ranworthbreeze

Hello Jill, I emailed Tim Ellis yesterday or Monday to ask if he knew by how much the scaffolding would effect the air draft level of the bridge at high tide. At 9ft 8 inches we can struggle at Yarmouth at the best of times and have at times only had 3 to 6 inches of clearance at slack water. I would assume that if sheets are under the bridge/scaffolding just to catch any debris it must be a minimum of 3 to 6 inches but could under draw the bridge by a lot more. Regards Alan

Hi Stu, Good job you are sticking to the Northern Broads; work on Vauxhall Bridge at Yarmouth is due to start in September through to January 2013 according to the Broads Authority, delays are expected there will be a safety boat under the bridge and scaffolding is to be erected. It is known how much this will effect the air draft on the bridge at tigh tide. Regards Alan

Hello Brian, I guess you are looking for a slightly bigger boat, have you seen the three larger day boats that are just before the bridge at Wroxham. We hired one last year so we could go under the bridge, they have two sliding roofs, will carry eight people and have a toilet, fridge and cooking/crockery etc. We hired for 3hours at £25.00 per hour but there is a half and full day rate. I also think one of the other day boat hire companies also offer this type of craft. Regards Alan

Hello Lori, JTF is correct in what he says there is always people out there looking for a way into someones system be it a network or a single pc, keep your antivirus up to date and make sure you set it to scan your pc on a regular basis. Look at for any emails that come in and treat then all with suspicion, after deleting over 1350 emails this morning that came in over the weekend most were the usual rubish and the odd philshing attempt, less than 10 true emails. As far as I am aware the NBF is now safe to go on, well as safe as any other site. Regards Alan

Hello Clive, Is this the same style of boat that was damaged on the bow from a collision at Yarmouth Yacht Station several weeks ago? I think the styling of this and other new cruisers on the broads is pleasing to the eye and functional but that is only my opinion. Glad to hear if can get under the bridges, does this include Potter Heigham? Regards Alan Alan Hood Ranworth Breeze Boat Syndicate www.ranworthbreeze.co.uk

Hello Dave, With one grandchild and another on the way the boat may be a pipe dream for a while or you may be in the market for childrens life jackets. Hope to see you on the river in due course. Regards Alan

I saw the reply too late and will have to get another coffee. Well worth a watch, all that was missing was Terry Wogan commenting on the commentator. Regards Alan

A few years ago Jeremy Clarkson had a series where he messed about with microwave ovens by putting metal things in there to see what the results were, he did something different to a microwave on each programme usually where the contents blew up or the micrwave did. I know Jeremy Clarkson is a bit like Marmite, love or hate but I never miss an episode of Top Gear. Regards Alan

Hi Lori, It was fine though very windy when we went there in June, we even moored up next to the slipway and I was concerened that it may be a little shallow, but it was ok. Regards Alan

Hello John, Lucky for some, wish I was there. Regards Alan

MBA Marine, I agree with you re the parking, when we have been there there is usually ample parking and if memory serves me correctly don't they overspill onto a grassed area? What a good idea re the dedicated locker on hire boats for fold up bikes, a lot better use than a microwave on a boat. Regards Alan

Hello Dani, Welcome to the forum. I can not see any activity books that you mention. they may have been produced by the hire companies at the time. These might help as an alternative that are available from Amazon. Holiday Sticker Book (Usborne Sticker Books)these sticker books are available in a number of formats. You could do has suggested earlier go onto Craig's list and print off a selection of broads boats and there number for your child to tick off, I would also get a bird book that covers the type of birds on the Broads, this should range from the type of ducks, geese, birds of prey, wadding birds etc. Enjoy your holiday. Regards Alan

Hello Ted, I can understand the ladies in your party not wanting to cook onboard, I tend to be the galley slave if we choose to stop in. The New Inn is well worth a visit we were impressed when we called there for the first time in June, it also gets praise on a number of Broads forums. The staithe at Rockland St Mary has moorings for around 8 to 10 boats some with powerhook ups and there is a water point. We always try and moor at the Ferry Inn at Reedham Ferry, the food we find is always very good and the added bonus is that even out of hours the pub allows boats moored to use their toilets & showers (very clean) by access through the side door, yes there is a mooring fee at night but well worth the small charge. I can spend hours just watching the ferry go forwards and backwards across the river. As I said Loddon is well worth a visit, the 3 miles or soon the River Chet is narrow in places but safe for two boats to pass. The two pubs we have been to are the Kings Head, turn left out of the staithe car park the pub is less than 100 yards on the left. The Restaurant in the back of the pub does a good range of home cooked meals but leave some room for the dessert. If you turn right out of the car park about 400 yards and turn left is The White Horse Inn we had a very good meal there also in June. The other pubs in Loddon are the Swann and The Angel, the fish and chip is Chinese but is excellent, likewise the cafe opposite the car park. The Dukes Head at Somerleyton is good but is more expensive but not by much, if the weather is good there is plenty of tables outside. Beccles town is a tidy walk from the yacht station but when you get there, there is plenty of shops, pubs and cafes, my advice would be to do your shopping and then stop there for a meal. Oulton Broad yacht station is a good place to moor and by all accounts the recently reopened Wherry Hotel carvery is worth a visit. There are a number of pubs also offering meals and I have been recommended a restaurant just behind the Wherry Hotel. I hope you enjoy it all. Regards Alan

