Broadlander3

Hi Clive... Do you think the one with the blue hull is the one that you have just mentioned ?? She is definitely an ex Fulmar/Pacesetter or early BV 1-5 Terry

Hi Jill... Some nice shots there...just a shame that when boats have a change of name they then become very hard to trace back to their true identity without the vital Broads reg.no... In cases where they were sold and transported to other waterways, if they returned to the Broads their original reg was in all probability given to another craft and a re-reg No. allocated...as was Clives Broadsventure...another sister ship of the ones in your pictures...making them even more difficult to track down... Another one, I believe still resides at Wayford awaiting a buyer...I have tried my hardest to find a clue to her identity but as she was one that went down on the Thames and returned approx 2yrs ago that vital No. has vanished...and sadly she is not in the best of fettle...Here is a pic of her Wards "Seahawk" ...Blimey...Built in 1927 and still in Norwich in 1994...WOW Do you know anything much about Wards Jill ?? Another high profile hirer in their day...up there with the best... This is great Jill and thanks for posting Terry

Thanks Jill... The last one I worked on was Swiftway 3 (R111) now in private ownership and I believe moored at Brundall... She is now renamed "Queenie" and is a member of the VWBA and will know doubt be down at Beccles this coming weekend for the yearly National meet... Quite a number of those survived and are in decent condition today...unfortunately Broadway 2 (R59) not so lucky... Terry

Crikey Jill... This is like going to the sweet shop as a kid... Am beginning to think that this is where a lot of Ricko's boats came in retirement...In the last pic posted the cruiser to the left with a white hull is also from their stable and one of the very last wooden builds that were in build in 1965/66 when I was an apprentice there...A 36ft Broadway or Swiftway (10 built in total) and after those it was plastic all the way You certainly have a treasure trove of pics there...Super...Smashing...Great Martin...can't find my magnifying glass...doh All the Best Terry

Jill...Oh Jill... You have just made my day... I always wondered where she ended up...Had more holidays on her than I can remember...The Broadlanders 3 and 4 were the best of the 42 footers in the fleet...unfortunately I didn't always have a camera at the time (there was a credit crunch in our house even then)...and bringing up two youngsters came at a price so pics at that period are regretfully lacking... The cruiser to the bow of her is also a Ricko's 42...Any ideas about her identity please ??? Jill...You are an angel Terry

Hi Carol... Thankyou for clearing that one up for me...I always thought that I knew every yard on the Broads but that one was a complete mystery to me... Will PM you All the Best Terry

Good Morning Jill... This has come together very well...Many thanks for your info...Thats a "Tradewind" sorted but who were Lady Cruisers and where did they operate from? It's amazing what comes out of one enquiry, which then leads to another...I just love the history behind the Broads scene for now Terry

Hi Jill... Many thanks for the link...I will e-mail them and see if any good comes out of it...go straight to the people who may know eh? The boat that you posted a pic of at Lake Lothing I believe is a seacrete hull of the Tradewind class but not actually operated by Windboats in the 60's...Having had a quick look at Craigs wonderful Norfolk Broads Boats site he actually has one listed with that name and operated by a company called Lady cruisers...A new one on me...Have you heard of them?? She is definitely a seacrete hull which ties up with your photograph and according to his records with a reg no. of T944 making her build as 1964/65... Will advise if I gain any info into this as any help is most appreciated... Best regards Terry

Thanks for that Jill...Was she ex hirefleet do you know? And also..... Do you by any chance know any information of these yards or anyone connected to them in the past that may have records or knowledge of their hirefleets. Particularily interested in the 50's - 70's period... Best regards Terry

Spot on Clive... Remember standing on the jetty as if it was yesterday... The BV had just been re-launched the previous day after having a new plank put in her bottom...I recall seeing her prior to this shot with 3 pumps going...Ah the pleasures of Wood At the time, the refuelling jetty's (where the Minstrel/Serenade is moored) were in full time use on turnround days...Many a happy hour spent there All boats that ran from Kingfisher were at that time refuelled/watered/pump-outs completed from there before returning to the main quay...Hectic Days indeed...but Happy ones Have you got the old crawler/bulldozer in the background stashed away somewhere in your collection??

