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trying to moor up next to us and many haven’t got a clue. We have been bumped more times than we care to mention. Very few people apologise! They don’t realise this is actually our home they are career- ing into. It would be different story if it was a car.” They try and go away for a few


weeks each year, and have been to Belgium to visit the First World War sites, as Tim’s grandfather’s brother was killed during the conflict and his memorial is at Ypres. They have also travelled back to Holland to do a lakes tour. This year they hope to go over to the Somme in France. They say they would be lost without their plotter: “I have a lot of experience on the water,” explains Tim, “I used to work on the pleasure boats, and I reckon I have done about 50 thousand nautical miles – but they have all been on the river! I have never had to plan a journey so when we started heading off abroad each year we decided to get a plotter. It’s the best thing we’ve done. You just put in where you


want to go and where you want to stop and off you go. We don’t have auto pilot though so I do need to be at the helm at all times.” So far, on their travels, they say they haven’t had any big dramas although they did run out of fuel once, just by the entrance to Dover Harbour. They had to wait a couple of hours until the RNLI could come and tow them in! 30 years ago the couple used to


own Shire horses and would take people on carriage rides around the town for a pound. They started their trips at Natwest bank and would head out to the front. “It was a real novelty, the horses were called Daniel and Prince and everyone seemed to like watching us trot by. We gave it up after a year or so as it wasn’t very profitable and was a bit monotonous.” The pair then started Compass Marine and now sell fenders from a warehouse just outside of Dartmouth. They say they feel totally at home on the water now and Erica says they are very used to the constant


rocking and the sound of the ropes creaking: “We think it’s relaxing, but one of our daughters can’t cope with it; whenever she comes to stay she always leaves early!” The cat (amusingly named Mouse) doesn’t seem to mind. She takes it all in her stride wandering around the outside of the boat and giving a little scratch on the bedroom door when its time for her to disappear off for a nap. “We are all very relaxed,” says Tim. “In fact the boat’s name, Senang, means contentment and happiness in Malaysian. It’s quite nice when we come across anyone from the Far East and they see the name, they often come over and comment. They have three distinct areas on the boat, 90% of which has full headroom. There’s the galley (where Erica often rustles up a nice piece of local fish for supper), the saloon (with comfy easy chairs, a TV and drink bottles lined up on the side), and the lower cosy bedroom (complete with mini piano and ensuite). They can sleep six if needed but say it’s defi- nitely more comfortable with two! •


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For a helpful and friendly service please call 01803 832787 with your marine requirements or visit us at Unit 10 Admiral Court, Nelson Road, Dartmouth, TQ6 9HU.


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