Vaughan Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Hearts had a regular customer who took a week's winter holiday in a guest house in Thorpe, so that he could join us in the boat sheds and paint the boat that he had already booked for the next season. Usually one of the 4 berths - the Five or Six of Hearts. He did this every year for about six or seven years. I think he must have been our only customer to be given a discount, in those days! We also had regular groups of Sea Scouts, hiring 4 or 5 boats for a week in the late season. They went off armed with paint and varnish and were always proud to bring the boats back looking better than they did before. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broads01 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 13 hours ago, Wussername said: However nobody has accused current hirers of anything. To say hirers in bygone years we're "more caring" and had "different values" implies current hirers are inferior. My point is that the vast majority are not. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Nothing to do with "hirers". Generally speaking there is less care about, less respect and less personal accountability. More "who can I blame", "who can I sue" and "why shouldn't I " . I'm just getting old. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnut Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 I had an interesting conversation with my son in law while he was driving the boat. As we came up towards Richardson’s where the river splits to go to Stalham staithe, he was within the speed limit according to his GPS. I asked that when he forked left he slowed down as some berth holders were saying some boats go too fast. I was surprised that his reaction was ‘ I’m within the speed limit so if people are affected, they need to ask the authorities to reduce the speed limit’. I replied that we could just reduce our speed ourselves to be polite, but he didn’t get that. He was doing nothing wrong, but I was surprised by the point of view that it’s within the rule so it’s ok, rather than thinking of others as well. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffbroadslover Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 It may go back to car driving lessons. Both my stepson and stepdaughter when learning to drive were both told the same thing by two different instructors. "If the speed limit is 30 then you should drive at 30. Limit of 40 drive at 40. I was taught to drive to the conditions and with a thought for the other road users. Jeff 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnut Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 We must be showing our age! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Vaughan was told to make sure the horse had been fed. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairTmiddlin Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 1 hour ago, jeffbroadslover said: It may go back to car driving lessons. Both my stepson and stepdaughter when learning to drive were both told the same thing by two different instructors. "If the speed limit is 30 then you should drive at 30. Limit of 40 drive at 40. I was taught to drive to the conditions and with a thought for the other road users. Jeff Not making decent headway during your test can mean a mark towards failure. But you also should drive to the conditions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCL023 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 4 hours ago, kpnut said: I had an interesting conversation with my son in law while he was driving the boat. As we came up towards Richardson’s where the river splits to go to Stalham staithe, he was within the speed limit according to his GPS. I asked that when he forked left he slowed down as some berth holders were saying some boats go too fast. I was surprised that his reaction was ‘ I’m within the speed limit so if people are affected, they need to ask the authorities to reduce the speed limit’. I replied that we could just reduce our speed ourselves to be polite, but he didn’t get that. He was doing nothing wrong, but I was surprised by the point of view that it’s within the rule so it’s ok, rather than thinking of others as well. Maybe not just an age thing? I was always told when passing moored craft especially in areas were there are lost of boats, mariners, yards and built up areas, not to create more wash that could rock a dingy. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 A mate of mine failed a bike test for not getting up to 60 in a national speed limit on a single carriageway, he was a fat git and a 125cc just couldn't get him that fast in the distance available. But we never took the wee, that would have been wrong... <end lie mode> I've said many times forget what speed you are doing and go by the effects it's having, if on a running tide don't worry about going over the limit if there's sod all wash and it keeps you in good control (more a southern thing, you northerners don't understand a real tide). 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 7 hours ago, MauriceMynah said: Vaughan was told to make sure the horse had been fed. While I was negotiating to start up my yard at Womack, in 1976, I took a temporary job driving traditional "black cabs" for Welles Taxis in Norwich. Did that for 6 months and thoroughly enjoyed it. At that time there was still a City bye-law which had not been repealed, which said that "cabs plying for hire" had to carry a bale of hay and a bucket of water for the horse. 6 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Ricko Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 On 12/07/2023 at 08:57, Chelsea14Ian said: I know it was an Italian sort of name.Rember then.Dont remember Kingfisher. Thanks Ian. Jonny Cassanova? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addicted Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 A somewhat bombastic acquaintance of my parents was telling me about his hire experiences during the 60s recounting how the yard recommended he mop the decks daily.He was indignant taking the view that he was on holiday and he wasn't about to spend any part of it cleaning their boat for them. The first few days were dry, then it rained and he found out why he should have swabbed the boat down as rain water poured through the shrunk open planking below decks! He was also scathing about their advice to put the boat into reverse to stop! Carole 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnoar Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 12 hours ago, Vaughan said: .... I took a temporary job driving traditional "black cabs" for Welles Taxis in Norwich. Did you have to pass The Norwledge Test first? Joking aside, were Welles also a funeral directors with a building contracting arm? If so I bumped into a retired member of the family many years back who had a broads yacht but was also into caravanning. He joked that a former Norfolk boatyard owner had taught him how to yacht whilst in return he’d taught him how to caravan. Pretty sure he was a car mechanic as well as a plumber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wussername Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 Well's Taxi company surely, or have I got wrong. ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclemike Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 couple of old ones, dawncraft and george smith wroxham also turners of horning run by a guy called dennis george, all boats had spray in the name 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 10 hours ago, Turnoar said: Joking aside, were Welles also a funeral directors with a building contracting arm? They were indeed Welles, with two e's and they did funerals as well. Their yard was on Chapelfield Rd (before they dualled it) close to St Stephens roundabout and opposite the big Rountree Mackintosh factory, which has now become the Chapelfield Mall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatingman Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 We do not seen to have mentioned Vaughan's yard at Womack Womack Cruisers or Womack Boats my memory fails me Their was a small shop and hard their before Vaughan took over I believe but not sure if was owned by someone called Gedge I am sure Vaughan will put my sketchy details right Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 18 minutes ago, Boatingman said: am sure Vaughan will put my sketchy details right It was called Womack Boats and owned by a Mrs Golling, who ran the shop on the front. We changed the trading name to Womack Cruisers, so as to make a fresh business start. We ran the shop for a couple of years but it became far too much trouble for pretty well no profit. If you run a small shop you have to be there, behind the counter, all day and you can't do that if you are trying to run a boatyard as well. I believe the Gedge family had connections with the yard as it had originally been a wherry yard. The slipway was very long and shallow angled, designed for hauling out wherries and there was the remains of a wherry sticking up out of the grass in a small cut beside the bungalow. Jimmy Gedge said his family had built her but I forget her name, now. Jimmy was a lovely man; a real old wherryman who came to help out on the yard on Saturdays if we had had any damage done. At the end of the day I would always ask him to come and join us for a drink in the bungalow before he went home and he would reply : "You're a gentleman, sir and so's your wife!" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatingman Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 Wondeful memories Vaughan I meet Mr Gedge whilst in the shop one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 Jimmy Gedge, on the yard at Womack. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatingman Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 Certainly brings back memories Wonderful photograph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracie Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 On 12/07/2023 at 22:48, Broads01 said: Please don't tar all current hirers with the same brush. The majority, like myself, treat boats and people with respect. I totally agree Simon, not all hirers are bad but we all seem to get labelled the same I have treated every hire boat with love and respect. Mopping decks and engine checks every day, I take pride in it. Even cleaning them so thoroughly at the end of a holiday some were cleaner than when I picked them up even though I have been totally beside myself at the end of a holiday at having to give them back I have values and respect for most things in life including moored boats, speed limits and other river users, even the ruddy flappy thingies Please remember when making posts we are not all bad and love the boats we hire thank you very much x 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargeandParge Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 On 13/07/2023 at 18:26, kpnut said: I had an interesting conversation with my son in law while he was driving the boat. As we came up towards Richardson’s where the river splits to go to Stalham staithe, he was within the speed limit according to his GPS. I asked that when he forked left he slowed down as some berth holders were saying some boats go too fast. I was surprised that his reaction was ‘ I’m within the speed limit so if people are affected, they need to ask the authorities to reduce the speed limit’. I replied that we could just reduce our speed ourselves to be polite, but he didn’t get that. He was doing nothing wrong, but I was surprised by the point of view that it’s within the rule so it’s ok, rather than thinking of others as well. Sorry but it is a limit and not a target. I am sure he would be cursing if he moored there Kindest Regards Marge and Parge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annv Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 It's the wash caused by speed some boats are worse than others at creating wash. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.