Poppy

Been out on the boat today. A couple ( at least!) on hire boats just couldn't wait 'till midnight.

This may be OT, but it would appear that mains electrical circuits do not come under the remit of the BSS. The only reference (on the BSS web site) appears to be this; 'If your boat has a 240V supply it's strongly recommended that you fit a residual current device (RCD) to automatically disconnect the supply. This will prevent an earth leakage current flowing through a faulty appliance, and protects someone inadvertently touching a live circuit and getting an electric shock.' Somewhat surprising, considering how excited they get about the explosion risk associated with my small diesel fuel tank!

More and more Businesses are questioning its value, given the very high cost of inclusion. I think its days are numbered.

I use 'Virasol' , available from Hugh Crane, S.Walsham rd, Acle. Very inexpensive, smells sweet and is biodegradable. I always keep an egg cup full in the bilge, and another in the engine bilge. It's also widely used by the hire yards for this purpose.

Well, I'm back from the best holiday ever in all my 62 years. I'll try to post some pics later , but meanwhile, Dylan Winter has recommenced his travels. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I8F4IYp ... 425AB79637

I fully agree

Sorry Rod, on this occasion the BA are not entirely to blame, IMHO. It is more the responsibility of these pr**s at the BSS office in Watford, who are more used to dealing with those overblown sewer pipes floating in ditches elsewhere in the country, which are otherwise known as 'Narrow Boats'. Flaming heck, they don't even seem to understand the difference in flash points and flammability between petrol and diesel. Why on earth do we have to change perfectly serviceable fuel hoses for example, simply because they don't hav a purely arbitrary marking on them? If it's good enough for Volvo Penta, it's good enough for me! The MOT test does not prescribe such stupidity, and I would argue that this particular requirement (the MOT) has much more impact on transport safety than the BSS (across the WHOLE Inland Waterways network) ever has or will have! For the vast majority it's jobs for the boys once again. Most boating accidents targeted by this scheme are caused by stupidity, and not test devised by man can avoid this, unfortunately. P.S. Glad to be able to resume our 'normal' service.

May I suggest you ask your insurers. Failing that contact the engineer (the BSS office), not the oily rag (the Broads authority) I would expect either of the former to give a useful reply, whilst I have no hopes of the BA

Got mine from Ebay . MUCH less - and IMHO more attractive.

No No NO! Please do NOT use a forward facing light to see where you are going. It will destroy your night vision, and also blind any poor navigator who comes upon you from the opposite direction. I speak from experience - I was the victim. You will very quickly be able to see perfectly well enough to navigate after dark in almost any situation on the Broads. Save forward facing white lights for the car when you drive to or from the boat after dark. Rant over!

Give 'em a uniform.......

...You couldn't make this up! http://carlosmiller.com/2008/12/27/amtr ... o-contest/

Nice shots - did you have permission to be on that piece of bank?

Yippeeee1 Working well. lol lol

To all the 'No' voters, I dedicate this link ;- http://www.christmaslibrary.ca/grinch/song.htm lol

But it's a long row - oh, silly me, stinkies have little egg whisks

Most have never been here - they couldn't get past the bridge

My guess is Hickling Broad - I've seen skys like that often

Some PROPER boats

"Locks,locks, what locks? "..........

Just taken my latest fix. Harsh but valid (IMHO) comments made on pt 2 of the Crouch,

...but it might catch the carp in the Bure!

That was me, Paladin. I accept that in this country ALL are innocent until proven guilty. In the case in point case, I am sure there is enough evidence for a conviction! However, I agree with the majority, we've done that aspect of the discussion to death, time to move on. How about having a go at all those bl***y Scots in Parliament?

So we are all agreed then, that people are inherently greedy. That we all have our heads turned by turning a buck, especially the 'big buck'! So we need independent bodies to watch over the dealings of Banks and Finance. Unfortunately , The Finance Industry was de- regulated some time ago, which led to the formation of the ineffectual FSA. Who was responsible for de-regulation? The B**** Thatcher, that's who! Why is our public transport service in such a state (especially in rural areas)? That also was de-regulated by the same PM, for private gain at the cost of public service! She is guilty of treason! Hang her !

Half agree Senator - we are overburdened with "public paper pushers" in this country - if that were addressed, we could afford both to appropriately increase social spending and cut taxes. Alas, I fear it will never happen. When did turkeys last vote for Christmas? The Broads Authority is a classic example - 30 staff in total with the old GYPHC, now 170 (and growing I fear) in the halls of Colgate! The Health Service is another Classic example. Its 'Management' has grown exponentially since reorganization by the B**** Thatcher, and each change along the road has served only to worsen things. Politicians order Managers to address the problem, and to ensure that more money goes to the coal face, and the first thing that is done is to employ more ' public paper pushers' to manage the change.