Hi Jonny, I agree that the Wroxham Barnes is worth a visit if you are in the area but it is a very long walk from anywhere that you can moor at Wroxham. We have always gone by car but our legs protest a lot if we walk more than a mile or so. I would think the Barnes are at least 2 miles or even 2.5 from Roy's. Regards Alan

Hello Ted, Welcome to the forum. If you have not gone to the New Inn at Rockland St Mary it may be worth going there for your first night after you take over the boat, if you wish to go further you could moor at Reeham Ferry or turn off the river just before there and go to Loddon great little village four pubs all serving food and a great cafe just opposite the staithe. Beccles is a good place to stop and you could stop at Somerleyton for lunch at the Dukes Head just up the path from the moorings. Beccles yacht station has good facilities the mooring fee is £7.60 if memory serves me correctly you can also ask for an electric hook up and purchase shower tokens from the staff there. Oulton Broad yacht station offers similar facilities. Have a good holiday, take it all slow and easy and enjoy. Regards Alan

I was on very early this morning, all was well I checked out a Video on cooking on the boat by London Rascal (Robin) I was going to say how good the video was in a reply to his message when I got a virus message up that the site was trying to download something. I have emailed Richard with the details to see if it helps him. Regards Alan

Hi Simon, I have seen this footage before but it is impressive and they do go fast through the bridge quite fast. If it is anything like on the canals, bridges of this construction tend to suck the water out from below the boat therefore lowering it in the water if the boat passes through quickly. The people that do this type of passage through these bridges must have nerves of steel. I have done it on canals but a narrow boat is fairly low and a lot heavier. The main thing is some of the bridges are very narrow especially on the Trent & Mersey so going quickly seems to centre you into the middle of the bridge as well. Regards Alan

Hello Jonno, Interesting video, unspoilt waterway I noted there were a few boat sheds with small boats in them so some deeper passage is possible. Thank you for posting it. Regards Alan

The NBF is current temporarily closed. I spoke to Richard this morning, it was ok and up and running very early this morning but it had another attack about 8.30 according to Richard and posts were lost again becase he had to set it back to around 1.00am. I assume that it must have been breached again this afternoon. Griff from Broads Ambition was trying to promote donations to help aid the problems Richard has, but of course most of replies to the topic have gone. It is very sad that these people can destroy a persons hard work in seconds once they can get access to a site. This of course is a forum, but it could have been a company where most of the companies staff would be unable to work, it could be your bank, the health service etc. Regards Alan

The tides may be high at the moment but all bridges have height boards well in advance of the bridge and at high tide these can be easily read unike at low tide where the boards are worn. If the boat does have a plate showing the air draft it is not rocket science to know if you can get under the bridge. As I have said our air draft is 9ft 8 inches and usually we gauge for 10 foot clearance, when coming down river through Yarmouth if we can see 7 full rungs of the ladders at the Yarmouth yacht station we can get through the bridges, this is a good guide for us and being as the height boards going down river are few and our worn out at the bottom of the boards you can not see the height in time for the bridges. Regards Alan

Hello Dave, Sorry I did not welcome you to the forum. You say that the quote for mooring was from Waterside Marine, was this for mooring at Potter heigham or Horning? I have looked on their website and they do not mention mooring. I may be wrong but are Waterside Marine part of Herbert Woods, if this is the case they I am sure they would find you a spot if you bought a boat from them. I can well understand that you would wish to spend as much time on the water as possible. You may have more luck in searching for a mooring on the Northern Broads for a boat between 25 and 27 foot. If you do not require much in the way of facilities have you looked at some of the river side mooring such as those below Acle for example. I know when we were looking for two 34 foot moorings about 3 years ago we could not find any other than the marina we moved from, needless to say we are now moored on the southern rivers at Brundall. Please let us know how you get on with regards to a boat and where you end up mooring. Regards Alan

Hello NorfolkNog, The St Olaves bridge is 8 ft 4 inches at average high tide, we have been under it at low water once with just 2 inches to spare (we need 9ft 8 inches). Regards Alan

Hi Dave, If that fee does include VAT, that sounds very good to me dependant on the size of the mooring. Regards Alan

Hello Jill, The NBF forum is partially up however I suggest that none of the members keep trying to log or even go into the website because it is trying to download a trojan. If any of the members here are in contact with Richard I suggest he informs the members of NBF when it is safe to do so. Regards Alan

Hi Lori, The boat as you say looks tidy enough, I have passed the yard going into Loddon staithe many times, we have never hired on the Broads other than day boats. The main thing with all boat yards is it down to how clean and tidy the boats are when you take them over, is everything there and does it all work. If all the above is true and if the boats call out service is good should you need them, that is all you can ask for. Have a good holiday and let us know how it turns out. Being as you live near the twisted spire have you visited the canal there? or are you a member of the canal society. Regards Alan