BroadAmbition

That explains a lot! Griff

Holiday destination of the year - God’s Country - Get In Griff

we do not own the waterways and need to understand that they have limited access while boaters have access to the whole system I'm in both camps here and happily so. However I don't agree that boaters have access to the whole system. The majority of boaters can't get past 'That Bridge' which gives a huge area to the anglers with very limited river traffic, then there is Cockshoot and Gt Hoveton Broads to name but just two and there are plenty more. There are also areas that anglers can use but boaters cannot do so Griff

Yes we are aware of this although the Planer guy reckons our Mikuni exhaust / silencer it will fit straight on. I should be so lucky eh? - Not - But we will see. It'll no doubt me who is fitting the thing anyroadup seeing as I fitted the Mikuni originally Griff

Oh and Btw - Nearly forgot. Our resident research expert has informed us today that he has placed the order for the new Planer heating unit with associated parts and it's on it's way to my hovel Griff

Sssshhhhhhhhh, Wanna know a secret? I collected 'B.A's new replacement mast from The Wizard today, it is now at home with me in our conservatory and looking splendid. Itching to commence my part, that is final rub down, then 2 x applications of 5 Star cuprinol prior to commencing varnishing. Can't do owt on it this evening as being the first Wednesday of the month it is our clay shooting evening / pub dinner near to Bawtry Griff

Still waiting for the PH backwards vid Griff Me and you both, only I ain't kinda waiting at all I'd bet on 'We'll both be waiting a while'. Mind you if I ever see 6ft 11" - ish, no wind, slack water, not too many craft milling around and all my 'Lucky' parameters in place . . . . . . . . . . . . Griff

He's omitted the best sentence which puts the choice in perspective perfectly as part of the brief he sent to us lot earlier which tickled me no end:- I’d likely go with Planar. Someone here in U.K. to contact for parts, not too cheap and proven in the cold of Russia where they are used for truck heaters and sell hundreds of thousands a year and not from Wong Ton Ting of China who when it goes t1ts up have no contact and effectively throw it out and buy another. Griff

HW are missing a trick there. They could offer a "dayboat discount" to hire craft, and a double discount to their own hirers. I don't think H.W's are missing any tricks. Thing is when the season is going full swing, just about everytime I have stopped at PH, All, and I do mean all H.W's dayboats are already out on hire. Therefore no incentive for H.W's to discount - why would they? I need 6ft5" or more to take 'B.A' through 'That' bridge and can do so a fair few times a year, I just need to be 'Lucky' :- That is have enough airdraft available, me be onboard 'B.A', both of us be at PH preferably at the same time, have time in hand, have the confidence of getting back with regards to forthcoming tidal height, have a crew that wants to venture t'other side, have the confidence to 'Go for it', be reasonably sober. Other than that - No problem at all! Griff

Only the genuine 'Planer' is made in Russia, definitely not China Well that is to say the actual burner/fan unit is Russian. All the rest of the gear - pump, exhaust, vents etc are sourced here in UK along with the uk marketing company that supplies them. There are Chinese copies that claim to be a 'Planer' but are not. How do I know all this? - Because as expected our resident research expert is on the case. We could soon well be trialling a new 'Planer' unit onboard 'B.A' in the not too distant future. Robin will no doubt be along in due course with a proper more detailed explanation Griff

As if it couldn't get any worse - It has. Just got off the phone with Clive, His older brothers wife has just died in very similar circumstances to Kathy. Kathy and her we only chatting last week whilst out shopping together. How much more does one man have to square up to? What a terrible time for the family. However on the plus side, the family are rallying round, to such an extent Clive is thankful for a bit of piece and quiet in the evenings (He says after I rang him) Clive was also under the impression that the posts he puts on the NBN Facebook page were posted here - so that is why he has not said owt within these hallowed pages. Now he knows otherwise of course. Griff

They hardly protrude over the can’t rail. Yes they will withstand errant footwear. No crew should really be wearing boots though Griff

Erm, we’re posting this interesting stuff on t wrong thread again. I’d proper like a complete record of Grendel’s amazing efforts on t model thread. Pretty please Griff

Self explanatory - I hope

Regulo - Everything you have posted there makes perfect sense to me, we are on the same tack. £320:00 is a fair chunk towards a new unit and as you say what price peace of mind if out on the rivers on a cold night? Griff

Ooops, my mistake! Griff

Don't forget to get him a twin tub, bow and arrows and a tablet - Stone one of course Griff

We departed for home Saturday evening at around 2100 which got me home for 0030 and Bro' for 0045. Reginald Molehusband would have been home for about 2130 - Show off. A snippit of information ref those reliable Mikuni heating systems - DON'T buy one either warm air or hot water version. The one onboard 'B.A' is the MY30 which is the highest capacity warm air heating system that Mikuni make rated at 3:5kw using :5 Ltr per hour at full chat. It has been for the past twelve years ultra reliable, quiet in operation. 'B.A' at 40ft with five cabins plus the saloon area is a fair size for 3:5kw to warm up. But warm 'B.A' up it did very nicely. Mainly due to me insulating all the vent pipes and 'B.A' being built of the proper stuff (Wood of course), once the actual fabric of 'B.A' gets warmed through the 3:5kw Mikuni kept her toasty even during the coldest winter nights. So why not buy one? - Because Eberspacher found they could not compete with the build quality etc of Mikuni so bought out the heating side of Mikuni then promptly closed the operation down. Result that the spare parts back up system is going to become more and more difficult to obtain such. I got all this information from Mikuni head office in Southampton today whilst on the phone with them. They now supply the 'MV' range. I have a historical dislike of Ebespachers - Even more so now. This puts us in a right quandary with regards to our Mikuni. If it is indeed the control box (I should know tomorrow for sure, he states optimistically) do we spend the £320:00? or would that be throwing good money after bad as the next breakdown which may happen soon or not for years maybe the final straw as no spare parts available I foresee with very little foresight our resident research expert getting involved anytime now if he hasn't done so already Griff

