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LondonRascal

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Posts posted by LondonRascal

  1. 59 minutes ago, BroadAmbition said:

    What's wrong with using 'B.A' as a 'Day Boat'? 

    Nothing much at all - but I think the fact is that I am looking for something, something different, something to provide freedom or 'immediate satisfaction'. That is why I am being a tad more cautious..? And not rushing things because I am trying to go over the larger picture and not the 'right now'.

    B.A. is a very different emotional feeling for me and represents something deeper I guess. The idea of a very basic, but nice looking little runabout appealed mainly because it looks good and does not cost a great deal. Something like an actual day boat does not look very nice and sleek, yet costs more. Anything bigger will make me want to start doing things and then get torn between this boat and that..I will see, I do like that Yellow one but don't like the big 40Hp 2 stroke outboard.

    I am too choosy lol

  2. I've come to a conclusion - I will do nothing for now.

    If I do make a move, then I rather like the 'retro' model that is in that deep yellow colour which just shouts 1970's. I found out this was bought some time ago in a more sorry state through Boatshed Norfolk and has had some cosmetic attention by the current owner to bring her to the standard we see today. The engine remains unchanged however.

    It is not anti-fouled which is to be expected for a boat that generally spends little time in the water. If I was to go down this route, then I would intend to keep the boat in the water and therefore would require anti-fouling. The boat would then spend the winter on the hard.

    So for the time being let me just put this on the back burner.

     

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  3. Having read peoples responses and looked again I am leaning toward not going for this one - the reason is I have seen other websites who have had actual Scorpio's sold for around the price sought for the Gemini I am interested in, and Gemini's for far less and their condition looked much the same.

    I suspect that this needed a little TLC and Sutton Staithe Boatyard have worked a little magic and made her look the fine example she is and because of that and because of their costs in so doing, I feel the boat is attracting a premium in the way the boat is cosmetically, and glossing over the relatively small powered outboard for this type of boat.

    There was a link above to a Scorpio that is up for sale for £1,000 - but needs a great deal of time spent to bring her up to the type of finish as the Gemini for sale is. I did find another Gemini in Norwich for £2,995 - https://boats-from.co.uk/not-specified/broom-gemini-classic-speed-boat-74729

    She looks bang on 1970's in style and colour:

    74729-67215.jpg

    But while she has a larger 40HP engine - it is also of the era (though said to be running fine) but is only a 2 stroke. So you it all seems to be swings and roundabouts - win somewhere on price in an area, loose out elsewhere so far as engine.

    The main issue I am going to have in all honesty is keeping it somewhere for easy use. Since I pay for 65ft of mooring, there is a chance I could just stick the Gemini behind Indy and be allowed without additional charge. Alternatively I may be able to get a bit of a 'deal' where since it is small it would not cost me a great deal more over and above my annual mooring fees. The other alternative is you keep it on the hard on a trailer - but then since I am not yet driving it will be just another thing sat waiting for the time to come to be able to launch it and use.

    Perhaps these things are most on my mind than the actual boat and why I am being unusually relaxed and not jumping in quickly. 

    Some replies to points:

    2 hours ago, Broads01 said:

    Robin, do you have to keep the rib on top of Indy? Could you berth it somewhere else where it would be immediately accessible?  

    I don't need to keep it on top of Indy, but since I have a permanent connection for the battery charger and having shelled out for a new battery, cover and straps I like the fact it is all there - it also is included in the main insurance premium for Indy so long as she remains usually kept with the 'mother ship'.

    2 hours ago, NeilB said:

    If the jet rib is proving to be next to useless for your requirements why not sell it and use the funds for a nice day boat?  The space could be used for a small dinghy at a fraction of the price if you still want a tender for Indy.

