BroadAmbition

Edited out? Tooooo late, I've seen it! (Better edit out this one as well then) Griff

Morning! It's Christmas Eve So time for me to wish all forumites / lurkers etc a very merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Griff

I went up the dyke March this year to visit Cheshire Cat. Anyroadup, I was single crewing at the time and was concerned about turning 'B.A' round (40ft) so I did it the cowards way, turned 'B.A' in the main river, three short blasts on the tooter and went from the mouth to the basin astern. Which confused Geofrey somewhat, due to his limited eyesight did not recognise 'B.A' as he was trying to 'See' a varnished bow with white paint either side, all he could 'See' was a dark transom Griff P.S - Photo is not Upton Dyke of course

Fair point, well made, Griff

Morning, Eric / Mark, MrsG said the same about the windscreen thing - I pointed out a natural reaction would have to been to duck proper sharpish like, there's one thing for sure it would have easily come straight through it Nail? - Good point that one - I did explain there had been no RTA or collision but they weren't having it. I put those glasses there to give a size perspective for the photo. But yes I now need reading glasses (+1's) for small print in the evenings or low light. The broken lower valance is all one unit of the bumper - that will have to stay broken and be just another battle scar, purchasing a new one and having it painted it way off the scale for my wallet nowadays Griff

So it’s Friday morning, I’m in the ‘GriffTile’ van driving from my place down to Thurlby near Stamford for an appointment with a mate. I have to be at his no later than 1045 as that is when we intend to jump in his car, drive to Luton to catch a flight for Hamburg. My Satnav tells me I should arrive at his for around 1015. So no rush, I’m in the nearside lane on the A1 cruising at around 60mph. A van overtakes me and ‘BANG’ it has flicked some road debri up into the front of my van as it passed, I barely saw it but it was a hell of a thump, followed by some rattling (Bits of plastic front valance rattling off), checking gauges all seems ok but I’m just knowing this is going to be expensive. I keep going as all gauges seem ok, brakes working fine, I pull off the A1 at my designated turn off, pull up for a look-see, as I come to a stop the temperature gauge shoots up and clouds of steam envelope the front of the van, ignition off immediately. The foreign object has smashed through the bottom valance and punctured the radiator – Great. Ring AA – They say the van cannot be recover unaccompanied, I haven’t got the time as I have a flight to catch. So ring up my said mate who comes out with lots of water and a funnel, we are now about 10 miles from his pad. So in three hops of stopping to refill a leaking radiator / cruising down hill with engine off we make it to his place. Abandon van in his garage, we are now late setting off for Luton, but we make it in a hell of a rush, no time for a drink or a sarnie in the airport, fortunately we just have hand luggage and boarding passes were downloaded and taken with us from home, by the skin of our teeth we are on the aircraft, it taxi’s oh about 30 secs and comes to a stop, turn off the engines and sit there for two hours while air traffic control tries to gets its main frame computer back on line. We make Germany and arrive back on the Sunday I rang the AA at 2000, patrolmen sent – despite me telling them he won’t be able to fix it at the roadside – which he duly confirms when he sees the state of the radiator. Off he goes stating that he will put it in the system for a flatbed truck. The AA call centre ring me at round 2100 stating that they are classing the problem as being caused by a collision, not a breakdown, this is in their small print apparently, so I am only entitled to 50 miles ‘free’ recovery, I have to pay for the rest = £65 up front over the phone – I have no choice and am forced to comply. The flatbed eventually arrives at 2300. We cast off for Donny, but have to divert for another driver to take me home, as we join the A1 (After our diversion) he states the truck needs diesel and he has forgot to bring the fuel card, so at the next service station we pull in and have to wait over half an hour for another driver to bring us a fuel card. I eventually make it home at 0145, nearly six hours to be recovered 72 miles and have to pay for the privilege to boot despite having full coverage with the AA. Of course it would have been so easy for me to lie, not mention the foreign object hitting the van – just say the radiator had sprung a leak and played ignorant – then I would have been recovered home with the van FOC – you live and learn. Check the small print on your vehicles recovery/rescue policy my friends. I could not make a claim on the insurance Co of the van that passed me (I tried) and I was unable to prove the foreign object was part of their van. My own insurance? – I would have had to pay the excess and lost no claims. So I have bought a new radiator and changed it over myself – thank goodness I have tools and the gumption / experience to be able to do this kind of thing. I discovered to change a radiator on a Vivaro van – one has to dis-assemble the best part of the front of the van. So far the whole saga has cost me £130:00, and loss of earnings for half a day. There was nothing I could have done to avoid the situation either – Wrong place, wrong time Photo’s – Van in bits, last one the offending lump of metal that I found lodged in the radiator Griff

