SPEEDTRIPLE

I remember reading the dimensions and i`m sure they always quoted headroom of well over 6ft?. I did wonder if it was a misprint

Oh, and how would you know,?. For all you know, bats might read the green cross code?. oh no, sorry, they`re blind are`nt they. Can a join the ranks getting their coats now?.

This really is a great thread. I love the pictures of the old woodies, some of them i remember were still in hire fleets in the 80s. Back then, i always wanted to hire the biggest most modern boat we could afford, and never gave these woodies a second glance. That said, i hired Maffett cruisers Kingfisher for the first time in September 79, and hired it most years till 88.. Now however, to see one on the river looking as immaculate as they can, i look at them and wish i had the money to own one. It makes me appreciate the people who own them and lovingly maintain them. Well done to you all .

Gracie....................You`re a nuaghty girl

Kissing me at the end of your post is a bit Gracie, i`m a very happily married man. seriously though, I DO know where you`re coming from, and years ago, i would`nt have anybody bad mouthing the force. But in the last 10 - 15 years, i, and others i`ve know, have been victims of police ineffectiveness, and in all honesty, some of their wrong doings. Unfortunately, it opened my eyes to another side of the force, and it`s going to take a lot to change that. That said, i`m an honest hard working and law abiding citizen, and i don`t bad mouth or do anything to antagonise them. I just don`t think i can trust them to do their job properly.. Circumstances in the past have proved that.

Re sheltered mooring at Thurne, you may be out of the main channell, but the area is very exposed. When Karen and i were up in November, we drove to Thurne to see Liz from Ramblers gift shop. We walked down the side of the dyke, but soon turned back. It was`nt freezing, but the wind chill factor certainly made it feel like it, and what few boats that were moored were being bounced aboutquite considerably by the very strong winds.. All that in a narrow dyke.

But did they do their job well enough to catch and prosecute the criminals Gracie?. Let`s not forget the numerous reports a few years back where the police used several cars, and a helicopter, to chase down a major offender in a car. He or she, dared to eat an apple while driving. Also, there was a report on the news, and it was discussed on lunchtime radio where a man reported a burglar ON THE PREMISES in the process of stealing from his garage. He phoned the police who said they won`t be attending for some pathetic reason, and gave him a crime number to give to his insurance company. The fellow put down the phone, only to phone them backl a minute later, saying he`d gone out to catch the theif, but hit him with a baseball bat and thought he`d killed him, which he had`nt really done. A police car arrived within a minute, and caught the theif red handed. And what did the police do, RELUCTANTLY arrested the theif, but threatened the householder for making a false statement. You might have had good dealings with the police Gracie, but thousands of victims of crime have been very badly let down because of their inactivity or blatant ineffectiveness.

Hand held gatso cameras. It`s been proved and officially documented that NOBODY could hold them still enough, at arms length to obtain an accurate speed reading. As for the BA rangers sitting on a boat bobbing about on the water, or rolling side to side because of a passing boat or the ranger moving about, it would`nt surprise me one day to hear of somebody on a hire boat being booked at 70 mph against the tide through Yarmouth. And yes, i WAS the victim of a gatso camera.

Hence my comment before, the law is an ass, and made by rather a lot of asses too. The sad fact is, the police DON`T know the law. To qualify as a solicitor, you have to have university degrees etc, and yet the police are NOT required to have any legal qualifications whatsoever. The police will word anything in a way to make you guilty in court, even if you HAVE`NT actually commited any crime. The media have reported any thousands of cases in the past where the defendant HAS`NT actually comitted any crimes. Yet all too often, people who HAVE blatantly commited crimes get let off through lack of evidence?. Says it all really. Ian (Broad Scot), your point re insurance on mobl scooters, yes, you are right, it IS "recommended", but NOT compulsory.

Yep, that`s me too John.. I`m not alone either.

Somebody posted a phot on the faceache group "Norfolk Broads Boaters" of Orca and BA at Ranworth.

