ranworthbreeze

Oulton Broad Swing Bridge We have been notified by Network Rail that Oulton Broad Swing Bridge will be closed from 1400 today to 0600 Wednesday 16th April 2014 due to staff shortage/sickness. Angie Leeper Asset Officer Broads Authority, Yare House, 62 - 64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY tel 01603 756057 mob 07971 156076 fax 01603 756069 angie.leeper@broads-authority.gov.uk

Hi Jon, With your love of woodies I thought you have gone for a Moggi Traveller. The Moggi does look good from a distance, what are the bottom of the door like? Your 1969 registered model is fairly late, I think they stopped production in the early 70's. I never had one of these but members of the family have had their fair share and I spent more of my time underneath brazing the box sections. I still love the distinctive sound of the engine. Regards Alan

This story is worth a look. http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/video_sheringham_bakery_worker_packs_in_his_job_to_become_a_full_time_captain_jack_sparrow_lookalike_1_3553782 Regards Alan

Hi Brian, Enjoy your weekend aboard, I am not sure re the Ferry, we have not been since it closed the last time and our favorite place at Horning, The Staithe & Willow I understand has changed hands as well. Regards Alan

Hello Neil & Roy, I hope the share sale goes through speedly. Roy can you let me know the outcome and whats weeks you have left, can you send me a PM with your full contact details, I was speaking with someone this morning regarding shares on the Broads. I said to the person enquiring that we had none available and that we had a waiting list. Within 10 minutes I had a phone call from one of our owners who wishes to sell his School Weeks share which is the 19th August this year. Regards Alan

Hi Jan, That thought is a very good idea :clap Regards Alan

Everyone has their good and bad days, he might have been on the phone dealing with someone trying to sell him advertising, gas, electric, or Dave from Microsoft telling you have an issue with your computer I know I can be pain on the phone if someone winds me up, but if in a good mood I will even lead on the sales person into thinking they have a sale. I love speaking to companies trying to sell me Patt Testing, listening to all their patter and then I ask them how many appliances they want me to test, this is the time you can almost see the imagined cogs turning. It must be down to the little devil in me. Regards Alan

Good advice as normal Strowager. Regards Alan

I agree it is the outlets that discharge into the rivers that pose the greatest threat to the quality of the water. Take for example the sewage outlet near the Norwich bypass bridge near Thorpe, if the wind is in the wrong direction you know by the smell and the colour of the water. Weils is an issue and isn't there a problem with the floating weed we get on the Broads. Regards Alan

Hi Kathleen, We are moored at Tingdene and find it to be very good having stern mooring with finger pontoons on one side of the boat. There is an electric post/dock light and water point between each pair of boats. Parking bays are near to the boats. There is a security barrier to prevent unauthorised vehicles entering the marina. The toilets/shower block is always clean & tidy, but where we moor is a fair walk, but in most cases tends to be a ride in the car. Yes it is slightly more than some of the other marinas. If you look in the useful links and slipway information we have a list of most of mooring available and the mooring fees charged, this was updated during last season. Regards Alan

Hi Mark, Having any time on a boat no matter what waterway you are on is always worth the cleaning you have to perform. There is always a downside with any way of life, but with boating at least you are on the water. Regards Alan

Thank you Mark for chasing this advertising account at Brian Ward's. Not only does this advertiser like all our other sponsors help support our forum, but thats to their discount offer helps boat owners in the local area. I find the help given at Brian Wards is second to none, the prices are competative and the counter staff (Tanya & Nick) know their products very well. I would urge anyone to open an account there. Regards Alan

Hello Amanda, Some good photos of the royal visit and some historic pictures as well. Regards Alan

Hi Frank, A boat rename to Quackers would not be out of the question Regards Alan

Hello Roy, Welcome; its good to see you on the friendly forum for a change Sorry for the inference re the Lightning Syndicate. Life (boating) is somewhat better when self managed and as you say this reflects in everyones pocket. I do have your share weeks available but will not post them on a open forum. Have you thought about listing one of the shares on www.boatshare.co.uk, as aready stated Philip who owns the site is quite accommodating (Lightning is already listed there as a share boat) can link banners direct to an advert and most adverts have links to the customers website. When we last spoke we now have a waiting list for available shares on Ranworth Breeze. I hope you continue to have a presence on the forum. Regards Alan

Hi Iain, Thank you for the link, very interesting, good history and great pictures. Regards Alan

Hello Martin, You are quite correct we used to be a Managed syndicate until things started going wrong during the 2011 season, we owners had to start taking control of the situation and were fully managing the syndicate from 2012. The Challenger Syndicates went through a similar situation in 2007 and a number of Broads boats were involved. Regards Alan

22 Tall Ships arrived in Ipswich on Wednesday/Thursday as part of a Dutch university sailing challenge called the Race of the Classicss. http://www.angliaafloat.co.uk/news/gallery_armada_of_stunning_tall_ships_carry_500_dutch_students_into_ipswich_1_3520923 Regards Alan

Wasn't it the ice cream seller that voiced concerns to the authorities last year or the year before about the stationary boat near Salhouse where they found the abandoned girl? Regards Alan

Hello Janice, We had it last week in Yorkshire, but with all the wet weather we had last week we did not notice it much other than the very light dust over the car. A few years ago we were in Devon and we had a covering of sand on the top of the car that had to be hosed off. Regards Alan

Oh how do I wish I was not 3 to 4 hours hours away from the Broads or finally retired, I could make a fortune. The problem with forming any new syndicate is purchasing a boat before the owners have parted with their purchase fees. 10 or 12 people in a syndicate is ideal for the amount of time that each owner would have in allocation weeks, however the management fee required for each share could be from £1000 to £1400. The average costs we have seen over our management of our boat are around £12000 to £14000 per year. Yes I know it can be done cheaper but that depends on where the boat is moored, what servicing is done on the boat and what ongoing upgrades you do each year. An ideal way forward for someone who does not fully use their boat and are thinking of selling is to form a syndicate and share their boat with other people, you already have all the services in place, you already have the boat, why not have help with paying for the costs of running it, just a thought. Yes I will give any of you advice of the do and don't of syndicate ownership. Regards Alan

I noticed whilst on the Swancraft website that dogs were allowed but not cats? I am not much of a cat lover, but they always end up coming up to me. Regards Alan

Hi Mandy, To give you an idea on prices, our last standard share sold for £3800 (this years management fee was fully paid up before the sale) you get two weeks allocation for a single share, Southern Crusader you buy single weeks, the BCBM boats tend to be 3 or 4 weeks allocation so are slightly more expensive to buy into and the management fees will be more per year as well. To give you an idea our management fees for 2012 were £700 (this was our first year of being self managed) 2013 was £500 and 2014 was £600, these charges were for two weeks on the boat. Once the share is purchased (that is for the lifetime of the boat/syndicate and of course the share can be sold)you can see the benefit of boat share if you are limited to the time you can spend on the Broads. A good site to look at is www.boatshare.co.uk, Philip who runs the site has various sections showing the history of boat share, listing of all Canal & Broads syndicates and their websites. there are links to BCBM and wanted/sales sections. If you want any advice by all means contact me off of list. Regards Alan

Hi Mandy, Evening Shadow and Moonlight Shadow are very similar to Swan Royale that you are hiring. Please see below what Ranworth Breeze and Southern Crusader look like. Regards Alan

Hi Mandy, Please see this link:-http://www.swancraft.co.uk/2-4-berths.html#b18 Regards Alan