1000 posts? - Just goes to prove that JM is far better at talking rubbish then the rest of us! Griff

We still have the any old iron man come round here in Beccles. So old men in Beccles are made of Iron are they? What's his name - 'Iron-man' ? Griff (Who is just getting his coat)

'You know when you are getting old when' - The bank seems farther away from the deck than it used to Climbing onboard is obviously harder due to higher tides than normal That wobbly dinghy doesn't seem so inviting anymore Retreiving that lost thingymebob from the bilge is now the job of a junior crew member Keeping warm on cold nights now afloat involves a hot water bottle When it's easier to come about in front of a low bridge when it's blowing and cold rather than lower the canopy down Griff

Me too, but who checks the before and after 'evidence' ? Griff

Sprouts? Love em, favourite way in a rabbit caserole (Which I shall be doing today) Griff

OY - That cuts deep, - I have feelings you know! Griff

Brilliant - top drawer, I like the cut of your Gib Sir, ONe critisicm - NOT long enough! Griff

Ok, each year I forget to do the 'Movember' thing and raise some money for mens charity. This year I actually remembered (Quite impressive for me) so I partook in the growing of fizzog hair. My MrsG went bonkers for the best part of the month issuing earache as she is none too keen on this Yorkie having fuz on the fizzog - so I got stax of grief. Anyroadup I persevered, made it right to the end of November, shaved it off and sent £60 to charity (via The Gentlemens Retreat in Bawtry) After shaving off said fuzz what does MrsG state? - "Oh you've shaved, I'd got quite used to that beard" I tell you, you could not make it up. Females are just not wired up correctly, please if there is such a thing as reincarnation - Don't make me come back as a wench! Griff

That's more like it Barry. Looking forward to being invited onboard whilst she is afloat for a change! And of course we really do need to have a couple of hours if not more cruising in company. Happy days ahead then, Griff

And not quite Christmas but looks that time of year, Sutton Staithe and Horning in the Morning Griff

I've yet to do a Christmas afloat onboard 'B.A' and desperatly want to do so. I have done a New Years Eve trip before now, we saw the New Year in at The Bridge Inn and very good it was too. 8 x of us afloat plus Macie dog for about 5 days or so What was magical for me was doing night navs (Well by that I mean after sunset) and seeing the riveside properties and boats dressed with Christmas lights. Getting back to the Wet Shed on Jan 3rd-ish was a proper nightmare as we came to a dead stop with the river frozen, It was ok-ish to about 100 yds before Broads Edge, from there to the Wet-shed must have taken us 3 x hrs using the stern-to ice breaking method - extremely hard work for the deck crew and 'B.A's propulsion system. Jan 02nd - Malthouse Broad in the morning was proper forzen over too - we couldn't get out onto the main river, fortunatley a tupperware hire craft left and broke the ice so we followed their route out to safe unfrozen water on the Bure Photo's - Malthouse Broad / River Ant approaching Brods Edge / Outside wet-shed after we eventually made it inside Griff

Hi Donnygeoff, I came across the same quandry when I first started posting with regards to Broad Ambition and the Broads Authority. So I came up with the following solution which most forumites seem to quickly get the jist of Abbreviation BA = Broads Authority Abbreviation 'B.A' = Broad Ambition It works for me. And why am I getting moaned at? As for taking the BA on the Thames - well I did - I had an in date BA river toll on 'B.A' Griff

Not quite perfect - Needs a wet-shed (With a traditional thatched roof of course) Griff

Finny - not really got one for her other that 'B.A' or 'B.O.A.T' = Bung On Another Thousand Griff

Sigh, herewith then:- Sound on - filmed / edited by our very own 'Londonrascal' Griff

That photo above was taken by Richard Basey - Skipper of MTB102, from the quaterdeck of MTB102 on a sunny Sunday on the Waveney returning from Beccles to Oulton Broad. The photo is nearly perfect apart from the QDJ pennant is a bit furled around the jackstaff and our Macie Dogs nose can just be seen out of the Stbd wheelhouse The attached phot was taken by yours truly Griff

Methinks some of you lot are attemting to extract the urine To be honest I didn't realise it was going to show up in general vison/posts - just thought I was adding it to the 'Powles' area Griff

