Mark42

Quite amazing how they can repair that amount of damage in a few days, do we know how it happened ? Dolphin If this was your photo then I appolgise for not asking your permission to post it on this site, I was so shocked to see that kind of damage that I never gave it any thought. Well done for capturing the image for us all to see. Regards

Well i am suprised that it has not been brought to anybodys attention before now, surely somebody from Richardsons must have noticed this on the other site a few days ago, you would have to ram the bank at full throttle to cause this type of damage. With all the rain that we have had I would not sleep well on this boat.

I understand Bolero has been like this for a few days and has been sighted at different locations with this damage, which suggests the hirer has been allowed to continue with their holiday, I notice that the fender has been moved to the front, you would have thought she would have been sent back to the yard for speedy repair for the next hirer. But maybe the current hirer was not at fault for this and they have been hit.

Hi, noticed the damage to bolero on the other website. Anyone know what she hit and is she now in the boatyard for repair? bolero damage.pdf

You will enjoy Broadsma 3, I have just had a week on Broadsman 1, the interior is very impressive, very comfortable, boat handles well, and the heater is very effective if you need it in October. We covered a good distance in 1 week Norwich and back £150 fuel usage, so only £20.00 to pay on return of the boat, not bad for a boat of that weight and size. You will enjoy.

Clive Hope it is not too long before you have your own 35 footers, I assume you are doing some. I noticed that you have added the same wooden flooring that is on the Broadsman to the Sunrise, Sunset, Harmony & Sunray range, you have obviously been very bust in the winter.

Clive, Just had a great week on the Broadsman, that was a smart move mooring the Carousel at your entrance for visitors to look round, the rear cabin is very spacious and the dining table and chairs looked of good quality and quite expensive. I noticed while on the river an RC35 type boat, I think it was either Faricraft or Barnes but an ideal size for 2/4 people, when you get these built I think they will be very popular. Regards

Neil, Thorughly enjoyed reading your holiday tales and viewing the photos. Langley Dyke caught my interest, I have been boating on the Norfolk Broads for 40 years and thought I new every mooring spot. Where is the entrance to Langley Dyke ? is it nice and quiet for an overnight stay. Is it far to walk to the Abbey. Regards

Dan You are correct the current Broadsman is Broadsman 2 and Broadsman 1 will be sometime in October. Broadsman 2 is a Saturday hire boat and Broadsman 1 will be Friday or Monday start, I think this is correct Clive ? Regards

Nothing wrong with the magic gem, I have had many years afloat on this style of boat. The yards would not be building the high end luxury boats if there was no customers interested in hiring them. You only live once so why not have a bit of luxury while on holiday.

Boat for me Xbox for kids, I have 4K to spend and want the best I can get for the money.

I believe NBD is Faircraft Loynes.

This weekend I received the brochure from NBD, the range of new and modern boats with a very high specification on offer is very tempting. Fair Monarch, Fair President, Fair Sovereign are of interest to me for 2 weeks in July 2012, the reason I am planning ahead is due to cost £4000 and this ammount of money you have to save in advance. Has anybody been on any of these boats? if so are they worth the high higher cost. For the last 3 years I have enjoyed what Richardsons have to offer, Broads Sunrise, Sunset & Harmony for 2011. I will not book the same boat twice so unless the RC45 can tempt me to stay with them then I will be on the Fair President. If the RC45 can offer the same as President ie whirl pool bath, Xbox 360, shore power and a very high spec inside then we will stick with Richardsons and I hope they can as I have become very fond of boating with them recently.

It is certainly a nice looking boat from the outside and when the design was first launched it was a must for me to book and try, I hope you have a great time.

Simon, I think the boat you have chosen is a good winter boat, as the seating area is fully enclosed and will be warm and cosy when cold. We like to get out of the sun also but when we did on the Rapide the temp in the lounge was unberable in Aug and it spoiled the holiday for us and kids. Also when sat down during the day or evening you are seated very low and have no view of the river etc. If i was you phone Summercraft now and exchange it for something else that they have available. You asked for an opinion so I hope you dont' mind me being honest.

