Tide Table Link

By Norfolk Broads.Org

An excellent site that includes a tide table relevant to your holiday dates. Enter your holiday start date, and number of days then click on calculate.

Youtube Video Link

A minor collision and another of 2 boats going through Wroxham bridge.  One gets it right but the other does not.

Click Icon for a printer friendly version

Of all topics

If you intend crossing Breydon Water or visiting Great Yarmouth you may wish to select the “Crossing Breydon Water” tab above. You can also print this information as a PDF.

www.mynorfolkbroadsboating.co.uk

• Lights/electric is provided through 12 volt batteries. Hire Craft have separate batteries for domestic use and starting the engine. This means that should you run the domestic batteries flat you should still be able to start the engine.

The skipper's handbook normally recommends a good 4 hours cruising per day to keep the batteries in a good state of charge but I have found that providing you are careful not to waste electricity an average of 2 ½ to 3 hours may be sufficient.

• Conserve power. Avoid leaving lights or anything electrical on unnecessarily. Only have the television on if you are watching it. Televisions and other appliances often use a 240 volt inverter which normally has a separate switch. Ensure the inverter is switched off when not required as it still draws some power.  If the domestic batteries become flat you could find yourself with no lights, no running water, no heating, no flush on toilets and a non working fridge.
• Microwaves and toasters use the 240 volt inverter and the skipper's handbook states that the engine should be running when using these high power consumption appliances. A few boats  additionally have generators. Due consideration to other people should be given when running engines and generators.  Please see the "running engines" section on this page.

Most craft have at least one 12 v socket similar to a cars accessory/cigarette lighter. If you have the relevant plug charger/adaptor these can be used to charge your mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders etc.  

As many boats provide 240 volt power by an inverter I additionally take the relevant mains chargers/adaptors. It's better to cover your options. If I need to take advantage of using the mains chargers I use whilst cruising so as to reduce the drain on the boats batteries.  Many boat yards offer hair dryers and some also clothes irons.

• Running the engine to charge batteries. Should the batteries become flat it may be necessary to run the engine to put in some charge but we should try to avoid running boat engines when moored up near boats that are close enough to cause them a nuisance. Should it deem unavoidable to run the engine it seems generally more acceptable between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00. Should you need to run the engine outside of these hours it would be polite to let your neighbours know the reason. I would only run the engine at no more than a fast tick over.
• Running Engines Early Morning.  You may need to start the engine and leave the moorings early in the morning, perhaps to reach Yarmouth for slack water, aim for some other destination due to water levels at bridges or maybe the return of the boat at the end of your holiday.

I normally first untie and retie the ropes to ensure they can be easily released and raise the mud weight if applicable. I then start the engine and check that gauges display as they should and check water is being pumped out of the exhaust. Once the engine ticks over smoothly we are untied and on our way. This normally takes no more than 2 or 3 minutes of running the engine before departure.

• Shore Power.  Additional 240 Volt shore power connection is provided on some craft and this seems to becoming more popular. This allows you to connect to shore power sockets where provided at some moorings. This will allow use of all of your appliances without discharging the boat batteries and eliminates the need to run the engine to use high power consumption devices such as microwaves and toasters etc.

New replacement electric points were installed in April 2017 and they require the new contactless touch cards. The old cards will not work. The cards are £1 each and the whole amount is taken from the card as soon as you use it. Any unused credit remains at the electric point so before touching a card on the reader it's worth checking to see if there is any credit remaining from the previous user.

To view a PDF list of where the electric cards can be purchased Click Here.