    Because it was included in the package when I bought Indy I would like to keep it as so during my ownership. Sure I could let it go, but I like to think that the work I have put into it so far means someone else down line may appreciate it being there. It is more a case of me being a moaner and lazy taking 20 minutes to get the RIB up and out over the side and into the water. I am sure given the choice between small outboard powered dinghy of Willaims RIB a lot of boat boat owners would like the Williams if they had space for it on their boat and was given to them for nothing.

    Also in reality I doubt I ever need a Tender - I see countless boats with them but so very rarely ever see them being put to their intended use especially since most motorboater's prefer a quay to tie up to and not anchor off and head in to a place perhaps as often as like as Sailors do.

    • Thanks 1
  4. 9 minutes ago, BroadAmbition said:

    There maybe a cheap hard standing or undercover spot  I know of in Stalham. It could be towed aft of B.A’ on the Lads week too 

    Interesting ideas, though Pica is certainly on for this year after the work I have put in to it especially :) 

  5. Just now, psychicsurveyor said:

    Hi Robin,  that is not a Scorpio.

    Might be another Broom  model or a lookalike.

    I have looked into this it may be a Gemini - I am now more certain it is.

    You say it may struggle with tidal flow - really? It weighs 3/4 of sod all so presumed it would be okay dealing with that at least so far as maintaining 6MPH.  Mind you, this is based on me seeing smaller Vikings and Shetlands with outboards in this power range range.

    Already the feelings are changing to this being something I need to pass up on, certainly don't want to go down a route of upgrading the engine to more power and so on, it is meant to be basic boating on a shoe string.

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  6. It looks pretty original, nothing fancy at all - but original gel coat, a small 9.9Hp 4 stroke (no sliding canopy). Recent work has been done on her, polished, outboard service, anti fouled and comes with trailer too. Nice little package:

    Sc2.jpg

    Sc3.jpg

    Sc1.jpg

    I know you can only use one thing at one time, but you can also use one thing on one day and another on another day - some have a collection of motorbikes others cars neither are my cup of tea, but boats? Yes they are.

    What began wondering and then looking at this was popping out last weekend looking for a day boat to hire - then finding they were all booked up (of course they would be, it was a hot bank holiday weekend). The RIB on Indy was a freebie with the boat and is proving annoying. Not only the engine situation but the launching and recovery needs a lot of time, care and the canopy sides all taking up on the sun deck and whatever you do having to repeat the whole exercise afterwards.   It also is very tiny indeed and has a number of impracticalities - take a passenger and where do you put the mooring lines?  They don't show any of this in the sale brochures!

    Lets face it the sole purpose of the Williams is to have some fun in a nice sheltered Cove somewhere at anchor on a summers day, or get to shore and back to the 'mother ship' - even better if you have a large boat with a crew who can sort all the faffing about out and put it in the garage. Using it on the Broads it is like going on a long distance journey on a sports motorbike - doable, fast too but no doubt a right back ache inducing annoying ride after a couple of hours.

    So, I looked at small day boats  - there not that cheap for something about as attractive as slab sided block of flats. There is a Rapier mind you in Horning,  complete with two beds, a sink and hob (you kneel down to use) and a porta-poti that has been up for sale for months. If you want super super small weekender this might be the ticket.

    I could get something like a small Shetland, a Bayliner  or even a Glastron - complete with a massive inboard petrol engine offering bonkers speeds but boy would that bring headaches on a number of levels not least they are fast and fun but not small and lightweight.

    What if you just wanted to pootle along the river to a pub? Or drop a mud weight on a Broad and have a little picnic on the boat, sit down after without a care in the world and read a book as you gently pivot at anchor in the breeze.  I can see that being possible in the Scorpio. It does not get much more basic of  a boat unless you get a dinghy with an outboard on the back, and is this particular one is not going to need me to strip layers of old paint, re-line the interior with carpet and flooring and then source a outboard. It seems to have it all there and ready to go in a pretty original form.

