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dom

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Posts posted by dom

  1. 13 minutes ago, Karizma said:

    I agree, not sure how much someone would charge for servicing an alternator like what I've just done?, but there cant be a lot of money in it as a completely new one (like for like) only cost abt £150 each.

    I've changed plenty of brushes in the past, but I can't recall ever having replaced a set of bearings - probably largely because anything I saw was already dead/dying and it was far simpler to just fit a new unit.

    I suspect it'd be uneconomical to do commercially, unless you're running a dedicated operation. £150/6 hours = £25/hr, which isn't generally anything like a viable labour rate for a business taking costs and parts into consideration. That's assuming you're charging £150 - in reality, it'd need to be significantly less. I've spent quite a lot of time trying to explain this type of thing to customers in the past, especially with things like CD players, with a high cost, but where repairs are very demanding.

    Good way to save several £100s doing it DIY though, if you've got the time and patience.

    • Like 2
  2. Panks Auto Electrical on Heigham Street in Norwich always used to be a good place to try for parts. It's been a lot of years since I last used them though, so not sure whether that still applies. I suspect the number of people outside professional remanufacturers doing this type of work is probably tiny these days.

    • Like 2
  3. 22 minutes ago, Hylander said:

    What really gets my goat and I cannot get my head round is the fact that daft people pay a monthly fee to these people , who on the whole are on a glorified paid for holiday all year round.  

    The only time I've ever paid money to someone is just before Christmas, when a couple I've already mentioned were having their first full winter on a narrowboat. Their domestic batteries died, the one of them who works was struggling to get shifts and it was leading up to Christmas. I made a small donation - partly because of their circumstances, and partly as a "buy yourselves something nice to eat or drink over Christmas" to say thanks for a lot of enjoyable content over the previous year.

    Donating to conspicuously well off people is just slightly unhinged. Apart from anything else, there are far worthier channels actually doing positive things with the money they generate instead.

    • Like 1
  4. 13 minutes ago, oldgregg said:

    The YouTuber who had the misfortune of suffering an engine failure on his light aircraft and had to bail out.

    More notable is the British guy (who actually lived not far from me) who did a base jump off a 29 storey skyscraper in Thailand earlier this year, whilst filming himself for his Youtube channel. His canopy failed to open and he died as a result.

    The sad part is, he's far from alone. Young people are increasingly suffering fatal accidents whilst trying to create content. Particularly sad when influencer now features heavily in "what do you want to be when you grow up" top 10 lists.

    • Like 2
  5. 33 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

    So are we saying that this is all funded by advertising?

    Edited to add :

    Thank you very much for reply. I am not being flippant : I am actually very keen to see how this monster feeds itself!

    There are two main principles in operation:

    1: Legitimate businesses pay Google to advertise their products with "Pay per click" or "Pay per view" ads. They then choose how much to pay Google for every person who views or clicks on one of their ads (typically £0.10 to £1.00 per click, but a lot more in some cases, ie. financial services). Bids can be set by account, campaign, or even a specific keyword. Google needs somewhere to place the ads, so they look for videos on their Youtube platform where they can run ads. They match content based on demographics, ie. a young beauty influencer's videos might attract ads for beauty products, shampoo, mobile phones, etc. Every ad view generates income for Google, who pass on a percentage to the video producer. Clever content creators pick their video subject matter to attract lucrative ads (a point seemingly lost on those filming at Ludham).

    2: Affiliate marketing. A product manufacturer or distributor (often Chinese) will run an "influencer campaign". They look for high traffic channels and gift them a product in return for having their product featured, either used in context, or being reviewed. Obviously in the latter case, the reviews tend to be positive - but are never, ever fake :default_icon_rolleyes:. In most cases, the free product is the incentive for the video producer - but in others, there may also be payment involved. At the moment, there's a lot of focus on lithium portable power packs in the boating field. JustEat's home delivery meals are also getting flogged to death.

    I've run PPC ads from the business advertiser side since they first appeared. I have also run ads on content networks on the other side of things (web, rather than video content). As a result, I could suggest a way to make far more money from a Broads based video, but won't for obvious reasons.

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
  6. 1 hour ago, ExSurveyor said:

    Is there an easy way to see if a YouTube thing is monetised.

    Not easily or accurately. Anyone with 1k+ subscribers may be.  Socialblade.com will give an indication of what a channel might be earning. I suspect most people hitting 1k probably opt into Google's ad programs, but most probably earn little or nothing.

    Really, there ought to be far more transparency and I think Google ought to only be paying money to Youtube channels who make their owners identities clearly known and state that they're monetized. Unfortunately though, Google's finances are so vast that when the EU fine them €2.4bn for anti-trust breaches, they just laugh about it, make changes, but then revert back to their original position after a while. They just don't care about these things and no-one really has the power to force them to do anything.