Doh - forgot to attach photo - herewith Griff

Norfolk Broads Authority Registration number:- R641 (Original Number from 1966) Queens Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant 03/06/12, Historic Squadron participant, Pageant number:- ‘H91’ Vintage Wooden Boat Association Registration number:- VWBA 910 Vhf Licence number:- 1-205038407, MMSI number:- 235092284, Call sign:- 2FLP7, CG66:- 85838398 Current BSS certificate in force until Sept 2015 Full ‘Out of Water’ survey carried out by M.I.I.M.S Marine Surveyor on 30/08/07, and again by Ludham Bridge Boatyard, Norfolk Sept 2010, and March 2013 Built in 1966 by Jack Powles of Wroxham, Norfolk. Originally named ‘Star Supreme 1’ for the Powles hire fleet under ‘Blakes’ She was the first of her class of six. Her Hull was used to take a mould and then a plug for the following 5 x Star Supremes, followed by Star Victors, Magnas + others then sold and became the ‘Bourne 40’ There were six in that class as listed in the Blakes catalogue dated 1966 R641 - was purchasd by a six man team/syndicate headed by current skipper Charlie Griffin, in 2002 for less than a years mooring fee's in her current wet shed! She was in a very sorry state, road transported up to Doncaster where the restoration began The restoration took five and a half years, cumilating 8'500 man hours and around £70k. There were around 20 odd volunteers that assisted in the restoration. She was re-launched in September 2007 and re-comissioned Oct 2007. There are now four owners of 'B.A' from the original six. Length Overall:- 40ft (12:2m) Length Waterline:- 38ft (11:58m) Beam:- 11ft (3:35m) Draft:- 2ft 6” (:76m) Airdraft:- Mast – 11ft W/screen raised - 7ft:7” W/screen lowered – 6ft:7” Spotlight removed – 6ft:4” W/screen removed – 6ft:3” Highest point = mast bracket at 6ft:3” Minimum airdraft required at Potter Heigham Bridge is 6ft 5” Construction: Hull:- Teak 1” planks on Teak frames, Transom double planked Superstructure:- Marine Ply decks and roofs, Iroko cabin sides, Oak rubbing strips Marine Ply windscreen, Internal bulkhead Centre Cockpit:- Canopy covered wheelhouse using 7 x supporting ‘Bows’ with hardwood ‘Sash’ counter balanced type sides fully glazed Well Deck:- Newly constructed with deck drains, finished with 'Dek-king' Concertina door, Stbd and Port deck lockers Stbd being the gas bottle stowage Gross Weight 8 tons (Approx) Berths:- Eight full size. Which includes 1 x ‘Make up bunk’ in the wheelhouse. Arrangement - 6 x singles and 1 x double - or - 4 x singles and 2 x doubles Propulsion:- New in 2007 ‘Beta Marine’ 4Cyl diesel ‘BV2203’ 50HP with two alternators = 160 amps Gearbox:- Borg-Warner 2:1 reduction marine gearbox. Fully inspected and re-conned in 2007 through a S/steel shaft on 1 x needle roller bearing and 2 x cutlass bearings Propeller:- Replaced in 2007 from the original 3 x blade 16” unit to a new 4 x blade 16” unit Engine is water cooled taking raw river water via twin scoops on Port and Stbd sides of the keel, passing through 2 x strainers and then heat exchanger within the engine unit. Used river coolant is then ejected via the exhaust system. Engine space below the wheelhouse deck has been completely lined with fire resistant double laminated sound proofing Exhaust system:- One silencer box with a flap valve situated aft on the Stbd side of the galley Steering – Bowden cable from the helm position using a new ‘Stazo’ wood spoke traditional wheel to a steel single rudder with hull mounted rudder stops. Rudder sits on a footplate with double bronze washers.Grease point is fitted with an auto-greaser Engine / Gearbox controls:- Via a new ‘Morse’ single lever control on new cables Performance:- In gear / Slow Ahead – 3mph. 1000Rpm – 4mph. 1400Rpm – 5mph 1700Rpm – 6mph. 2000Rpm – 7mph. 2200Rpm – 8mph. Full Ahead (2600Rpm) – 10mph Electrics:- Five 120amp heavy duty batteries are now fitted. They supply the domestic requirement and are of the ‘Deep cycle’ leisure type. The remaining battery is a 110amp high cranking type and is installed for engine starting only. All batteries are enclosed in vented battery boxes with lids. Solar panel fitted to Aft cabin roof. Inverter 1800 pure sign wave. 240v system with 7 x double outlets. Shore power distribution throughout wired in. Onboard 240v 1kw Immersion heater installed in calorifier can be supplied by shore power or inverter. Sterling products 12v and 240v charging systems via a sterling power management system. Two 240v 180W tube heaters acting as ‘Frost Guards’ are installed in the engine room wired into the ring main, fed by shore power or inverter if required, operated by an auto thermostat set at +2 degrees. 