    I have to say it feels really tempting and also really stupid all in equal measure and this is the problem - its not owning it so much, using it and so on it is what the hell do I do about keeping it. I am not sure my poor mother is going to fancy it being kept on their driveway - I already have my car I can't drive kept there.  But as of 30th May I will have a lot more time on my hands as I am giving up the job and can mess about in boats a bit more so this 'pre-midlife crisis' I seem to be going through seems to be moving to new levels.

     

     

     

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  7. I wonder what people think about these craft?

    I know they are a bit of a 'no no' on the Broads as with the right size engine they can really get going and get you into all sorts of trouble but I rather like the classic lines and simplicity of what is effectively a good old fashion 'speed boat'.

    Yes ,I am wondering - tentatively about getting one. Where Indy is moored I have free use of the slipway and could get the boat like stored very cheap.This might be something to consider as a bit of a fun day boat. Or not - this is me being 'responsible' and not rushing and being rash you see. Opinions welcome..

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  8. It is okay - I had this system fitted on Independence and the lovely chaps had set up with a program to come on and off every evening 7 days a week. Took me an age to clear it out. Very complicated set up without the instructions!

     

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  9. The heater will be an Eberspacher. Your unit if is the same as the Capitan I was on will look like this:

    wp1bb23dc1_05_06 dddd.jpg

    Press the bottom right button once (the one that looks like three wavy lines) this will turn the heater off (after a cool down cycle).

    The up arrow is temp up - down is temp down. Press the down all the way (several taps) until one segment in the graduated scale shows and then hold it down and you get fan only no heat. The middle button under the Eberspacher logo - each press of this gives you 15 minutes more heat, then in 1 hour increments.

    This unit may be located by the doorway (right or left) of the sliding door near where the inverter controller is. If not near or on  the helm console or another area within the saloon - not in the galley, or cabin sleeping space. Check behind curtains etc, it will be there somewhere.

    *Alternative controller module:

    d2-801controllerl.jpg

     

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  10. As we are approaching the 'big event' I should also clarify that:

    We have two single 'private' berths on B.A as their separate cabins, then  two single 'shared' berths (in the bow these are V berths) a 'cosy' double and a smaller quarter berth. The seat in the wheelhouse makes for a small single at a push.

    Once I am onboard we therefore have space for 5 people to stay over with as I say, at a push a 6th if the wheelhouse is used. Nipper accommodates 2 in a V berth arrangement. Since I am a wide load and will be there first I'll take the cosy double lol. B.A will also be kept in the shed and I think between those attending there will be sufficient space and transport to get from Stalham to Martham.

    I will PM those in this conversation my mobile number so as you come I can know you are at the Wet Shed and let you in.  The Wet Shed is in Richardson's Marina. Pass the main reception area, take a left and follow the road around to the right and continue straight past the moorings and hire craft. You will first see a large shed on the right - continue past this and you will see a rotting hulk of a wooden cruiser on oil drums. This is where the parking area for the Wet Shed is.

     

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  11. As we are talking of sailing, there are countless people out there sailing the world and recording their adventures and posting them on You Tube. They tend to fall into thee main areas:

    1. Young, beautiful couples having an adventure and oodles of sponsorship deals
    2. Mature couples doing it alone and trying to build a 'brand' chasing the younger couples model
    3. Mature men sailing alone and filming it

    Among the men out there doing it alone I used to very much (no i still do) very much enjoy Dylan Winter's films. Although sadly because he has not been able to gain enough support from the chaps who watch through personal donations to him it looks like he is about to stop sailing - at least videoing his travels anyway.

    But then, out of nowhere,e with hardly any views is a chap in a steel sailing boat who is not far off traveling over the Atlantic to the Caribbean. I am not sure where he set off from originally, but I picked up things when he had to change his engine in Brighton Marina. Talk about 'as it happens' he saves no graces but I am hooked. His name is Steve, and his channel is 'Wandering Steve' the only thing is he has not been active for two months now, which I hope is not because something happened to him or boat.

