Mirage

Thanks John

Hi John We needed something to look forward to on these short, cold & snowy winter days! Please put us down for the Spring meet - can't wait Simon & Sonia, Corsica, Stern on, Lecky if possible, Friday to Sunday,

Thanks for the valuable suggestions. I knew I could rely on NBN folk for some good suggestions Sonia

i am on my own here - so all help advise and reccomendations accepted, - have become very interested in bird watching and the only assistance i have is a pair of very old heavy binoculars inherited from parents 20 yrs ago - how/ which is the best place to purchase optics for my use, ??? thanks Sonia

Thanks Neil & David for your replies. I was considering something like a draughtsman's chair. That would likely give the height we need and with 5 feet on the base also give stability. I saw a picture of a new Neilsenn boat in AA a while ago that had something like that. I was wondering whether there is a "marine" version. Given that we are talking river crusier only, then the need to have the seat leg(s) pemanently srewed down or attached to the floor is not critical

We would welcome any advice on "free standing" helm seats. We are putting a new floor in our wheel house and really don't want to screw down a big immovable post with a chair on top! Does anyone have any suggestions, we've seen some "bar stool" arrangements. some very good - some disasters! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Going to Excel Boat show in January, would really welcome some guidance about what to look for..... Thanks Simon & Sonia

Fantastic pictures of just where we live. Thanks for these, Simon

Our BMC 2.5 works fine, but we are in the process of a complete overhaul and upgrade of Corsica. Its a 2 yr plan, and the next phase is our engine replacement [New Beta], which will take place between now and Christmas. Engine can be seen and tried running by appointment over the next 2-3 weeks, before it comes out. If anyone seriously interested in making us a sensble/realistic offer then send me a PM to discuss further. Thanks

great Pictures - nice job - well done

Hi Strowager Guess I must have misunderstood your response. No offence taken - and - now I'm sure - none meant. I'm very much a novice in all things technical. that includes computers and Forums. You will often find I'm on line, but I'm just reading the posts to increase my understanding of the wealth of information that is so often available from a great many of the UK's boating forums. My posts are genuinely because I feel that I might either be able to give some input, or because I respect the fountain of knowledge that is so freely available to members of forums. So lets move onwards and upwards. I reckon the australian winch, as you have fitted already, will most likely fit the bill on corsica. so thank you for the input and also that of everyone else that has made so many excellent contributions.

OUCH. Did I tread on someone's toes Strowager ?? ""I'm getting a strange feeling of Déjà vu here ! (from "another" place.. ) "". I'm known by some yards as "Mr Hands Off". Unlike many, I recognise I am NOT a technical person and as such need to be as comfortable as possible when I commit to making changes ( and investment) to my boat. All I'm trying to do is find out as much as I can from ALL the resources available and at the same time to be appreciative of ALL the advice I receive. If I'm committing some form of breach of forums etiquet please PM me. Right now I feel uncertain of where to go next. Thanks

David. That's been a huge help, thank you so much. I know I sound a bit like "Columbo" off the TV, but "just one more question"..... Do you reckon a 30 kg mudweight with 10 metres of chain and rope mix will be adequate to hold Corsica (7.5 tons) in most conditions? We're not talking hurricane force winds here, just the average weathers we get during a typical broads season? Best regards

The horizontal style looks to be the better option, just for no other reason than its less likely to be a trip hazard! We have a bowthruster and the battery for that is under the forward cabin bunks and its charged from the alternators. I'm kind of guessing that we could link up the bowthruster battery to the winch to reduce any voltage drop? do you think that would work?

Thanks for the input David. Our biggest concern is making sure we get something that is completely functional and least likely to give any problems. there is certainly space for a chain locker under the foredeck in the front of the forward cabin, and the fordeck itself is quite large too so should accommodate either style. I don't think the type used on vehicles is going to be suitable long term. Best regards

We need to find an easy solution to the rise and fall of the mudweight. Corsica weighs in at around 7.5 tonnes and we would like to be able to release and recover a mudweight without having to have the physical aspects of the "big lift". Has anyone any experience or recommendations regarding the electric powered option. We expect to have to put in a chain locker etc. but what sort of windlass works best??

