SPEEDTRIPLE

She looks absolutely amazing. I hope she does come back to the Broads in the near future.

Hi JA, PM sent.

This is the one i was talking about, any idea which one it is?.

Hi Janet Anne, I`ve found my picture thread, but alas that photo is`nt there. It`s in my fathers attic, so i`l have to go up there and have a look through all the old photo`s. I know i`ve got some photo`s in MY attic, but they are considerably later than 70, with many of the Wizard class in them. Astons did keep a number of the old Aston Poppy class, and built some wood sidescreens and doors, with a pull over top, instead of the old car type canopy. I`m not sure which one it was, but about 7 or 8 years back, we were moored in Upton, and one of them came in with another classic boat and moored for the night. The other boat as still moored in Loddon at Denny Waklins yard and called "Telscombe". Karen took a phot of the two boats moored at the head of the dyke, and it`s still our screen saver, but as i said, i`ve no idea which one it is.

I saw the old Aston Orion for sale in a Thames boatyrd about 3 or more years back. She had been poorly converted, and was still called Orion. They were also asking stupid money for it.

Ah, yes, i remember Neatishead boatyard now. The had some Ocean 30s called Atlanta, and Aquajet. Strange how they called themselves Neatishead boatyard, being at Wayford Bridge..

Hi Liz, where exactly was Neatishead boatyard?. I can remember a couple of yards that were at Neatishead, one was Coral craft, who were previously based at Brundall, part of the Carr and West set up i believe?, and the other was a small fleet called Viva Boats. Was it any of them?.

Could it be Eastwood Whelptons at Upton?.

I`ve just googled Maffett Diesels, and their hourly rates are £20.00 per hour, and Graham will also travel to your boat, subject to your home yard allowing other services to work on your boat in THEIR premises, which incidentally Brooms don`t allow.

Hi Keith, why not try Maffetts?. They do engine services, and full re-builds, so i`m sure they would be able to do your Nanni. I think if they do a full sevice, plus the extra checks you mention, they may also garuntee your engine for 12 months. I think John (Hockham Admiral) might be able to give more info, as he`s had Friday Girls engine serviced there. And i think their charges are very reasonable too?. Their number is 01508 520344.

Guy was sorting through his glove compartment is a certain county (not Norfolk or Suffolk-I am essentially a coward). He found a receipt for a shoe repair some 5 years old. As he was passing the shop, he thought he would pop in on the off chance they may still have the shoes. He presented the ticket, assistant disappears for a few moments, comes back and says "Yep-they'll be ready on Thursday". I heard the same joke by Ronnie Barker in Porridge, still funny though.

I remember reading an edition of Motor boat and Yachting, where they hired a 30ft cruiser from Loyns, and took a photo of it moored at Tonage bridge. That was back in about 81, so it would`nt take much for that section to have overhanging trees cut back, and the river dredged. It would`nt need to be very deep either. In fact, it would be relatively easy to restore the navigation to Honing lock. Are there any decent pubs in Honing village? .

That`s the one, thanks Peter and Robin.

Karen and i visited one of many National Trust places a few years back, and saw a violin hanging on the back of a door at the back of the room. Only, it was`nt hanging, it was a painting actually painted on the door. I also seem to remember a place that had alcoves in a curved wall, but again they were paintings, but looked amazingly real, when viewed from about 20ft away. An amazing thing to be able to do, and something that can only be done with a very experience "artists eye".

Hi Trevor (VC), The Samarkand you talk of, was that the 37ft GRP ctr cockpit with timber top from the 70s,?. I seem to remember one of them being sold to Bridgecraft and re-named Trent Bridge, was it one of them?.

I remember back in 1970 when we took the Orion back to the yard, the Aston Emerald was in, and she was a real beaty. In those days, she still had a varnished hull and cabin, but with light blue coachroof. She was a real stunner. Later, they painted the hull light blue, but it did`nt look right. Then there was the one off, Aston Drake. She was built i believe on an Elysian 34 hull, but with a custom timber top. She had a white hull, varnished cabin, and light blue coachroof, but that colour scheme seemed to look right. They did have quite a big fleet back in those days, and it grew even bigger with the Wizard class. There were a few individual ones, the Emerald and Drake, and also the 2 seamaster 27s, Aston Starlight and Sunlight, and they had one (i think?) Elysian 34 called Aston Admiral. I really enjoyed that holiday, as apart from a very wet holiday in a caravan just outside Tenby, it was the only holiday i had up till that point. Come to think of it, between 1970, and 1993, all i ever had was boating holidays.Maybe i should have got out some more?.

It would really be something if they tidy the yard right up, and even look into running a small, but immaculate fleet like Astons had.

I did post on here some old photo`s of my first holiday on the Broads, in the Aston Yard. They had all the old Seamaster 28s lined up in front of the shop and office, and there were a few of the old Cairn and Lion class too. I`l try and dig back through the pages sometime, and post on here. It was in June 1970 by the way, and i had my 12th birthday on Aston Orion, which i thnk was a year old. The Mars class was in its first season, and beside the office, were all the new hull and superstructure moulds for the Thames class. I remember the hull and deck, with the fwd window panels were together, but the rest of the superstructure, side, coachroof etc were all in individual panel form, so i assume they were all screwed and glassed toger on assembly?. Theyard back then had a spit of land going out across the basin , which meant there was a much smaller entrance into the basin. Now it`s all pontoon moorings.

My god, if you`re not the perfect example of a modern policeman Matt?. A hobby Bobby, and one who will no where to cut costs. I can`t seem to find a laughing icon?

Spoken just like a true policeman. Could this be a case of the truth hurting a bit?.

I seem to remember Newson had these in their fleet almost into the 80s and were called Falling Leaves, is that right?. Also, the first time i hired with Maffett cruisers in September 79-, John had one called Teal Wanderer. If memory serves me correct, they were quite big for an aft cockpit boat at 31ft, and were very spacious inside. I wish they were still on hire now, i`d hire one imediately, but back then i was a 21 year old who wanted the the cheapest most modern boat i could find.

Years ago, i regularly had winter plumage, now however, Karen hates it, and even if i did have it, i would look like i`ve got an upside down head on. I`m sure you know what i mean .

Seriously though, with a small hull like that, there`s a lot of possibilities. It`s really great to see yet another small hard working Norfolk buisnessdeveloping, and expanding into new areas. Well done Mark, and i`m not joking about a traditional style camping boat. Maybe when finances allow, Andy could make one using your hull. Just a thought. If not a traditional pod, how about some traditional style dayboats. It would really make a welcome change from the rows of modern style ones on the North rivers.

How about a full length collapseable canopy, with wheel steering and bech seats converting to bunks, with a small galley unit, with a twin burner stove, small under seat sink, and a porta loo. It would make an ideal traditional style camping boat, similar idea to Freedom pod, but with traditional styling?.

Lovely looking hull, and a nice colour too. Is it going to be an open launch, or a workboat with cuddy, or a traditional style cruiser?.