max campbell

To work well the dehumidifier should be in a sealed room - your cracked windows are letting in moist air. Try turning it up after shutting the windows.

We had a Viking 28 narrow beam for 8 years. We liked sitting down and looking forward when cruising, but we couldn't put up with the outboard any more - carrying jerrycans from petrol stations is horrible, and a constant worry. Also the very limited electric output was limiting for fridge use, etc. Then there's the high cockpit coaming to climb over going in and out. So we got a Sea Otter centre cockpit, with an inboard diesel. I would prioritise an inboard diesel over all other considerations - there are a very few inboard diesel narrow beam GRP boats. There aren't many Sea Otter centre cockpits. The difference in draft or airdraft between steel & GRP is not significant. Further to my last, and on reflection, diesel is a high priority for us because we tend to do longish trips - 2 to 3 weeks. If you're going to just go for weekends, then you can fuel up at your home berth before each trip. An outboard gives you far more manoeuvrability, because you can direct forward and reverse thrust in any direction, it's very easy to control direction in reverse, twiddle in almost your own length, etc.

Anyone with experience of Hatherton Marina? A short cruise to Haywood.

We're considering 4 potential mooring places for the next few years. Any boaters with experience of Norbury Wharf; Great Haywood Marina; King's Bromley or Hatherton Marina. I haven't heard from Norbury yet about availability, but we're only 31' and all the others have space for later this year. Comments other than direct experience also welcome.

Thanks all for your input, nice to see such a variety of responses. She is light, but with the water ballast weighs about 4.5T, which is more than twice as much as our last boat! She's far more directionally stable and carries more way than I'm used to. Springing the stern out and reversing is almost a non-starter, as the bow gets blown onto the shore. I'm also very aware of nursing the stern gear, and the consequent dangers of spring the bow out. When we bought the boat a couple of months ago, we knew that there was no effective cutlass bearing, and that the prop and the rudder were bent! We didn't know it also needed a new shaft (hence wear to the cutlass bearing) and gearbox! - all of which is now satisfactorily fettled, c/o Calcutt boats. Poling, or a line to the weather shore if circumstances permit, seem favourite, but a will bear the grapnel in mind - it might pull out using the doubled line.😜

Thanks for the replies. I have "sprung off" on a sailing boat, with curvy sides. Would springing the bow off by reversing into a stern spring have any effect on a parallel-sided boat? I'll try it next time. I can imaging motoring forward into a bow spring might swing the stern out, but then you've got to try and reverse, and I have little control over reverse direction, and the bow gets blown back on.

We used to have an outboard powered Viking, and we've moved up to an inboard diesel Sea Otter (centre cockpit, wheel steering), with no thrusters. If I got pinned against a bank in the Viking (by the wind), I could pull myself out by reversing and pointing the outboard to where I wanted to go. I strikes me all I can do with an inboard is to push hard with a pole and thrust forward before I get blown back on, but do any clever experienced inboard helmsmen have any tips?

Currently running a plastic NB cruiser with an outboard, we're interested in the centre cockpit Sea Otters. I'm aware of the electrolysis issue, I've heard you need to be careful of condensation, I've also heard they get blown about (but I'm used to that!). Has anyone experience of using one in big rivers and estuaries? What RCD classification did/do they have? Are they V bottom, and with water ballast? How many HP do they need? Max

We'd like to get our Viking 28 NB taken out and put on hardstanding to allow re-antifouling, polishing hull, servicing outboard. We're open minded about how much the yard does, but we envisaged polishing the hull ourselves. Currently at Ventnor marina, near Napton. I've rung around and can't find anywhere that can help - any suggestions? TIA.

Thanks, all. After the comments on here, we feel that the outboard needs a service before we do the Trent, we had doubts about the cooling for a couple of days last cruise. One day, but not next trip! Max

Excellent comments and advice, thanks Martyn, Jen and Nick. I'll digest later - I may have supplementaries! BTW we are in a narrow yoghurt pot (Viking 28) with an outboard (30HP). Max

We're considering cruising the Trent from the junction with the Soar northwards and return. I'm assuming it's tidal from Cromwell lock, is this correct? How easy is it to find overnight moorings? What's the nature of the river - is it a pleasant cruise or a bit straight & boring? Are the locks manned? Do I need any special key or windlass? How strong is the stream in the tidal bits? Do you have to go with the tide? Any help or comments welcome. Max

Thanks, but we have done that before, so prefer to try unknown, or at least un remembered, waters.

We're leaving Ventnor Marina, near Napton, next week to spend a couple of weeks on our Viking 28 NB. We propose to follow the GU to Salford Junction, then the Tame Valley through Perry Bar, then a loop either through Rushall or through Walsall to the top of the Wolverhampton locks, and via Autherley Junction into the Shropshire Union, hoping to get as far as Gnosall, where we used to live nearly 40 years ago. Should we expect queues for locks? Any other comments? We have transited Birmingham a couple of times before, and will try & find somewhere reasonably rural for overnight stops.

Apart from the price! Is there a technical reason Sea Otter only built small boats? Do they corrode at all?