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LondonRascal
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Posts posted by LondonRascal
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Amazon have delivered some bits, I decided against Mr Sheen to clean contacts after all.
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I have only been in the shop once to buy some simple stickers, but I have now discovered the wonders of their website which has been very easy to use and has a wealth of items. I've just bought a new mixertap with shower attachment for Trixie, and since I was a member of the Forum one can use the discount code NBN and saved the same 10% as in store. I opted for express delivery and today I got an email informing me it has been dispatched and will be with me tomorrow. If I had opted not to go express, orders over £50.00 have free delivery too.
I know I often share items I have bought, or share links to things one can buy on Amazon. Yes, often Amazon or their third party 'Market Place' sellers can undercut or offer products that are not so easy to find, but when you need specific marine gear, backed up with a great service and a competitive price - Brian Wards is the place to go.
I will be using their service a lot more in the future and so thought it right to draw others attention to them whether you visit the shop in person in Brundall or use their website they have been very good people to deal with.
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One of the things I have often pondered about is why boatyards - especially those who are no longer letting boats but concentrate on moorings and engineering services do not try and really push the fuel sales and a 'one stop shop' element of boating.
Let me just take one example: Swan Craft as that has been talked of a little here already.
They might not be able to advertise on the river front - but could very well get in the thick of Forums and Facebook Groups (Techy people from Shoreditch would refer to that as 'Organic Reach') and other smaller promotional means through the above like targeted adverts that would only show up to people who express an interest in the Norfolk Broads or boating. By doing the first step people would know where they were and what they could expect to find and the second would catch those who were not actively looking but might be interested.
Meanwhile at the yard they should clear an area of mooring - could be a single side on, or a couple of stern on moorings which were always kept free during opening hours. One thing that has often bugged me about boatyards who are open and you've called ahead to check if they have fuel and a pump out, is arriving without anyone visible and no where to moor. A couple of toots on the horn and someone might come out (sometimes not) if they do they will then set about starting up boats and moving them while you try to not drift about too much waiting before you can squeeze in. Having a ready 'bay' would be ideal.
You would have a clear idea of the fuel price, and maybe a locality scheme where once you had bought x number of litres over a period of time, you got a discount on future fill ups. If you were having fuel you saved a little on a pump out when done at the same time. But while that would be a boon not only for a hirer as well as owner, 'quick fix' things could be attended to at a fixed rate while you waited. This might be an oil change, battery check up and change if required or even a boat wash.
Take my own personal experience at Boulters - a yard I have often gone to for fuel and pump outs. Upon my arrival they asked if I was the gentleman who called about getting new batteries and fuel, and they were really kind and efficient in getting things done. They have a small Chandlery there too - they also offer a host of services for owners. When i got talking about issues with the boat and what I wanted to have done (which amounts to several thousand pounds) I did not mention that I have already received an estimate for this to be done elsewhere. Here I was having bought a boat just a couple of weeks ago and eager to have things done - but what was said to me was things like "she will look beautiful when that's complete". I was a sitting duck waiting for them to offer me anything else, or ask 'do you need a pump out?' or 'do you mind me asking sir, have you had an estimate for those works?' anything, something to have snared me as a future customer to build a relationship with. But none such was forthcoming and after paying just a couple of hundred pounds I was away - a missed opportunity for sure.
While the above would not take that long, it would allow an owner who perhaps was wondering about other things from a polish of their boat to having a new toilet fitted to be given a flyer with their receipt showing what the yard could do with some easy to understand basic estimates for small jobs - be it anti-fouling, or polishing etc.
As it goes right now, us Forumites on here know of many yards we could use and read about how others have got along and what has been done to their boats. Many people will have forged good relationships with the boatyards over the years and would see no reason to go elsewhere if the service they are getting is as they expect. However, there are countless new owners coming along. Some will be former hirers and others new to the Broads so any yard who is more prominent about the services they offer, have clear pricing for fuel, pump outs etc surly will get more enquiries than those who wait for word of mouth to reach the new folks and get in touch.
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Stop messing about with Larch and Oak - it seems the thing now is to use plastic ribs..
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So, by the sound of it then I should just use Mr Sheen lol
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2 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:
Robin. Having just sold our Sheerline and it being our second one at that, I can tell you that those pushbutton 'switches' are both breakers and switches combined.
