Restored Classic Broads Cruiser Heads South
After storing Bella Mia, a 35-foot Broom Captain, for a couple of years, Cox’s was given the job of restoring and shipping this classic wooden Broads cruiser to the south of France for her owner. The team here altered and refitted the inside layout and completed several weeks’ work on the outside of the vessel, before transporting her by road and ship to new moorings in France, close to the border with Spain. The start of her long journey south is pictured below.
Life-saving Defibrillator Now Available
A new defibrillator, which was jointly paid for by Cox’s Boatyard and the British Heart Foundation, is now installed at the boatyard, and is available for anyone to use in case of an emergency. Located in an unlocked, vented case under the canopy of the toilet and shower blocks, the defibrillator gives audible step-by-step instructions for its use, as soon as the case is opened. This portable device can be used by anyone to help restart the heart of a person who is suffering from a cardiac arrest and works by delivering a controlled electric shock through the chest wall. For every minute that passes without defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by around ten per cent, and research shows that applying a controlled shock within five minutes of collapse provides the best possible chance of survival. We hope it never happens, but if you need to use this piece of life-saving equipment, please do so, with CPR if necessary.
We are planning on running a course on how to use a defibrillator and basic CPR in the spring, more details in the spring newsletter.
Water Lilies
The growth of water lilies and weeds in the Staithe has been more vigorous this year than we can remember for many years. The plus side of such prolific growth is that the water quality is very good, but it does mean that we have had to work hard to keep the channels clear for boats. In July we hired a special weed cutter, which trimmed all the weeds in the main channels and part of the way under any craft, but unfortunately the machine cannot trim between boats or close to the bank, so we will trim back the lilies in the winter again. We will also monitor re-growth early next year and will complete another cut if necessary to keep the channels free.
Boat Transporter
Our new state-of-the-art boat transporter has been ordered and is due to be delivered from Italy at the beginning of October 2013, provided our final inspection of it at the end of September is satisfactory. If everything goes according to plan, this radio-controlled transporter will be the first of its kind in East Anglia and will be here in time for the winter craning season.
New Apprentice
We are delighted to be employing a new apprentice at the yard from early September Liam Haylett will be joining us for a two-year apprenticeship that will involve practical training on all aspects of boat repairs and work in the marina, and who will also attend college on a day-release basis. We feel this is a vital investment for the continuing success of the boatyard and we are also pleased to help someone launch a career in our industry.
Customer Feedback
We do listen to what you tell us, so please continue to let us know what we can do to improve our facilities. Recent customer feedback forms have indicated that there are a few berth holders who would like to see grass cuttings cleared up after each cut, but at the moment this is impractical. However, next year we are planning to cut the grass twice a week to try and avoid such large piles of grass cuttings on the paths.
Winter Lay Up
As autumn is looming, I attach the winter work form and ask you to please fill it in and send it back to us as soon as possible. These forms are vital for us to work out efficient craning schedules to get the boats out, and then back into the water when you want to use them. Of course, the weather does play a part in this too, but Easter next year is mid-April so it will hopefully be warmer by then than it was this year.
Community Shop
The new community-run shop at Neatishead, which opened in the summer following a successful fund-raising appeal, is proving extremely popular. Large numbers of people have already discovered the surprisingly large amount of stock it holds and have also found the service it provides invaluable, so why not pop along and see for yourself what is on offer there? The White Horse Inn opposite has also recently been bought as a free house, another sign that the local community is thriving again.
It just leaves me to thank you for your continuing support and to say that I hope that you enjoy using your boats over the late-summer season.
Eric Bishop
Manager