The Dorset Stour is only a few miles up the road from, that bursts its bank nearly every time we have a prolonged spell of rai. It never gets mentioned on the tv. The Hampshire Avon is about 3 miles to the east of us, and that burst its banks for miles from Cristchurch for about 20 miles to Fordingbridge, and guess what, that was never on the tv either, then there`s the Moors river which flows through the plantation less than a mile away, that burst its banks too, nobody mentioned that on the tv either. Flooding happens nearly every year down here, but nothing ever gets mentioned. We`re used to and live around it. OK, it may not be as bad as they`ve had up north, but that`s not the only region that has problems to do with floodwaters.

seriously though Strow, i can`t get to grips with modern technology, especially cameras. Karens dads camera is an absolute nightmare, it says how to do something in the operators manual, but when you do it, it does`nt do what it says on the tin as to speak.

While i think it`s very generous of anybody to offer a discount to a a user group, such as this forum, or a social club etc etc, i find it strange why they specify "on-line bookings only"?. I can`t understand why you HAVE to book on-line to get a discount. It makes no difference if you book on-line, or by phone, or face to face when passing by. Still a very generous offer though, but sadly, seeing as i`m a ludite, it won`t apply to us

First of all, i wonder whether this really DOES come under drink driving laws, because you don`t need a lecense to drive one. You also don`t need an mot, or insurance, and there are no regulations regarding tyre condition or any mechanical things at all. Of course i might be wrong, but i`m sure i`m not, as the people i know that have them have told me so. I would laugh my head off if they threatened to take away his license. It`s a bit likr the copper a few years ago who pulled over a cyclist in London for jumping a red light. He actually asked to see the cyclists documents?. When the cyclists asked what documents did he needed as a cyclist, the copper replied "i don`t know". That says it all really.

What about Sandersons at Reedham, they used to build wherries, and built their own hireboats some til i think the late 80s or beginning of the 90s.. Also Hippersons at Beccles i believe built their own boats till the 70s, though they have`nt hired for years.

The law is an ass as they say. Taking your point about being drunk in charge even if you`re asleep in the back, going on that, even if you were at home, and you are over the limit, if you have your car keys in your pocket, you can be found drunk in charge?. I think the fact you will be able to start the vehical is the point, and you can still be in that position, be it sitting in the back seat, or sitting in the loung, you will still have to open the drivers door, and get in and start the ignition. You can do that whether in the back seat, or your back garden. And i bet yet again, people wonder why i`m so synical about authority?.

To all on this great forum, Karen and i wish you all a very happy new year, and hopefully, we`ll see some of you while on the water in 2016. To all the mods, many thanks for yet another year of this great forum, and thanks for all your hard work in overseeing things.

Hopefully, if the tide ran fast enough when it does turn, it might wash that damned bridge away?.

There`s always the Syndicate option Howard, and seeing as you prefer winter cruising, you should get plenty of chance on Gooseander . That said, you would be moored at Wroxham, but would be able to moor over night on one of their visitor moorings.

When this thread was originally started, i read a couple of posts and did`nt think it was very interresting. Now however, i`ve learned a lot more about the "Norfolk" and `Suffolk" Wherries, and am amazed at the history that many forumites know. I`m sure i`m not alone in appreciating the wealth of historical knowledge that many on here have, are greatful to read such.. It never occured to me that these massive craft could "hog", but it hilights what is important to boat design and construction. An excellent thread indeed .

I only go into pubs for food. i have an intolerance to alcahol, even small amounts, so as far as drinking goes, i never use a pub anymore. However, i DO think that pubs play a vital role in our economy, so long as they don`t encourage irrespnsible behaviour and drinking, and do sell good food.

And some people wonder why i`m so synical about authority?. Bring back the ludites i say, as then i won`t feel so alone in my synacism.

I`d recommend the York air museum. It`s a great place to visit, and with most of it INDOORS. There` also a Buccaneer which was once (many times actually) flown by a certain well known and respected forumite.

Leftovers?,............................ Meat, eat it cold with pickles and salad, Veg, chop up ALL leftover veg and fry till golden brown. It`s called bubble and squeak. For best results, have the bubble and squeak with the cold meat and pickles. As for me, i still feel fat even though i`ve not eaten much today.