    • Thanks 1
  7. 45 minutes ago, YnysMon said:

    Last weekend’s video did feature some boats having difficulty at Ludham Bridge with the wind, but no ‘incidents’, and sympathetic commentary which just served to remind people that the tide and wind combined can make things difficult. Actually, I found it quite instructive to watch. I also liked that she said that nasty comments would be deleted.

    Would she have shown incidents if any occurred though? I think we all know the answer.

    I can appreciate the point you're making, but there's so much more to the Broads than just that one bridge. It's been done to death, so I think it's time to just leave it. There are lots of aspects of the area which haven't ever been covered - and the one dimensional videos do the area a disservice.

    I've said it before, but I'm not going to suggest topics, as it's conceivable I might have a go at uploading some stuff in future - but, as an example, why not go and have a chat with someone at one of the sailing clubs and feature some sailing. Better still, provide some info on youth sailing and how kids can get into the sport. Or take a look at what Alice Loxton does - she now has 2 million social followers just from talking about history.

     

    • Like 1
  8. 43 minutes ago, Bernard said:

    one of them is one of the worst anglers I have seen on the broads giving 'advice', terrible fish handling skills.

    I suspect I know who you mean. Also goes wherever he likes, including filming a video fishing from private land in someone's back garden. Has also fallen out with two boatyards, a pub landlord and homeowners in Wroxham - all of whom he criticizes, completely failing to comprehend his intrusion.

    To be fair though, he does at least show his face and makes no secret of his identity.

    What I do notice is that two of the worst Ludham Bridge offenders have never shown their faces and use pseudonyms. Obviously, anyone can film another person in public. I'd really like to see how they'd react when caught on video and uploaded to Youtube.

     

    • Like 1
  9. A R Peachments are the first people I'd speak to when it comes to replacement drivetrain parts.

    I was going to suggest speaking to NYA Service Centre - not because I'd especially recommend them, more because they're right next door to Peachments, so it's easy to remove a part and take in for ID - but if the boat's out of the water at Loddon, you obviously don't want to have to incur another lift in and out.

    Can Greenway Marine help?

    • Like 1
  10. 1 hour ago, grendel said:

    I tend to visit Horning post office every time i moor up at horning- sadly though I visit the post office I only go there for the Arthur Ransome books sold there.

    I'm currently about 5 books into the S&A series again. Hate to think how many times I've read it. I slipped up when my grandparents passed away, forgetting to go through their book collection before my mum offloaded them all. They had Ransome and C.S.Lewis copies which I suspect were quite early editions. I now have the whole lot on Kindle on my iPad instead. With anyone else, you'd feel a bit foolish admitting to reading kid's books, but Ransome's combination of proper sailing, adventure and passion for the countryside still seems unparalleled.

    It's a shame he didn't write any more mature fiction. Racundra's First Cruise being based on real life experience was so dry I've still not made it all the way through.

    • Like 1
  11. 40 minutes ago, MauriceMynah said:

    Many Chinese takeaways Are 'cash only'. In Stalham High Street there are three, two of which are cash only and one takes card payment. The one taking cards is significantly more expensive. I suspect that the cost of the card service is the reason, rather than Chinese laundering money. 

    It's cheaper for a company to take card payments than other method these days - particularly with the lack of places to pay in cash.

    1% card charge isn't a particularly large issue with high margin product like food. Probably more likely that the one with a card machine has a better understanding of their finances and is pricing accordingly.

     

  12. 1 hour ago, rightsaidfred said:

    Trouble is with people detouring of through Newmarket that then becomes gridlocked taking even longer, it was bad enough when the A11 used to run through there with much less traffic than today.

    I worked in Newmarket in recent years and the traffic can be horrendous. The biggest issue is the corner near the Guineas shopping centre is always a bit of a sticking point but, at any random point in time, you might get a procession of dozens of horses crossing, which bring the place to a complete standstill.

    • Like 2
  13. 1 hour ago, rightsaidfred said:

    personally I would be wary of supporting any business that only deals in cash.

    I'm the same. Any business not taking cards is likely to be evading tax, money laundering - or has had so many customers disputing transactions due to poor product/service that they're no longer able to obtain card services.

    There used to be a time when getting a card terminal could prove difficult, and fees were excessive - but that's long gone and literally anyone can now get one for around £50 or so, with fees not much more than 1%.

    The only exception to the rule is gun shops. You can't discriminate against age, race, gender or disability these days, but apparently it's fine to do so against law abiding, fully licensed gun dealers because guns offend some people - even when being used for pest control in food production, or control of invasive species. Many struggle to get card services, or even business bank accounts of late.

  14. Unsurprisingly, Duncan Baker is now involved, trying to get the Post Office to pass the franchise(?) over to Tidings. I'd be very surprised if they raised any objections. Seems a logical outcome, retaining services in the village.

    • Like 1
  15. 2 hours ago, MauriceMynah said:

    I am aware that one liveaboard has to stay close to the head of the Ant to enable him to pick up his daughter from school.

    That sounds like a clear cut "priority need" case which would get allocated social housing. A family would normally get self-contained emergency/temporary housing?