    Here though is one of his typical videos, and I see nothing boring about it:

     

  12. Just a reminder, that those staying on the 'hotel boat B.A.' you will either need to bring a duvet cover (but not duvet), pillow case and bed sheet or a sleeping bag. Toilet breaks are not avoidable of course,  but where able to use Richardson's 'Shore side facilities' or those at Martham.

    Looking forward to this weekend too!

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  13. I am love the rivers, the sound, the look the landscape around them. But that is not enough - I don't just want to look I want to be on the water experiencing it. For me the point is not where I am headed to therefore, it is the journey.

    If I am at Ranworth I could not just got to Wroxham and that be that - because Wroxham offers me little, so the journey to there would be too short. I enjoy changing situations that one may encounter along the river. It could be sailing boats tacking which gets you aware and actually doing some proper boat control  and not just putting little inputs of steering for a few hours, to a random mooring opportunity like 'Oh Horning staithe is free" and getting it spot on and getting off the boat with a slightly larger head.

    While most boaters tend to enjoy the boat as a 'get away' from everyday life, a major aspect is the social side too. What fun is there in going for hours on end and when you arrive at the given place not really having much idea on what to do next, worse still if the weather has turned against you?

    I guess I am just a bit odd for that is what I do and enjoy most and while in previous videos you will see me in Wroxham and say "Today we are going to Oulton Broad" and get underway full of expectation and excitement and arrive as if I had accomplished something.

     

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  14. 1 hour ago, vanessan said:

    I do think however there will always be a place for budget boats, I certainly hope so anyway. Broads boating must stay accessible for everyone. 

    I guess it depends on how you look at things. If you were being reasonable and fair, yes it would be nice to have budget boats 'for everyone' but the issue is us people. You see we might want 'budget price' but not expect to rough it too much.

    Eventually the 'Gold Gems' etc will come to the end of their useful life - they simply cannot go on forever, but by then what was new in say 2012 will be seen as more 'classic' though I can never see Broadsman hiring for £250.00 for example. I think the long term outlook to my mind is when these boats no longer are considered 'luxury hire craft' they may well find willing buyers - either from a smaller yard unable to build such boats from scratch or from private owners.

    The issue with the above presumption is that the originating yard (Richardson's in this case) continues a slow but ever present new-build program, so budget boating by default is pushed over as new boats come on stream. Smaller yards upgrade with 'newer' styles of boats but charge their own premium on their new flagship and may help finance such by selling one of their own 'classic' boats. Eventually when all the older boats have been sold etc, I cannot see there being any 'budget' boats for hire.

    It might take another 30 years to reach that point but reach it I think the industry will.

     

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  15. I once (2012 Far Horizon) was heading away from Potter Heigham and coming towards me was a dinghy that was being over taken by a boat - this in turn narrowed the already narrow waterway here and pushed me over to the starboard side. Three men were fishing from the frontage of one of the Chalets and saw me approaching.

    They made no attempt to remove their lines, instead just shouted at me to 'move over' which was rapidly followed with 'can't you [f'ing] hear move the [f] over'. Nice people they were. The net result was they lost some of their tackle. 

    Despite their initial response prior to this (not taking it out the water and shouting at me) I backed up and almost level to offered to pay them for their loss. The result was sudden shock - bemusement even - and telling me suddenly it was not a problem and not to worry about it, so I insisted since they had been so vocal to begin but they continued to tell me it was not a problem (though did not say sorry). Funny old world.

     

  16. 27 minutes ago, JohnK said:

    If your speculation is correct on both counts one is trying to exclude people from an area they’ve got no right to exclude them from and the other is helping the authorities to enforce legitimate rules.

    Having got back in my pram with the said thrown out toys and going over things, I agree. To a point mind..

    Yes, it may be helpful to assist - I am all for community speed patrols in villages for example, and I would be all for people reporting speeding boats to the Broads Authority and using video evidence - but do we really need individuals also erecting their own signage?

