andyg

Cheers for that 👍

I thought it was songbird, or was there two in the class ?

It is a real shame, I do wonder how they would of got on if more investment had been made. The yard itself wasn't very appealing to be brutally honest. As southern yards go they had an ideal starting point. Reedham is a lovely riverside setting, with easy access to Norwich one way the North,Oulton broad and Beccles the other. Many a happy memory of being woken by the first morning train trundling across the bridge. Sad to see them go.

Blimey sorry to hear that Andy. Shame you've not been able to enjoy her.

Glad to hear you still own it Andy, I remember you saying how much you liked it.

I've no doubt she's been well cared for by Pacific, but it's not to my taste and at an asking price of 40k I don't see it as good value. That said the old Gainsborough girl ( one of my favourite hire boats similar to Princess) needed a refit in my opinion. I know a few years back they were toying with the idea along with the gala girls Gainsborough let really well.

No disrespect ment, but that's one very dated interior that desperately needs updating.

I wondered how long Princess would stay after they purchased spirit. Is room really that tight at the yard. But then I thought imperial would be sold on after vista was added to the fleet..

There was always an incentive to return.

Thanks for that Vaughan very informative as ever. I vaguely remember Blake office in Wroxham. Most small yards still use the charts you talk of, pinned on there reception office walls. Sue at summercraft kept hers under her desk, when returning on a Saturday morning if you wanted to book again she'd get her chart out and call hoseasons. It was always free fuel for returning customers and she made a point of telling the person on the other end of the phone. Not a computer insight.

Hi Vaughan, I seem to remember a post of yours,can't remember which thread it was on. Explaining how the girls in blakes booking office use to work off a big board whilst taking booking over the phone. How things have change and not always for the better. I guess it's the main reason I like to deal with the smaller yards, that said I really do believe even some of the smaller yards could learn a thing or two from Richardson's on customer service. That hasn't happened over night and I guess a huge amount of effort training and money has been invested into their teams over the years to achieve it.

I'd agree with that, our 1st and 2nd choices for 22 were already booked when we looked a couple of weeks ago. It's looking like next year maybe another bumper season as uncertainty over covid continues.

It would be so much simpler to place the boat on the mark and instead of any old image, which this clearly is. Do what they use to and just say awaiting images. As David has said the wrong images have been used for just about all the new boats so far this year. Pretty poor really..

That's a broadway class, it's a hire boat from Richardson's you can spot the R on the bow. I wasn't a fan of the way they look tbh. That said they are very smart inside and are very popular. I think there's about 8 on hire. It has a bigger sister called Broadlander, which funnily enough I do like the look of.

You don't see an issue with using water contaminated with oil etc etc to wash down a seating area. OK fair enough, sadly I do. I never said I had an issue with using river water just this particular basin as I have first hand experience of it. Trust me clean is not a word that comes to mind. Can't see how washing a boat down with clean water could be considered a waste. Its part of the day to day operation of a boat yard so essential use I'd suggest.

I was watching some webcam coverage yesterday morning, whilst twiddling my thumbs at work. When I noticed a guy at a well known yard in Wroxham washing down one of the hire fleet. I'm guessing it was being prepared to go back out on hire. Now the water in there front basin has never been the cleanest, it has always had a film of oil or diesel sitting in the corners or up against the quay heading mounds of duck related crud in there as well. I know because I've been in it lol. I was quite taken back when the guy sloshed his mop into the basin and promptly started to wash down the steps to the upper deck and then the upper deck as well. Umm, not the best idea I would of thought. Maybe I'm being nieve here, but I'm used to the way things where done at royalls and probably are still done at summercraft, where the boat is washed down properly. Even the times I hired from CC at Wroxham,the boats were hosed down with fresh water then they'd wipe away the excess etc. To me what I saw was just just like chucking a bucket of cr.p all over the boat. To my mind it's just another example of corners being cut not enough space or time to do the job properly. The boat I've mentioned costs an absolute fortune to hire this week and personally I'd expect better. Sorry for a bit of a rant and like I said maybe I'm nieve.

Apparently our new coffee table was onboard that ship, still no sign of it yet. Ordered back in April. Grrr.

Thanks for the heads up, I'm planning on thurne dyke for our last night in October, short trip upto woods the following morning. October looking busy aswell so fingers crossed 🤞

Looks like a lunchtime stop is our best bet. We are on one of woods biggest boats, so il forget about an overnight stop on the public moorings and 15 quid seems a bit steep for just an overnight mooring tbh. If we have to turn around it won't be a wasted cruise as it a nice stretch of river. Thanks for the heads up.

New generation, that's them. I always liked them. Cheers for the info.

There's something about that boat that just doesn't look right. I don't remember these I do remember the other similar looking sedan boat beaver had and quite liked them. Some ended up at Stalham as roving gem I think. But can't remember what they were called whilst in the bever fleet.

No chance of getting under the bridge, I'd hate to get all the way up there and find we can't get moored. 15 per night seems a bit steep.

Hi all, on our next trip in October I'm hoping to explore most of the upper reaches of the Ant. I haven't been upto wayford Bridge in at least 20 years and was wondering what the public mooring situation is like up there now. Any help much appreciated thanks.

What ever happened to Neil, I never see him.post on here anymore?

Yes CC spitfire was identical to bolero, dazzling has the newer upper seating area,table etc, I believe spitfire is now at bridgecraft as Brooklyn Bridge, with an added upper crescent shaped seating area at the stern.