Flying visit last weekend. Mysen, Bro' and Robin onboard Friday evening to get stuck straight in. Robin had sat the Brava varnish next to a fan heater to warm it up for flowing. I de-nibbed cant rail, teak pads, 2 x shelves and dab surround the applied the final and only coat of Brava varnish so it would be dry for Saturday afternoon. In the meantime Robin and Howard were investigating just why our ultra reliable Mikuni 3:5kw warm air heating system refused to do anything, no indication light, no nothing. The Mikuni is now in its twelfth year and has done plenty of sterling service not missing a beat to date. By silly o clock they had done enough for the evening declaring that it 'May' be the control box. Not having a spare one of those in our locker at £320:00 that was the end of our toils for Friday night. Saturday morning it was onto t'other stuff. I rang Mikuni in Southampton but they were not open until today. The main man was not available so I will ring him tomorrow. We fitted the well deck s/steel hatch border - Strangely it was somehow £15 more expensive and supplied without screws ???? The upgraded MM 'Knob Pullers' were fitted too. The upgraded triple switch was fitted to the helm, although not full wired up as of yet. The DAB/FM aerial incorporating its own signal booster - We played about with this somewhat, confirmed where it will be mounted, agreed it was gonna be another one of those running cable 'Mother of all jobs' yet again, This will be carried out during the forthcoming AMP. The aerial is now up here with a mate having a modification done to the mounting system to make it more 'B.A' user friendly Those deck lights - Howard Soldering - Me fitting, Robin grinning - This was his idea after all. Woweeeeee. Well that is to say the Stbd side is wowee, the Port side refused to spark up so we have a dodgy connection somewhere or other. Again this will be looked into during the AMP. The float switch in the engine bilge area has been changed for one with no internal rolling ball. The last one was becoming somewhat erratic and unreliable - Cant have bilge pump / float switches being unreliable. We also changed our lockers fluorsecent strip lamp for a 6ft twin strip LED version - Another Wow moment - Night into day, dismal grey winters day into bright summer sunshine - Well chuffed. Photo's to follow Griff

Paul - It’s a AJS 1927 H4 350 deluxe side valve (mouthfulll) Griff

Oooh! whats the bike Griff ? Paul It's an AJS of some description - I'll ask the question Griff

You know what this item is? Of course you do, it is the original helm taken off MTB102 last month. Looks in a sorry state doesn't it? So would you be if you had been out in all weather since the thirties. Skipper Richard Bassey reckons it is the first time it has been removed, certainly since MTB102 has been under his watchful eye. He had a right old carry on removing it, had to make a custom made puller to get it off. So the helm is now with me. I took it round to one of our 'Lads Week' crew in t neighbouring village (In fact he is one of our Skippers) who's hobby is restoring motorbikes. The reason that the helm is now in my care is that I have a huge soft spot for MTB102 and like to help out whenever I can. Last time out at sea onboard (Last year) I remarked to Richard the sorry state of the helm and why had it not been removed / powder coated? I got 'That Look' then - 'No one has volunteered to do it' Here was a chance for me - I volunteered for the job. So, our motorbike restorer will paint strip and rub down the hand pegs only to a smooth finish as they are heavily pitted. Then later this month it will go off with some motorbike parts to deepest Pontefract where it will be blasted then powder coated in black. Back to me where I will exchange some beer chits for the job. Back down to Norfolk, Richard to collect and then back onboard MTB102 where hopefully it will last another 80 odd years. Completed photo to follow in due course Griff

HI Phil and welcome. So you are a commercial fisherman for 34 years and you are afloat on the Broads? - You wanna watch yersen mate, you'll get yersen in all sorts of tangles! Re the boat planters - Well one obvious avenue is via our own Forum Shop - How about supplying the Forum to sell some of them for you - with a forum commission of course - Just an idea. Photo's of said planters would be beneficial Griff

Yes, I have seen the Sanderlings, I think there are two at Loddon - one was renovated and painted creme - but now looks like it needs renovating again. The other is in a sorry state, with planking missing and just left (it would seem) to rot away. Go on David - Save one of them - You know you want to! Griff

It is my sad duty to inform the forum that Clive's wife Kathy passed away suddenly Friday afternoon 01st March. She suffered a massive heart attack. Died in the ambulance on her way to the hospital. Clive rang me Friday teatime to give me the sad news - It came as a big shock, Clive has been unwell on and off lately, I thought Kathy was the strong one I am of course sure Forumites will join me in offering our condolences to Clive and his family. I have offered Clive any assistance he may require Griff