andyg

That's absolutely fine, I've no control over what overs think or do, I also don't own a multi million pound hire fleet. But what I do know and see is small yard after small yard ( regardless of standing and quality) being taken over by thoses with big pockets or big overdrafts.

Quite a good business decision this, win win for everyone involved. Richardsons no longer have the headache of new builds. They've brought a fantastic fleet of boats. ( think we all know we're that's going) and Robert and his team are great boat builders. End of tbh. The broads are clinging on to hire fleets. Ten years ago Alan royall predicted it would be the 4 big boys that would survive. He clearly knew what he was talking about.

We stayed in the little resort of Nydri on the island of Lefkada some years ago. There was a big sunsail base there. I use to love sitting there watching the yachts set off on the holidays. An absolutely stunning location to start your holiday.

Absolutely no doubt there's some goodies hidden just below the surface along them river banks. Could you imagine them dredging the rivers in 500 years time. All they'd find would be a load of old asda trollies and them bright coloured scooters that are for hire everywhere.

It's gonna cost us lol...

I took earlier retirement back in January and Kim is doing the same this January. So it's a bit of a prezzie to ourselves for 40 years of bloody hard work. It's the most expensive trip I've ever had I just hope it's worth it, on a side note, we are staying on in Jamaica for a week after the crusie and our son and girlfriend will be flying down to join us. Kim is totally unaware they are coming. They have some exciting news for my wife. How I've managed to keep it a secret I don't know lol..

Spot on..

The same could be said for any business in fairness Vaughan. I have mates that run there own companies and its pretty much 24/7 it's quite frustrating on a meal out and their phones don't stop ringing. At least with a broads hire yard the pace drops off come the end of October. Staff return to a Monday to Friday working patten.

Your not the 1st person to give me that advice lol.. I have to say they do serve what looks like a very nice afternoon tea onboard. I'd be a liar if I said I hadn't noticed the cakes in the videos ive seen. Her in doors has already booked a couple of nights in the surf and turf restaurant as well. That's half a stone I've gain already..jeez..

We will be departing on our 1st ever crusie in 6 weeks. Absolutely no idea of what to expect of life onboard. We are both apprehensive and excited. The broads are a wonderful destination to visit and I could never get bored. I do have one major cruising regret. I've always wanted to hire a canal boat but never got round to it. Unfortunately Kim isn't keen on the idea and neither are my mates so I doubt it will happen.

We have 2 what we call surgery vans at our depot, a basic mobile workshop. All the fitters do a week on call, that's ontop of there normal hours. So yep 24/7 been like it years..by the way they get paid very well if called out.

Ive used woods twice in the last 12 months. I've only hired from there elite range, dazzling light 2 and Prince of light 1. Apart from having the batteries change ( which turned out not to be a fault as such) We'd accidentally turned the 240v fridge thermostat to full which was draining the battery. We had no problems or issue with woods or its staff. We've also hired a starlight for a day which was fantastic. Unfortunately I wouldn't hire any of there older boats because malcom is spot on with his opinion sadly. I also won't use them again as they allow pets on all there boats. I'm not anti dog before anyone jumps on me, I just choose not to get covered in other people's pets hair, and trust me we have. I see enough pictures on social media of dogs sitting all over bedding and soft furnishings. Not for us I'm afraid.

I hope you don't mind me asking Neil, but how do you find it living full time onboard ?? I guess the winter months will take some getting use to and adapting. I often watch Vaughans YouTube vids of his childhood on Thorpe Island and feel quite envious at times. It will be interesting to see how you get on. Looking forward to seeing Rosie new paint job. Best of luck.

Just spoke to my friend regarding his additional fuel cost. He paid an additional 67 pounds on top of his fuel deposit. They didn't make good use of the tides and covered most of the southern broads,they didn't go up to Loddon. They done the usual wroxham Horning potter visits as well. A couple of days were long days cruising. The boat was bright horizon 1 absolutely no idea what kind of engine is fitted. They used the heating at night and first thing in the morning. The chap who refuelled them mentioned they had used a lot of derv and asked where they'd visited. Once they told him he said its was about the right amount of fuel. So the op used roughly twice as much fuel covering roughly the same distances...me thinks not.

This case is obviously a mistake by the yard. They will know that. A decent owner will do the right thing and come to some kind of settlement.

Oh god no, I'm totally with you on this, I think you've had your trousers pulled down here to be perfectly honest. I for one would certainly not leave it. I'd be totally shocked if the yard in question tried telling you that was normal. Like I said our friends covered more distance then you didn't use the tides etc, they paid an additional 80 odd quid ontop of there 150 fuel deposit. Their boat was bright horizon a horizon 35. So they used approx 230 quids worth of derv. The guy said they had used a lot..

What I have noticed over the last few hires I've done, the big new boats we've are not very good with fuel consumption. We used a load of fuel on dazzling light the same on broadsman for the time and distance covered, prince of light a small little compact boat was exceptionally good. All hydraulic drive all fitted with all kinds of modern technology. In dazzling and broadsman cases they are big heavy boats to push along. It would be good for the original poster to tell us what type of craft. No names need to be mentioned.

I've no idea,I haven't been in the yard for donkeys to be honest. I'm sure there's still one or two about.

I haven't seen a pump like your referring to for years, but yes I do remember them. I seem to remember you had to remove the hose and switch it on. They then automatically re set to zero.

Slight drift here, the loos on these modern boat do seem to need pumping out way more then I've ever known. We had broadsman over a 3 day weekend, with 5 adults onboard. We used the loos in pubs when we could. The waste tank was showing full on return on the Monday morning. No way would that last a week with the max of 8 onboard. The amount of times I've heard engineers say ignore the gauges there faulty.

It's an odd one this, of course mistakes happen. But if the tank hadn't been re fueled from its previous hire, then surely it would of had an effect on the previous crew fuel refund. I'm sure yards keep records of fuel used etc. It may be worth calling them and ask the to investigate.

Spot on...

Probably to late now I would think. I've seen some quite heated arguments at richardsons over fuel costs. The girls behind the counter must get fed up with it. It's always amazes me the amount of people that don't understand its a deposit and you could potentially have additional fuel costs on returning the boat. P

Richardsons have signs up in reception advising people about additional fuel.cost. I'm pretty sure I got a pre arrival email explaining it as well. Bridgecraft have a great system, the fuel is dipped in front of you using the boats fuel dip stick b4 you leave the yard. Its then re fueled again in front of you using the boats dip stick...that's right the boats still have a dip sticks.

That's definitely not right, even with the high fuels prices. I always check the fuel before I leave the yard. I've had to get one yard ( I won't mention names ) to top the tank up before i left. The guy put 18ltrs in, quite shocking to be honest. But mistake happen. Our friends have just returned from a week on bright horizon and covered most of the network, right up to Norwich, Beccles etc. They didn't make good use of tides etc and had an additional 88 pounds to pay ontop of there fuel deposit. Even the guy that re fueled them at richardsons was surprised how much fuel they'd used.