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Alan de Enfield

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Everything posted by Alan de Enfield

  1. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  2. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  3. They would say that wouldn't they, that's how they make their money. Note that the unit needs replacing after 10 years. Mine is 20 years old, has certainly not been serviced in the 10 years I have had it, and it is functioning perfectly. Your money, your choice - You go and pay out your £100s every 6 months, I'll save my money, I'll save enough to buy a brand new one.
  4. High water levels on the River Thurne at Potter Heigham are causing problems for some watercraft trying to pass under the 14th-century stone bridge which spans it. Some vessels are being forced to take on extra ballast in order to be able to sink lower in the water and pass through the archway. Boat hire firms offering holidays on the waterways say silting and heavy downpours caused by climate change have all but stopped larger ships from going through it. And they worry that further extreme weather could lead some companies to fold if the crossing remains largely impassable in the future. Owner of Martham Boats Ian Curtis, which has been operating for 77 years, said: "I've never known it to be like what we had in October, November and December. If the bridge is not navigable, and my hire boats can't get through that bridge, that just leaves us with 10 per cent of the river system. It's the holiday trade that keeps me in a job and ten guys who work for me. If my boats don't go out, then they haven't got a job." Robin Richardson, 70, owner of boat hire firm Phoenix Fleet, worried that government agencies were not taking the threat of further wet winters seriously. He added: "If we're to believe what they say about climate change, and the fact that we're going to get much wetter winters, surely now is the time to be making preparations for it?" The medieval bridge, located in the village of Potter Heigham, sits in the heart of the Norfolk Broads and gives boaters access to miles of lock-free waterways. Around eight million visitors flock to the lowlands each year - with a significant number booking pleasure cruisers so they can holiday on the placid waters. But the firms that generate revenue from holidaymakers have been frustrated by government bodies that they claim have not maintained the waterways. And they say the decision not to dredge the riverbed or dig relief channels has cut down on their trade as the Potter Heigham bridge is impassable to larger craft. It normally has around 6ft 9 inches clearance at low tide in the summer months but over the winter, this shrunk to just 4ft 9 inches, they say. Robin Richardson said the money he used to make from piloting large vessels through the narrow bridge has all but evaporated over the last few years. Robin said: "Up until 1997, we were doing an average of 12,500 trips through the bridge of most cruisers. In the following ten years, that fell from 12,500 to 6,000, then to 5,000 and 4,000, and eventually tailed off to a level where we were doing just below 1000. "And it kind of plateaued in the last ten years up until October 2022 when there was a storm and we flooded. The river never really emptied properly after that to the extent that last season we took just one motor cruiser through the bridge. If we take it from last season, then it's cost us about £6,000 in not being able to get boats through the bridge, for which we charge for the service." Robin said his boat yard, next to the bridge, has been left underwater over the winter due to flooding - ahead of the start of the holiday season later this month. He added: "It's been difficult... Our reception is an island, and our carpark is underwater, and our yard around our crane is flooded." Robin felt the river needed to be dredged closer to its mouth at Great Yarmouth. But he said government agencies with interlocking responsibilities for the region and river had not come together to deal with the growing problem. He said: "The seems to be a culture of 'Don't do anything in case we do something wrong'." More ............................. Iconic boat cruises on Norfolk Broads threatened by record-breaking rainfall in UK (msn.com)
  5. Presumably this one got thru the safety nets : Hi there, If you're looking for solid wood units and the convenience of on-site assembly, you might want to consider reaching out to custom cabinet makers or carpentry shops in your area. They can tailor the cabinets to fit your galley perfectly and ensure they meet your specific requirements for sturdiness and practicality. While I don't have a specific recommendation for the Wincham area, you could try searching online directories or asking for recommendations from local homeowners or contractors.
  6. Welcome Mr AI - after 12 years you kindly repeat the information in the original post. Go and find something new to talk about.
  7. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  8. If the eber is running 'fine' and the radiators are not heating you you need a plumber not a eberspacher service technician. If it is (say) gunge blocking the radiators /pipes, then servicing the eber will make not a jot of difference.