Indeed they are, issue is if the buttons are stuck in the in (or on) position and will not release, or will not stay engaged in the in (or on) position when pressed. I reckon some contact cleaner and lube like Servisol Super 10 will help along with working them all a few times over to 'loosen them' up some.
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1 hour ago, Ricardo said:
I'd go down the yare I doubt you'll get under St olives bridge
Yep you got me I was thinking of something else
I might need a copy of a Broads Map on the helm after all..
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VDO are the manufacturers of the gauges - I and others now head to Google to look up VDO gauge lamps lol
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17 minutes ago, Ricardo said:
could be that yiu need to replace the entire distribution panel but I'll be highly surprised if its not got a Brian ward's logo on it so easy fix through costly .
It is the original 1992 with George Smith logo on. It may well have been produced locally mind.
It is ok, but I would like a new once with better switch gear and be handy to have a digital (LED) voltage output than an analogue gauge with tiny (1mm) increments for the voltages so you really have to look closely to read what the voltage reading is. Just been on ASAP looking at some of their pre-wired panels, but it would be nice to have a Brian Wards one as they can design and etch the names without using stickers.
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On Trixie I have the standard 'old style' Nanni engine instrument panel. See the photo below:
Only the volt meter and engine hours gauge illuminate. Since I am not able to remove the panel to see what type of bulb it takes, I wonder if anyone knows so I can order replacements ready for next time I go down.
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And I wanted to take Indy round to top up her tanks in the summer - if I do that is going to be a costly 'top up'. Hmm Goodchilds is looking increasingly like a better idea especially now I have been down the New Cut at high water and find there would be plenty of water under Indy to get there.
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9 minutes ago, Bound2Please said:
Is it still the same with the new batteries ?
I have no idea personally, but several people have kindly giving me some hints and tips to try. Without any means to test electrics as my test gear is on Independence I have done all I could over the weekend which has been to have the domestic batteries changed. I worried that when the boat is not being run we are low on domestic voltage but this is going on a very old volt meter on the DC Distribution Panel which itself has a number of breakers which are stuck on or off unless you give them a jolly good press and wriggle to free them up. This tells me that they have had very little use and the previous owners left all on and just used the main DC isolator switch to cut power to everything when they left the boat and has resulted in the push button breakers getting stiff out of lack of use over time.
Instead of trying to guess and figure things out over time, I have just emailed George at Ludham Bridge Boatyard and updated him with an added list of items to look into and fix if needed. If there is going to be an issue I doubt it is going to now be with the batteries, it may be poor connections, corroded terminals/wires etc or a faulty Alternator or Regulator.
To be honest I am putting a lot of more time into this boat than I perhaps should, but that is because this is not what is pressing right now to my Mum and Stepdad who are currently taking a lot of time and money having nearly half an acre of garden sorted out and new boundary fencing going up and they don't need boating issues added on, so I am taking care (through LBBY) of things so they can get a very sound and reliable boat that is turn key ready whenever they want to use it.
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8 minutes ago, Bound2Please said:
Robin have you had a load test on the batteries? sounds like buckled plate in the one or more of the batteries to me.
There are only three batteries and had two replaced (domestics) at Boulters. While there, I got them to drop test the starter battery - which proved to be fine. The starter battery is a lot newer than the old domestic batteries along with being a larger size and CCA rating.
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44 minutes ago, Ricardo said:
the highest setting on a sterling charger had you had gell battery's it could have been though , might be a fault don't the charger but they normally turn off to prevent overcharging of a fault develops
The thing is when we were running the engine the most (indicated on helm volt meter) was just shy of 14v. On the charger it was 14.8v but on the helm voltmeter over 15v. This leads me to beleive the helm mounted meter under reads a tad, but is none the less working well. If the Alternator was putting out too much it would show (I would presume) as a high voltage reading on the helm voltmeter.
Meanwhile, inside the boat on the DC Distribution Panel it will read about 10v at idle, 12v when engine run and about 12.5v with charger running. Max output seen on charger has been 12.5Amps (it will run at up to 20Amps) and the cooling fan does not even need to run. So..We may all be barking up the wrong tree and simply replacing the batteries has solved the problem - in the alternative there may be an issue which I am confident Ludham Bridge Boatyard will find and solve.