    By all means if the Broads Authority wish to put up their own warning signs to assist those who live/moor along a stretch of river in helping rivers users awareness of speed and aid those who are reporting such but otherwise all and sundry can go putting up signs - at this rate I will take matters in my hands and fit LED coloured navigation markers on the posts of Breydon and Barton. Similar thing..

  17. I agree with EastCoastIPA.

    The fact is, if things change (and they have) so far as expectation and demand from hirers - who now often are paying eye watering sums for even a short break the old adage of it being a boat so 'what do you expect' has to go out the window along with the old incandescent and florescent lighting.

    Let me talk about lights for one moment. I changed all the light bulbs on Independence to LED. An easy and cheap job. The old lamps were Halogen and 20w each. They not only were inefficient they acted as mini heaters causing a lot of heat energy to transfer into the light fitting and then into the surrounding head lining. I now have cool to the touch, 4w replacement bulbs I can leave on without worry.

    So far as warm or cold light - it is about the colour temperature. In Asian countries they prefer a 'cold' white light this is also because they would often have had an old, very warm 'yellowish' incandescent light bulb hanging in the centre of their room. A new bright, crisp and cool white LED bulb looks so much more clean and modern. I suspect this explains why it is easier to obtain cheap 'cold white' LED's than warm white as they are all manufactured over in China. 

    In the UK we have always gone for a more warm and 'cosy' light and it is why when we replaced our incandescent lights with Compact Florescent Lights (CFL's) at home they gave the same 'colour' light as the 40w incandescent bulbs they replaced. So generally, we as a country prefer this and find it more pleasing to the eye - I agree, since it does change the 'feel' and ambience of a room and the same goes for a boat.

    If you have not changed your boats lighting to LED I would well advise you to - the bulbs are just a pound or two and make such a difference to lighting levels and power consumption. Contrary to what I have been told about running domestic LED bulbs on boats (where their voltage can be over 12v and they will not last as long because of this) I have never had issue with this. On Independence she is on constant connection to shore power and her DC voltage is about 13.7v the lights have all never given any issue neither have they on Broad Ambition and it is why I speced Trixie with the same too.

    Back to hire boats - it should not be for the hirer to know the technicalities of how power is made, stored and used. They just want to turn on the light and hey presto it works - use the telly, run the satellite dome, plug in the Xbox etc. It is also the case that the boatyard who made the boat should not have the responsibly on their shoulders to over come this alone. It really needs a joined up approach with many parties from the Broads Authority, E.On and boatyards and it comes back to getting out of the idea of having something for nothing.

    I personally would not mind one little bit if I could moor somewhere and pay for so doing if there were modern amenities were provided. Electric, Water, WiFi and rubbish collection for each boat moored for £10.00 a night I don't think is excessive. I've talked here about a smart mooring system before to collect payments, from private boaters and such ether accumulate and be paid upon toll renewal - or through an online account that you can pay as you moor. Hirers would pay a deposit and such moorings be deducted from that upon returning to the boatyard. I have talked to the Broads Authority about it and how this would automate toll collection along with penalties and through 'connected terminals' at moorings be able to show boaters out and about online which mooring locations had spaces available. All pie in the sky because it would cost so much to actually put in initially.

    What could be done easily and sooner is that the electric posts should be smarter - they should accept contactless payment to credit them with funds. It would solve the card buying, and supply issues overnight and all the stuff needed to make it happen are readily available and not too expensive (notice how vending machines have additional hardware attached to them  to accept contactless payments for drinks and chocolate bars at Railway stations).

     

    • Thanks 2
  18. 1 hour ago, springsong said:

    Robin there used to be a sign on the corner of the house with the balcony, just past the Rising sun. It went something like this. No hire craft beyond this point

    Well as you can see no such sign is there now, and I suspect if this was to be the case that such was official the Broads Authority would have long since replaced it. 

