ExUserGone

That means they are about to bring out a better one.....

Thanks for the input everyone, a few things to think about. It will probably be about a month before the engines and tanks come out so plenty of time to think about it, a job (and expense) I could have done without.

Can anyone recommend someone to make me 2x stainless steel fuel tanks for my boat? They are 325 litre each and have to be good as the engines have to come out to do the job, I don't want problems once in and have to pull the engines again for a manufacture problem.

The depths of winter can be lovely as long you have good heating onboard and aim for places you can plug in shore power, the realy clear cold days are the best for plenty of sunshine, remember the sun is about 1.5 million miles closer at the winter solstice than it is at the summer solstice, it just doesn't get as high for so long. Also less leaves on trees and hungrier wildlife means you are more likely to see it.

They just daren't hassle folk on the south as it's so lawless they'd probably get shot and eaten so it's much safer to book those jolly friendly bunch up north.

I've used similar many times along with " may your balls turn square and chafe at the corners".

There's a lot of problems in london these days with mophead thieves, or was that moped thieves?

As long as your dog is ok with other dogs he will be fine on the broads, as Griff says most pubs are fine with dogs.

And exactly how would you describe the perpetrators of this crime???? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-40050483

Are geographical places considered insults or expletives, maybe a grid reference could be used instead to avoid offending anyone.

I can't imagine a cat doing his business on a goat, you must be really unlucky! You'd have thought the goat would step out of the way.

Where is it going to? Can I suggest a good scuttling across the mouth of the bure? That would let it carry on being useful for years to come.

It just looks less busy on the south because there's more room between boats but it's just as busy as the north so there's no reason to come flocking down in droves, you lot stay up there, we don't need your sort down here!

With regard to reserved pub moorings I have no problem with it (I do it all the time at surlingham) but I wish they'd put expected arrival times down as it's a shame to see a boat leave when they only wanted to stop for lunch and the sign is put out for an evening arriving visitor, at a busy pub there's no point booking a table to find you can't get there anyway, and you wouldn't object to booking a table would you.

The guy in the cafe/pub at easter isn't the owner of the property but I believe he has known the owner for a long time going by the brief chat I had at easter when I stopped there. It's such a shame the auction got stopped when it was up freehold as it will never do any good while it's still in the present owners hands. I stopped at his other pub along the yare last weekend and had a pretty hideous pint of guiness of which I left half and carried on to the new inn at rockland for a decent pint, there was a distinct smell about the place (not a nasty smell but distinct none the less) so won't be back any time soon. Way past time he walked away and let these pubs stand half a chance, don't know why he clings on to them as they must be costing money just to own.

Just got damp I would guess, the firing mechanism is only a piece of rice paper or similar waiting to get wet. Probably time to replace both inflators.

That makes sense, a much better way to build a boat....

On rivers my fenders stay down but not dragging in the water, it may not be seaman like but I'm not at sea, at sea they get stowed or lifted onto the deck and tucked behind the stanchions. Lifting them everytime on the river just seems like vanity to me, my mooring lines are usually in place so they can be deployed from the cockpit which ever side I moor both bow and stern, why walk down the side decks if you don't need to.

I did a minor veer off course and slow up over the BH weekend heading down to southwold as there was a guy out in the stanford channel on a paddleboard, he gave me the thumbs up and seemed fine so carried on but I did call lowestoft to let them know he was there, seems a long way off shore for paddleboarding, no sign of lifejacket or bouyancy aid either except the board itself.

Confirmed by port ops this morning.

I don't think there are, mine would have been off the lead there but he leaves the wildlife alone when shouted at doesn't like water and ignores most people. It's unlike a greyhound to swim but they do naturally chase anything that moves, even hares on motorbikes.

For walks along roads like that we always carry a rear bike light on the boat and clip it on to your collar or somewhere so you don't have to worry so much about whats coming up behind, if you turn around with a bright torch you then have a blind driver coming towards you.

I've just spoken to port control, Haven bridge is expected to be fixed tonight and they are taking bookings for tomorrow.

That is the plan for tomorrow Alan, I'm off on the boat all next week so could see my plans going down the pan, I can get under an hour either side of low anyway if I drop the radar arch so not a complete disaster but I have an allergic reaction to early starts.

Is there any more info on this one? I was hoping to book a lift for the weekend or early next week.