It is only a guess, but I reckon the boat was not used too often and mainly spent time on home berth plugged in to the charger. Then taken out for a day etc which would not have showed up right away the issue with the batteries, and if no shower was had the issue with the shower pump and if no night navigation was undertaken the issue with the spot light and anchor light. I got the horn sort of working, mind you, it sounds like a horn inside a box so that will need replacement - but am not going silly just a like for like car type and anything bigger and louder would not suit the boat.
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1 hour ago, NeilB said:
Perhaps an RYA inland helmsman's course would be a good investment, your mum and partner could probably take this on their own boat giving them more confidence?
Sounds like that could be an ideal gift for them - thanks :)
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2 minutes ago, Loops said:
You're next to us
Well it is nice to be on the 'nicer side' than all the riff raff from Yorkshire across the way
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7 minutes ago, TheQ said:
please check your alternator output, it could be the alternator is overchargeing and was boiling off the water causing the battery to split
I am sure it is not that it may be the Charger not set up for the right type of battery - I have added a number of other things including a full check of the charging system to be attended to by Ludham Bridge Boatyard, who hopefully will be taking the boat in some time in the next week or so. I have left her unplugged in the wet shed until it is fully diagnosed just to cover any issues if it was the charger at fault.
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It was Thursday evening when I popped the question to Shiela, my look of hope and expectation all over my face:
"I need to move Trixie to Stalham over Easter - can you come along and help me?"
"FFS" came the reply, and I trust that we can work out what that meant. She was not best pleased but I had my secret weapon ready (no not that one) a bigger bribe would be needed than I alone could muster. We would spend a week away no boats, no talk of boats and going to new places when we both have some time off soon and with a promise of me paying for her nails to be done too she agreed.
Good Friday:
We arrived in Brundall after an annoyingly long journey via Cambridge only to be told then by Shiela than she had brought no bedding and although I had, we had no duvets and pillows. Off to Independence it was and we went about taking the required items we would need. I also noted that NYA were underway with their works, dust sheets out and my engine room in a state of deconstruction with large oil drums containing my hydraulic fluid in readiness to remove the hydraulic tank to get at the fuel hose to replace and re-run. I left not wanting to dwell too much on this and the bill. Back on Trixie after a long walk to her temporary mooring we began to unpack, make beds and generally sort through things. We left a little later than I planned around 15:30 and made way for Reedham.
During our travels I was checking the voltage for the domestics and noticed they were at 9v - I knew this meant we would have no heat, light or even a water pump so I messaged Jon who works at Sanderson Marine to see if I could buy a couple of new batteries off them, alas no they had none to spare. We duly arrived at Reedham Quay to find a chap greet me by name and offer to take the lines. Very kind I thought, only to find he is the new Ranger there - formally working at Beccles Yacht Station. We bought some electric cards and got plugged in on shore power.
I could now see we were producing voltage but not 12v. But just then a Broom Captain (hire boat) arrived with a Chinese family onboard "Hello Robin" shouted the man, and he was eager to come and shake my hand. He was now on his 4th annual Broads holiday all thanks to watching my Blogs and his wife was keen to invite us for drinks onboard. I accepted their kind invitation but needed to sort something out with the batteries first.
I noticed the previous owner had litres of de-ionised water all over the place, and when I took off the top up ports on each cell I was shocked to find them all bone dry. I used all the de-ionised water up - about 6 litres in all, but then had to turn to filling the rest up with tap water. No way was this going to solve the issues but it helped and was far safer than running a 20Amp charger through dry celled Lead Acid batteries. Soon after giving them some water our voltage rose to close on 12v and we had light, the heater would run and that was good enough for me.
Shiela and I then popped along to the Broom and were amazed at what they had done for us. Tea, coffee, wine, selection of cakes, snacks, garlic bread, Chinese specialities too - and they were sorry they could not have laid on more! Well we spent nearly 3 hours with them and their 5 year old daughter - to be fair 'How' and I spoke boats and Ming and Shiela about kids and work (they both work with children). The Broom was very nice inside but showing signs of wear. Trims and veneers were peeling or scratched from the work in hire, but worse was a leaking domestic water system that meant the water pump would cycle often, and the bilge pump too. You could not turn off the water pump and the bilge pump let out a high pitched warning tone to say it was active. They had been putting up with this for 5 days throughout the night yet were still jovial and happy. I would have been right on to the yard to have things put right, but they were fine with just telling them on their return.
