 'in training' for his first season picking up. (He still works too far in front of me to be in the beating line). We went picking up on beaters' day at end of season before last, on lead just to introduce him to the experience, apart from a couple of retrieves towards end of the day,which were spot on. I didn't have a chance last season, so now am aiming to have a regular season. I think it'll be the final peg in the hole of switching him on. My first time introducing him to shot was about 10 months old and he was steady right from day one. And far more attentive in training sessions when there is shot or cold game. Just take it slowly and at distance with Purdey, always time to be closer as time goes on. Good luck Purdey, hopefully she'll love it. I just love their expression as they look so focused and ready for the 'word' to go.

I'm sure that's going to be extremely useful Regulo. He has already fitted remote for the diesel heater (no idea if that actually involved wires as I have no idea about these things) and a changeover switch for the fridge so it can run on shore power as well as 12V, and a charger that runs off shore power, but only after the solar has input its bit, so I expect he can make sense of your diagram. Very grateful to you and others for their suggestions. It'l be a discussion we have next month.

indeed, learning fast!

Many thanks for the info about the bow thruster remote. I've looked on the internet, they are available for MaxPower thrusters, at a price! On reading the installation manual I think my daughter's partner who is a whizz with electronics would be able to fit it. Now to find out whether a generic one that does't cost so much would suffice. I watched a couple of videos too, it'd be a good gadget for windier conditions. Perhaps Santa will be kind this year or next! Plenty of other stuff I need. My wishlist for the next few years is - calorifier with immersion heater, fridge, kitchen. I need to earn some money as am quickly realising just what is said about boat ownership and empty pockets.

Oh well, no warm glow of pride then! That goes to someone else this time.

That's interesting, I'll do a bit of research. I do often have to hop back on board to bring the bow back in if I've dithered about at the back. We have fitted a remote control for the diesel heater, so I can lie snug in bed in the morning and turn it on without having to disturb the dog in the saloon. If I had to get up to turn it on, he'd be pestering me to start the day.

Ah ha, thanks. Simple when you know how!

Maybe you were who Griff referred to as the best stern-on mooring he'd ever witnessed at Ranworth Staithe, on a Richardsons 45 ft? I think the date he said was Monday 19th? on his 'Broad Ambition Underway' topic. Lovely photos.

How do I put what someone has written into a blue box to highlight what I'm replying to? Floydraser/Karizma - I'll have to get steeping more fruit of varying varieties then! As for solo helming, I'm getting used to it, my hands are getting less sweaty with the thought of it each time I come into moor! The main thing that helps me is being ultra organised as regards getting mallet/rhond anchors out before setting off and keeping ropes run up the side of the boat at all times in case. And double/tripe/quadruple checking what way the tide is flowing etc. And training the dog to stay put of course! And I must now confess, the boat had already got a bow thruster fitted before I bought her, so solo life is easier than it might be. Even so, stern-on mooring is an art I have most certainly not got the hang of, after quite a few years on hire boats. It always starts OK, then I bottle out and think I'm in a different place to where I actually am so it goes pear-shaped. Practice will hopefully sort that out. Mouldy - I did think about a purchase for about 3 years, looking at all sorts of layouts before deciding on a Horizon 35 with 2 double bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (heads?) - we've converted the 2nd bathroom into a utility/drying room for wet dog gear by extending the diesel heater pipework. As long as I reduce the flow from the other vents (3 of them), there is a blow strong enough to turn the utility at the end of the run into a bit of a sauna! And 2 bedrooms rather than 1 as I'll often be with friends rather than Tony, and I don't like using a sofa bed for more the the odd occasion. If it'd had just been Tony and me I'd have gone for something shorter with one bedroom and a bit more living space. I know the single level 'bathtubs' aren't to everyone's taste but I don't like the idea of sleeping in the bow, sort of 'under the water'. And to all, many thanks for all the kind replies, I've been made to feel very welcome.

I tried replying on my new iphone, donated so I can have some internet access on the boat, but think I did something wrong, so apologies if a similar post ends up twice! Many thanks to all the welcomes, look forward to meeting you all, my damson gin might have to come out one evening if I meet you, Simon and Katie, anyone else is welcome to try it too. Am I right in thinking Seren is the collie who likes to sit by the front window of your boat, YnysMon? And maybe I helped your sister boat, Evening Shadow, moor up at Acle the other week when I was there with my 90yr old mum on board. As you say, Lulu, it's good to help out and a good way of meeting folk too. Apologies to Griff etc on Broads Ambition if reading, I called her Broad Ambition in my original post.

Hope I'm doing this correctly as I haven't used a forum before, apart from reading stuff, which I've been doing on here for the last couple of years. It is jammed full of useful info. I decided on the spur of the moment this morning to join. I'm new to boat ownership, buying one of the lovely bright orange Horizon 35s in April and I moor at Richardsons. I bit the bullet and renamed her (hopefully we pacified the gods as well as they could wish at our renaming ceremony; we certainly enjoyed it, as did a passing swan!). She's now Springer's Retreat, seeing as I'm always accompanied by at least one fine example of that beautiful breed of dog. I've managed 4 trips so far, the nearly 4 hour journey is a bit of a drag, but just means I need to stay longer to make it worthwhile, so that's a plus. Broad Ambition went past on Monday afternoon when I was moored up the Ant, I waved to Purdey on your way past, but my Finlay didn't come out to say hello. I'm usually on my own, seeing as hubby isn't so keen and is not so well at the moment and I can't always find friends to come as frequently as I like to, so if any of you see me struggling to moor, please help a solo newbie. I've only made a couple of slight boobs so far (thanks for the help given by Maurice Mynah's friend at Horning Staithe last month). I'm learning solo boating fast and being cautious, so no going to GY or Breydon on solo trips just yet and am very willing to accept advice. If it's not me on board, it'll be my daughter and partner with their springer Charlie (Finlay's brother). Please give us a wave or a toot or whatever. Kate