MauriceMynah

Certainly that was far from a "silly question". I would say that the diesel displacement boat is your best option, however don't totally discount petrol completely for two reasons. Firstly they tend to be a little cheaper to buy but perhaps more importantly there is the "Freeman" syndrome. For some reason unknown to me, the earlier Freemans (or should that be "Freemen") tended to be fitted with petrol engines. This was one of the few drawbacks to a boat that was built and finished to the very highest quality, and is exactly in the size range you are talking about.

With all the hot air coming from the politicians at thew moment, A balloon would be easiest!

Hi John, Welcome from me too (another John)

My parents used to hire Royall Sovereign time after time, but then went on to Royal Ambassador, which they hired for a fortnight twice a year for about 15 years.

Oh oh oh oh Jim sir sir sir sir, Jim sir, please can I say that if you lived in Norwich the whole of Lincolnshire would be happier... can I say that sir, please please sir please can I can I .

I think I've just worked out that I must be a de facto defector, deffo! Don't you just hate it when people drop Latin expressions in their posts ad hoc.

Should "Budget" and "Restoration" be words ever seen in the same thread?

Pauline, You missed "Arthur Ransome"

I'm starting to wonder about this perception that crossing Breydon Water is a tricky piece of work, and how the problems seem to have been blown up out of all proportion. I sometimes wonder just how it can be addressed. The Southern waters do have issues that need to be born in mind, those being... Strong currents. Tidal rise and fall. Tide direction. ... but there is a world of difference between "bearing in mind" and "blind terror". I might still support the argument that a complete novice would be better off learning the very basics of boat handling on the northern waters, but not to the point of frightening them off venturing south after they've learned them. I think the problem is, for the raw novice, that the boatyards on the northern waters just don't have the time at handover to go through these extra points. One small point I would like to raise, while we are on the subject.... My sister was at the helm heading upstream from Breydon approaching the first of the Yarmouth bridges. She saw the arrows showing the channel and went through slightly left of centre. Nothing was coming so no problem but she had thought the arrows were indicating the channel SHE should be using and that on the other side of the bridge the arrows would be off set, indicating the down stream channel. I wonder if other novices make that mistake!

I too would say that whilst those mentioned on this thread are in every way worthy of being "mentioned in dispatches", they are not the people to whom these awards are aimed, though in Carols case I could be mistaken. I read it as an award in recognition of time and physical services freely and voluntarily given to help maintain and improve these National Parks (and members of the National Parks family). Just my take on it

So when Jon says "Row it like you stole it", he just might have done!

Wheat and see!

Ahhh, Twas in the year 1965 when I first came to the broads. The boat was from Richardsons and was called Fancy Free. First night was at Thurne Dyke where my cousin introduced me to fishing. I caught a few small roach and have been hooked on both fishing and the broads ever since.

Size isn't everything Alan,

As a friend of mine so often said... "If the good lord had meant us to sail, he'd never have pointed out where he'd left the fossil fuel."

There's a bloke called Griff who comes on the forum from time to time, He tried a restoration project a while back. Made a right pig's ear of it so I've heard. I'm sure he'll be along in good time to tell you where he went wrong.

Welcome Pia, The Dandy is a fine little craft, and probably the most spacious for her length.

VC, was "Glenmore" a DC30 ex Moores hirecraft?

I find the walk from the Kings Head (Coltishall) to the Rising Sun (Coltishall) is a most rewarding stroll, sometimes the other way round.

Ahhh yes Watershed, but you are one up on JawsOrca... ... You have the approval of a Seal!

Iain, Have you not heard two of my other lottery win projects? The Walter Mitty Barton Catfield & Hickling Canal, and The Potter Heigham Bypass Canal. If I'm not allowed to build either/both of those then it's a quick word with Jason and/or Clive to have the superstructure modified to enable the boat to get under when the bridge shows 6'6" I suppose however, that with the three engines, the bridge could do the conversion if I spend long enough in the Broadshaven!

Bronze age boat eh? Needs a bronze diesel engine then!

Perhaps Jason or Jon can answer this, After a lottery win I'd be looking at a boat along the lines of Brinks's centre cockpit 48 footer (can't remember it's name!) The tricky bit is that I'd like 3 Nanni or Beta engines fitted. the centre one for normal broads cruising, with all three for salty work. Is my pipe dream feasable?

The Pleasure Boat Inn is my gateway. Does me just fine

Would it be possible to mount car reversing sensors on the stern, just below the rubbing strake?