    I know we are only making presumptions here, but what a selfish and horrible act that someone might erect such a sign on their property just because perhaps they had issue with hire craft passing their property or might like to go for a stroll down the river bank and prefer it free of hire craft.  A similar situation has occurred on the Yare, where someone living on a moored boat and frustrated with speeding boats (one presumed both hire and private) has erected their own signage on the speed limit signs warning passing boats not to speed and that they are being filmed and would be reported.

    I would not have issue if that was something of a trial the Broads Authority had undertook, but it is not. I am also pretty sure the person sought permission from the Broads Authority to put the sign up after many complaints and further frustration that not enough was being done about speeding. I imagine the Broads Authority may have permitted such signage as if it helps deter speeding all to the better.

    The point is where does it end? Someone lives near some popular 'wild moorings' but is annoyed at the noise from boats disturbing them so has some signs made and put up saying 'private no mooring' yet they may not be the land owner in question. I think in the closed bubble of the Broads, the only people allowed to approve signage should be the Broads Authority, and as I have said countless times I do wish they themselves would agree on a standard font, background and style of sign as they change in style and type so much even along the same river!

    All this heat and sunshine has got me to throw some of my toys out of my pram.

  19. Truthfully, do people really hire based on look? I mean this coming from a bit of a nerdy point of view.  My Mum and Shiela would see a centre cockpit boat like Western Light and in conversation are very likely to say "Its the same as Carousel" at which point i will interject how much is different. They just see a big white boat with a sliding canopy in the middle.

    I think most people see the same - so when you have new boats they come in white, are shiny and have deep tinted windows with no visible frames and look all sleek and modern. That gets interest the next is the interior - why are Ferry Marina's so popular? Well they have domestic showers, domestic toilets and lots of headroom and 'square' cabins  - they are built internally to look almost like a modern small apartment. The trade off is the boxy external appearance.

    A boat of small flat's bathroom?

    Modern Shower Room.jpg

    Time and again when I speak to those working in the area it is said "this is what people want" and I would agree. I spoke to a chap at the Horning Boat Show about the fact Richardson's are, slowly but surely changing their customer away from the budget hunting family to couples who want larger boats with more space, of families wishing to have a new luxury boat. Each 'class' boat that is sold may either be replaced with a new build (far more pricey to hire) or for every two sold one is built. This makes sense to their business - fewer boats overall in time to look after, earning more.

    That is the key and as I have been told in the past too the Broads will become 'a rich mans play ground' and I can see that is the direction things are headed in.  So why it may be so you could build a classic boat with a modern interior it would not be economic because you would be constrained by that boats classic lines what you can actually fit in - all you'd end up with is much the same internal layout and design, but with modern amenities, fabrics and feel. The same goes if you took a mould from an old wooden boat and then re-created it in GRP complete with 'fake' wood topsides etc (think wood effect eaves, windows and garage doors that are on the market now) it would not keep the traditionalists happy and it would not keep the modern new loving people happy since it would again be an old layout fitted in a modern way.

    Sorry to say but the future is rainfall shower heads, stone effect tiling, and wine coolers and faux suede seating.

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  20. Think of it like this, you run a hire fleet and each boat (lets just say for ease) has 4 batteries. You have 40 boats so 160 batteries even at a good deal of £50.00 each would cot you £8,000 to change - leave aside time and effort to do this. You have of course some in stock should the need arises to change out clearly knackered batteries, but before they get that bad what do you do?

    Well, you know they will usually get the customers through the night so long as they don't use too much of anything - and make sure that fridge is set to number 2 to further conserve power. Then say it is only a boat fridge and can't do get as cold as a domestic one at home and setting it to 3 or 4 won't make much odds but will flatten your battery.  There is always an answer lol.

    The customer then burns fuel to generate electricity by running the engine,  that you will in the long run 'sell them' since it comes form their fuel deposit. It is not very socially correct or environmentally friendly but it is how it is in some cases with some boats.