Ferry Stokesby, not the pub but the adjacent farm moorings £5.00 - no water point, just moorings

Here we go. Post number 100+ and something. Am I surprised by the strong feeelings expressed following my original post just 2 weeks ago? YOU BET I AM! over 1,000 viewings, truly surprised! However the main reason for my original post (in case it lost its way in the political debate that ensued) was the rising price of deisel and the fact that as well as oil companies and speculators, some of the broads boatyards appear to be ripping people off. I quote from my original post The innocent suckers paying 130p a litre 2 weeks ago are hirers, many of whom have little, if any, appreciation that they are buying a different type of deisel (red not white) to that which they are putting in their car, van or truck every day. The same overcharging yards are often the ones that they hired from. When they're at home this autumn, and derogation is in the news - as it certainly will be, these same hirers will realise just how much they were ripped off on their summer holidays. The holidays that they booked BEFOREthe credit crunch. Come January these same yards will wonder why repeat bookings aren't up to much and complain that these same broads holiday makers are going elsewhere. No surprises then really. The few businesses who are overcharging are jeopardising the many who bend over backwards to encourage the holiday trade. Don't lets think we don't need the holidaymakers on the Broads. North Norfolk and the Broads would be in dire staits without them. Does this get the thread back on track?

WOW! - perhaps WOW I'M REALLY SURPRISED (or am I?) - by the venting of feelings to the original post on the crazy price of diesel. Yes,there is a yard on the northern rivers charging 130p for marine deisel. Outrage prices. The Hirers don't know the difference, what a racket... There is only one reason that we are paying way over the odds right now. Its called SPECULATION. The supply chain gives no reason for the 80% annual rise we are currently experiencing. The profits being made by the oil companies are simply obscene. They get away with it, and the government think they'll add their 2% and we won't notice, thats 3p EXTRA on every litre sold across the UK, for doing absolutely nothing. GIVE ME A JOB LIKE THAT - PLEASE! they dont tell us how they will spend it, but no prizes for guessing who will be "employing" family members as "research assistants". What if everyone said they won'y buy ANY fuel for one week. Reckon that might lead to a shock surplus and tumbling prices? Hope we're now all feeling a little better for a good rant and expessing our frustrations! How come we were suckered into having this unelected scottish prime minister to govern the 84% of us who live in ENGLAND? Lets not forget the stooge "Scottish" chancellor and the rest of our unelected prime ministers cronies. Too many. I Think so. check them out; Gordon Brown - PM Alastair Darling - Chancellor Des Browne - Defence & Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander - International Development Secretary Home affairs (excuse that word "affairs!"), Defense secretary - to look after their Scots own, Foreign affairs is that scotland too? or further afield like zimbabwe for a sample (again excuse that affairs word) and our wonderful chancellor THAT'S OUR CASH! and we didn't choose any of them. Remember this guy. he who likens himself to Hinchcliff, sold all the nations gold for flumpence at the bottom of the market, he doesn't have a car, and lives in a tied cottage in downing street. What can he possibly know about living in the real world! And yes - There's a whole new day tomorrow that hasn't stated yet.................

How much higher can it get? 4 weeks ago I bought at 70p per litre, this week 85p per litre, reliable information says one place on the northern rivers now pricing at £1.30 for red, and people are actually paying it.... : Where will it be come October/November when we start paying ROAD prices for MARINE red? Anyone placing bets on that? Next thing will be a "River" tax. It will happen, It'll be the marine version of the "road" taxes announced today, we're talking serious taxation here folks. Forget any money going to save the environment. Its more in the coffers for MPs to cover their "expenses". If Labour wanted a way to make sure they lost the next election then the dereg of marine diesel and the new increases in road tax and showroom tax made it a certainty. Personally I'm looking forward to paying 100% more road tax to get rid of them! £200 quid extra - it will be a cheap price to pay!