Since Trixie had nothing - not even a glass onboard, Shiela and I wished out new friends well and headed to Ship for a meal. My last hear was a few years back in 2014 - things have changed significantly for the better. Shiela had the Chicken and Leek pie, I had the Hunters Chicken, a pint of Coke and a Pint of Southwold Bitter came in at just under £25.00 which I thought was cracking value. The food was yummy and it was nice to dry off in the cosy pub. By the time we came to leave it was past 22:00 and we headed back to find the river was but 2" form over topping the quay. I adjusted fenders and lines on Trixie and eased the the very taught lines on the Broom and we settled down in our little boat. It was dry, no drips even the canopy was doing its job keeping the rain out!
Easter Saturday:
I was up at 05:00 going over things, checking the oil, coolant, belts and generally making sure there was no obvious issues to worry me in the engine bay. Shiela was ready by 05:45 and we would have set off then as I also checked our navigation lights were all working - the problem was we needed to see the bridge height gauges, though to be fair whatever they may have told us meant little as to date we have no idea what her air draft is with canopy up or lowered. Just after 06:00 we departed and were off into a strong ebbing current. We had long since missed low water at Yarmouth, and by the time we arrived at Breydon Road Bridge I calculated would be about +2.5Hrs after slack water. This was not about doing it by the book but getting the boat north in a short time frame.
Under Reedham Bridge was fine - almost 12ft indicated. By the time we reached Berney Arms the advance bridge gauge for Vauxhall Bridge was showing 8ft 3" - not good I thought to myself but we we throttled up to 2,400RPM and were now hitting a good flood tide. At Breydon Road Bridge the flood tide was very strong but I wanted to get a visual on the bridge and height so round the yellow post we went and up to the Vauxhall Bridge - less than 8ft indicated and Shiela outside the boat by now judged the bridge to be 'no way' and so it was an about turn. Back now around the yellow post headed towards Breydon Road Bridge - 1,400RPM but we were headed along at 8MPH via GPS. Turn once again into the current, slowed us right down to a crawl and gently alongside the waiting pontoon. We both set to getting the canopy and mast down.
This all done we realised what a faff about the canopy was going to be should you need to do this when underway, we could not lower the screens because the spot lamp and TV aerial had been stupidly mounted just forward of where it would fold flat. We left the pontoon and headed for Vauxhall Bridge once more - under we went - and was a bit closer than I would have liked (less than a foot between top of screen and bridge) under the road bridge and now the Yacht Station so we turned again to moor into the current and got the canopy up.
The only good thing would be being helped all the way to Acle with the flood current. The little Sheerline handled all this very well and I was pleased to have 43HP under the floor to call on during the turns and so on with the current flowing so always had a good amount of control and steerage way. We grabbed a breather and a Coke (some snacks made for a make shift breakfast) and were underway again headed for Acle.
Since it was now past 09:00 I gave Boulters a call in Horning, and sure enough they were open and could supply two new 100Ah batteries. Nothing fancy about them, £85.00 each as it went (same ones £102.00 in Norfolk Marine) but could have got them far cheaper online - needs must and anyway it is nice to support local businesses who are then when you need that sort of riverside assistance. It was only when the old batteries were being removed I noticed stickers on one saying Chertsey Marine. The boast had been on the Broads since 2014 so that was at least 4 years old, but wait not they were actually put in in 2009! Nine years these had been going, clearly trying to be kept going that bit longer by the previous owner putting in water all the time (one had a leak) and the battery compartment was under 2" of water.
This annoyed me frankly that boat owners do not solve such simple to solve things such as getting new batteries. It was the start of several 'things' that we found out about. A duff shower pump, an intermittently working Anchor Light, the spot light wired wrong so you have to turn one switch on and another off to make it operate. Anyway we also put 60Ltr of fuel in to brim her tank and £241.00 lighter we were on our way.
We had been in touch with Andy (LondonLad1985) who was out and about on Siesta a Broom 29 from Richardson's. Clearly as mad as me about boating for just buying into a syndicate here he is out hiring still. We kept missing each other but headed now to Potter Heigham. We came to moor up a the 'quite moorings' only to have me ruin the peace shouting "Bloody hell we have not got any Rhonde Anchors" - the use of the phrase 'Bloody Hell" is only used in dire circumstances. Should you be in my company if I say this worry. If I say anything more rude than this, abandon ship and ask questions later lol.