  9. Any decent chandlery - you'll find a better choice of stuff at some of the online 'marine' chandlers rather than you canalside little shop. Just one exaample : "100s" of impellers, just find the one for your pump. Search Results for impeller | (force4.co.uk)
  10. About 100 job seekers set a course for a special open day at Fairline Yachts’ production hub in Oundle. The event was held at the manufacturer’s base at the Nene Valley Business Park on Saturday (March 2) as part of a major recruitment campaign. The company is seeking to hire about 100 extra staff to join its existing workforce. Nipuna Weeras, HR Business Partner at Fairline Yachts, said: “We had a really good day with close to 100 people turning up for the event. "Overall, we received candidates interested in the apprentice programme, boat-building roles, and support office-based roles. "We also took the opportunity to conduct some on-site interviews. He added: “Without a doubt, it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with local residents as well.” The company says the extra staff are urgently needed to help the company complete its order book which is worth £100 million. Despite overcoming the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, which included difficulties obtaining raw materials because of disruption to its global supply chain, the predominant issue facing Fairline Yachts is finding skilled staff. Mr Weeras said: “While we have successfully navigated through supply chain challenges and ensured a stable flow of parts and materials, the missing link to our final success rests in the skilled boat builders who will contribute to our 2024 success story.” Fairline can trace its origins to 1963 as Fairline Boats. After a spell under private equity ownership it collapsed into administration in 2016. Its assets were rescued in the same year by investors and the company relaunched as Fairline Yachts. Oundle-based Fairline Yachts is buoyant after successful recruitment day (msn.com)
  11. Interesting to see the cat-litter tray ..........................
  12. Isn't a canals usage measured by lock cycles ? Displaced boats on 'little used' canals could be dozens/hundreds of NBTA members, mind you, they'd probably be glad if a canal was 'closed' by C&RT as C&RTs rules would no longer apply, and, being sat on the bottom stops it wobbling about.
  13. Not to be used on any post 1998 boat, and advised not to be used on any boat. When you are going back to a bare metal rebuild surely it is best to use current 'best practice'.
  14. Just in case you are not aware - there appears to be some grey 'flat twin & earth' domestic wiring cable - this is not allowed to be used on boats. Ensure when you rewire you use multi-strand flexible cables / wires ONLY.
  15. Do it yourself. Get a copy of the chart showing the shallows / route to follow and just follow it. Going on the rising tide IF you do happen to drift onto a sand bank the tide will lift you off in a few minutes. No locks to worry about - its all done for you, all you do is stay on the boat and loop the lines thru the 'sliders' bow and stern. The thought of it is more worrying than the actual doing it.
  16. You need to work out the tide times for the day of travel or, if the tide is on the ebb, you could be spending hours beating against the tide and getting nowhere (Keadby to Cromwell is tidal waters) You want to be leaving Keadby as the tide (at Keadby) starts on the flood and it will 'carry you' to Cromwell. Once upstream of Cromwell lock you will be going against the flow - in normal conditions it is probably under 1 mile an hour, a few days after rain in the catchment area the river could be up to 2-3 mph. You are only on the non-tidal River for about 4 to 5 miles (depending where you stop in Newark. Unlike the canals, cruising on rivers - and even more so on Tidal rivers - you need to do some detailed planning. It will take about 13-14 hours in a NB assuming your work with the tides.
  17. Do you deny starting two seperate threads a couple of days apart asking for details of moorings on the Bridgewater ? (Before you deny it, think carefully to avoid looking stupid)
  18. That question was asked 5 days ago - but was never answered (probably the OP doesn't like to be questioned) Post #9 : When you say 'near' to Boothstown do you mean only on the Bridgewater canal or would any other North West locations be acceptable ? How far away is 'acceptable' ?
  19. If you are looking for a residential mooring - 'mournings' may be more accurate
  20. I'm sure you could (somewhere) or, run the grey water into the black tank
  21. That could be why the Epoxy is falling off - it wasn't properly removed !
  22. Don't forget when using on-line calculators that you often need to enter the 'run-length', AND the run length is from the battery to the appliance and back to the battery NOT just from the battery to the appliance.
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