• Electrically powered boats. The vast majority of holiday hire craft are diesel  but there are some  electrically powered available for hire. These use batteries and an electric motor with a generator that automatically cuts in when the batteries need recharging.  
• Torch. Don't forget to take at least 1 torch.  My the wife and I normally take a tiny pocket torch each which we keep with us at all times for our return journey to the boat as some moorings are unlit. We also take a larger torch to keep on board which is essential should you be unfortunate enough to drain your domestic batteries It is also handy having a torch to make your way to the loo should you need to get out of bed in the middle of the night.
• Toilets have holding tanks onboard which need pumping out when they are full. If you use on shore toilets where possible you will minimise need for toilet tank pump outs. If you do require a pump out you can find a list of locations on the Facilities page. The cost of toilet pump outs  vary but as an example the present charges for 2017 at Norwich Yacht station are  £12 for one tank, £15 for two and £18 for three. The onboard toilets easily block so never place anything down them but toilet paper.
• Water is stored onboard in a holding tank which supplies tap water, showers and flushing  water on some models of toilets. There is normally a separate tap providing purified water for the kettle. It's best to take your own bottled drinking water.

The water is circulated by electric pump which you will normally hear running whilst in use.  It's not unusual to occasionally hear the pump run for a brief moment  as it keeps the water pressure up to a certain level. If the pump continues when you are not running water  you may have left a tap on. If the pump runs continuously with no tap turned on you have probably run out of water. You will need to turn off the pump until you refill the water tank.  The switch to turn off the pump is often located on the dashboard or side of it but the boatyard engineer should show you it's location.

You may need to top up daily or perhaps every other day depending how thrifty you are with it.  Try not to waste water.  If you are moored near a water supply I would take advantage and top up regardless.  Most craft I have hired do not have a water level gauge so even more reason to keep water topped up. The water refill point on your boat should be clearly marked. Be careful not to put water in the diesel refill point. Water is normally free or included in mooring fees.  The B.A moorings simply request a small donation from £1 which usually goes in a tube holding coins.

The engine heats your domestic water so it is hottest when you have just done a journey.  We normally shower at the end of a journey not first thing in the morning when the water may not be hot enough for several showers. To view a list that includes water supply and toilet pump out locations Click Here.

• Cooking. The vast majority of boats  have cookers and hobs fuelled by calor gas. There are usually two bottles of calor gas on board.  One bottle is in use and the second bottle should be in reserve and full up.  If gas runs out you should be able to switch to the second bottle. The boatyard official should show you how to do this.

Many boats have 240 volt invertors with toasters and  microwaves provided. Some electric powered boats and boats with generators may have electric cookers and hobs but these are very much the minority.

• Heating. The vast majority of craft that I have hired the heating  is provided by warm air blow heaters running on diesel and circulated by electric fan.  I have never found it necessary to run the engine whilst using this type of heating providing their is sufficient charge in the domestic batteries to start the heater and run the fan. Check with the boat yard official and skippers handbook for recommendations of their usage.
• Diesel Fuel. You will normally be charged a fuel deposit when you book your boating holiday. This varies from boatyard to boatyard but as an example my 1 week in September 2012 was £125. It’s usual for the boat to have a full tank of fuel when you first board it. The tank is checked on your return and any unused credit will be reimbursed. On the other hand if your deposit has not covered the usage you will be required to pay the difference. I tend to be in credit but this obviously depends on how much cruising,  with or against the current, usage of heater and general running of engine to recharge batteries and heat water. In my experience with a two week boating holiday there has been sufficient fuel on board and I have never needed to purchase any additional diesel. Very few boats have a fuel gauge but may have a dip stick that can be dipped in the fuel tank. Ask the boat yard official for advice.
• Luggage.  It is usually more convenient to take soft suitcases and bags as they take up less room and are easier to stow away than hard suit cases. If you are returning to the boatyard the night before your return journey  you could leave your suitcases in your car. Some boatyards retain your car keys so it is advisable to take a spare set or ensure you arrive at the boatyard while it is open/staffed. Large bin bags are useful for holding laundry and rubbish.
• Fishing and moorings. Broads Authority 24 hour moorings are primarily for the mooring of boats and take priority over people fishing.  I would personally not  recommend fishing from the bank of pub moorings as I am sure the owners would want their moorings to be available for customers. You can always fish from onboard the boat and just reel in whilst a boat is coming in to moor near you

Copyright © 2012 My Norfolk Broads Boating. All rights reserved