andyg

Trust me I'm not normally that quick, I'd normally change my mind at least a dozen times. Availability dictated the speed, as I've no doubt she would of got booked up,she is exactly the design of boat we wanted to book. So ticked all the boxes. Friday was my first dealings with herbert wood's in years and I have to say it was a far better experience then my last. So good vibes all round.

2nd week of October, I was really surprised she was available so we snapped her up. We all caught the sun on Friday and are a nice shade of pink now lol.. yes layers will be the order of the day. I'm really looking forward to it..just hope we get some dry weather so we can use the upper seating area 😊

After the success of our day trip with the grand kids we wasted no time on our return home in our search for our next adventure. Thankfully our search was short and sweet, purely down to lack of availability of boats. I kind of knew it would be so I'd pre warned them not to get their hopes up. To my surprise dazzling light one from herbert woods was available, my wife and her friend had seen the boat on Friday morning in the yard while they were having a look around, this helped no end as they both really liked the boat. So I'd set myself a new record of booking a holiday in 5 minutes from start to finish, this would normally take me many days and hours. I have to confess I've been totally surprised by my granddaughter's reaction and willingness to return to the broads as she is normally somewhere hot with sandy beaches. I actually think I'm quite excited and looking forward to our trip but one thing we have realised is,we don't really own any wet weather clothing. A legacy of years of holidays abroad in the sun. Not so sure how the granddaughter will react next month when she gets a waterproof and fleece for her birthday lol...well we may have a staycaystion convert on our hands and both my wife and me are just absolutely fine with that...hers to happy boating and making memories

Took our grandchildren on their first broads experience yesterday and they absolutely loved it. We spent the day onboard one of herbert woods picnic boats. I haven't seen them laugh and smile so much in ages. Along with two of our friends we all had a great day. The kids want to return for a longer break so the hunt is on to find a boat we all like. The kids want a big dual steer boat apparently they are sick..I've absolutely no idea what they both mean by that lol.. manged to grab a little spot at Ranworth as we need to grab some plastic spoons,we'd forgotten to pack some. Two nice guys helped us squeeze into a little gap. It wasn't until we'd left Ranworth I realised it was Broads01 that had helped us Moor, sorry Simon I would of said hello if I'd of put 2 and 2 together, but thanks for your help. All in all an excellent day and good to see the rivers so busy. My friend wasn't so keen on having to navigate his was past all the yachts, he done OK...

I watched herbert woods launch adventuring light 3 this morning.. there's another mould of the same being worked on as well.

I'm sticking with my mask, I've really enjoyed table service when we've been out. I'm more then happy to pay a service charge to keep it. I'm staying at the Premier Inn along Yarmouth seafront for 3 days this week. It will interesting to see what has changed since my last stay a few weeks back. Hand sanitiser is a must in our cars now,even our grandchildren are encouraged to use it. My wife's friend has sadly tested positive this week. She is double jabbed and like my wife was vaccinated some time ago as nhs front line staff. These next couple of months will no doubt give us all the answers we need regarding the vaccines effectiveness. Fingers 🤞

Some great photos in there. Thanks for posting the link 😀

Totally agree, they were way above anything on offer at the time. The blown air heating worked very well I seem to remember. I liked and still do like the helm arrangement on the centre cockpit.

I stupidly tried to turn a concerto around at the bottom of the dyke. It didn't end well. The only time I'd wished I'd had a bow thruster..lol.. every days a lesson when your afloat.

Their is a broads venture sitting in a certain shed in Horning I believe. I'm sure the owner has lots of info on these boats 😉

My parents use to hire a bounty 37 from Alphacraft every Easter called jaguar. Must of been early 80s I'd stopped going away on holiday with them as I'd joined the army. My father told me all about the new boats Alphacraft had designed. I remember being due to come on on leave and my mum had talked my girlfriend into us joining them on the broads. It was on there new 35 centre cockpit boat rapide. I couldn't believe how much space there was on board the big saloon at the rear of the boat was lovely. I didn't like the bright red upholstery alpha used back then tho. Sadly we had dreadful weather that week which put my girlfriend off and it would be many years later before I'd return. Good memories of Alphacraft with my parents, especially Langford marching up and down the yard with his walkie talkie

Me too, I think richardsons done a fantastic re fit on the two they brought brought back from France ( viscount). That could be improved on as well. Very clean modern looking boats.

No useful moulds there I'd imagine, don't barnes own the mould tools now. I'm told the new barnes boat for next season is a re work of the alpha 44 dual steer mould. I wonder if there would be any point in reworking the old centre cockpit moulds ( if there still about ) change the transom re shape the windows etc. They always seemed to have more room inside then the newer version, especially the huge front cabin and rear saloon.

Did the yards at St olaves have a problem with there basins silting up. I seen to remember taking Pevensey Castle back and couldn't get in there little basin it was low tide so had to Moor on the main river...

Such a rapid demise of an iconic brand. I've no idea what happened to alpha but remember being shocked at hearing they had closed..

I knew alpha had a yard st olaves. But was it just a boat building facility or did they hire from here. That's seems to be quite a finished boat sitting there.

So it appears its not coming home 😪 never mind the world Cup starts in a few weeks time. In the meantime let's get back to all things boats and boating..oh and formula 1 😁😁

Bloody awful names tbh...

Indeed, must be something in the water up there in Brundall. They call hire boats private charter craft 😉

Surely this is good news,more investment on the southern broads, God knows its needed. More tourist equals more money into local communities and more employment. Thumbs up 👍

Well I hope you kept it tidy, is flying a new hobby for you at 8ft must of been a microlight 😉

Il have the flat please 😉

I hired orient star from go boating Simon it was a very nice boat. Good example of this design.

We're they built like this Vaughan are we're they converted...

Had many an hours entertainment sitting outside the Wroxham hotel with a cold beer watching the chaos at the Bridge. Chuck 20 odd day boats into the mix and it gets a bit lively, things start getting really interesting when the old broads tours turn up. Tempers start to fray horns start being blasted out. Better then any benny Hill sketch your watch. I understand we have canoes and paddle boarders to add to that now. Oh the joys 😂🙄