3 x 12v bilge pumps are fitted, 1 x Fwd Rule fully automatic 1100gph, 2 x in engine compartment, 1 x Rule fully automatic 1100gph and 1 x Johnson via float switch at 1150gph. The Johnson pump is wired on a separate circuit to the Rule pumps. All bilge outlets are fitted with non-return valves Diesel:- New in 2007 S/steel 35 gallon tank on Stbd side using a flush S/steel deck fitting. Tank has a sump with a mechanical drain. 2 x compression joint outlets and 1 x return are fitted all using manual shut off valves. Vent to atmosphere via a flame arrester on the Stbd cabin side is fitted. Fresh Water:- Two S/steel f/w tanks are fitted. Port – 75 gallons, Stbd – 65 gallons. Total capacity 150 gallons including expansion tank pipes etc. Tanks have a crossover/balance pipe feed system with both Port and Stbd deck fillers. Water is supplied on demand via a 12v pump 39psi through a 5 gallon expansion tank. ‘Vetus’ Calorifier of 10 gallon capacity is fitted on a closed loop system from the engine coolant. Shower:- 1 x unit via a thermostat situated Stbd Fwd. Shower drain 12v electric pump for grey water Domestic Heating:- 3:5kw S/steel Mikuni unit fitted. Brand new in 2007. Thermostatically controlled diesel fed – supplying blown warm air via a 12V fan to 5 x outlets Galley:- New in 2007 LPG – ‘Stoves Vanette’ GG700 cooker and ‘Stoves SL4021’ S/steel hob New in 2007 Beer Cooler (Fridge) – 12v compressor RR642 Shoreline 110Ltrs LPG bottle is stowed in a gas tight S/steel locker on Stbd side of well deck with an external overflow to atmosphere. Gas supplied via a regulator through a ‘Bubble Tester’ Fire Fighting equipment – 1 x fire blanket in the galley. 4 x Dry powder extinguishers situated – 1 x Fwd, 2 x Wheelhouse, 1 x galley W/C:- New in 2007 One situated Fwd, f/w pressure fed ‘Vetus Marine’ unit with a 12V pump/ macerator. Black water S/steel 47 gallon holding tank. Emptied via S/steel flush deck fitting with a ‘no-smell’ vent to atmosphere. Glazing:- All has been replaced with new toughened glass throughout Deck Gear:- All new in 2007 – S/Steel cleats 2 x aft, 3 x Fwd, S/steel Fairleads 2 x Aft 2 x Fwd, S/steel bow roller for S/steel mudweight on bow. Spare cast iron mudweight situated in Port Aft locker. 1 x emergency grapnel sea anchor with 10m of 2” s/steel chain situated fwd bow cabin under bunks. 2 x S/steel and 1 x galvanised rhond anchors. New warps soft blue are all back and eye spliced 16mm, 3 x Fwd and 2 x Aft. 12 x F2 Polyform fenders are onboard for use Port/Stbd fitted on lanyards via S/steel snap shackles, 2 x F3’s are for use on the Transom. Handrails are new Teak fitted to the original ‘eye’ supports that have been re-chromed. 1 x deck mop, 1 x deck brush and 1 x boat hook telescopic with plastic hook. Lifebuoy situated on Stbd bulkhead in aft well, with floating painter Navigation Lights:- All new in 2007 LED consisting of Port / Stbd / Fwd and Aft steaming lights. Anchor light fitted to mast. Single remote control spotlight on Fwd coach house roof. Twin electric Horns. Ventilation:- There are 8 x S/steel vents fitted to the Fwd and Aft coach house roofs, all of which have opaque centres. 3 are fitted with 12v extract fans. All internal doors have low-level ventilation cut-outs or vent holes in situ. Windows are of the ‘Hopper’ design with an automatic drainage system incorporated, enabling windows to remain open during precipitation whilst keeping the interior of the boat dry. For further information on 'B.A' just search the web, there are a few film clips on 'Youtube' of her. Or alternaivley just ask her skipper! Griff