bucket

Lovely pics Warren! Womack is such a peaceful mooring.....enjoy.

I have always enjoyed a sunny aftenoon at Ranworth, moored on the front, watching the world float by. Even as a hirer though, the sight of another boat, hurtling backwards towards the gap alongside you, set the heart-a-pumping! But now, as one of our boat owners, I only moor, either down the side or on the other side of the boat dyke where there is less chance of sustaining a clattering. We generally eat in the pub.....(over the years has been both good and not so...) but usually after dinner will either move and mudweight on the broad, or cruise slowly back to our home mooring in Horning.....the quiet, gentle evening cruise is one of my great pleasures in boating.... So....I am at a bit of a loss as what to do about paying to moor. Not going at all is cutting my nose off etc, but to pay a tenner just to have dinner in the pub when we are not staying overnight...... Time will tell. By the end of the season I will no doubt have adapted my itinerary to accommodate the change. And like most of us, I am annoyed with the introduction of charges, but, like most of us, my annoyance is toward the authority that made the decision, not the poor ranger (barely above the national minimum wage) doing her or his best to keep the wolf from the door in a difficult, seasonal job market, in an astonishingly thankless (insofar as the charging goes) challenging role. If the charges are introduced in a couple of weeks, and I do choose to moor there, I, like most of us, will always treat the ranger with respect, will pay my due, and thank my lucky stars that I am able to choose where I float.

Welcome aboard Royston, well done for joining.

Kate.......if strong winds are forecast I would always try to moor somewhere the wind is coming off the land rather than across the water, particularly if it is a large body of water. Waves can of course bounce back off river banks but will generally will have reduced impact after bouncing ......depending on the shape of the bank. So if the wind is strong and from the north or east ......I would try to choose Womack, Sutton or Hoveton.

It was always Scarborough at Easter, but I am very much a (very) fair weather rider now...and I am past kipping under canvas.....I can't get much family or luggage on the scooter so it will have to be the car! Mouldy.......we change over on Thursday lunchtime so will be back home when you get there but I look forward to meeting you sometime soon.

Really looking forward to Easter this year......our first week on Blue Mist starts on Thursday April 6th! I guess it will be busy.....and maybe not that warm.....but I don't care.....it will be brilliant! I have bought my little forum flag, so give us a wave if you see us.

She looks wonderful, a credit to you all. I couldn't agree more about Horning Pleasurecraft, a lovely yard and such a helpful caring team. We must only be a handful of moorings from you, I will say hello if you are about in April, May or June when we are down.

Meat of any kind, dried and pounded.....saturated with fat....... Reminds me of many a late night, walking home from the pub, culinary delight in Leeds. ...............

Well I look forward to saying hello. Oldgregg's view is perfectly valid, our opinions are influenced by our experience......and syndicate ownership wouldn't suit everyone, but it does suit me. Mindful though that this thread is meant to be about new hire boats.........so I will shut up for now.

She looks lovely.....and I am told the Opal will fit under Potter bridge a bit easier than ours!

Hello Oldgregg I only joined the syndicate last February but I am aware that the insurance covered the cost of the repairs. And thanks for asking, she is absolutely lovely, to look at and to drive. I think the 38 Pearl is such an elegant looking boat. I am very proud of her. She has been updated over the last few years, new engine, bow thruster, shore power, electric loos and upholstry....very comfortable. The first of our 5 weeks this year starts April 6th so we are onboard over easter, staying on the northern rivers. Feel free to pop round and have a look if you are there when I am!?

On Blue Mist we slide the curtains forward and tuck them into a strap/loop (one on each side) before opening the roof. It prevents them from getting trapped between the roof and the canopy and keeps them dry if the roof is wet.

The Ferry was never a favourite of ours, but since we are based at HPC, it is convenient...and only a short walk......I suppose it is our local. And I have to say, on each visit last season, the food, beer (Woodfords is good enough for me) and the service was very good indeed. Photo from a lovely late afternoon/early evening last May......cheesy bacon chips, onion rings and a few pints with a mate....the healthy option.....taken just before my heart attack........kidding..... The proper meals (when there with the family) are excellent too!

Jeff......it is a fabulous beach, and coincidentally I took this photo (hope I have attached it correctly) while out for a wander on Tuesday.....the cafe you delivered to can be seen to the far left above the sea wall. I imagine it was a bit awkward getting to it in the van!

Yes ok, thanks Helen.

Thank you all for such a warm welcome! Griff?....you are quite right, my granny had a caravan at Reighton Gap in the 60's, it was a caravan camp back then, they started calling them holiday parks some years later. Broads01, I am very pleased to be a member of Blue Mist syndicate. She is a lovely Aquafibre 38 Pearl, based, as are quite a few of the syndicate boats, at Horning Pleasurecraft. There are many on here who are better placed to advise than me (just 11 months into shared ownership) but my experience so far has been everything I could have expected.....and my fellow syndicate members are a delight! I researched long and hard (there were a few boats with shares for sale.....as there are now) before applying to be considered to join our syndicate.....there was/is a very good thread on NBN from 2018 which I found really helpful.......I have just revisited it before posting......all is still relevant.

Thanks Jeffbroadslover....most of the members will never have heard of it.....but being a Yorkie you most certainly will have! Filey, on the North Yorkshire coast.

Thanks MM, and no it is just proper bucket, there isn't much french about moi......

Morning all........I am new as a contributer but have followed this forum for a while, learning loads along the way. Although new to NBN, I first hired on the Broads in 1981 (I know.....last century)......and loved it! I returned as a hirer every year with my children for over 20 years until last year when I embarked upon syndicate boating......one of the best things I have ever done. Anyway, enough about me for now, and blimey there is so much going on at the moment and much of it isn't good. But also, as the days lengthen and the mercury slowly rises....for those of us who are fortunate enough to have discovered the magic of boating and the Broads, a new season of adventures is upon us, with so much to look forward to. And thank the lord for that!! ps.....thank you for having me!