Nige1912

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When I had Discovery, a 62ft Trad, I was out single handed cruising one beautiful summers day on the L&L about 3 miles from my mooring. I was attacked around the head by the proverbial wasp and in best screaming girlie fashion went into a mad "flapping of the hands" type pose, which promptly caught my glasses and sent them sailing off into the cut about 10 feet behind me........ Did I have a spair pair on board??? Of course not !!! Lol Im shortsighted and need them for anything thats further than 2 feet away!!! The voyage back to the mooring was accomplished like something resembling a World War two convoy, doing it's best to avoid U-Boats and I ended up on the mooring the "Wrong" way round...................!!

Thanks for these points guys I will look out for them - im picking one up tomorrow evening.

LOL - I must admit I am toying with using the glow in the dark stuff (in a limited way!) for highlighting step points, deck edges etc. During daylight the stuff is completely transparent so it does not spoil you paint scheme at all. Nige

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone had experience of this type of outboard? And if so could pass on any pearls of wisdom.... Nige

Hi all, I am looking at the various alternatives for painting a 27ft GRP canal cruiser both above and below the waterline and was wondering if anyone had experience of using this in either application?:- http://www.plastidip.co.uk/eStore/index.cfm?type=Home_Solutions/Plastidip&stage=1 There are various types of this substance, suitable for different applications.

Thanks for that - what trade names do I look out or? (Dont worry I wont hold you to a guarantee!!!)

Hi everyone, while the paint experts are all assembled can I also ask a question? Im renovating a 27ft Norman GRP and need to find out what paint to use on GRP - preferably without melting the entire boat in a barmy chemical reaction or having to re do it all 6 months later once it peels off..... Can someone please offer some advice?

Cheers for the information everyone. Fear not - My enthusiasm shall not be dampened!!!!!!

Hi guys, Can anyone reccomend an individual/company who services/rebuilds outboards? My Alicia/White Star comes with it's outboard in pieces after the previous owner tried to fix an oil leak and then realised once he had dismantled the thing he had no idea how to put it all back together Im Lancashire based and the boat is currently in March Cambs......... Cheers everyone, Nige

Too tacky and dont want to tempt fate! Ok ok - stop the wisecracks already!!! lol I asked for that........................ I shall rephrase the question.......Does anyone know how to work out how old the Norman style of cabin cruisers are?

See above chart which is British standard 381c. Light buff is outlined. It's the closest we can get to what all the white Star Liners - including Titanic, would have had their funnels painted. Any decent paint dealership should be able to mix it up for you. It's a common misconception that WSL ships had yellow funnels, we think this arises as for some reason a lot of postcards show them with yellow funnels - we can never definatively know for sure unfortunately. But there are original WSL documents in existance which actually mention WSL funnel colours as being "Light Buff" (No mention of "Yellow") and fortunately this shade has changed very little over the last century. Hope this helps! Cheers, Nige

Thanks for the message. She has only been painted the once in the obvious areas shown in the pics. Not sure if its age or that it wasnt done right the first time, but it's peeling. I dont think im cut out to be "SUPERPAINTER", and I certainly wont be re-geling the whole boat, time and finances (and my inherant CBA attitude!!!) simply wont allow for that. Thanks for the heads up on the window seals, I will give them a good check. Not sure of her age and I havent got the paperwork yet - does anyone know how to date a Norman???? Re painting - what sort of paint system is ok for use on GRP? Cheers, Nige

Hi Everyone, Well after a 5 year gap, i've taken the plunge again and am coming back to the waterways. Having owned a 62ft narrowboat called "Discovery", which I sold in 2007, I always promised that when circumstances would allow, I would be back! Well just this week the circumstances allowed and I purchased a 27ft Norman cruiser called "Alicia", which is sitting on a hard standing "darn sarff", just outside London.(See above pictures). Shes tired and needs some TLC but otherwise sound as a pound - and I cant wait to get my hands on her and get back onto the water. First thing to be changed will be the name and colour scheme. As im curator of the Titanic In Lancashire Museum in Colne, her new name will be "White Star" and she will be put into the colours of the old white Star Liners (Black hull sides, red below the water line, Yellow band just below gunnels right around and as she does not have four 75 foot funnels, the superstructure will be white Star Light Buff). Thats one of my first questions actually - has anyone any experience of painting GRP???? Please share your thoughts or point me to any relevent areas!! One of the things that was difficult with Discovery was single handed cruising - she was just too darned big. And up here on the stretch of the L&L that I was using there are some pretty tight almost 90 degree bends. Cruising was NOT the nice relaxing past time I wanted it to be!!!!! Then I got the "It's me or the boat" ultimatum, and Discovery had to go. Well 5 years later the person stating "It's me or the boat" has also gone - so now I have a free hand again !! YIPPEEEEEEE!!! LOL I really missed the waterways these 5 years so am like a kid on Christmas eve at the thought of getting back and "Messing about in boats". Look out for me if your around Lower Park Marina at Barnoldswick when she arrives there in about 6 weeks time..... Cheers everyone, Nige