Well it turned out what we did have were mooring pins, you know that you get on Canals (or I presume too the Thames) only I had no hammer to get them in ground, so sheer brute force was needed, helped by the soft ground. As I would later find out though getting these things out of the soft ground is no easy thing either!
We headed off to Lathams. We bought a bunch of things that we did not know we needed to buy and Shiela even bought some sun glasses and a summer hat - cos the weather was so sunny and hot over Easter wasn't' it! After meeting another fan for a chat it was out and into Bridge Stones for a meal. It was packed in there, we ordered and paid and sat and waited, after everyone else in front of us and behind us had their food I asked when ours may be coming? They had lost our order..But they were very sorry and we got extras on the house. It was very nice Fish & Chips as it went and perhaps was not the best idea to have had so much so late on in the day as we knew we would be headed for the Lion at Thurne for our evening meal.
Back to the boat and underway for the short trip to Thurne Dyke where we duly met with Andy and his better half, who like Shiela is happy 'to a point' with boating and boats in general. Before long we were in the Pub and what a change Rick has made of the place. I am really pleased that it has not gone too far in the direction of a place where food rules and pushes away the drinkers to the side lines. It has been decorated well, and the selection of Ales and Ciders is great (we will need to keep a close eye on Pete the Wizard come Lads Week as strong cider and him can make for interesting results).
We arrived just gone 17:00 and despite Andy and his misses leaving to eat onboard, Sheila and I stayed and ate - very impressed with the food. Proper cooking, better than the average 'pub grub' but not too fancy. I noticed people who ordered the Pizza's were coming out looking lovely too, nice and thin with bags of toppings. There were young families, 20 and 30 something's and old wise sailors in there - no loud music, just a great vibe and mixed bag of customers enjoying the place. Perfect.
It was another 'late' night for Shiela and I and I was glad to get back onboard and settle down in bed, having been up and going since 05:00 lights out could not have come soon enough.
Easter Sunday:
We were in no rush and was not up till gone 08:00 and popped off for a look in the Ramblers shop and loved some of the original art work they are selling, shame there was not something small enough to have on the boat - I got Shiela an Owl as this is something she seems to be collecting are Owl themed items of late. Quick use of the toilets there, nice to see them still open for use and then back to the boat. Andy had left and we were not far behind. I had to head to Stalham to the Wet Shed to our new mooring and also meet my Mum and Simon.
Approaching Ludham Bridge we carried out a C.L.W.U (canopy lowering while underway') which caused me to use the phrases 'bloody hell' all over again, as Sheila undid the last faster the whole thing collapse onto me and I was not blind. Struggling to get the damn canopy off me all I get from her is "it is ok don't worry" no sorry for letting go of the thing, but at least we now know what not to do. We were able to get under without issue and once through undertook getting the canopy up again. In actual fact we had learnt nothing because mid way through the evolution she let it go again and it dropped on me and I could see nothing. If anyone was coming the other way during this goodness knows what they would have thought. The hire boat in front of us slowed and waved us past, perhaps thinking it was best to be far away from this clumsy couple as possible.
We caught up Andy waves were exchanged and we headed up past a busy How Hill mooring on our way to Stalham - the rain trying to come but not amounting to much for the time being. We duly arrived at the wet shed and it was most odd mooring up in there but not on Broad Ambition. We had only been there half an hour when Simon arrived telling me the car park was filling up with water and we should get all the gear I had ordered on the boat sharpish. We duly made use of the cart we have for Broad Ambition and loaded up the boat with crockery, bedding, glassware, utensils - you name it. Shiela and Simon then cleared out the bay behind the mooring of years of rubbish that had accumulated, including cans of Fanta complete with the old fully removable ring pulls!
Once we were settled I got set to going over the boats systems, safety things like a fire blanket an extinguishers and where shut off valves were for things before I got my mum in the helm and stood back and let her be hands on right away. The idea being she being less physically fit would be better at the helm and Simon be the one with the ropes getting off at moorings. My mum got the boat out the berth and then down the river - zig zagging all the way but soon got things under control. I could see she was so worried and tense so the first thing was to say stop, just relax. We turned the boat just by the Sutton Broad turn and headed back. In Richardson's yard we used their moorings devoid of boats for mooring practice. Sadly the more my mum tried the more frustrated and tense she began to get, and I tried to be calm but mother and son have their point to which we both reached. "That's it" my mum shouted at me "You can have the bloody boat yourself" and proceeded to tell me that she just could not get the hang of it and did no want to know about it or boats any more.