Sorry....forgot to add...Low wash (Eco friendly) Terry

Hi Clive... No...You certainly havn't offended me...it's just that I like to defend anything to do with Broadsventure's that might show them to be...what shall we say "Not perfect" To be honest, like most craft on the Broads they know doubt had their shortcomings but I don't like to think that they had any The perfect Broads Hireboat...Big...Strong...Spacious...Well fitted out...Superb decks...Choice of canopies...Easy access when stern on...Substantial deck fittings (chrome)...Good engines...Oh and nice to handle All the Best Terry

Hi Barry Yes, such a pity as he was a very knowledgable member and a pleasure to have history of Banham's as he did at his fingertips. Very interesting for info from a yard that I knew nothing about... Which leads me onto a question for you, being a long time Windboats and Landamores man...Do you by any chance have record at all of the number of boats built by these companies during the hirefleet heyday's ?? I am trying to trace the actual boats that were employed in the hirefleets, but finding it difficult... due in some cases to number changes within the fleets...in particular are the "Vesta's" and "Merrywind's"...Very confusing Apologies if I've asked before but this is one of my ongoing interests/projects at the moment and would love to get to the bottom of it eventually and don't really know anyone else with the knowledge of these fleets more than you.. All the Best Terry (Good to see the progress coming along well with your Star Premiere)

Hi Clive... Nice to see the work in progress last Sat and how she is now starting to look more like her old self... Over the years from 84 to 2008 she had obviously undergone a number of internal alterations...The pics that you have just posted do not in any way reflect what she was really like when built and I can only assume that with the ravages of time some of the fittings have been changed as the original ones wore out...e.g the wash basin in for'ard toilet compartment... When new, they had very upmarket (for their time) matching toilet bowl/seat and washbasin in a very nice shade of blue...very swish and something that other hireboats of the time (with a few possible exeptions) did not have... I also don't recall the aft hatch as being hinged...Will try and find a pic to check this but feel that they were all on sliders and simply pushed back out of the way to give headroom from the wheelhouse...a brilliant touch that worked well. Bulkheads also differ as they were made out of the formica pattern as shown on my avatar and later one's did have a variety of bright colours (as mentioned by you in another thread). Very in vogue for the mid 60's Do not steer too well Clive...Clive...Clive...I'm speechless Unless there was a problem under the waterline (rope or weed ect) these girl's handled like a dream...Having travelled miles on them I would have taken them anywhere (Potter Bridge the exeption of course)...Modern plastic boats now have bow thrusters...BV's didn't need them...a testament to the design and men that built them... Get the Rose tinted glasses off Terence...time for bed

Hi Barry... "Parsons Pike" ....Now that name has stirred a few memories... When I worked at Ricko's way back in the 60's if we ever had a tow job to cover it was always a Pike that was first choice if one was laying in...Pull a house down Nice to see this thread is still alive...Did anyone ever hear from Steve (Sirdar) who started it?? All the Best Terry

Once again Simon...Stunning work... Don't know how you do it... Terry

Hi Clive... And then painted white Going back to the painted hull trend if you recall Clive...One boat from each class was painted white...as you say for photo's for Blakes catalogue...1969?? for the 70's brochure's...I do have the full list if anyone interested Going back to the 40/42 footers in the fleet at the time, the following were all shown in Blakes with white hulls... Fulmar 5 (T42) - Osprey 1 (S24) - Pacesetter 5 - Ex Fulmar 12 (T344) - Merlin 5 (S23) - Broadlander 4 (T767) and Broadsventure 7 (T415) later to be re-numbered 2 when the first 5 of the class were renamed Sunway... The remaining boats in each class retaining varnished hulls Do hope this anorack stuff dosn't bore the pants off you Regards....

Hi Gordon... He will be is serious bother if he dosn't Yes....Some very happy times spent with the Broadsventures...and Clive is so right about them getting a hammering during the season...but they were built strong to cope admirably...Being a 9 berth they appealed to the youth of the day and I have seen on many occasion dancing on the roof's...and were also hired by the schools for kids weeks. I have to admit to having a soft spot for the Fulmar/Broadsventure and Broadlander classes having had many a holiday on them and having seen most virtually built from keel up. It seems hard to believe that it is now 45/46 years ago that these built in Stalham and it will be great to see one of the old girls back in the water and at the yard from which she was born...A true credit to the men who created them...Clive has some very very good men working on her so she is in good hands All the Best Terry

Oh Gordon... Forgot to mention...my avatar is the dashboard of the very same boat All the Best Terry

Hi Gordon....She certainly is Here are a couple of shots of her in her earning days

Only wish I could Spell

Hi Clive You are perfectly wecolme to use any of my 60's stuff anytime Regards Terry

Great News Simon Pleased to hear that you are once again back in "Home Waters" All the very Best Terry

NEWF I think I can hear Clive on his way.................................

They wouldn't would they???.... : : I'll put my money on an inside job