It's great news that you have a boat booked for next year. I have been on the Alpha Rapide and this style of boat that you have booked is truly awful. The large lounge area is at the front and you feel very enclosed or claustrophobic with the low ceiling, also when we went in the summer the heat inside the boat was unberable as there are no large opening windows or roof to slide back. In the summer it's so nice to have the roof fully back and a beer in hand or while eating lunch etc. for the same money I suspect you could have had one of Clive's Broads Sunrise, Sunset style of newer boats or even the new RC35/45. Anyway I suspect you would have a good time on any type of boat being a lover of the Norfolk Broads like I am. Regards

Andy I have the same thoughts as you eventually Royalls's who offer a great service and well turned out boats will one day get left behind. I do love the old boats and these will always be in demand like the new ones as the broads caters for people looking to spend £300 or £2000 on a week. For the last few years i have enjoyed the luxury of brand new 44 ft boats and i must admit the choice in 2011/2012/2013 for new boat will be very exciting and as soon as the RC45 is available i will be booking 2 weeks on it. But saying this i still enjoy myself on the old bath tubs but if you have the money at any given time then treat yourself you only live once.

Well said Clive, we have hired for 3 years in a row with Richardsons and the staff are great, if you have any mechanical problems they react quickly and the newer boats that they have are truly excellent very clean. Booked yesterday for Broads Harmony in April.

Lorraine, Only Richardson's run the loyalty card scheme, that why we try to hire from them every year. you receive 10% of your booking fee and after 5 bookings you can cash your money in towards another boat hire, we estimate we will have £600.00 after 5 bookings. Mark

My wife and daughters took some GHD's last year along with another make, our boat was only 2 year old and could run up to 2000 watts using the invertor and they would not work for some reason yet the powerful hair drier did work which was 1600 watts.

Andy Glad you had a good time, 2 weeks ago i returned from the broads after having 2 weeks and i must agree the staff at Richardsons are briliant. We are missing the broads already so will have to return in October i think. The loyalty card is a great idea as we so far have £300 credit, so in a couple of years we will get a free week on the broads. Am surprised your boat needed painting as at the start of the season they are normally in the best condition. Mark

2 weeks ago i was moored next to this boat at the WRC and it is quite impressive but not sure that i would hire it. i was very jeallous of the satelite tv as they had a perfect picture and we had nothing...I hope Clive will soon add satelite tv to the broads sunrise and sunset range of boats. Mark

Yes is suspect it was the heating and the instant hot water sytem that used all our fuel but at least i now know the boiler runs off diesel and not gas, no wonder we where so warm last April even at night, but i did not mind paying £140 to have the luxury of the heat and hot towel rails and boiling hot radiators, also we had an old person with us last year so this also resulted in me keeping the heating on, this time we will keep the thermostat on zero for most of the time and just turn it up when we require hot water for a shower or to wash pots etc. Am fairly confident i will manage a fuel bill of less than £280 for 2 weeks. It was my choice to choose a boat with a boiler and you get what you pay for, if i was having a boat in the summer then no way would you require the heating and would opt for a standard boat that heats the water through running the engine etc. Mark

Thanks for all the advice i will make sure we have the tide pushing us and keep the heating off as much as we can and just hope that we dont have a massive fuel bill for 2 weeks. To be safe i will put £50.00 worth of fuel in at the start of our second week. Clive thanks for the offer to check the fuel before we take the boat but no need for this am sure all your boats are re checked and re fueled at he start of the new season...i suspect i managed the £140.00 because of the boiler system and admit to having it on all day and night as did not realise it ran off diesel. Does the fuel consumption change much if you reduce your speed by 1 or 2mph. Only 4 weeks to go now. Mark

Hi Folks At Easter i will be having 2 weeks on the Norfolk Broads on the Broads Sunset from Richardsons. I have only ever spent 1 week on the broads and i was wondering how you monitor your fuel usage as i understand there is no fuel guage or wooden dip stick. Will there be enough fuel in the tank for 2 weeks or should i take some fuel on at the start of the second week. Based on the fact that we some how got through £140.00 worth of fuel last Easter and only went to Reedham and back along with Horning and Wroxham which seems exssesive for 1 week, we dont want to be running out of fuel in the second week if we have the same fuel consumption, also fuel is more expensive now than it was last Easter. i pray to god we dont use £280 worth of fuel as this time we plan to cover the entire Broads. Mark