SPEEDTRIPLE

A simple analagy is the difference between the cost of a Jaguar XF and a Vauxhall Insignia Ecotech. Would you pay the same £40,000+ as the Jag for the £20,000+ much lower standard Vauxhall?, no you would`nt, because there`s a lot more to the Jag than there is to the Vauxhall, yet it is still a car with 4 wheels. The simple fact is, the EA has locks, tunnells, aquaducts, and a great deal more miles of waterways to upkeep, so why would you think it justifiable for the BA to charge an overly disproportonate rate for a license on the Broads?.

I assume the three boats from the small yard are the three that Maffetts have deleted from their web site Andy?. They have gone back to the two wooden ones "Swallow and Merlin". A real shame because of the time and money invested in the three newer boats is all waisted. I do sometimes wonder whether there should be some form of assistance for the smaller operaters, as the much bigger yards can stand the extra costs much easier, though any increase will have a negative effect on ALL fleets, large and small, and i`m sure everyone on this forum appreciates all the hard work that you, and others like you put in?. The big problem is, appreciation DOES`NT pay the bills. Still, never mind, when there`s no boating on the Broads left, the BA will have to tax the RSPB and local angling clubs instead?.

Time to buy one of the smaller Drascombe range to fill it then Peter?, how about a "Scaffie", or at least i think that`s what the smallest one was called?.

With all due respect Strow, just because one authority is much cheaper than another, it`s absolutely no justification whatsoever to increase costs if it`s not warranted. I think the comments regarding the Fenland locks etc etc is wholly irrelavent in relation to the tidal Broads, especially when you`ve already raised the issue re Mutford lock, and how it SHOULD`NT BE in the BA`s remit, which incidently, i agree with you wholeheartedly. Re your earlier comments about your good self being well known for defending the BA, you have every rite to do so, and i`m sure we all respect your opinion?. You and me in agreement over something Strow?, that has to be a first?.

There`s a facebook group called "Norfolk Broads Boaters". There are a lot of posts by people who post up pictures and film clips of their holidays, and sometimes it can make for very interesting viewing. I think there`s a few people on this forum that might know what i`m on about. I remember putting a line in one of my posts regarding inconsiderate behaviour saying "let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

RUBBISH GRACE. You would`nt have anywhere to put all your shoes?.

RE the petrol issue, down here in Dorset, we live not far from a Sainsburys , with a fuel station. There`s another sainsburys about 6 miles away in the outskirts of Poole, yet the one near us regularly charges at least 3p per litre MORE than the one near Poole. They`re both Sainsburys, so why the big difference in per litre charges?. It seems because our village is looked upon as "rural", and the other one is in a town, they must feel we are better off, and think we can afford to pay more?. It`s just another con, and i wonder if they do like Ian says (Senator) and keep ALL the 5p for carrier bags?.

Ahh, so that explains why you do a lot of single handed sailing then Peter?................................ I`l get me coat

I know i`m a bit synical at times, but i think this is nothing more than Aldi`s attempt to be seen to do the right thing, as well as trying to make money by being seen as promoting a major wildlife trust. I wish big buisness would just concentrate on "the buisness" rather than try and play on being seen as taking the moral high ground. They`re a leading supermarket aimed at bringing us customers our shopping at the cheapest price, so i wish they would just concentrate on that. Moral brainwashing is a phrase that comes to mind.

Hmmm, i`ve just had a thought. When we have the next meet, maybe we should ask the Hairy bikers Dave and Si to come and do the cooking. Would`nt that be a coo. I think Upton might be a bit tight though, unless it`s winter of course?.

I certainly have, but not a Speedtriple. I own 2 Daytonas, a 955i, and a Daytona 1000. The 955 is down here in not so sunny Dorset, but the Thou is in my brothers back garden up in Kent, and is in need a full restoration. The Thou was a lovely comfortable bike but the 955i is a more sports focused bike, and the riding position makes for aching wrists and hands if i ride it round the forest. I should have bought the Speedtriple, but bought with my heart rather than my head. I`m now looking at buying a Bonneville, but theres a far more up to date new version coming out next year (i think?) with sharper more posative handling and better braking, plus it`s an 1100 twin, so i might just wait and see what i can afford nearer the time. Karen hates 955i, too uncomfortable on the back, but found the Thou really nice, but her favourite is the Bonnie, and she`ll go on the back of that. How about yourself, do you own a Trumpet, or any other make of bike for that matter?. Griff (Broad Ambition) has a Tiger 1050 which he absolutely loves, and there have been several other forumites in the past which either own, or have owned bikes in the pas. Maybe we should start the forum hairy bikers branch?

I don`t know what i did wrong as i can`t put a script with it. Anyway, this is the moorings at Upton, which has also been our screen saver for quite a few years now. It was taken in 2006.

It is a stunning looking little boat, but why do they have such a small cabin. If they bought the cabin back a couple of feet and put in a proper sink and a decent 2 burner and grill cooker, it would be a great weekender. Also, it would`nt be too difficult to put in a holding tank type toilet.

It just goes to show, people don`t know what they`re talking about. ......................... The Isle of Wight ferry also runs between Yarmouth and Lymington As a sailor Jenny Morgan, i thought at least you would know a little about Lymingto?.

That`s all very well Andy, but those stuck on the mud (with great exception given to those that have had a problem) have obviously got there "AT" high water, but definitely not "BECAUSE" it`s high water. The vast majority are stuck there because they obviously can`t understand "keep between the posts". The tide direction is completely irrelevent.