    If I had made a fuss on Western Light about the engine needing to be run initially to get the heater to fire, I can guarantee you I would be told that is how some boats are. If I said then "well the heater goes off after 4 hours" it would then be said that this was to be expected, I certainly would not have an engineer out with replacement batteries.  indeed I was told on takeover to run the heater for no more than 2 hours without running the engine for (if memory serves) 20 minutes for every 2 hours of heater use.  E.g. they know there is an issues with some boats and the batteries but the running engine sorts it out even if only a short term fix, it not only is easy it makes them a few quid.

    It is of course not only hire boats, look at Trixie - the batteries had been put in the boat in Chertsey - from when she was on the River Thames in 2009. She moved to the Broads in 2014. I changed the batteries finally in 2018. 9 years and by the time I got them changed they were dry and about as good as nothing at all. But if you only use your boat for the odd day trip, maybe overnight these things tend not to be at the top of the to do list. In my mind it is right up there with keeping the engine in fine working order as it makes life onboard so much more comfortable.

     

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  21. It’s not worth it on a little boat like Teixie is but an Isolation Transformer is the way if you have space. Also the galvanic corrosion tend to happens far more aggressively in salt water.

    On Independence, almost all her Anodes have been eaten away - no doubt from being moored in a salt water marina for so long with masses of other boats all around connected to shore power supplies not to mention her own - without any form of galvanic isolator onboard. Clever stuff but just more items to attend to now she is in fresh water as will change the type of metal to Aluminium (don’t fancy Magnesium) from Zinc.

    Trixie needs a good going over so far as the mains power side of things goes, it looks tidy and safe enough but I have no idea if was a DIY job or professional and when dealing with mains voltage I’d rather be safer than sorry. 

     

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  22. Some interesting points have been made here. But it is right to say some tend not to cover everyone and all devices. 

    For example, the reason I said about dropping the phone in the river was the fact the phone would be no doubt lost - not as a result of the water damage but just gone for good somewhere in the mud at the bottom.

    Most new high end phones are now as good as makes no difference waterproof. You could not go diving and film with them but drop one in the bath, or like I did accidentally swamped it when jet washing the boat and you’re fine. Spend a decent amount for a case with proper shock protection and you can stop worrying when you invitably drop the phone on the ground  

    I guess it depends about how much you’re in to your technology. All the stuff in my phone also lives in the Cloud so if it was lost or stolen once I got another phone it would download everything just like it had never happened. 

    What you will find increasingly with vehicles is a move away from the manufacture putting in their own system and software. They date too quickly  and are always clunky. It is now easier to have what essentially is a Tablet that might run Android, and through this the car maker will have Apps that work with their systems but allow you, the owner, to add your own. More and more automation is sure to come and you only have to look at how far Tesla have taken things.  You might not like the brand or car but the fact the cars have no physical switches other than wipers and indicators says a lot and something Range Rover is going for more with their new split screen centre console - which looks lovely.

    Maybe I will eat my own words one day, but take today right now.  I am writing this from a train on my way to Norwich. I bought the ticket through my phone using an App. I paid for it using Apple Pay and verified the transaction with my finger print. I have no physical ticket just a digital version with a bar code and I hold my phone screen to the ticket barrier scanner to open the gate at Norwich. For branch lines, the Guard uses an App on his company Samsung phone to scan my phone screen and the bar code using his phones camera. Tickets are also sold through this and card payments taken with a Bluetooth chip and pin module  

    When I get to Norwich I need to get a cab and I will order that using an App from Goldstar. The driver will use his phone to navigate to me and it will also send his position to my phone over the App so I can see how far away he is to where I am in almost real time. 

    I could never go back to using ticket machines and ticket offices with queues,  it just works so easily now and so far, never had an issue and don’t imagine I would certainly not to make me worry if this is a good thing to rely on. The humble phone really has come so far  

     

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