SPEEDTRIPLE

Hi all I thought some of you would like to see some photo`s of our trips on the Broads. They`re not in any specific order, so you`ll get various boats, views, people etc completely random. I hope you enjoy them.

Hi Mark, So, does that mean the Kennett and Avon is out then?. It`s good excersise doing a total of 24 locks, 16 all in one flight at Devizes, i know, as Karen and i found it daunting enough just walking it, and even then we gave up halfway.

Hi Gary, we saw you cruising by and think you`ve bought forumite "Jimbo"`s boat. I could be wrong, i`m sure someone will be along to correct me if i am. As it turns out, Jimbo was there on the weekend, so had you have stopped, and it WAS his old boat, you could have had quite a chat. Welcome to the forum Gary, i used to live in Kent, and know a few Gary`s, so i might know you?. Happy cruising matey, and enjoy the forum .......................... Neil.

Hi Jane, welcome from me to. Mudweighting on a broad?, make sure you have a dinghy then. As for which broads, well, Womack water would be one to start with, small and sheltered. Then there`s Bridge broad in Wroxham after the railway bridge (you`ll definitely get through Wroxham road bridge in Petite Gem being a Hampton 25), again, small and sheltered. Salhouse, bigger, but quite well sheltered. Down south, i think the only broad you could safely mudweight on is Surlingham as has been said, again, small and sheltered. Several of the other broads are not advisable due to marked channells through the middle, such as Hickling, large and open expanse which can be a bit exposed, Barton Broad, and down south, Rockland broad. There`s also Ranworth, South Walsham, and Wroxham broads, but these are quite large, open, and can be a bit exposed. in windy weather. I like the idea of 2 mudweights, i`ve sometimes thought of that myself but never asked the hire yard. Regards and best wishes .......................... Neil

Hi Allan, i`m sure you`ve already thought of it, but have you fitted a drain / vent outboard pipe to the LOWEST part of the new gas locker, i believe it`s a legal requirement now especially for BSSC?. Gas being heavier than air, a lot of people make gas lockers with a dip in the bottom corner and a drain / vent pipe from the dip to take the gas fumes (if a leak does occur?) out of the locker to outside the boat. I hope i`m not teaching you to suck eggs?. Regards and best wishes ........................ Neil.

I just hope it does`nt rain Geoffers, as then you`ll know exactly wht i mean :smile: .

Hi Vet, personally i think the first in your links is not a bad looking boat, very similar to a Dawncraft or Norman, but the second link is individualism gone too far. Now if they looked like the first one, then i`d definitely give the canals a try. I`d just have to convince Karen that it`s just the same as sleeping in cabin on a broads cruiser, only with windows either side. Regards to all .................... Neil.

Hi Alan, Some good points you raise there, but what i would have done if i`d come up with the same thought would be to have sized the locker for 2 smaller ones, so you will at least know if one runs out, you have an imediate back up. However, your reasoning makes sense, and will suit your needs adequately. When do you think she`ll be ready for engine runs?. Regards ....................... Neil.

Oh goodie, it worked.

Just trying something out.

I forgot to say, it`s one of only 2 reasons why i won`t do the canals, the other being "narrow" due to Karen being a bit claustraphobic. A shame really as there are many GOOD reasons to do the canals, the Kennet and Avon Navigation being an hour away at devizes being one of them. Regards to all .......................... Neil.

Quite a lot of narrow boats are fitting car type canopies to the aft deck, i think there are a (or were) a couple on the Broads. When we did the Fenland rivers about 4 years ago, these canopies were commonplace on narrowboats, and they have a car type windscreen built into them too. I`ve never understood why to gain more interrest in canal holidays, the hirefleets don`t design a steel narrowboat along the lines of an aft cockpit cruiser, like the Viking, Buckingham, Norman etc etc ranges with a fold down screen and canopy and wheel steering?. Perhaps the canal buffs on here can enlighten us?. Regards to all ......................... Neil.

Hi Jaws, firstly, this is a really great thread, and some ingenious ideas of how to re-use something that could have so easily been binned. My only question is why did`nt you make the gas bottle locker big enough for 2 bottles, such as on a hireboat?. Keep up with a great thread .......................... Neil.

And are they big enough to double moor to?.

Stick it in a string bag and dangle it over the side Mark.

Thanks Strow, i used google maps to plot our route from the A47, which is very straightforward, though getting back to suffolk is going to need some written notes so i don`t forget.

Hi Folks Just a quickie, i`m going to plot our route to Salhouse by road, but is the broad signposted from the road, as i have`nt walked to the shop and back for about 12 years. Also, is the car park near the end of the footpath very big, as i`d hate to arrive and find nowhere to park. Memories of the location are a bit jaded now?. Regards to all, and see you on Saturday ............................ Neil.

Hi Jaws, tell them to contact Maffett Cruisers on 01508 520344 and ask for John, Lynda or Graham, they are approved Marine engineers, and those that have used them have always said how good their service is, and their rates are usually pretty favourable too. They`re based in Loddon, so are not too far from Brundall. I forgot to add, i`m sure John Hockam Admiral said if they do any repairs or service an engine, they give a years garuntee, but that`s NOT for certain, so a quick phone call should help you out.

Hi Matt, Horsey windpump is open to the public and is a National trust property. The dyke is a dog leg, and narrow at the top, but with ample room for a dinghy, though i don`t know whether there`s a charge?. A couple of years back Karen and i went there by car, and the views from the top of the windpump are spectacular. There`s also toilets and a food outlet there, so you won`t have to take food in the dinghy.

It`s only rivers that are close season, whereas canals and stillwaters are now (and have been for some time) open season year round. So you should be able to fish the North Walsham and Dilham canal, and the Bure and Waveney navigaions in theory?.

A really good film, though it would have been nice to see a bit more of the Wensum beyond the hireboat limit. Really enjoyin watching these sort of film clips. Well done, and thanks for posting it. Regards to all .......................... Neil.

Hi Mandy, it`s always advisable to think carefully about what you post in open forum (i should know, i`ve done completely the opposite myself enough times). You `ve just successfully informed your hireboat base that you let your dog sleep on the bedding, which if you check your aggreement, is a definite NO NO. I may be wrong, but i`m sure EVERY hire fleet have a ploicy of "No pets on bedding and seating".? Good to hear you had a great time and great service from Swancraft too. It`s always good to hear good reviews about the hirefleets.

Hi Strow, I`m not really assuming with certanty, as i said, read into it what you will, i know what i think. That`s just suggesting, allbeit in other words, "it`s in my opinion only". The one thing you can`t change is history. You can lie about it (absolutely NO suggestion anybody is lying here), but you can`t change historical facts, and history HAS proved in the past that the bigger more established, and sometimes more expensive hire fleets have had preferential treatment from various different Norfolk related bodies, be they agencies, the BA, and other governing bodies, so to "suggest" something similar may have happened here, and i said "MAY HAVE" and NOT "has" is in my mind reasonable. One reason why i think it may have been a good suggestion to head north, is the slower and lesser tidal range on the norther rivers is far better for novice crews. That said, with all the film crew that were with them, probably all very able bodied people, the Davies family would have had ample help if they encountered any difficulties on the stronger southern rivers. Regards to all ................... Neil. PS, i`d just like to say, this post is in no way whatsoever meant in any offencsive way to any of the larger hire fleets, so if it comes across that way, sincerest appologies, as it was`nt meant to.