I do wonder at some peoples obvious lack of understanding of the english language. How hard can it be to to understand when people, and navigation maps and charts etc say "keep between the posts"?. I know we`ve sometimes crossed Breydon against the tide, but i do like to go with the tide whenever possible. However, sometimes it`s just not convenient to do so, so we have to go against the tide. As for working an engine hard against the tide, most inboard engines on hire boats, or even private boats for that matter, are governed to a lot less revs than max rpm, so going across Breydon at say 1,800 revs is hardly straining an engine. I run a Peugeot 407 138 deisel, which will rev to over 4,000 rpm. I constantly sit on the motorway at 2,000 rpm which is dead on 70mph. Most modern deisel boat engines will rev to somewhere near that rev range if the pumps etc are tuned for it, so running a deisel at 1,800 revs is often just cruising revs anyway. I think a lot of people worry unnessecarily about crossing Breydon against the tide because they read and hear endless adverse sometimes misleading comments about doing so. The truth is, it`s perfectly safe, providing, like in any other scenario, your equipment is properly maintained and serviced correctly.

The Topdeck class was new in the lat 60s, but the Star Clipper class and all the smaller variants came out in the early to mid 70s, and were the only high top designs till about 79 when the Bounty 34 Sedan came out, along with the ideal 40. Then the Dawncraft Illusion came out a year later. There was a handful of high top designs, but not many. Now it seems there are hundreds of them, and getting more all the time. Every time we hired a boat, no matter who with or where from, it was ALWAYS a boat ORIGINALLY designed to go under ALL broads bridges at the time. All the boats we hired have`nt got any taller, but some of the bridges have got lower for various reasons. Maffetts had 2 very nice high topped designs, but we never hired them because we wanted to go under all the bridges at almost all states of tide, and we hardly ever had any problems until a few years back. As i said, the boats have`nt got any taller, but some of the bridges HAVE got lower. In the mid 70s, there were a dozen high topped boats at most, and that was within around 2,000 hire boat. Now the number is significantly higher, with around 700 hire boats. The percentage of high top designs is dramatically higher, so it`s no wonder the number of accidents are getting higher. However, with this in mind, i find it strange when fleet operaters start talking about increases in hire fees to cover the costs of accidental damage, when if you offered a fleet where all boats were ORIGINALLY designed to go under the bridges, Bridge accidents would be vastly reduced. You`ll always get those that will hit the bridges, but with a more focused fleet, the chances are minimul, and whatever accidents you get, will be down to the inexperience of the hirere. It`s easy to blame novices with no experience, but sometimes, the operaters have to share some of the blame for not giving enough information when a particular boat is booked, sometimes by a complete novice.. I also think if a boat and its engine etc are properly maintained, there should be absolutely no need to worry about boats crossing Breydon or punching up the Bure against the tide.I`ve done it lots of times with no problems.

Hi Psychic, Sorry, i`m NOT wrong, you`re talking about the "Topcraft Topliner" design, one of which was adapted to take touring caravans. The one i`m talking about predates that by many many years. I don`t know if there are any pictures of it on Craigs database, or where Dan might have some pics stashed away somewhere. The Topliner design like yours was actually quite a nice design, with many unique features.

One other thing to consider when going over statistics is to ask how many high topped boats were available for hire. The only one i can think of is the old Topcraft boat from the early 70s. I can`t remember what it was called, but it was quite an ugly looking thing based on the american houseboat theme. Now, with these high topped designs, the fleet operators have introduced dramatic cruising restrictions with low tide at Gt Yarmouth being either late at night, or too early in the morning. Sometimes, it`s just not convenient, or possible to transit Breydon at slack water. And to be honest (and this is only MY opinion) the fleet operators only have themselves to blame for the number of boats getting stuck under bridges, because these designs did`nt exist in the 70s, except for the Topcraft one that is. I`ve said it before, but i wonder if newbies who book through Hoseasons etc are made aware of the cruising restrictions the high top designs introduce, and also are they given the correct advice at the time of booking as to whether or not, the boat they`ve booked REALLY meets with their requirements?.

And now with fewr hire boats too.

There are some very interresting films on you tube regarding small personal watercraft. I`l try and post some up if i can work out how to dfo it.

That`s good news indeed. It`s always good to know the smaller indipendant yards are expanding. Good for the southern rivers too, especially for those on the upper yare.

I have to say, i would disagree with Robin saying cooking on a boat is secondary. Cooking is cooking wherever you are. I cook exactly the same on a boat, in a cottage, or here at home, and the methods are the same, so i like to use the same sort of utensils. We have a very large sausepan for fresh pasta, and we always used to have Spag bol (well, "Amatricana" sauce actually) on our first night which i coocked underway to our first nights mooring. I lost count of the number of times i used to curse at NOT having suitable cookware, so we used to take our pasta pan with us. We even took a steamer with us on a couple of occaisions, and we did get some strange looks. I completely agree re the sharp knives thing, so much so that Karen and i bought a pack of cheap knives for our "holiday pack". Although they were cheap, they are sharp and do the job, and will only be used when we go on holiday, so they`ll be used for a maximum of 3 weeks a year. I do like Johns idea (Maurice Mynah) re the non stick wok, one i may have to buy for Lightning, as she now has non stick frying pans, saucepans, a steamer, an egg poacher,, so cooking aboard is quite enjoable.

My own personal opinion is something similar to the existing BA launches, but with a greater beam of say 12ft for increased stability in a seaway. It would laso have a single engine, big and powerful enough to push through a heavy sea, and strong enough to tow a boat off the mud in shallow water. It could be built using something like a Nelso 35 style hull, with a deckhouse having a small galley area, toilet and shower compartment and large open cockpit. SOB does`nt need the 2 massive engines it has, they burn far too much fuel, even at river speeds, so a single engine will be ideal for the broads. Also, with a single engine, it would give greater clearance below the waterline to enable it to get in closer in shallowing waters. The main thing is, it should be able to at least get under Yarmouth bridge. What do others think?.