    • Like 3
  16. 53 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

    My own perspective is that of a commercial boat hirer, who has grown up to love the Broads as well as to earn his living there.  If the Broads were not a beautiful and attractive place to come on holiday, we wouldn't have any customers and the BA would not be able to afford to maintain the place!

    That's fairly closely aligned with my view. The subject of the news article marked himself out as someone who either needs to curb his behaviour, or to be moved on when he started verbally attacking holiday boaters and making overt physical threats against both them and BA staff. For anyone who grew up in Broadland, that type of behaviour is tantamount to treason, as everyone recognises the importance of tourism to the local economy.

    • Like 2
  17. 44 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

    So look upon this latest eyesore, and weep!

    All of the housing along that side is really the bit I find most offensive, as it has ruined the outlook from the staithe and Kings Head area - which make up a sizeable chunk of the publicly accessible space in Hoveton. It never should have been allowed and particularly not to the height that it is. As bucket says though, the image quality isn't great and the scaffolding is deceptive, making it look like newer development up towards the railway bridge. It's actually just maintenance on an established property.

    The whole area needs Hoveton Parish Council, sorry Hoveton Community Council :default_icon_rolleyes: to step up and decide a proper plan for its future. BA are responsible for the riverside park, but are pleading poverty regarding their obligations to maintain the area, the Three Horseshoes site needs a long term solution and P&H's yard is just running to ruin. It needs a clear vision so planning follows suit but they seem more wrapped up in petty squabbles than anything of late. It also doesn't help that they employed a Parish Warden to tackle some of the lesser issues, but the person concerned went off long term sick within months of employment.

    • Like 3
  18. 6 hours ago, MauriceMynah said:

    Well,  I've read this whole thread several times and have to say I'm disappointed with some of the comments made. I wonder at those who have said they don't want to see liveaboards hogging wild moorings or to see them overstaying 24 hr moorings. They've got to be somewhere.

    Nothing I've said is in any way aimed at, or intended to offend you MM. Hopefully you're adhering to the rules wherever possible, I doubt you've ever painted swastikas all over your boat or made death threats, hopefully you don't steal and any involvement in drugs doesn't extend beyond what's likely to be legalised in the near future.

    I do have a bit of a grievance with the statement that "they''ve got to be somewhere". If they're there by choice, they should be self sustaining and playing by the rules wherever possible. If they're not there by choice, that's the bit which really annoys me. Don't capitulate to the pressure to just go away and buy a boat as a supposed solution. Go and sit on the DWP's doorstep until you get housed properly. The DWP are obligated to support anyone with less than £16k in assets. If you have more than £16k, the rules say you have to use that to support yourself until it's no longer the case. I don't like the fact, as it doesn't take into account age and that the money might be set aside for retirement, but that's the rules.

    My main issue is with the one individual in this case, who I suspect may have fled issues on his home patch (which is obviously the opposite end of the island) and seems to be leaving a trail of junk and destruction in his path. It now seems to be escalating into unlawful encampment on, and damage to our precious Broadland environment. If he's going to start a squat, go do it on a bit of brownfield site somewhere, not a unique and irreplaceable natural habitat.

    I don't know what he thinks he's going to achieve taking the matter to Crown Court. Seems like all it'll result in is more adverse publicity, a full list of charges appearing in the public domain and quite possibly harsher sentencing.

    • Like 2
  19. 3 hours ago, Vaughan said:

    God, what have they done to Porter and Haylett's boatyard?

    I'm assuming you're referring to the housing right against the river on the left. I think most of that is over what used to be a Broads Tours wet shed. There may have been a little bit of P&H before the bridge over the dyke (there was a historic yard there at one time), but the majority of the yard beyond is all just sat there at the moment (unless anything's changed in the last few months).

    Hopefully, the fact the road bridge is over the access to the broad, the close proximity to the railway and the fact it regularly floods might be enough to stop it being redeveloped into yet more expensive housing.

    • Like 1
  20. 49 minutes ago, floydraser said:

    Agreed. Try to keep them on the line to stop them bothering anyone else. See it as a challenge. Can be funny but can get nasty.

    If I'm not busy at the time, I like to ask them "when you're on your deathbed looking back at your life, how will you feel when you realise all you've done is scam the old and vulnerable?". Probably hasn't caused any existential crises, but you never know and it definitely makes them stop and think.

    • Like 4
  21. 3 hours ago, Vaughan said:

    I am not saying the BA are at the root cause of this problem but they have just aggravated it, by their intransigent position with regard to "house boats".

    Meanwhile, they've allowed the subject of this thread to register a cruiser as a houseboat, seemingly because it's in a poor state of repair and lacks an engine - and despite the fact it moves regularly.

    I'm not sure if it's still around but, if so, it may well be one of the eyesores up the Ant on a wild mooring which was mentioned earlier in this thread. It has also spent time blocking valuable space on public BA moorings in the past.

    • Like 1
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