Poor Simon was with Shiela staying quiet - so we decided that we would give her a rest and Shilea was eager to have a go now. Shilea as you know has spent hours with me on boats, taken the helm etc even turned a boat but never moored one. I genuinely thought she would do well, but no - she was like a first time hirer wondering why when she turned the steering wheel left nothing happened. I explained it would not unless you are moving forward. She then tried to go astern and 'back into' the mooring but pondered 'why won't the bow turn'... Hmm, I can see a lot more training being needed.
In the end Simon and I agreed the best course of action is in time the pair of them go out and do their own thing in their own time and find a method that suits them. I also explained that it will come in time, and just because you are in a 'private boat' does not mean you are going to be experts. My mum last tried to moor a boat about 20 years ago, so while she knows what one must do it is getting the right coordination between wheel, throttle and reacting to what each does. I think that also it may well be better if someone other than her son tells her things, who she won't talk to like she does me lol.
Back to the wet shed in the pouring rain and another talk over the boat and systems, they then departed and Shiela and I were once again headed out. We found Gays Staithe full but Barton Turf empty. I cleaned the boat in a shot break in the rain, topped up with water and then called for a taxi - neither Wroxham and Stalham cabs answered their phones. No way was Shiela walking almsot 2 miles in the dark lanes to the White Horse pub so nothing for it but to night nav back to the wet shed and eat out in Stalham.
Within 10 minutes of departure it was raining, the inside of the canopy and screens misted up and I could see nothing. Also our forward steaming light pools light over the boat and screens which is not the best for night vision. Shiela now bless her was outside the boat in the rain but doing a great job with institutions. I actual was using the magnetic compass when she would say 'keep that course' and wait for her to give me the call for a move to port or starboard on a bend. We worked like a well oiled team and moored back in the wetshed in darkness. It was a hug and high fives once this was complete and time to head to Stalham for food. Another 'action packed' weekend afloat then.
If you want to watch a special video posted previously to the NBN Facebook Group, just click here
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Sorry a bit late to confirm this but please add:
Trixie - Jill and Simon - Saturday & Sunday
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I am not living on a boat, but over time I have begun to meet people who are, and especially over the Christmas period when the hire boatyards are closed apart from the odd brave soul out braving the cold on their own boats, the majority of river users you will see and meet are those who are living on board their boats.
I found them to be very nice, easy to get along with and helpful but also what struck me was the sense of community there was with people knowing others and helping with something, or knowing somebody who could and I realised that this was all going on all of the year. Now sure, there are the odd bad apples who will litter and cause issues but that surly has nothing to do with the fact they live on a boat and is down to their own character.
There are also Marina's who might allow one to live on board their boat so long as they do so quietly and within the marina's rules that apply to all berth holders so you do not go erecting berth side sheds, or otherwise causing any problems and when you meet and talk to such people living in these marinas they are really settled and happy. Of course, that lifestyle does not suit everyone because you might like to move every few days and frankly may not wish to pay a few thousand pounds a year in berthing fees.
The fact is, these people are people with needs and rights and the Broads Authority need to wake up and stop trying to ignore the fact that these are not just boat shells, but boats with people living on them - whose boat is all they may have and so require and should expect (after all they pay their Toll like everyone else) provisions of basic needs like water year round. At least leave the damn hoses in place and give people the chance. If it freezes then that is mother nature, but to remove water hoses causes no end of issues and worse still if they are turning off hoses at a stop cock so those who have their own water hose cannot avail themselves of the water point.
I don't think that the liveaboard community should have facilities solely provided for them, but that any boater should have a minimum standard both provided from the local Councils and Broads Authority from public toilets that are open all year, to water and refuse services. It is not much to ask for really - the rest we can do ourselves like finding a laundrette, a place to buy some more gas and so on.
One thing I would say though, living on a boat is a big change and one I have been contemplating myself - the biggest issue if you want to call it that is downsizing and needing to understand the limitations one has on a boat compared to a home. You just can't keep all the things you have been keeping at home - from pictures on the wall, to space for clothes and shoes. Even if you can power them, things you might use without thought at home in the kitchen suddenly need somewhere to go - a microwave and toaster seem tiny in the average kitchen but in an average boat galley soon begin to fill up valuable space. So go eyes wide open into things.
