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Mad Harold
United Kingdom
228 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Dec 2016 : 16:18:29
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Replied to two adverts for Normans on flea bay.Both unfortunately on the Norfolk Broads.I got a couple of quotes for transporting a boat to my mooring.They were from £285 [cheapest]to £565 [dearest].
Set off at the crack of sparrows hoping to be back at teatime.
Still stuck in traffic at 11-30 and I hadn't reached the A1 yet.
The road from the A1 to Norwich appears endless,and I finally reached the Norwich area about 2pm.Fog descended adding to my fun threading my way through narrow country roads,getting lost and having to stop to stand about 5 feet from the signposts to read them,[the fog was too thick to read them from the car] Finally found the right village and the brokers office to be told,"oh,the boat isn't here,its on Sutton Staith about 10 miles from here"Trying to hang on to my rapidly fraying temper I consulted my map and found that the other boat I came to view,was on the same stretch of water,but at a different mooring.This one was a private sale and although the owner couldn't be there,I had permission to crawl around it.Following the owners directions I wandered through the mud,fog and damp for about an hour and saw lots of boats,but not the one I came to see.It was now starting to get dark,and so far I had only seen one person to ask if they knew the boat I was looking for,[they didn't]so I went to the next yard to look at the other boat.Lots of boats,but not a soul anywhere,so wandered around and couldn't find the boat.It was now quite dark and the fog was even thicker and I was getting worried about my journey home,so kicking a large clump of mud into the water I shouted F--- it at the top of my voice,[I was really mad now]and listened to the echo.
The journey home was a nightmare,the fog the dark the merciless sods on the road venting their rage on me when I frequently got in the wrong lane at junctions and rounabouts.Arrived back at my local pub about 9-30 for a welcome beer,and to ask myself,do I really want a boat? |
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Mad Harold
United Kingdom
228 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2016 : 18:16:12
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Oh gawd,Iv'e done it now! Went to view a rather sad looking Norman 20,quite close to me.[I don't really want a project]
It is filthy,paint is peeling,window seals are leaking,needs two windows and the portholes replacing,and the inside is a mess.The engine [a 9.9 Yamaha] started eventually and ran unevenly for a short time and then quite smoothly and quietly,but died when given a bit of throttle.It was however ejaculating water nicely.
The yard it's moored at said they will slip it out,give it a pressure wash,allow me a fortnights hard standing for me to paint it,and deliver to my mooring and slip it in for £300.
I went home to think,and cheekily made an offer £1000 below the already low asking price,thinking thats the last I will hear of it,but I have just had a phone call to say my offer has been accepted!
I have been trying to remember it's good points;the bilges were dry,the transom flexed a little when the motor was pulled back and forth quite hard,but it seems ok,the canopy was good,and er,well thats about it.
I will go and pay for it tomorrow,take the motor home for a good dose of looking at and buy paint and anti-fouling stuff,and prepare a work schedule for the next two weeks.
Wish me luck! |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2016 : 18:27:36
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| Well done on finding a boat, only thing I will say is at this time of the year unless you have somewhere preferably inside with a bit of heat it's not a good time to paint so a 2-3 week window to relaunch will be tight. |
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IanM
United Kingdom
2238 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2016 : 19:35:58
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Nice one. A working engine and a good canopy are a great start.
I agree on the painting. Even if you get a few warm dry days you only get a few hours painting in before the humidity sets in and ruins the finish. Suggest you slip it, wash it and then restrict yourself to polishing it and sorting out the other stuff. Leave the painting until next year. |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2016 : 20:23:19
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I would guess the carb needs a good blast out with carb cleaner if it's been standing a while, if it still cuts out under load you will need to blow all the drillings inside it out.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
 Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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philihun
United Kingdom
283 Posts |
Posted - 07 Dec 2016 : 19:03:57
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That sad Norman will be thinking all it's xmas's have come at once. All it needs now is your card no and security code.
pr hunt |
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Mad Harold
United Kingdom
228 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2016 : 15:57:42
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Your'e not wrong mate.The more I explore the boat the more jobs I find
to do.
Smells of damp and mould,so I thought I'd open the windows to get some air into it.No chance! Pulled back the curtains to find that the inside frame had been filled with putty! Groan!
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A grand day out.