My final thoughts would be to keep an open mind and respect people. I don't care if a person lives in a council flat or a 6 bedroom huge detached house, I care only about how they person is and how we may get along not their job or history etc. Quite why people would ever look down upon someone who lives on a boat I know not.
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I have found Funky Monkey very good and fast for letting and graphics: http://www.funkymonkeyboatnames.co.uk/
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I can't help but thought I would comment because on the new Sheerline, these have had hand painted names - which are themselves faded and it is interesting to see how people differ - the previous owner wanted painted, you wish to have the same and yet myself prefer Vinyl for the fact when fade it is easy to remove and re-apply new graphics.
You might find it hard to get someone to do it, but perhaps Hunters Yard would be a good place to begin since I would presume their fleet has traditional painted names on them and not vinyl.
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2 minutes ago, JohnK said:
Interesting post from someone who has criticised a British made security product on another thread in the last couple of hours
As you will no doubt be aware from previous discussions here, I do like to support our friends in China economically. However, I have not decided whether to trust one of their warm air heaters just yet lol.
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When I say about China they are not doing much - yet. I can well see a time where they begin with their domestic market (some very wealthy Chinese out there) and then try and undercut the European market, but point to their experience back in their domestic market. Hire some European designers and fit them out to our sort of tastes and away they go.
Another route in would be to simple buy an established brand then move production over to China. The problem we have is not many people these days seem to care about supporting a home grown industry - they see a price and support the cheapest. If that is from overseas, so be it.
Yes quality matters and some will plain blank refuse to have imported when you can buy British and support our workers, but over and over we have lost out in many areas and it is hard to claw back after the horse has bolted. We can;t undercut on price, so we must do better with quality and innovative design if we fail at that, we are stuffed.
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Must Have
in General Discussion
Posted
I think it depends on a number of factors and this is just my own opinion because everyone will have their own 'take' on things.
Firstly what the boat was valued at when you bought it. If you have an already very good example of the class, then you would have bought at the top end of the market. In such a case anything you may add to it, will not add much if any actual value to the boat - but may make it an even more desirable boat when the time comes to sell, thus selling faster and achieving a good price.
If you bought a boat that was far cheaper because it had not got items already added to it, or was in need of works being done then anything you put in will increase the boats value and also make the boat as desirable as those other classes of your same model which likewise have undergone refurbishment etc.
I have recently bought a Sheerline 740 Aft Cockpit. She was on the market for £29,950 and I bought it for £28,500. I deem that to have been excessive, but that is me wanting to grab the boat while I could (it had only been on the market for 6 days). Now the same boat but in far more basic form, is for sale with Richardson's Boat Sales for £17,950. If I had bought this one I could have had a 'budget' of £10,550for improvements and could have had all the little things like the bow thruster, anchor winch, new canopy, new cockpit seating, spot lamp, and pulpit rails added but I would still have a boat that was and always would be 'ex hire' and which was not in original gel coat or in as fine cosmetic condition overall.
Since purchase I have spent £241.00 on new batteries and fuel, and £368.00 on other items - new and longer shore power lead, new bulbs, battery monitor, fender lines and dock lines and cleaning products. I have the boat booked in for more works to be undertaken and that will likely rise to £3,500 to £4,000. This before we get to grips with updated the interior with new upholstery, a possible new fridge and electric macerating toilet.
No matter the boats initial condition there is always room to add, upgrade, refurbish and generally improve. It all comes down to the owners choice on what (if anything) to do to the boat and if they do go down the road to upgrades what they may be. I would concentrate on the essential items first like if there are any electrical issues, or mechanical ones and then work outward to cosmetic improvements to make life onboard better.
If you have a fair bit of items that draw from your battery bank when away from shore power a decent solar panel or two is a good bet, a bow thruster would be trickier (but very doable) to fit on a forward steer boat such as you own but would be mounted a fair bit back from the bow than more 'pointy' boats would have them.
For upholstery, carpeting, canopies etc you may like to have a look at one of the Forum supporters - Trimnet. Based in Kent, but able to come and visit you in Norfolk to template and estimate